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Date of these obituaries: 02-15-2003
Eugene Keith, noted woodworking teacher
Eugene C. Keith, an award-winning woodworking teacher who inspired his students to claim state and national honors, died Thursday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South in Edgewood. He was 61.
Mr. Keith, of Independence, taught woodworking for 30 years at Simon Kenton High School.
"He was very strict with his students and he demanded their best, " said his wife, Barbara. "But he let them know how much he cared. He'd say 'You've got to have pride in yourself. You've got to have pride in your work.'"
His teaching style combined high expectations with high praise. It wasn't unusual for the projects of Mr. Keith's students to include dining room tables, hutches, beds, turned bowls and carved lamps.
His students consistently won championships in the statewide Eastern Kentucky University-sponsored high school craft competitions and the Technology Students Association state competitions.
"The students never had enough time in class to do the kind of work they wanted to do, so he would come in at night and on weekends to work with them, " his wife said. "We literally lived in the school shop when he was teaching."
He also worked with 4-H groups and Boy Scouts, helping them develop state fair projects.
Mr. Keith was a graduate of Berea College and worked as a carpenter before getting his master's degree in industrial education. He was an avid trout fisherman and a Civil War history enthusiast, and a Mason.
In 1991 he won the Kentucky Post Golden Apple award for exceptional teachers.
He retired in 1997, but continued to teach periodically.
Many of his students became his friends. Several years ago a former student set up a scholarship fund to help needy students continue their education. He named the fund for his own mentor -- Mr. Keith.
"He taught me what true love meant, " said his wife. "When he loved someone, it was all inclusive.
"One of the biggest things I learned from him was something that's sometimes hard for teachers: When a student does something he shouldn't do, let them know you don't like what they did, but let them know you like them. His students always knew that."
Other survivors include sons, Frederick N. Keith of Covington and Douglas Aaron Keith of Edgewood; and a brother, James Lee Keith of Berea.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Independence Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Eugene C. Keith Scholarship Fund, 105 Fawn Run Court, Georgetown, Ky. 40324.
Gerald David Ball, 64, of Covington, died Sunday at his home. He was a veteran of the Navy.
Survivors include his daughter, Gina Marie Garrett of Pennsylvania; sisters Betty P. Owens of Newport and Willa Anna Jo Popp of Madison, Ind.; a brother, Harry Douglas Ball of Carrollton; and two grandchildren.
Services will be at noon Monday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Covington. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate. Memorials are suggested to The Love and Faith Fellowship, 728 York St., Newport, Ky. 41071.
James Edward Burgess, 63, of Covington, died Thursday at his home.
He was an auto body repairman for Crone's Auto Body and a veteran of the Navy.
Survivors include his son, Richard Burgess of Independence; daughters Cassandra Davis and Kelly Burgess, both of Covington; a sister, Janice Lemon of Florence; and six grandchildren.
Services will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. at the funeral home. Cremation will be in Hillside Chapel, Cincinnati. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Highway, Suite 2a, Florence, Ky. 41042.
Paul Douglas Dierig Sr., 62, of Fort Thomas, died Wednesday at Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center, Sevierville, Tenn.
He was a truck driver retired from Holland Trucking and a member of St. Catherine of Siena Church, Fort Thomas. A daughter, Elizabeth Dierig, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Hiser Dierig; a daughter, Becky Dierig Butler of Union; sons Paul Dierig Jr. of Taylor Mill and Eric Dierig of Southgate; brothers Walter Dierig of Hebron, Charlie Dierig of California, Jerry Dierig of Wilder, Jim Dierig of Bellevue, Jack Dierig and Torn Dierig, both of Highland Heights, and Dick Dierig, Don Dierig and Ron Dierig, all of Fort Thomas; sisters Suzi McCoy of Cincinnati, Carol Butsch of California and Ann McManus and Patty Merkle, both of Fort Thomas; and five grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Catherine of Siena Church. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Dobbling Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Memorials are suggested to Campbell Lodge Boys Home, 150 Skyline Drive, Cold Spring, Ky. 41076.
Ada Ray Carr Ecklar, 89, of Cynthiana, died Thursday at her home. She was a charter member of the Falmouth Road Homemakers and Benson United Methodist Church and was recognized in 2001 by the church Board of Elections for her many years of distinguished service. Her husband, Carl Ecklar, a grandson, Bruce Ecklar, and a granddaughter, Lou Mary Wachter, all preceded her in death.
