 |
|
OBITUARIES
 John
Rinehart
Dr. John McLain Rinehart, composer, concert pianist
and professor, died peacefully at age 72 surrounded by family and loved
ones on Tuesday, Aug. 4, in Atlanta, Ga. He will be remembered by family
and those close to him for his dry wit, huge smile and enormous appetite
for living life to its fullest, but most importantly to him he will be
forever remembered for his legacy as a gifted composer of modern classical
works, ranging from the piano to symphony orchestra, and as a gloriously
talented and electric classical concert pianist.
Born on March 17, 1937, in Pittsburgh, he began piano studies at age 5,
composing and performing in concert his first work (a waltz for piano)
at age 8 and by age 12 performing Chopin on television. He studied composition
and piano performance at Kent State University for his bachelors, studied
for his masters of music at Yale and the Cleveland Institute of Music
and attained his Ph.D. at Ohio State University.
Following his studies, John taught at such universities and conservatories
as Heidelberg, CIM and Oberlin before arriving at Antioch College in 1990
as the chair of the music department, where he remained until his retirement
in late 2004. All the while he composed works which earned performances
in the U.S., Europe and Asia. He never stopped performing classical standards
and modern contemporary works for solo piano, chamber ensembles and concertos
across the nation, winning the highest of acclaim from his contemporaries
and audiences alike. A concert played by John Rinehart was truly an exhilarating
experience!
During the last 13 years of his life he battled Parkinson’s disease,
but never gave up hope for a brighter future. He miraculously retained
his skill and depth as a pianist during this time and composed his largest
and broadest works to date, including two new symphonies, two concertos
and a full mass. He always felt he would live on in his compositions.
His dream was to have his new works performed live, a dream he and his
son pursued in the final decade of his life and that his son will continue
to pursue in his honor and for the benefit of lovers of music around the
world. Many of his compositions and performances can be found at www.myspace.com/johnmrinehart01.
John is survived by his only son, John Miles Rinehart III; his son’s
fiancee, Nancy Myers; his sister, Doris Abrams; and nieces. A private
memorial service was held on Aug. 16. Contributions may be made in John
Rinehart’s name to: College Revival Fund, P.O. Box 444, Yellow Springs,
OH 45387, with the memo line specifying “Fund for an Independent
Antioch College.” For more information, write to john.rinehart@gmail.com.
 Virginia
Morrow
Virginia M. “Sarah” Morrow of Tipp
City, formerly of Yellow Springs, died Thursday, Aug. 13, at Hospice of
Dayton. She was 86.
She was born Aug. 26, 1922, in Four Mile, Ky., to James and Lillie (Broaddus)
Gambrell. Virginia was retired from the Yellow Springs school system
in 1988 to take care of her ailing mother and was a resident of Liberty
Commons, Tipp City.
Virginia was a devoted daughter, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister and
friend to many. She touched many lives and will be loved and missed by
all.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Vernon T. Morrow
in 1975; stepsons, Harold and Edward Morrow; nine siblings; and one grandson.
Virginia is survived by her children and their spouses, Jean and Keith
Bullen, Yellow Springs, Barbara and John Grimes, Tipp City, Jim and Helen
Morrow, Dayton, Cheryl and Garry Peterson, Tipp City, Karen and Kevin
Collins, Lakeview, Janice and Sam Walls, Fairborn, and Kimberly Peterson,
Xenia; brothers, Walter Gambrell, Lexington, Ky., Gene Gambrell, Pineville,
Ky., sisters, Fannie Davis, New Vienna, Ohio, and Juanita Muncy, Madison
Heights, Mich.; 16 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, eight step-grandchildren
and 10 step-great-grandchildren and many dear nieces and nephews.
A graveside funeral service was held Monday, Aug. 17, at Maple Hill Cemetery,
Tipp City. Contributions in Virginia’s name may be made to Hospice
of Dayton.
 Simeon
Willis
Simeon Andrew Willis of Yellow Springs died on
Wednesday, Aug. 12. He was 81.
He was born Sept. 29, 1927, the son of the late Perry and Birdie Shope
Willis.
Simeon was a World War II Army veteran. He worked for Morris Bean
and was a member of the Pleasant Grove Missionary Church.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Wilma Lea Boyd Willis;
his parents; one sister, Alberta Sizemore; one brother, John Estep; and
one grandson, Willis Lookabaugh.
He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Simeon Allen and Lisa Willis,
of Tipp City; two daughters and a son-in-law, Beverly Hasser of Columbus,
and Victoria and Paul Phillips of Springfield; eight grandchildren, Shannon
Hasser, Jerod Lookabaugh, Jennifer Browning, Nichole Thatcher, Lyndsey
Willis, DJ Schborn, Kaleb Tate and Payton Willis; nine great grandchildren,
Joy, Jacob, Jackon, Jaylon, Madison, Jaydon, Cayson, Elena and Elisha; two
sisters, Carrie Dale of California and Virginia Mae of Texas; and numerous
nieces and nephews.
A gathering of family and friends was held Sunday, Aug. 16, in the Jackson
Lytle & Williams Funeral Home. Services were held on Monday, Aug.
17. Burial followed in Glen Forest Cemetery in Yellow Springs. The
family requests donations in Simeon’s memory to be made to Friends
Care Center, 50 E. Herman Street, Yellow Springs, OH 45387.
Dick Miller memorial
A memorial service for Richard (Dick) Miller will be
held Sunday, Aug. 30, at 3 p.m., in the Glen Helen Building. After the
service all are invited to a reception in the lobby to view a retrospective
show of Dick’s long art career. This special exhibit of his work
will be on display for approximately one week, starting Saturday, Aug.
29. Special pieces will only be on display during and after the memorial
due to their size and delicacy. For more information, call Faith Morgan
at 767-2551.
Celebration of life for Petronella Benton set
A memorial and celebration of life will be held for
former resident Petronella Benton on Saturday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m., at
the home of Nate Cornett and Lisa Wolters, 165 Brookside Drive, Yellow
Springs. Friends and acquaintances alike are invited to attend.
|
|
