USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Curtis E. Simunich
ORWELL - Curtis E. Simunich, 40, of Orwell, died Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2002, at UHHS Geauga Regional Hospital.
He was born Sept. 13, 1961, in Greenville, Pa., the son of Frank B. and Gertrude M. (Shreffler) Simunich.
Mr. Simunich had been an Orwell resident for the past 25 years. He was a 1980 graduate of Grand Valley High School.
He was co-owner of the Orwell Golden Dawn Grocery.
Mr. Simunich enjoyed woodworking, hunting and fishing.
Survivors include his wife, Veronica (DeZolt); two sons, Joshua Simunich and Mark DeZolt, both at home; a daughter, Crystal DeZolt of Toledo; his parents, Frank and Gertrude of Orwell; and two brothers, Sidney Simunich of Orwell and Max Simunich of Greenville, Pa.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Benedict and Mary Simunich; and maternal grandparents, Richard and Clara Shreffler.
Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the Orwell United Methodist Church, 80 South Maple St., Orwell, with the Rev. Jeff Fatica of Orwell United Methodist Church officiating.
Burial will be in Orwell North Cemetery, Orwell.
Calling hours will be 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Paine-Simpson Funeral Home, 140 E. Main St., Orwell, and 10 a.m. until the time of service Saturday at the Orwell Methodist Church.
Brian N. Burchett
ORWELL - Brian N. Burchett, 40, of Orwell, died Sunday, Dec. 1, 2002, at home following a long illness.
He was born Feb. 15, 1962, in Warren, to Luther J. and Betty A. (Minzelli) Burchett.
Mr. Burchett was a 1980 graduate of Bloomfield High School and attended Kent State University. He was a former manager of McCarty Village residences in Orwell.
Mr. Burchett was a member of St. Mary Church in Orwell. He enjoyed woodworking, target shooting, music, computers, cooking, playing chess, and collecting African masks and medieval period collectibles.
Survivors include his parents, of North Bloomfield; two sisters, Tonietta Carpenter of Bristolville, and Tamara Casper of Mantua; a brother, Douglas Burchett, also of Bristolville; and a loving companion, Lori Ughrin of Orwell.
A funeral Mass is 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary Church, 102 Maple St., Orwell, with the Rev. Gregory Fedor officiating.
Calling hours are 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, at Paine-Bican Funeral Home, 140 E. Main St., Orwell. Cremation will follow the funeral service.
Arrangements are being handled by Paine-Bican Funeral Home, Orwell.
H. Diane Carlson
ORWELL - H. Diane Carlson, 52, died Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2003, at her home, following a lengthy battle with cancer.
She was born Oct. 23, 1950, in Columbia, S.C., to Joseph and Lila (Rath) Crider. She married Ray Carlson Nov. 5, 1976 in Jefferson.
Mrs. Carlson was a machine operator at Kennametal, Inc. in Orwell.
She attended Orwell Presbyterian Church and enjoyed collecting owls, painting, bluegrass music and spending time with her grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband; children Barbara Squibbs of Orwell, Shane Gregory of Orwell, Kevin Carlson of Talahoma, Tenn. and Christine Sterling of St. Albans, Vt.; brothers Floyd Crider of Churchill, Va., Hayword Crider of Greensburg, S.C., Bobby Joe Crider of Columbia, S.C., Curtis Crider of Bowe, Md. and Coy Crider from Valdesta, Ga.; and grandchildren Jason Headley, Brittany and Hanna Gregory, Johnathan and Kortney Squibbs, Abby and Olivia Carlson and Makenzie and Connor Sterling.
Service is 11 a.m. Friday at Paine-Simpson Funeral Home, 140 E. Main St., Orwell, officiated by the Revs. George Dauler of Chardon and Sandy Seaton-Todd of Orwell Presbyterian Church.
Calling hours are 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Internment is at Brownwood Cemetery, North Bloomfield.
Memorial donations can be made to the memorial fund at Orwell Presbyterian Church.
Avery VanTassel
ORWELL - Avery "Dale" VanTassel, 74, died Monday, Feb. 3, 2003, at Shands at University of Florida in Gainesville.
He was born in Knoxville, Tenn. He and his wife, Jean VanTassel, spent winters in Chiefland, Fla.
Mr. VanTassel served in the U.S. Army. He worked at Lubrizol Corporation in Wickliffe, retiring after 29 years.
He was a former citizen of the year in Orwell, and served as a township trustee from 1972 to 1990. He was president of the Ashtabula County Trustees and Clerks Association in 1977 and 1978.
Mr. VanTassel was also a member of the Brown Masonic Lodge 51 in Chiefland, Fla., and the Hartsgrove Lodge 397 in Hartsgrove. Additionally, he was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 719 in Orwell and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 943 in Ashtabula and a member of American Legion Posts 40, 8 and 203 in Ashtabula County.
He was a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award and received a Scouter's Key Award.
Mr. VanTassel was a member of the United Methodist Church in Orwell for more than 60 years.
Survivors include his wife; daughter Tracey VanTassel of Youngstown; and sisters Joyce Page of Pinellas Park, Fla. and Janice Frazier of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.
There is no service planned.
Arrangements handled by Moring Funeral Home, Melrose, Fla.
Cora M. Perusek
ORWELL - Cora M. Perusek, 93, died Oct. 4, 2002, at Blossom Hill Care Center, Huntsburg.
She was born Nov. 22, 1908, in Oren, Mo., to William and Mamie Lee.
Mrs. Perusek was a member of the Orwell United Methodist Church, Orwell area women clubs and card clubs. She enjoyed outdoor concerts, piano and organ recitals, traveling to relatives, watching the scenery, reading and walking.
Survivors include son George Perusek Jr., of Orwell; daughter, Nancy Whitely of Orwell; sisters Lula Burnside of Ravenna, Ada Snyder of Warren and Marietta Joy of Warren; seven grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband George Perusek Sr., brother William Lee and sister Aletha Steigerwold.
Funeral will be 1 p.m., Monday, a the Orwell United Methodist Church, with Rev. Jeff Fatica, of the Orwell United Methodist Church officiating.
Calling hours will be Monday, noon- 1 p.m., at the Orwell United Methodist Church, 80 South Maple St., Orwell. Burial will be at the Orwell North Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Orwell United Methodist Church, Orwell.
Paine-Simpson Funeral Home, 140 E. Main St., Orwell will be handling the arrangements.
Ruby M. Merritt
ORWELL - Ruby May Lytle Merritt, 81, died Tuesday, June 4, 2002, in Heather Hill Health Care, Munson.
She was born May 2, 1921, in Shenango, Pa., to William Ezra and Myrtle (Churchfield) Lytle. She married Frederick Aron Merritt May 3, 1937.
Survivors include sons Ronald Merritt of Braxton, Miss., Roger Merritt of Orwell and Jeff Merritt of Windsor; daughters Sandra Lopez of Huntington Beach, Calif. and Doreen Merritt of Novelty; 12 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband in February 2002; brother Ralph Lytle; and sisters Mary, Freida, Norma and Wilda.
In keeping with Mrs. Merritt's wishes, visitation is 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Paine-Simpson Funeral Home, 140 E. Main St., Orwell. She will be cremated following the visitation with a memorial committal service 1 p.m. Sunday at the Orwell North Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Orwell Country Neighbor, 39 S. Maple St., Orwell.
