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Date of these obituaries: 11-24-2003
Ruth Kottmyer, active in church, community
Ruth Vivian Kottmyer spent the last 18 months of her life in a Florence nursing home. Naturally a quite person, she talked even less toward the end.
Her eyes, however, were a different story. The nursing home staff always talked about her beautiful, expressive eyes, said her daughter, Sherry Phelps of Verona.
"She was a very sweet and wonderful individual, " said Sherry's husband, Marvin Phelps. He said she became a second mother to him after his own mother died about six years ago.
Mrs. Kottmyer, 80, had a stroke Tuesday morning and died Saturday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit in Covington.
She was a former officer of the Florence Order of the Eastern Star, and spent a year as the grand matron of the Kentucky order. She was also active in the Constance Christian Church, singing in the choir and helping with the annual oyster supper.
She loved doing things for her children and grandchildren, her daughter said.
The family of her late husband, Richard Lee Kottmyer, owned the Anderson Ferry for 130 years, from just after the Civil War until the mid-1980s. When he ran the boat, she ran errands for him, getting tools and equipment for the boat.
When he retired in 1986, they started traveling the world, visiting every continent including Antarctica. They were flying home to Constance from South Africa in 1998 when he had a heart attack and later died.
"I know now she's happy because she's with him, " Sherry Phelps said. "That makes it easier."
Other survivors include a daughter, Judy Tinsley McPeak of Syracuse, N.Y.; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at noon Tuesday at Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Hebron. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, with Eastern Star services at 7:30 p.m. Burial will be in Hebron Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41014.
James W. Barton, 68, of Louisville, died Friday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, Covington. He was a sales and service representative with Checker Motors Corp. and a retired owner of Covington Yellow Cab. He was a member of Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in Painesville, Ohio, the Scottish Rite, Kosair Temple of Louisville, Grand Lodge No. 28 in Painesville and a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Painesville.
Survivors include his wife, Jeannine McMichael Barton; daughters, Karen Wehage of Erlanger and Jennifer Olt of Villa Hills; his mother, Katherine Barton of Erlanger; and four grandchildren.
Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 tonight at the funeral home. Entombment will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Erlanger. Memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41014.
Charles "C.J." Bays, 54, of Falmouth, died Saturday at his home. He was a member of Unity Christian Church in Falmouth, an Air Force veteran and the Kentucky National Guard, and a member of American Legion Post No. 109 in Falmouth, the Kentucky Motorcycle Association and Rolling Thunder Chapter No. 5, Falmouth.
Survivors include his wife, Bessie Margail Bays; a son, James Michael Wright, at home; a brother, Oscar Ray Bays of Indianapolis; and a sister, Kathy B. Alberta of Jackson.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Peoples Funeral Home, Falmouth. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Pythian Grove Cemetery, Berry.
Fred M. Black, 80, of Erlanger, died Thursday at his home. He was a construction foreman with Turner Advertising Co. and an Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth Ann Black; sons, Greg Black of Erlanger and Rodger Black of Loveland, Ohio; a daughter, Connie Lee Twyman of Clinton, N.J.; sisters, Mayme Wainscott of Florence and Dorothy May Peeno of Florence; and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Erlanger. Entombment will be in Forest Lawn Mausoleum, Erlanger. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Highway, Florence, Ky. 41042.
Juanita P. Bridewell, 66, of Covington, died at 10:05 a.m. Thursday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, Covington. She was a retired manager with the Internal Revenue Service and a teller with U.S. Bank, both in Covington.
Survivors include her husband, Thomas H. Bridewell Sr.; sons, Thomas H. Bridewell of Newport and Gregory W. Bridewell of Covington; daughters, Terri Lee Volkering of Dayton, Deborah Lynn Sester of Knoxville, Barbara Jean Dennis of Sonora, Tami Sue Cunningham of Cincinnati and Donna Rae Allen of Bellevue; stepsisters, Elvora Combs of Mishawaka, Ind., and Helen Dow of Campbellsburg; a stepbrother, Michael McCormick of Campbellsburg; 19 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Taylor Mill. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Entombment will be in Floral Hills Mausoleum, Taylor Mill. Memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41014.
George T. Cummins, 79, of Augusta, died Friday at Meadowview Regional Medical Center, Maysville. He was a licensed civil engineer and registered land surveyor, a member of the Kentucky Society of Professional Engineers, a member of the board of directors of the Frankfort Water Plan Board and St. Augustine Church, Augusta. He was a past president and founding member of the Bracken County Historical Society, and was instrumental in saving the 1811 Jail in Augusta. A daughters, Jenny Cummins, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth Gabriel Cummins; a son, George Thoring Cummins of Beattyville; daughters, Melissa Blancscet of Houston, Megan Switzer of Lexington, Mary Beth Sheets of Frankfort and Molly Weed of Orlando, Fla.; a sister, Joan Clarke of Nashville, Tenn.; and eight grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Augustine Church, Augusta. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight at Metcalfe-Hennessey Funeral Home, Augusta. Burial will be in St. Augustine Cemetery, Augusta.
