USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
John W. Racey
RICHMOND TOWNSHIP - John W. Racey, 90, of Route 7, died Friday, April 6, 2001, at his home.
Mr. Racey was born Nov. 2, 1910, in Richmond Township, the son of William J. and Myrtle (Gibbs) Racey.
He married Lola I. Falkenburg on Sept. 19, 1936.
Mr. Racey, a lifelong area resident, was a potato farmer for 43 years with the former Shellto's farm, currently the Boleratz farm.
He was a member of the Richmond United Methodist Church. He enjoyed gardening, bird watching, cats and spending time with his grandchildren.
He is survived by a son, Charles W. of Conneaut; a daughter, Norma J. Thompson of Linesville, Pa.; six grandchildren, John R. Racey of Richmond, Dale D. Thompson of Espyville, Pa., Debbie M. Maze of Ashtabula, Mechele L. Stuper and Tammy R. Racey of Conneaut, and Kathy A. Wight of Clearwater, Fla.; and 12 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife on Jan. 13.
Service is 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Baumgardner Funeral Home, 134 Prospect St., Andover, with the Rev. Don C. Sillaman officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery.
Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Richmond United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1585; Andover 44003.
Ferrial H. Lanton
CINCINNATI - Ferrial Hampton Lanton, 53, died Wednesday, May 2, 2001, at Hospice of Cincinnati.
He was born Sept. 14, 1947, in Galveston, Texas, the son of Milton and Pearl (Woodson) Lanton.
A 1965 graduate of Ball High School in Galveston, Mr. Lanton studied art and design at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and the University of Cincinnati.
He was employed for many years with the House of Adam, a men's clothing store in Cincinnati.
A pioneer of African-American entrepreneurship in Cincinnati, Mr. Lanton owned and operated Pharo's Imports, which was one of the first independently owned African-American stores in Cincinnati. It specialized in jewelry, Egyptian jewelry, and art sales.
Survivors include his wife, Rosalind Moody Lanton, formerly of Ashtabula and currently of Cincinnati; a son, Ferrial H. of Cincinnati; five daughters, Josette, Yvette, Monica, Sparkle and Starre Ashley Williams Lanton; six grandchildren; and two brothers, Edwin and Ronald.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Service is 1 p.m. Wednesday at Greenlawn Memory Gardens Mausoleum Chapel in North Kingsville. The Rev. Louis F. Grandberry of Peoples Baptist Church, and the Rev. Vincent R. Miller of New Hope Baptist Church, will officiate. Entombment will follow.
No calling hours will be served.
Ducro Funeral Services and Crematory, 4524 Elm Ave., Ashtabula, is in charge of arrangements.
Ruth V. Urban
VALLEY CITY - Ruth V. Urban, 79, died Thursday, Dec. 6, 2001, at Southwest General Hospital, Middleburg Heights.
She was born April 20, 1922, a daughter of Leo and Elizabeth (Morgan) Meaney.
She was a 1940 graduate of Ashtabula High School. While living in Ashtabula, she was a member of St. Joseph Church and the Altar and Rosary Society. Mrs. Urban was a member of St. Martin Church, Valley City.
Before she married in 1943, she worked in the Conservation Office, Jefferson; the Sanborn Co., Ashtabula; and White Motor Co., Cleveland.
She was a baker, loved to do needlepoint, work in her flower garden and took pride in her family.
Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Joseph; three sons, Joseph of Scotts Valley, Calif., Leo of Medina, and Paul of Saudi Arabia; seven brothers and sisters, Georgianna Egbert of California, Margaret Martin of Chicago, Lawrence Meaney, Mary Sholtis, all of Jefferson, and Maynard Meaney, Robert Meaney and Edward Meaney, all of Ashtabula.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Theresa, in 1997 and a sister, Gertrude Lipps Trannett.
Memorial mass is 10 a.m. Monday at St. Martin Church, 1824 Station Road, Valley City, with the Rev. Thomas Dunphy officiating. A memorial mass will be held in Jefferson at a later date.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the St. Martin Building Fund.
The Bauer Funeral Home, 2089 Columbia Road, Valley City 44280, has charge of the arrangements.
Roberta L. Busse
BAY VILLAGE - Roberta L. Busse, 68, died Thursday, Dec. 6, 2001, at St. John West Shore Hospital, Westlake.
She was a resident of Bay Village for many years.
Born in Geneva, the daughter of Maynard and Mabel Barrett, Mrs. Busse was a 1951 graduate of Geneva High School. She was a registered nurse, graduating in 1954 from Mt. Sinai School of Nursing, Cleveland.
Survivors include her husband, William J.; daughters, Beverly Lederman of Brooklyn and Barbara of Cleveland; son, William of Cleveland; two sisters, Nicolle Picking and Rikki Barrett; and brother, David Barrett.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and a sister, Jacquelyn Whelphley.
Service is 11 a.m. Monday in the chapel at Sunset Memorial Park, 6245 Columbia Road, North Olmsted.
Visitation will be from 1 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Animal Protective League, 1729 Willey Ave., Cleveland 44113 or the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research, in care of James Cancer Hospital, Office of Development, 300 W. 10th, B-13-4-459, Columbus 43210.
Dostal Funeral Services of North Olmsted has charge of the arrangements.
Merebeth Harrelson
HARPERSFIELD - Merebeth Harrelson, 72, died Sunday, April 7, 2002, at Ashtabula County Medical Center in Ashtabula.
Mrs. Harrelson was born Jan. 23, 1930, in South Bend, Ind., the daughter of Irene (Corse) and Dean Stroup. She married William T. Harrelson on May 27, 1950, in Yuma, Ariz.
She was a resident of Harperfield since 1960 when she moved from Kingsville. She enjoyed traveling and needlepoint.
Survivors include her husband; three sons, Dennis of Jefferson, Duane of Harpersfield and David of Rifle, Colo.; daughter, Shari Webster of Rifle, Colo.; four grandchildren; and three sisters, Nancy Quigley of Benton Harbor, Mich., Carol Holderman of Yucson, Ariz., and Judith Howie of Oceola, Ind.
Her parents and brother, Roy Hyatt, preceded her in death.
Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Behm Family Funeral Home, 175 South Broadway, Geneva, with the Rev. Robert Cunningham of United Church officiating.
Burial will be in Harperfield Cemetery.
Calling hours will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association, 1621 Euclid Ave., #930, Cleveland, 44115.
Dale O. Rodgers
ARCANUM - Dale O. Rodgers, 87, formerly of Ashtabula, died Sunday, April 7, 2002, at Wayne Hospital in Greenville.
Mr. Rodgers was born Dec. 6, 1914, in Ashtabula County, the son of Gaylord and Bertha (Cleeves) Rodgers.
He retired in 1975 after working for NCR Corp. He was a veteran of the Army Air Corps who served in World War II. He was a member of the Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie (Strickler) Rodgers, whom he married Aug. 2, 1963.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Alton, Merle, Orlan and Glenn Rodgers; and three sisters, Hester and Olga Rodgers and Elizabeth Cornell.
Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Kreitzer Funeral Home, 204 N. Main St., Arcanum.
Burial will be in Castine Cemetery.
Calling hours are 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
