January 4, 2006

OBITUARIES

Rachelle Eugenia Hull Dawson

Rachelle Eugenia Hull Dawson of Yellow Springs passed away Thursday, Dec. 28, in Greene Memorial Hospital. She was 86.

She was born the fifth of nine children to James A. Hull and Bertha Lillian (Cordell) Hull on March 29, 1920, in the grey house on the corner of Elm and Stafford Streets in Yellow Springs. After four years of college at Wilberforce University, Rachelle worked as a secretary at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Central State University, from which she retired.

Rachelle was a feisty, interested, loving and generous person. She was a great cook and a foody. “She wore out Honey Ham.” She was a very fashionable woman in her heyday, loving high-heeled shoes (even if they hurt) and fancy accessories that she mixed and matched with flair. She changed the spelling and pronunciation of her name from Rachael to Rachelle, which she felt was more befitting her sense of style.

There is a portrait of Rachelle in the foyer of her home of which she was very proud; it shows her as a contemplative beauty with silky smooth skin, large dark eyes and luxurious long black hair. She was “hot stuff” back then.

Rachelle was a passionate woman. She was very proud of her family’s accomplishments: the fact that her father and brothers built the houses on Hull Drive, including the one she lived in, which was built specifically for her mother by the men folk; the fact that her mother, Bertha Cordell Hull, was Ohio’s 1956 Mother of the Year; and the businesses her family ran in Yellow Springs, the Cherry Grove Laundry as well as a lumber yard.

Rachelle loved her babies and was an excellent grannie, often able to soothe some of the touchiest children. Rachelle was kind to animals and loved her little dogs. Rachelle was a good friend and sorely missed her best friend, Thelma Kelley, who passed away a few years back. Rachelle believed in God and his son Jesus Christ.

Rachelle was proceeded in death by her parents; and siblings, George, Frankie, James and Charles.

She is survived by a brother, Earl Hull; and sisters, Mary Bower and Anna Johnson; daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Temba Ngqakayi Sr.; grandchildren, Temba and Terry (Whorton); Simo and Enza Ngqakayi, Mandisa Taylor, Ayola, Jamilia and Raphael Ngqakayi and nine great grandchildren.

Friends may call after 9 a.m., Friday, Jan. 5, at the Central Chapel AME Church in Yellow Springs, where her family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the time of services at 11, with the Rev. Dr. John E. Freeman officiating. Interment will follow in Massie Creek Cemetery.

Marjorie Ann (Marge) Dunlap

Marjorie Ann (Marge) Dunlap died peacefully with family on Monday, Dec. 25. She was 82. Marge was born on Jan. 10, 1924, in Philadelphia, Pa., to Howard Lester Davis Sr. and Hortense Margaret Roome Davis. She graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1941, and then studied home economics at Temple University. During World War II, Marge served as a Red Cross “Gray Lady.”

On the debating team at Upper Darby, she met her future husband, Frederic Clark Dunlap, who was on the opposing team. Marge and Fred were married on Oct. 23, 1943. In 1945, daughter Margaret (Peggy) Rea was born in Milford, Conn. The family moved to Fairfield, Conn., and in 1948, son David Palmer was born. Daughter Ann Reeves was born in 1950 in Dallas, Texas. Later, while living in Syosset, Long Island, Marge created a home nursery school, which grew so big that she convinced the local church to accommodate it. The preschool continued to operate decades later. Also in Syosset, the family was visited by Bruce McPhaden, who successfully recruited Fred to work at Morris Bean & Company. The Dunlaps moved to Yellow Springs in 1956.

In Yellow Springs, Marge taught kindergarten at Mills Lawn Elementary School. She also worked with Arthur Morgan. In 1960, Fred and Marge designed their Hyde Road home. To everyone’s delight, in 1961, daughter Jenny Davis was born. After the older three children left for college and points beyond, the family moved to Beavercreek. Marge was always active in church and particularly enjoyed her women’s retreats. When the 1974 tornado hit Xenia, Marge and Jenny volunteered to provide meals for the victims. Later, she volunteered as a speech therapist for hearing-impaired children in Dayton. Because of her love for children and desire to serve, the children there loved her very much in return, greeting her at the door with smiles, hugs, and kisses.

Marge loved songs of all kinds, and she also loved the church. She taught Sunday school at every opportunity. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Reynoldsburg and treasured her membership in the church’s “Mary’s Circle.” Family was very important to her. She saw to it that the Dunlaps visited their beloved relatives in and around Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., at least once a year.

