December 8, 2005

OBITUARIES

Sheryl Frederica McCormick

Sheryl Frederica McCormick, more affectionately known as “Sugie Sug,” died Saturday, Nov. 26. She was 56.

She was born July 23, 1949, in Springfield, the daughter of Richard and Evelyn Smith. She grew up in Xenia and graduated from Xenia High School. She was employed by Layh and Associates, as an administrative assistant. She enjoyed reading and spending quality time with her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by a sister, C.J. Leet, of Florida; daughter and son-in-law, Christina and Kelley Fox of Yellow Springs; two sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Melissa Spencer and Craig and Samantha McCann, all of Yellow Springs; the father of her children, Michael McCann; eight grandchildren, Tyler, Kelsey, Kaitlynn, Symon, Marcus, Matthew, Cindy and Alisia; former husband, Matt McCormick, and his children, Molly McCormick and Casey McCormick, all of Beavercreek; five great-grandchildren, Ashley, Emilee, Taylor, Timmy and Kalista; and a host of other friends and relatives.

A memorial service will be held Friday, Dec. 9, noon, at Central Chapel AME Church, with Pastor John E. Freeman officiating.

Ross D. Strode

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ross D. Strode of Fairborn died Friday, Dec. 2, in the Friends Care Community. He was 87.

He was born Feb. 3, 1918, in Rockville, Ore., the son of LeRoy and Nellie (Smith) Strode.

He served in the U.S. Air Force, retiring in 1969 after 27 years. As a bombardier during World War II, he logged more than 250 combat hours on a B-24 bomber, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air Medals for his combat missions. Following his military career, he was employed by the Winters Bank as a corporate finance director and as a service manager with Dayton Datsun.

In the early 1980s, Ross began volunteering on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base eventually becoming head of the retiree activities office. He was involved in assisting numerous retirees with all types of services. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Fairborn Ward, and the Free and Accepted Masons.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly, in 2000; three brothers, Jesse, Jack and Roy; and his parents.

He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Michael R. and Nancy Strode, of Pleasant Grove, Utah, Richard L. and Ruby Strode of Fairborn; a daughter, Stephany J. Sharp of Provo, Utah; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two nephews and two nieces.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, Dec. 8, 6–8 p.m., in the Belton-Stroup Funeral Home in Fairborn. Funeral services will be held Friday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m., in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 3080 Bell Drive in Fairborn. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Byron Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton, Friends Care Community, Shriners Children’s Charities or the Boy Scouts, Tecumseh Chapter.

M. Louise Hutchison

M. Louise Hutchison of Xenia died Wednesday, Nov. 30, at Friends Care Community. She was 94.

Born Dec. 4, 1910, on her family’s farm on Clifton Road in Xenia, she was the daughter of Ernest and Bertha (Patterson) Hutchison.

Louise was a librarian with the Greene County Library for over 30 years, beginning in the Greene County Room, which houses the local history department. She was a member of the Memorial United Presbyterian Church and former Second UU Church, and was active in the Women’s Association, Library Committee and other committees at the church. She was also a member of the Xenia Women’s Club, Ohioana Library Association and Greene County Historical Society, where she served on the board of trustees.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Kenneth.

She is survived by cousins, including Joseph and Janet Hutchison of Xenia.

Funeral services were held Monday, Dec. 5, at the Memorial United Presbyterian Church in Xenia, with interment following in Woodland Cemetery in Xenia. Memorial contributions may be made to Friends Care Community Endow-ment Fund.

Doresa Olive Townsley

Doresa Olive (Jones) Townsley of Westerville died Tuesday, Nov. 29. She was 98.

She was born July 8, 1907, in Rushsylvania, Ohio, the daughter of Stanton M. and Daisy Corwin Jones.

Doresa grew up in Rushsylvania and attended school there. She graduated from Miami University in 1929 with a BS in education and major in home economics. She was voted outstanding female athlete her freshman and senior years and was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority. She taught in schools in Yellow Springs, Belle Center, Jamestown, Cedarville, Wellsville and Dayton. She retired in 1966. In 1985 she moved to Westerville.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Wendell, Claren and Kenneth Jones; and her husband, Al Townsley.

She is survived by her children and their spouses, Mike and Janice Townsley of Westerville and Joe and Molly Townsley of Simsbury, Conn.; grandchildren Gregory, Douglas (Barbara), Christopher, Ryan, and Kate (Kevin) Pendergast; great-granddaughter, Lauren Powell; a brother and his wife, Lowell and Anne Jones of Bowling Green; sister-in-law, Barbara Jones of Rushsylvania; and many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service was held Saturday, Dec. 3, at the North Cemetery in Cedarville. Memorial donations may be given to Cedarville United Methodist Church, 47 Chillicothe Street, Cedarville 45324.

James Ryan Robbins

James Ryan Robbins of Springfield died Wednesday, Nov. 30. He was 14.

He was born April 22, 1991, the oldest son of Doug and Julie Robbins. Ryan was a ninth-grade student at Cedarville High School, where he played football and ran track. He was an avid dirt bike rider. He loved camping and hunting, and his favorite pastime was riding his unicycle and doing wheelies on his bike through town. Ryan attended the United Methodist Church in Cedarville.

Ryan is survived by his parents; his siblings Brandon and Cassie; maternal grandparents, Dale and Barbara Carroll of Cedarville; paternal grandparents, Norman and Genieve Robbins of Clifton; aunts and uncles, Tracie and Rob Marrow, Peggy and Bob Hoffman, Becky and Ed Uhl, Pauletta and Russ Sydlowski, Marsha Robbins, Richard and Mindy Robbins, Chet and Brieta Robbins, and Bill and Paula Robbins; and several cousins.

Services were held Monday, Dec. 5, in the Grace Baptist Church in Cedarville, with burial following in Clifton Cemetery. Contributions can be made to a memorial fund for Ryan at US Bank, 64 North Main Street, Cedarville 45314.