March 16, 2006

OBITUARIES

Grace ‘Kerry’ Alexander

Grace “Kerry” (Kirkpatrick) Alexander of Yellow Springs died Monday, March 6, at University Hospital in Cincinnati, after a brief battle with cancer. She was 77.

She was born October 11, 1928, the daughter of George and Dorothy (Gibson) Kirkpatrick. The baby sister of four girls, she grew up in Wilkinsburg, Pa., graduated from Oberlin, moved to Yellow Springs to work at Fels Institute, and then met and married Charles “Edward” Alexander.

Her accomplishments were many. She worked for Fels, Kings Yard Goods (a fabric/decorating store), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Antioch University. Probably the “career” most dear to her heart was being a mother and a grandmother, consistently showering her daughters and grandchildren with love and admiration.

Music was a recurring theme in Grace’s life. Singing with her siblings around the piano was a fondly remembered entertainment from her childhood. Over the years, she continued to sing in the church choir and local choruses. Grace loved potlucks, luncheons, parties and gatherings, and shared many with friends and family throughout the years. She had an especially close-knit group of friends/family and often commented on how lucky she was to have them. “Out-and-about,” you might find her volunteering at the Senior Center, running errands around town, watching her grandchildren in sports or school activities, or on her way to water aerobics class. At home, Grace enjoyed crossword puzzles, classical music, knitting, and reading and was a frequent patron of the library.

Many are familiar with Grace’s paintings. She painted stunning landscapes, flowers and, most recently, barns. She enjoyed being a student of art, taking art classes from outstanding teachers at local universities. She participated in group shows, one-woman shows and a “sisters” show in the Hamptons with her sister, June, in 2004.

Grace will always be remembered for her giving nature, her fondness for art and music, and her happy-go-lucky nature.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ed Alexander; and one sister, Betty Miller.

She is survived by her two -daughters and sons-in-law, Amy A. and Tyron -Peterson, and Jenny Alexander and Brad -Reigelsperger; three grandchildren, Jaimie, Jeremy and Grant; and two sisters, Margeurite Gressle and June Ciancio.

Funeral services were held Saturday, March 11, at St. Paul Catholic Church, with burial at St. Paul Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy can be made in the form of contributions to the American Cancer Society.

Hilda Mae Rahn

Hilda Mae Rahn, who worked for the Village for almost three decades, died Monday, March 13, at Friends Care Community, after a short illness. She was 96.

She was born May 24, 1909, in Paintersville, Ohio, the daughter of James and Adna (Faulkner) Devoe. Growing up on a farm, she helped her father work the fields with large farm horses, where she developed a love for animals.

She worked for the Village of Yellow Springs under manager Howard Kahoe for almost 30 years. Hilda M. Rahn Park, where the Yellow Springs Train Station is located, was named in her honor.

She was a longtime active member of the Bethel Lutheran Church. She had received her 50-year pin in the Odd Fellows/Rebekah Lodge, in which she also was a faithful participant.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Harold “Dick” Rahn, whom she married on Feb. 5, 1944.

She is survived by several distant cousins. She leaves behind several friends, especially Norma G. Lewis, Ann Burden, Ruth Ann Lawson and Lois Bailey. She was especially attached to Mary Adeline Lewis, whom she loved. She will also be sadly missed by her lovable black lab, Maggie.

Visitation will be held at the Yellow Springs Chapel of Jackson Lytle Williams Funeral Home on Friday, March 17, from 9 to 11 a.m. Services will follow at 11, with Pastor Wendell Hakala officiating. Burial will be in Glen Forest Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45420.

Kathryn R. Funderburg

Kathryn R. Funderburg died Feb. 25 at her home in Tavares, Fla. She was 82.

She was born in 1924 in Seneca County, Ohio, and lived there and in Springfield until 1956, when she moved to Yellow Springs. Her lengthy employment at Vernay Laboratories entailed secretarial and sales work with engineering products. She retired in 1985 and moved to Florida in 1990.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Russell Shifley and Altha Dean; stepparents Jess Dean and Mary Shifley; and a brother, Edgar Shifley.

She is survived by her husband, David Funderburg; daughters and sons-in-law, Judy and Patrick Guckian of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Vicki and David -Slaughter of Xenia; two granddaughters; two great-granddaughters; a great-great-granddaughter; a sister, Violet Bossert; and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be private.

Gilbert Dement Jr.

Gilbert E. Dement Jr. died Wednesday, March 8, at his home in Ray, Ohio. He was 83.

He was born Dec. 11, 1922, in Yellow Springs, the son of Gilbert Edwin and Loquilla Morningstar Dement. He retired from the London Correctional Institute in 1981. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. Gilbert was a member of the Springfield Eagles Lodge and the Springfield Union Club.

He is survived by his wife, Stella Barnes Dement of Wellston; a daughter, Linda Dement of Huntington, W.Va.; his longtime companion, Dianna Nichols of Ray, and her children, Tonya Such, Mary and Frank West and Melissa Bartlett; and a granddaughter, Tilley Nelson.

Graveside services were held Saturday, March 13, in Fletcher Chapel Cemetery in Springfield. Arrangements were handled by the Garrett Funeral Home in McArthur, Ohio.

Stella R. Dillon

Stella R. Dillon died Friday, March 10, at her home in Yellow Springs after an illness of 13 years. She was 73.

She was born May 28, 1932, in Johnson County, Tenn., the daughter of William J. and Vina M. (Neal) Robinson. She was a 1953 graduate of Mountain City High School in Tennessee and moved to the Fairborn area in 1956. Stella operated a beauty shop from her home for 20 years. She was a member of Rona Missionary Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Edsel Robinson of Mt. City, Tenn., and Edgar Robinson of Johnson County, Tenn.

She is survived by her husband, Kenneth R. Dillon, whom she married on Oct. 4, 1958; her twin sister, Vella Neatherly Dailey of Clifton; and sister, Fae Pleasant of Butler, Tenn.; a brother, James Robinson of Mt. City, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 14, at the Burcham Funeral Home in Fairborn, with interment in Byron Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Rona Missionary Church Seniors Club.