Search Archived Marriage Records
Date of these obituaries: 04-30-2003
George Spencer, started international tourneys Few native Covingtonians earned the kind of international recognition that George C. Spencer Jr. did.
Mr. Spencer, 62, who died Sunday at his home in Petersburg, started the World Wide Basketball League, which brought European semi-pro and American college teams together.
It began in the 1970s, with Spencer arranging for American colleges to play a foreign team in America and then to play the team in Europe. Then he started annual Christmas and Thanksgiving tournaments hosted by the American University of San Juan.
The University of Kentucky played in one of the tournaments in 1998 and was defeated by the University of Pittsburgh, said Mr. Spencer's widow, Sharynn Page Spencer.
The University of Cincinnati played teams in Greece in 1991, games that Mr. Spencer arranged.
"He was one of the most talented entrepreneurs that I have ever encountered, " his wife said.
She estimated that her husband made 150 trips to Europe over the course of his life.
His full-time job was with the city of Cincinnati. He retired after 36 years, having risen to the position of recreation supervisor.
Through that job, he worked tirelessly with inner-city youths, trying to get them scholarships or jobs with European teams, his wife said.
"He was a mentor and a friend, and nobody ever knew about it, " she said. "He never bragged about himself. When he was sick, he never complained."
Mr. Spencer's son, Samuel R. Spencer, preceded him in death.
Other survivors include sons, George C. Spencer III of Hamilton, Ohio, and Rhet C. Spencer of Mount Lookout; daughters, Jody Mangeot of Villa Hills and Suzanne Benaidrene and Leslie Spencer, both of Forest Park; a sister, Debra Spencer of Dayton; and eight grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Covington. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati.
Memorials are suggested to Greater Cincinnati Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Wall, 213 W. Ninth St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
Patricia A. DiRocco, 63, of Crescent Springs, died Sunday at her sister's home in Villa Hills.
She was a medical secretary for St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood.
Survivors include her son, Edward DiRocco of Crescent Springs; sisters, Eileen Preston of Danville, Barbara Agee of Crescent Springs and Sr. Kathleen Ryan O.S.R., Mary Ellen Funke, and Nancy Ryan, all of Villa Hills; and a brother, James Ryan of Crescent Springs.
Mass of Christian burial will be at noon Thursday at Mother of God Church, Covington. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Fort Mitchell.
Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association, Ohio Valley Affiliate, 2936 Vernon Place, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219 or to the American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Highway, Suite 2A, Florence, Ky. 41042.
Tiffany Rae Farmer, 13, of Independence, died Sunday.
She was a student at Twenhofel Junior High School and a member of Faith Community United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her parents, Julie Anna Estes of Covington and Charles "Dude" Farmer of Independence; a sister, Selena Estes of Covington; a brother, Dylan Estes of Covington; paternal grandmother, Pat Farmer of Independence; and maternal grandparents, Joyce and Charles Ruf of Ryland Heights.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell.
Memorials are suggested to Kenton County Animal Shelter, 11020 Mary Laidley Drive, Fort Mitchell, Ky. 41017.
Kathleen Moore Hamilton, 90, of Brooksville, died Monday at Meadowview Regional Medical Center, Maysville.
She was a circuit court clerk retired from Bracken County Circuit Court. She also was a member of Brooksville Christian Church, Order of Eastern Star and Bracken County Homemakers. Her husband, Calvin Hamilton, died in 1980.
Survivors include her foster daughter, Sandy King Campbell of Paris; and a sister, Willette Booker of St. Simons Island, Ga.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Moore and Parker Funeral Home, Brooksville. Visitation begins there at noon Thursday. Burial will be in Brooksville Cemetery.
Jimmy D. Harris, 63, of Erlanger, died Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood.
Arrangements are pending at Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home, Ludlow.
Eugene Ray Hinton, 85, of Florence, died Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood.
He was an electrician for Hinton Electric Co., and a member of Florence Christian Church, IBEW and Florence Lions Club. His wife, Lafell Hinton died in 1997.