Survivors include sons Rex Ecklar of Richmond and Carl Ray Ecklar and Ronald Ecklar, both of Harrison County; six grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Ware Funeral Home, Cynthiana. Visitation will be from 5 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Battle Grove Cemetery, Cynthiana. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of the Bluegrass, 508 E. Pike St., Cynthiana, Ky. 41031.
George E. "Ted" Hamann, 52, of Independence, died at 3:45 p.m. Thursday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood.
He was a member of Mary Queen of Heaven Church, Erlanger, attended New Perceptions, Edgewood, and Cardinal Hill of Northern Kentucky Adult Day Care.
Survivors include his parents, Edward C. Hamann and Mary Ruth Geise Hamann of Independence; brothers Jim Hamann of Florence and Paul Hamann and Mike Hamann, both of Loveland, Ohio; and sisters Peggy Depperschmidt of West Chester, Ohio, Jennifer Densler of Erlanger, Kate Baker of Burlington, Alice Seeger of Union and Ruth Due of Independence.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Cecilia Church, Independence. Visitation will be at 9:30 Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to New Perceptions, 1 SpertiDrive, Edgewood, Ky. 41018; or Cardinal Hill of Northern Kentucky, 212 Levasso Ave., Covington, Ky. 41014.
Oscar J. Hardcorn, 87, of Edgewood, died at 7:10 p.m. Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood.
He was retired from the United States Postal Service and was a World War II veteran of the Navy. His wife, Dorothy Hardcorn, died in 2001.
Survivors include daughters Kathleen Meyer of St. Louis, Mo., and Mary Ann Rehkamp of Union; sons Ronald Hardcorn of Fort Myers, Fla., Gerald Hardcorn of Perry Park and Paul Hardcorn of Edgewood; 15 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday at St. Agnes Church, Fort Wright. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Catchen Funeral Home, Elsmere. Burial will be in Mother of God Cemetery, Fort Wright. Memorials are suggested to St. Charles Care Center, 500 Farrell Drive, Covington, Ky. 41011.Tommy Wayne Jones Sr., 54, of Worthville, died Thursday at Carroll County Memorial Hospital, Carrollton. He was a member of VFW Post No. 1969, Madison, Ind., and a Korean War veteran of the Army.
Survivors include his wife, Debbie Carter Jones of Worthville; a son, Tommy Wayne Jones Jr. of Carrollton; a daughter, Crystal May Jones of Worthville; parents Daisy Laverne Mefford Jones and Charles William "Red" Jones of Madison, Ind.; and brothers Charles William Jones Jr. of Hanover, Ind., and Gregory Ray Jones of Louisville.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Tandy-Eckler-Riley Funeral Home, Carrollton. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Madison. Memorials are suggested to the family c/o Tandy-Eckler-Riley Funeral Home, 809 Highland Ave., Carrollton, Ky. 41008.
Minnie Phelps Ridener, 95, of Winter Haven, Fla., formerly of Latonia, died at 10:23 p.m. Wednesday at her home. She was a homemaker and a member of Eagle Lake First Assembly of God, Eagle Lake, Fla. Her husband, Maynard S. Ridener, died in 1978, a daughter, Velois Ridener, died in 1928, and a son, Malvin Lee Ridener, died in 1995.
Survivors include daughters Zanda Owens of Fort Wright, Jill Lucas of Cape Coral, Fla., and Laverna Jean Hemphill, Lorraine Campbell-Williams and Sandra Patterson, all of Winter Haven; a sister, Nannie Terrell of Covington; 24 grandchildren and 56 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill.
Lela Mae Smoot, 88, of Owenton, died Friday at New Horizons Medical Center, Owenton. She was a homemaker and a member of the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church.
Her husband, Vernon "Ted" Smoot, preceded her in death.
Survivors include her sister, Naomi O'Banion of Frankfort; four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at McDonald & New Funeral Home, Seminary Street, Owenton. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery, Owenton.
Walter Douglas Snyder, 83, of Latonia, died Thursday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North Hospice Unit, Covington.
He was retired as secretary/treasurer from William A. Natorp Landscape Co., Cincinnati, and a World War II veteran of the Army.
Survivors include his wife, Scottie Sudduth Snyder; a daughter, Carole Hart Snyder of Columbus, Ohio; four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Services will be at the convenience of the family. Mr. Snyder donated his body to the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
Memorials are suggested to St. Charles Adult Day Care, 500 Farrell Drive, Covington, Ky. 41011.
Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia, is handling arrangements.
