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Date of these obituaries: 06-07-97
Beulah Rusk Summers, educator
Literacy a crusade for Walton native, 101
Beulah Rusk Summers spent much of her life teaching others the importance of education.
The Walton native was a college teacher at a time when most women didn't even attend college.
She developed adult literacy programs in North Carolina and was recognized as Woman of the Year by the Professional Women's Club there in 1974 for her literacy work.
Mrs. Summers died May 22 at the Florence Park Care Center at age 101.
"She was an amazing woman, " said her nephew's wife, Bonnie Keeney of Taylor Mill.
"She went to college, she taught college, she wrote her life story at age 92. She valued life. She valued everything."
Mrs. Summers graduated from Georgetown College around 1918 and married
Er bert S. Summers, a Baptist minister.
She taught math and English at Campbellsville College and later worked with her husband at Baptist churches in Mississippi and North Carolina.
"She was a typical minister's wife, and that isn't an easy life, " said her niece, Wilma Wright of Erlanger.
"She could bring out the best in people."
Mrs. Summers was an avid reader. After her husband died in 1963, she became involved in the Laubach adult reading programs, teaching adult literacy and later instructing the literacy teachers in her home.
She helped organize the Cabarrus County Literacy Council in North Carolina.
She also was assistant librarian at Cabarrus Memorial Hospital School of Nursing for 14 years.
In 1982, she moved to Erlanger to live with her sister, Ethel Keeney. She was a member of Erlanger Baptist Church.
"She taught me the importance of edu cation, " said Bonnie Keeney. "She was an inspiration.
"She had a great sense of humor. She never had an unkind word for anyone."
In her 80s she was still walking two miles a day, Mrs. Keeney said.
"She kept going, " said Mrs. Keeney. "No matter how she was feeling, if you asked her to go anywhere, she was willing to
go.
"She was always willing to live life."
Mrs. Summers moved to a nursing home several years ago.
Survivors include a niece, Wilma Wright of Erlanger, and nephews Ray S. Keeney of Taylor Mill and Dennis R. Keeney of Ft. Mitchell.
Memorial services will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Forest Lawn cemetery Chapel, Erlanger.
Memorials are suggested to E.S. Summers Memorial Fund, Wingate College, Wingate, N.C. 28174.
Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Erlanger, is handling arrangements.
Zelma Lynn Bates, 82, of Niles, Ohio, formerly of Florence, died Wednesday at Howard County General Hospital, Columbia, Md. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include a daughter, Patricia Tracey of Mineral Ridge, Ohio; a son, Roger Matherly of Columbia, Md.; brothers, William Lynn of Clearwater, Fla., Audrey Lynn of Miamisburg, Ohio, and Donald Lynn of Arizona; sisters, Nellie Kidwell of Miamisburg, Clara Wainscott of Erlanger, Wilma Neace of Florence and Ruth Mollis of Florida; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at First Church of God, Erlanger. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Erlanger.
Dorothy Ann Wind Bechtold, 70, of Crescent Springs, died at 9:10 a.m. Friday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North Hospice Unit, Covington. She was a member of Benedictine Guild and Alter Society of St. Joseph Church, Crescent Springs. She was a member of St. Vincent DePaul Society.
Survivors include her husband, Raymond J. Bechtold; sons, Joseph R. Bechtold of Ft. Wright, Kenneth R. Bechtold and Raymond J. Bechtold, both of Ludlow, William J. Bechtold of Independence, Paul B. Bechtold of Elsmere and Robert L. Bechtold of Ft. Mitchell; daughters, Rosanne M. Phelps of Erlanger, Theresa Mosley of Lawrenceburg, Ind., and Annette Woods of Erlanger; a brother, Harry Wind of Covington; sisters, Rita Held of Covington, Florence Riesenberg of Deer Park, Ohio, and Henrietta Schneider of Independence; and 16 grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Visitation will be from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger. Burial will be in St. Joseph Old Cemetery, Cincinnati. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society, 7730 U.S. 42, Suite C6, Florence 41042, or St. Elizabeth Hospice, 401 E. 20th St., Covington 41014.