Marge is survived by her husband of 63 years, Fred C. Dunlap; her brother, Howard Davis, and his wife, Alida, of Media, Pa., their sons, Christopher, Eric, and Coert and their families; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Henry and Joan Dunlap and family, and John and Mary Wagner and family; cousins, Harry and Kenneth Lowe, Carol Walker and Jane Pienaar; her four children and their spouses, Peggy and Mark Alexander of Yellow Springs; David and Jan Dunlap of Richmond, Calif.; Ann and Russ Shaw of Yellow Springs; and Jenny and Dan Oney of Reynoldsburg, Ohio; and four grandchildren, Rebecca Kuder and husband Robert Wexler of Yellow Springs; Brandon and Danielle Oney of Reynoldsburg, Ohio; and Sara Dunlap of Richmond, Calif.

A memorial service was held in Reynoldsburg on Thursday, Dec. 28. Her final resting place is Valley View Memorial Gardens in Xenia, Ohio.

Frances Gabbard

Frances Irene Gabbard of Fairborn passed away Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006, at Friends Care Community in Yellow Springs. She was 81. She was born Aug. 8, 1925, in Ironton, Ohio, to Charles and Fannie Webb Perry.

She is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Carol Rhoda of Cleveland, and Betty and Richard Wagner of Huber Heights; a son, James E. Ray of Phenix City, Ala.; six grandchildren and their spouses, Scot and Carrie Rhoda of Berea, Ohio, Joe and Sherry Rhoda of Garfield Heights, Ohio, Tabitha and Joe LaPrairie of Fairborn, Shari Wagner of Centerville, Danny Ray and Stacie Ray, both of Phenix City; and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 2, at the Church of Latter Day Saints in Fairborn, with interment in Byron Cemetery.

Theo Simmons

Theo C. “Bus” Simmons of Fairborn, formerly of Erwin, Tenn., passed away Dec. 31. He was 88. He was born Oct. 17, 1918, served in the U.S. Army during World War II, was employed at McCalls and was involved in several bowling leagues.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Theo is survived by his beloved wife of over 60 years, Mary B. Simmons; children, Patricia Robinow of Yellow Springs, Barbara Simmons of Tucson, Ariz., and Tedd Simmons of Cincinnati; grandchildren, Jacob Kline of Dallas, Texas, Emma Robinow of Yellow Springs, Adam Simmons and Todd Simmons both of Cincinnati, OH.

Private memorial services will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Avenue, Dayton, OH, 45420. The Jackson Lytle Williams Funeral Home, Yellow Springs, is serving the family.

Kenneth Riley

Kenneth W. Riley of Enon passed away Wednesday, Dec. 27, in his residence. He was 88. Kenneth was born in Springfield on March 10, 1918, the son of John W. and Leora (Johnson) Riley, and was a lifelong resident of Clark County. He served with the Navy in the Pacific during World War II as a crewman on a Navy patrol bomber. He retired as a model maker from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 1973 after 31 years of service.

He then owned Riley Auto Sales for a number of years. He was a member of Yellow Springs Masonic Lodge #421, where he was a past master and a 50-year member, Xenia Chapter Order of the Eastern Star, Scottish Rite of Dayton, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post Medway. Kenny loved to tinker around in the garage, mow with his tractor, split wood and crack walnuts, and he continued to do so from his wheelchair for several years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Mildred Worthington; four brothers, Virgil, Everett, Walter and Chester Riley; and a grandson, Steven Jacks.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Thelma (Dunn) Riley; daughters and son-in-law, Constance Jones of Florida, and Danita and Robert Ferryman of Springfield; sons and daughters-in-law, Kenneth D. and Cindy Riley of Canby, Oregon and Douglas N. and Ginny Riley of Fruita, Colo; 11 grandchildren, Pamela Esterline, Beverly Harris, Rich Jacks, Ken Riley, Mari Latimer, Kyle Riley, Sarah Spoon, Beth and Chris Riley, and Troy and Dara Ferryman; seven great grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; and one sister, Donna Wogan.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Dec. 30, in the Littleton & Rue Funeral Home, with burial following in Enon Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Enon E.M.S., 363 East Main Street, Enon, Ohio 45323.

Paul Rountree

Paul DeWitt Rountree of Springfield passed away Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006, at 12:45 p.m. in Greene Memorial Hospital. He was 81.

He was born Aug. 17, 1925, in Xenia, the son of Ernestine Ross. He retired from the U.S. Postal service after 32 years of civil service, including 11 years of military, serving in the Marines and the Air Force.

He was preceded in death by his mother; his son, David; and his daughter, Jane.

He is survived by his loving family, including his wife, Eleanor (Brown) Rountree of Springfield; daughters, Deborah Langston, Paula Jackson, Laura Guy, all of Xenia, and Claudette Rountree of Dayton; sons Kenneth Rountree of Fairborn and James Rountree of the U.S. Air Force; stepchildren, Connie Lee of Yellow Springs and Richard Brown of Springfield; 14 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.

Services were held Tuesday, Jan. 2, in the Porter Qualls Funeral Home, Xenia, with burial following in Cherry Grove Cemetery.