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Date of these obituaries: 04-25-2003
Rev. Joseph F. Willmes, 89, a Jesuit missionary in India
The Rev. Joseph F. Willmes, S.J., a Newport native who spent nearly 55 years as a Jesuit missionary in India, died April 18 at Durlabji Hospital in Jaipur, India. He was 89.
Soon after his ordination on June 19, 1948, Father Willmes was assigned to the Jesuit Mission in Patna, India. At the time, Jesuit assignments to international missions were for life. So he bade farewell to his older brother, Robert, a Jesuit stationed in Cleveland and departed for India on Sept. 20, 1949.
After Hindi language studies, he was assigned in 1950 to the burgeoning church in Chakni, a village in the northern Indian state of Bihar, where he served as co-pastor and taught in the parish school.
Two years later, he was assigned to the new Jesuit school, St. Xavier's, in Jaipur, India, hundreds of miles west of Patna.
He served in a variety of posts at the schools in Patna and Jaipur over the next 30 years, including teacher, hostel superintendent, rector, treasurer and assistant headmaster.
He returned to Jaipur in 1982, where he served until just a few months before his death as minister of the Jesuit community and house treasurer.
Father Willmes was, in many ways, a model Jesuit, said the Rev. Jerry Drinane, a long-time Jesuit missionary to Patna.
"Joe was a very disciplined person in his own religious life and duties. He was faithful and regular in all his routines and habits. In short, he was an excellent role model for his fellow Jesuits and the students under his care, " Drinane said.
"At the same time, he wasn't rigid or cold -- quite the opposite. He was a very genial, friendly and warm person." Born in 1914 in Newport, Father Willmes graduated from St. Xavier High School in Finneytown, Ohio, in 1933 and studied at Xavier University for two years before entering the Jesuit novitiate at Milford, Ohio, in 1935.
He earned a bachelor's and a master's in philosophy from Loyola University in Chicago. From 1942 to 1945, he was assigned to his alma mater, St. Xavier High School, where he taught, directed the camera club, and coached the school's debate team.
He completed his theology studies at West Baden College in West Baden, Ind.
He was an amateur photographer who taught that craft to many of his students in India. Several went on to become celebrated professional photographers, and one of them, Ragubhir Singh, has achieved international fame for his work.
Father Willmes's funeral Mass on Sunday was celebrated by the bishop of Ajmer and 20 other priests, and was attended by a large crowd.
"Father Willmes was a source of inspiration to all who came into contact with him, " said the Rev. Joseph Mannaravelil, superior of the Delhi Region of the Society of Jesus. "He loved the Society, and he loved the people of India."
He is survived by nieces Marian Ochs, of Cincinnati and Sister Margery Rickling, SJW, of Walton; a nephew, Donald Rickling of Miramar, Fla., and nine great nieces and nephews.
Memorial are suggested to the Jesuit International Missions or Jesuit Partnership, 2059 North Sedgwick St., Chicago, Ill., 60614.
Ronald Keith Bingham, 60, of Fort Mitchell, died at 9:37 p.m. April 15 at Mary Rose Mission, Covington. He was a carpenter, a member of the American Pool Players Association and an Air Force veteran.
Survivors include sons, Mark A. Bingham of Fort Mitchell and R. Keith Bingham of Melbourne; and a brother, Wayne Bingham of Baltimore.
Mass of Christian burial was this morning at St. Augustine Church, Covington. Cremation was at Hillside Chapel, Cincinnati. Memorials are suggested to Mary Rose Mission, 1543 Russell St., Covington, Ky. 41014. Don Catchen and Son Funeral Home, Covington, is handling arrangements.
Ica D. Bush, 92, of Augusta, died Thursday at Augusta Health Care Center. She was a member of Dover Methodist Church. Her husband, Charlie Bush, died in 1987. A son, Bobby Bush, and a daughter, Pamela Bush, also preceded her in death.
Survivors include a daughter, Dian Mains of Augusta; two granddaughters and 11 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Metcalfe-Hennessey Funeral Home, Augusta. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Rosemont Cemetery, Dover. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Hope, 1 W. McDonald Parkway, Maysville, Ky. 41056.
