February 12, 2009

OBITUARIES

Virda Womacks

Virda May Womacks, died on Saturday, Jan. 31, in her home, surrounded by her family and friends. She was 88.

Born on July 20, 1920, in Breathitt County, Ky., a daughter of William and Nancy (Banks) Oliver, Virda was one of the sweetest spirits ever encountered — tremendously selfless and devotedly loving.

Virda always thought of others first. On trips to the grocery store there was never anything on the shopping list involving her preferences, only the favorite items of everyone else. She was the type of person who considerately took a ticket number at the deli counter even when no one else was in line; who would sit for hours with folded hands waiting for what she needed; who never fussed for a turn to speak; and who expressed profuse gratitude at the smallest of gifts. She was the heart of her home — even her husband called her “Mother” out of respect for this — and she fluttered a protective wing around all those dear to her.

Virda loved her husband, Bob, with a quiet but ferocious fire. For 61 years she took care of him, listened with patience and affection to his tales (and tall tales), and tried to bridle him from mischief.

“I believe in marriage,” Virda once said, a simple conviction that inspired her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert B. Womacks, on Jan. 10; brothers, Richmond, Clay, Hayden and Judge Russell Oliver; and sisters Georgia Lou Oliver and Mattie Oliver.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Paula Womacks of Yellow Springs, Ohio; two sisters-in-law, Pauline Clark of Xenia, Ohio and Marjorie Said of Arizona; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Avenue, Dayton, OH 45420.

G. Nicholas Paster

Dr. G. Nicholas Paster, director of the Antioch Education Abroad program from 1962 to 1967, died peacefully on Jan. 15, near his home in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y. He was 93.

Nick, as he was known to everyone, was recruited to Antioch by a couple of the school’s students, including former Yellow Springs resident Judy Duncan, who worked for Nick when he served as director of International Work Camps for the American Friends Service Committee in Paris, France, from 1958 to 1960.

Nick loved his work at Antioch, his work projects with students and the worldwide travels that allowed him to make friends and make a difference around the globe. He enjoyed walking or riding his bike to the college each day and he valued his membership in the Yellow Springs Friends Meeting.

Following his work at Antioch, Nick served as a dean at the University of Saskatchewan, Regina, Canada, for a year, then moved to New York to marry psychologist Dr. Vera Simpkins. There he worked at City College of New York (CCNY), became a lay analyst and helped found a marital counseling hot-line.

Nick was content with having lived a full and rich life. He considered every day, in his late 80s and beyond, a bonus. In retirement, he played golf twice a week and continued drawing the abstract yet precise artwork his family cherishes. He retained his sharp intellect, sense of humor and the physical abilities of a much younger man, until his death.

Nic (later spelling of his name) is survived by his wife, Vera Paster; daughters, Clover Catskill (nee Hilary Paster) from the San Francisco Bay area of California; Robin Paster from the Seattle area of Washington; stepson, Mark Henriquez, and daughter-in-law, Pat Henriquez, both from Arlington, Va.; and grandchildren Ru Paster, Nick Henriquez and Sabrina Henriquez.

A memorial service to celebrate Nic Paster’s life will be held at City College of New York in Manhattan, on March 7, at 2 p.m. The service is open to the public. RSVP and details at rpmail@verizon.net.

Donna Avnaim

Donna M. Avnaim of Yellow Springs died Sunday, Feb. 8. She was born May 4, 1957, a daughter of Ralph and Micki Ross (Adams) Avnaim in Limestone, Maine. She was 51.

Donna was a 1975 Tecumseh graduate and grew up in Medway. She was a long time resident of Yellow Springs where she had many friends and was a member of the Yellow Springs Chamber of Commerce. She was a Muscular Dystrophy Association and SICSA volunteer.

She was preceded in death by her parents and an aunt, Claudia Ross.

Donna is survived by her siblings and their spouses, Mitchell and Ginny Avnaim, Peter and Kathy Avnaim, Scott Avnaim, Tracy and Robert Schaffner, and Jeri Avnaim; nieces and nephews, Luke and Sarina Avnaim, Nicholas, Anthony, Jacquelyn, and Leah Avnaim, and Scott and Stacy Schaffner; an aunt, Ellie Podberesky; and good friends, Pat and John Reising.

Friends may greet family from 10 a.m. until the time of the memorial service at 11 on Saturday, Feb. 14, in the Jackson Lytle Williams Funeral Home, Yellow Springs. Interment of remains will follow in the Glen Forrest Cemetery.

‘Tebby’ Stanley

Clarence S. “Tebby” Stanley of Xenia died Feb. 3, in Hospice of Dayton. He was 61.

He was born May 20, 1947, in Morgan County, Ky., in the town of Payton, to Clarence and Pearl Stanley. Tebby was a graduate of Yellow Springs High School.

Tebby operated Skylight Studios with his wife, Nancy, on Limestone Street in Yellow Springs, as a photographer. His career took many different paths, including work at YSI and Deaton’s Do It Best Hardware, and doing what he loved the most, carpentry.

Tebby was preceded in death by his father; a sister, Ellen Ashton Stanley, and nephews, Stephen and Richard Stanley.

He is survived by his mother Pearl Stanley of Yellow Springs; his wife, Nancy (Thomas) Stanley; son, Justin Oliver Stanley of New Paris; daughters and their partners, Cyndee Renee Stanley and Julie Chambers; Amy and Brian O’Connell of Cincinnati; grandchildren, Zane and Taran Pergram, Josie, Lydia, Elizabeth and Brody O’Connell; brothers and sisters-in-law, Taylor Neal and Delores Stanley of Xenia, and Sherman and Nancy Stanley of Kettering; sisters and brothers-in-law, Betty and Ron Bowshier of Springfield, Ellen Reynolds of Yellow Springs, Scarlett and Mike Doering of Bradenton, Fla., and Chris and Taylor (“Tat”) Stanley of Riverside; closest friend, Fay Ellis Jones; best friend, Alan Raney; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Whoever knew Tebby will always remember how funny he really was. He will be missed.

Tebby was buried on Feb. 6 in the Byron Cemetery, Fairborn. Pearl Stanley and family would like to thank all the neighbors on Fairfield Pike, along with other friends for their thoughts and kindness. Special thanks to Geno Lukepic and the Glen.

Friends are welcome to share their memories with the Stanley family when they celebrate Tebby’s life at the Glen Helen Building, in Yellow Springs, on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2:30 p.m. Contact Chris Stanley for additional information at 937-256-4046.