Survivors include daughters, Gayle Buie of Eugene, Ore., and Janet Raye Fitzgerald of Taylor Mill; a son, Wayne Hinton of Fairview, Texas; sisters, Eulene M. Hensley of Fort Mitchell and Golda Miller of Lexington; a brother, Frank Owen Hinton of Blue Lick; 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation begins there at 1 p.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill.
Memorials are suggested to the American Lung Association, P.O. Box 9067, Louisville, Ky. 45209-0067.
William Francis Kuyper Sr., 87, of Fort Thomas, died at 12:06 p.m. Monday at his daughter's home in Fort Thomas.
He was a retired order department manager for Interlake Steel, Newport, a men's softball coach in Newport, where he managed many Industrial League championships.
He also was a member of Christ Church United Church of Christ, Fort Thomas, and Fort Thomas Retired Men's Club, and an Army veteran of World War II, serving in the Counter Intelligence Corps.
His first wife, Helen Davis Kuyper, died in 1972, and second wife, Margaret Eades Kuyper, died in 2000.
Survivors include a daughter, Judy Alessandro of Fort Thomas; a son, William F. Kuyper Jr. of Fort Thomas; a sister, Ruth Walz of Alexandria; five grandchildren, and three great-grand-daughters.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Christ Church United Church of Christ. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas.
Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Northern Kentucky, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075.
Frank Albert Laible, 87, of Cold Spring, died at 10:09 p.m. Monday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas.
He was a retired jet parts coordinator for General Electric Co., Evendale, Ohio. He also was a member of St. Mary's Senior Citizens, and a former member of St. Vincent DePaul Society at St. Bernard Church, Dayton. His son, Frank Laible, died in 2001.
Survivors include his wife, Norma Osterhage Laible; daughters, Carol Laible of Cold Spring and Ruth Fries of Butler; a sister, Sr. Dorothy Laible C.D.P of Melbourne; a brother, George C. Laible of Fort Wright; four grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph Church, Cold Spring. Visitation begins there at 10 a.m. Friday. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas.
Memorials are suggested to St. Anne Convent, Ky. 8, Melbourne, Ky. 41059, or St. Joseph Church, Memorial Fund, 4011 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, Ky. 41075.
John M. "Jack" Martin, 68, of Visalia, died at 5:42 a.m. Monday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas.
He was a retired construction worker and a member of Claryville Social Club.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret Keller Martin; a daughter, Norma Tyree; and sisters, Dorothy Bohnert, Betty McCarty and JoAnn McCaughan.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Alexandria Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in Alexandria Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to St. Mary SMART Campaign, 121 W. Main St., Alexandria, Ky. 41001.
Thomas John Napoli, 77, of Covington, died Sunday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North Hospice Unit, Covington.
He was a retired American Airlines mechanic, New York, and a Marine Corps veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his son, Lee Napoli of Covington; and two grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Camp Nelson National Cemetery, Nicholasville.
Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger, is handling the arrangements.
William Noel, 95, of Corinth, died at 4:16 p.m. Monday at St. Joseph Hospital Hospice Unit, Lexington.
He was a retired farmer. His wife, Lovinda Noel, died in 1999.
Survivors include his brother, John G. Noel of Corinth; and a sister, Opal Noel of Cynthiana.
Services will be at 7 p.m. today at Rogers-McDaniel Funeral Home, Corinth. Visitation begins there at 5 p.m. today. Burial will be in Shiloh Cemetery, Corinth.
Phyllis Roberts, 58, of Ludlow, died Tuesday at her home.
Arrangements are pending at Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Ludlow.
Nancy Jane Stephens, 65, of Florence, died Sunday her home.
She was an office manager for Hertz Rental Car and a member of East Bend Baptist Church.
Survivors include her mother, Lucille Stephens of Union; and brothers, George Stephens of Union and Benny Stephens of Crittenden.
Services will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation begins there at 5 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Burlington Cemetery.