Wilma L. Florence, 77, of Falmouth, died Saturday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence. She was a homemaker and a member of Falmouth Baptist Church. Her husband, George O. Florence, died in 1997. A son, George O. Florence Jr., drowned during the 1997 flooding in Northern Kentucky.
Survivors include sons, Terry Lee Florence of Menomonee Falls, Wis., and David Allen Florence of Falmouth; a daughter, Rita Sue Florence of Erlanger; a brother, Kenneth McGuire of Winchester; sisters, Alma Courtney and Fern Young, both of Winchester; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Woodhead Funeral Home, Falmouth. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Falmouth. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Highway, Suite 2A, Florence, Ky. 41042.
Rudy Marion Garner, 56, of Independence, died Thursday at her home. He was a former forklift operator with Loreal and an Army veteran of the Vietnam War.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy Kaffenberger Garner; a daughter, Suzanne Duncan of Independence; a son, John Garner of Independence; a brother, Danny Garner of Visalia; a stepbrother, Wayne Ballinger of Independence; his mother, Gertrude Ballinger of Visalia; and two granddaughters.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill. Memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41014.
Patrick John Fariello, 47, of Demossville, died at 2:55 p.m. Friday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. He was a retired Air Force master sergeant and a member of St. John Church, Pendleton County.
Survivors include his wife, Cheryl A. Flanagan Fariello; daughters, Donna Fariello Vahovius of Enterprise, Ala., and Lauren Fariello of Millbrook, Ala.; his parents, Vincent and Helen Stirncorb Fariello, both of Demossville; brothers, Tony Fariello and Joe Fariello, both of Morning View; a sister, Connie Hazel of Lawrenceburg, Ind.; and a granddaughter.
Memorial Mass of Christian burial was Sunday at St. Anthony Church, Taylor Mill. Memorials are suggested to Disabled American Veterans, 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, Ky. 41076. Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia, handled arrangements.
Martha Elizabeth Hawkins, 86, of Bellevue, died Thursday at Villasprings Care Center, Erlanger. She was a former office worker for U.S. Shoe Corp. and a member of Bellevue Dayton Seniors and Happy Timers at St. Joseph Church, Crescent Springs.
Survivors include daughters, Mary Alicia Jordan of Union, Nancy Ann Kanienberg of Cincinnati and Katherine Ward of Villa Hills; sisters, Barbara Busch of Harrison, Ohio, and Margaret Deaton of Fairfax, Va.; a brother, Hugh Schaefer of Blanchester, Ohio; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Divine Mercy Parish, Bellevue. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at A.C. Dobbling and Son Funeral Home, Bellevue. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Northern Kentucky, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075; or the charity of the donor's choice.
Bertha R. Hudson, 80, of Cincinnati, died Friday at Riverview Community Center, Cincinnati. She was a homemaker. Her husband, William Hudson, preceded her in death.
Survivors include daughters, Sherry McWhorter and Becky Rice, both of Crittenden, and Judy Thompson of Cincinnati; sons, Robert Hudson of Florence and Thomas Hudson of Franklin; brothers, William E. Riddell of Covington and Ernest Riddell of Falmouth; sisters, Elsie Readnower of Williamstown and Aubrey Hutton of Folsom; 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Elliston-Stanley Funeral Home, Crittenden. Visitation will begin there at noon. Burial will be in Williamstown Cemetery.
Mabel C. Johnson, 74, of Latonia, died Friday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North, Covington.
Arrangements are pending at Don Catchen and Son Funeral Home, Elsmere.
Pearl Jane Moore, of Corbin, died Friday at Hillcrest Nursing Home, Corbin. She was a homemaker and a member of Rosebud Chapter Order of the Eastern Star. Her husband, Terry E. Moore, died in 1984.
Survivors include a daughter, Bonnie Owens of Monticello; a brother, Earl Mullins of Corbin; two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will begin there at noon Tuesday. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Erlanger.
Robert Newman, 47, of Newport, died Friday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas. He was an electrician with Quality Electric in New Richmond, Ohio, and a member of Jokers Motorcycle Club in Maysville and the Newport Eagles.
Survivors include his wife, Vicky Lynn Newman; sons, Chris Newman and Jon Newman, both of Newport; a daughter, Tiffany Newman of Augusta; a stepson, David Kay of Newport; a stepdaughter, Tiffany Smith of Newport; brothers, David Newman, Mike Newman and Jason Newman, all of Florence, and Darryl Newman of Silver Grove; and two grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Dunaway Cemetery, Beattyville. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight at Cooper Funeral Home, Mays Lick.
Mary Buecker Pelfrey, 83, of Cold Spring, died at 4:44 p.m. Friday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Newport, where she was a member of the church council and a Sunday school teacher. Her husband, Maxwell Pelfrey, died in 1962.