Edith Beckett, 81, of Cynthiana, died Friday at Grandhaven Nursing Home, Cynthiana. She was a member of Elmarch United Methodist Church, Cynthiana.
Survivors include a brother, Luther O. Beckett of Harrison County.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Drake Funeral Home, Cynthiana. Visitation will be there from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Burial will be in Battle Grove Cemetery, Cynthiana. Memorials are suggested to Elmarch United Methodist Church, Elmarch Ave., Cynthiana 41031, or to Hospice of the Bluegrass, 2312 Alexandria Drive, Lexington 40504.
Emma Childs, 90, of Covington, died Wednesday at Ambassador Nursing Home, Cincinnati.
She was a founding member of Crucifixion Baptist Church, Covington. She was a member and past worthy matron of Kenton Chapter No. 40, Order of Eastern Star, Covington. She was a past deputy of Desert of Kentucky and a past deputy of the Oasis of Covington. She was past illustrious commandress of Eleikum Court No. 56, Daughters of Isis, Covington. She was past daughter ruler of the Elks Meadowlark Temple No. 731, Covington. Her husband, John Childs, died in 1974.
Survivors include a son, Rev. Robert Bryant of Cincinnati.
Services will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Jones and Simpson Funeral Home, Covington. Visitation will begin there at 6 p.m. Monday. Burial will be in Mary Smith Cemetery, Elsmere.
Percy "Doc" Elrod, 89, of Foster, died at 2:20 a.m. Thursday at River Valley Nursing Home, Butler.
He was a veterinarian in Pendleton and Bracken counties, a 58-year member of Woodmen of the World, and a former Election Commissioner for Bracken County.
Survivors include a son, Alton Elrod of Foster; a sister, Novenda Lytle of Morehead; two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Peoples Funeral Home, Falmouth. Visitation will be there from 4 to 8 p.m. today. Burial will be in Lenoxburg Cemetery, Falmouth. Memorials are suggested to Lenoxburg Christian Church cemetery Chapel, or to the Margaret Morford Scholarship Fund, c/o Northern Elementary School, Butler 41006.
Dolores Theele Hanks, 82, of Lakeside Park, died Thursday at her home.
Arrangements are pending at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger.
Frederick A. "Red" Moss, 80, of Dry Ridge, died at 1:40 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North Hospice, Covington. He a retired truck driver for Hall's Trucking Co., Cincinnati. He was a former owner/operator of Moss Roofing and Sheet Metal Co., Latonia. He was a member and past monarch of Kishmee Grotto, a member of American Association of Retired Persons, a member of Golden Rule Lodge 345, a member of Teamsters Local 100 in Cincinnati and a member of Bass Anglers Sportsman Society.
Survivors include his wife, Alma Moss; sons, Don Moss of Florence and Jerry Moss of Burlington; daughters, Barbara Saylor of Dry Ridge and Brenda Rodgers of Covington; 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Taylor Mill. Visitation will be there from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill.
Memorials are suggested to Grotto Enchanted Lantern Dentistry for Disabled Children, c/o Clyde Small, 89 Goodrich Drive, Florence 41042.
Florence Angie Supplee, 70, of Carrollton, died at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Vencor Hospital, Louisville. She was a retired sales clerk and a member of Carrollton First Baptist Church. She was a former member of Milton United Methodist Church. Her husband, Ed Supplee, died in 1986. Survivors include a son, Michael Supplee of Carrollton; a brother, Franklin Thieman of Carrollton; and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Carrollton First Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Graham-Dunn Funeral Home in Carrollton, and after 1 p.m. Sunday at the church. Burial will be in Carrollton IOOF Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Carrollton First Baptist Church.
Douglas Roy Vaughn, 43, of Crittenden, died Thursday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence. He was a member of Covenant Apostolic Church, Cincinnati.
Survivors include his parents, Roy Vaughn and Imogene Vaughn, both of Crittenden; brothers, David R. Vaughn of Lexington and Dennis K. Vaughn of Crittenden; sisters, Pamela M. Carnes and Marcia Ann Moore, both of Dry Ridge.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Eckler-Hudson Funeral Home, Dry Ridge. Visitation will be there from 5 to 8 p.m. today. Burial will be in Hill Crest Cemetery, Dry Ridge.