Gail Ann Couture Duke, 48, of Dayton, died Wednesday at her home. She was a specialist with the Internal Revenue Service's innocent spouse program.
Survivors include her husband, Jack Duke; sons, Chris Duke of Union and Eric Duke of Dayton; a daughters, Trisha Duke of Dayton; a brother, Robert Couture of Manchester, N.H.; and four grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at A.C. Dobbling and Son Funeral Home, Bellevue. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Northern Kentucky, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075.
Edith Mae Hicks, 93, of Florence, died Wednesday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence. She was a card clerk with Gibson Greeting Card Co. and a member of First Church of Christ, Burlington. Her husband, Raymond Hicks, preceded her in death.
Survivors include daughters, Doris Hicks and Norma Hicks, both of Florence; sisters, Ruby Wolfe of Florence and Dena Rodgers of Parma, Ohio; two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to Alzheimer's Disease Association, 644 Linn St., Suite 1026, Cincinnati, Ohio 45203; First Church of Christ, 6080 Camp Ernst Road, Burlington, Ky. 41005.
Virginia Marie Edmonds Kaub, 94, of Latonia, died at 5 p.m. Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. She was a cook with Trinity Day Care and Rosedale Manor, Latonia, and was a member of Holy Cross Church, Latonia. Her husband, Clemens W. Kaub, died in 1972.
Survivors include a son, Ronald Kaub of Latonia; daughters, Judy Fagley of Independence and Carolyn Cable of Cincinnati; and five grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Holy Cross Church. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Swindler and Currin Funeral Home, Latonia. Burial will be in St. Cecilia Cemetery, Independence. Memorials are suggested in the form of Masses.
Thomas George Kurtz, 52, of Fort Thomas, died at 9:40 a.m. Tuesday at his home. He was a retired printer with Wendling Printing Co., Newport.
Survivors include a foster sister, Joan Maegerle Wilcox of Cincinnati; nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Thomas Church, Fort Thomas. Visitation will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Monday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas, followed by prayers. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas.
Wilma Jean Godsey, 67, of Hebron, died Thursday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood.
Arrangements are pending at Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Hebron.
Todd Sheets, 35, of Williamstown, died Thursday at St. Elizabeth Hospice in Covington.
Arrangements are pending at Elliston-Stanley Funeral Home, Williamstown.
Rose Louise Snapp, 99, of Redington Shores, Fla., formerly of Covington, died Tuesday at Fair Oaks Assisted Living Center, St. Petersburg, Fla. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include a daughter, Helenrose Liedhegner of Redington Shores; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at the convenience of the family. National Cremation Society, St. Petersburg, is handling arrangements.
Phyllis Jean Taylor, 67, of Florence, died Wednesday at her home. She was a homemaker and a member of New Banklick Baptist Church, Walton.
Survivors include her husband, Estil Taylor; daughters, Tammi Dearing of Erlanger, Kelli Williams of Burlington, Frances Wright of London and Terry Wright of Walton; sons, Jeffrey Taylor of Dry Ridge, Ricky Taylor of Petersburg and Steven Taylor of Sparta; a stepson, Estil Lee Taylor of Columbus, Ind.; a sister, JoAnn Glasson of North Vernon, Ind.; brothers, Junior Southern of Hope, Ind., and Ray Sullivan of Flat Rock, Ind.; 20 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Burlington Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society NCICFUL, P.O. Box 102454, Atlanta, Ga. 30368.
Ralph Thomas Woolums Sr., 63, of Sadieville, died Wednesday at St. Joseph Hospital, Lexington. He was a farmer and a member of Connersville Christian Church, where he was a member of the church board and Sunday school superintendent. He was a member of the Davis cemetery board. A daughter, Bobbi Sue Woolums, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Wanda Anness Woolums; sons, Ralph Woolums Jr. and Richard Woolums, both of Harrison County, and Allen Woolums of Las Vegas; a daughter, Nancy Underwood of Harrison County; his mother, Vera Riley Woolums of Georgetown; 10 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Ware Funeral Home, Cynthiana. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Connersville Christian Church Building Fund, 2190 Highway 1842 East, Cynthiana, Ky. 41031.