Survivors include a son, Timothy Pelfrey of Marysville, Ohio; daughters, Mary Lois Chaney of Liberty Township, Ohio, and Carol Kean of Alexandria; a stepson, William Pelfrey of Alexandria; a sister, Martha Geis of Greenhills, Ohio; and six grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Newport. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate. Memorials are suggested to Alzheimer's Disease Association, 644 Linn St., Suite 1026, Cincinnati, Ohio 45203.
Ethel M. Schleweiss, 86, of Cincinnati, formerly of Fort Mitchell, died at 7:15 p.m. Thursday at Eastgate Health Care, Cincinnati. She was a member of Lakeside Christian Church, Lakeside Park, and was a retired assembler with the Cincinnati Time Recorder. Her husband, Edward C. Schleweiss, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a daughter, Gaynell Trisler of the Mississippi; a brother, Elmo Rudd of Cincinnati; two grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Services were this morning at Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia. Burial was in St. John Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to Lakeside Christian Church, 195 Buttermilk Pike, Lakeside Park, Ky. 41017.
Raymond E. Schuster, 55, of Southgate, died Friday at his home. He was a lineman with Cinergy, a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Masonic Lodge No. 358, Scottish Rite and Shriners. He was a retired member of the Southgate Volunteer Fire Department, where he was a charter member of its life squad.
Survivors include his wife, Janet Fry Schuster; daughters, Rae Lynn Schuster of Fort Thomas and Regina Schuster of Southgate; sons, Richard Schuster of Fort Thomas and Robert Schuster of Southgate; and three grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at A.C. Dobbling and Son Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Alexandria Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Stan Strauss Student Aid Fund, in care of St. John United Church of Christ, Park Ave. and Nelson Place, Newport, Ky. 41071.
Samuel "Tubby" Skirvin, 60, of Carrollton, died Sunday at his home. He was a retired employee of Dayton Walton Corp., Carrollton, and a former member of the National Guard. His wife, Marilyn Skirvin, preceded him in death.
Survivors include sisters, Ella F. Wright and Wanda Linkilder, both of Carrollton, and Sue Downing of Port Royal; and brothers, Jerry Skirvin of Carrollton, Benje Skirvin of Uvalde, Texas, and Kenneth Skirvin of Indianapolis.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Family Worship Center, Carrollton. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the center. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery, Carrollton. Graham-Dunn Funeral Home, Carrollton, is handling arrangements.
Emerson "Pete" Sowder, 76, of Williamstown, died Friday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center Grant County, Williamstown. He was a farmer and a member of Marcus Crooked Creek Baptist Church in Pendleton County.
Survivors include his wife, Roberta Sowder; daughters, Karen F. Fitzpatrick of Crittenden and Donna R. Bowman of Crestview Hills; stepsons, Donald R. Miller and Barry L. Miller, both of Falmouth, Carter B. Miller of Butler and Rodney G. Miller of California; a brother, Kenneth Sowder of Versailles; sisters, Emma Jean Beckham of Williamstown, Wanda M. Colley of Waycross, Ga., and Joyce Palmer of Wilmington, Del.; and three grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Elliston-Stanley Funeral Home, Williamstown. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Pythian Grove Cemetery, Berry. Memorials are suggested to Marcus Crooked Creek Baptist Church, Kentucky 330, Berry, Ky. 41003.
Lucy Ellen Hill Harrison Sullivan, 84, of Cincinnati, formerly of Gallatin County, died Friday at Regency Village Nursing Home, Cincinnati. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include a daughter, Saundra Thornton of Lexington, Inc.; sons, John J. Harrison of Ludlow and Robert Harrison of Kissimmee, Fla.; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Warsaw Cemetery. Carlton-Lowder Funeral Home, Warsaw, is handling arrangements.
William Turner, 72, of Independence, died Sunday at his home.
Arrangements are pending at Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia.
Ida M. Lachenman Vetter, of Crestview Hills, died at 8:32 a.m. Saturday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, Charles G. Vetter; daughters, Kathleen Vetter of Cabin John, Md., Ginny Roeding of Lakeside Park, Nancy Collins of Green Township, Ohio, and Mary Jo Scheper of Crestview Hills; a sister, Sister Virginia Ann, S.C.N., of Bardstown; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Mary Queen of Heaven Church, Erlanger. Visitation will begin there at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in St. John Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice. Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Erlanger, is handling arrangements.
Aurelia Howell Wolfe, 90, of Williamstown, died Wednesday at Gallatin County Health Care Center, Warsaw. She was a seamstress with McGregor Co. and Hutch Sporting Goods Inc., and a member of Stringtown Christian Church, Corinth. Her first husband, Ray Howell, and a daughter, Anna Rae Howell, both preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, William J. Howell of Corinth.
Services were Saturday at Stringtown Christian Church. Burial was in Pythian Grove Cemetery, Berry. Memorials are suggested to Stringtown Christian Church, 8475 Cordova Road, Corinth, Ky. 41010; or St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41014. Elliston-Stanley Funeral Home, Williamstown, handled arrangements.
