July 15, 2004

OBITUARIES

Albert ‘Bud’ Johnson

Albert Edward “Bud” Johnson of Yellow Springs died on Sunday, July 11, after a rich and full life. He was 83.

For 35 years, Bud was the town pharmacist, operating Erbaugh & Johnson Drugs with his longtime friends and partners, Bill Erbaugh and Carl Johnson, his younger brother. Anyone who visited the store during those years will remember one thing above all: loud and frequent laughter. Fun came easy to Bud and his partners, who loved their jobs and the citizens of the community they served.

Bud was born Feb. 28, 1921, on his father’s farm near Red Lion, Ohio, and grew up there and in Miamisburg. After high school, he attended the University of Cincinnati, planning to go to medical school. World War II interrupted his plans, but not before he met a bright and beautiful nursing student, Vera Langdon. He served with the Third Army in Africa and Italy (the Po Valley Campaign), returning on leave in 1944 to marry his nurse.

After the war, Bud and his bride attended Ohio Northern, where he graduated with a degree in pharmacy, lifelong friendships and two children. Working in a drugstore in Franklin, Bud began serial day trips seeking a better opportunity and the right place to raise his family. He found the Erbaugh family and Yellow Springs, and they found him.

Over the years Bud connected with many families in this community through his open, compassionate and caring nature. He was a generous friend, confidant, mentor and professional advisor to generations of residents.

His partnership with Vera was the centerpiece of his life. He depended on her for all the things that made him happy. With her, they made the best friends of their lives here. Her death in 1997 was a devastating loss. His daughter, Linda, who had moved back to Yellow Springs, became his most treasured companion. He died just two weeks before her wedding, here in town, to Doug Dillenbeck.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Vera, and his parents, Lewis and Mary Johnson.

He is survived by his daughter, Linda (Doug Dillenbeck); son, David (Joanie Johnson); sister, Melda Silberman; brother, Carl (Sue Johnson); new stepgrandsons, Todd and Sean Dillenbeck; many nieces and nephews; and an extended family of friends in Yellow Springs, including the regular gang at Young’s Dairy.

A memorial service celebrating Bud Johnson’s life is scheduled for Saturday, July 24, 11 a.m., at the Yellow Springs United Methodist Church. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to any civic or charitable group that benefits Yellow Springs, the community he loved.

Nancy Johnson

Nancy A. Johnson died on Saturday, July 10, after a yearlong battle with cancer. She was 55.

She was a faithful member of Clearsprings Baptist Church in Spring Valley.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Bessie Wallen; a brother, Rogan; and an infant sister, Joyce Elaine.

She is survived by her husband, Franklin; a daughter, Penny L. Johnson of Xenia; siblings, Charlsie and Ken Rhodes, Wilma Yount, Yvonne Wallen, Barb and Jack Barnett of Xenia, Junior and Margaret Wallen of Tennessee, Clifford Wallen of Sardinia, Edsol and Sonnie Wallen of Yellow Springs; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside service was held on Wednesday, July 14, at Bellbrook Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Avenue, Dayton 45420.

John Miller

John E. Miller died Wednesday, July 7, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. He was 83.

Born on May 25, 1921, he was the son of Charles and Pauline (Kerns) Miller.

He served in World War II in the Army Air Corp. He retired from Wagner Ford of Simsbury, Conn., as general manager after more than 26 years. He volunteered in Little League, serving as president and as a coach. When he retired, he and his wife, Vondy, moved to Enon, where they joined the United Church of Christ. They traveled across the country in their RV, seeing many national parks and other sights.

He was a member of Veterans of Foreign War Post 8431 of Enon, a Mason for 59 years and a Shriner at Antioch Shrine of Dayton.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Ulgart (Tunger) Miller; and two brothers, Charles and Fred Miller.

He is survived by his wife; sister, Margaret Muller of Bloomfield, Conn.; children, John R. Miller and friend Kathleen Gorski of East Granby, Conn., Daniel E. and Jean Jordan of Beavercreek, Darrell R. Jordan of Yellow Springs, Susan and Bill Brewer of Lagrange, Ky., Rhonda and Rick Denezza of Dayton and Bonnie and Tom Mangiaracina of New York; and 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorials will be held at Knob Prairie United Church of Christ of Enon on Saturday, July 24, 2 p.m., and at the First Congregational Church of Granby, Conn., on July 31 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Lung, Heart or Cancer Associations.

Thomas Pitstick

Thomas A. Pitstick of Roby, Kan., died Saturday, July 10, in St. Ann, Mo. He was 75.

Born in Centerville on Nov. 29, 1928, he was the son of Francis R. and Dorathy H. Pitstick. He served in the U.S. Air Force.

He was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother, Dorothy Pitstick; five brothers, Jimmie, Kenneth, Dale, Pat and Joe Pitstick; and two sisters, Sharon Peterson and Julie K. Buckman.

He is survived by his brothers and sisters, Francis and Mary Pitstick of St. Cloud, Fla., Russell and Gloria Pitstick, and Evelyn Yenger, all of Washington Court House, Virginia Lee Johnson of Kettering, Kathy Pitstick of Circleville and Dorothy Jordan of South Carolina.

Graveside services were held Wednesday, July 14, at St. Paul Cemetery. Jackson Lytle & Williams Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Martha Poorman

Martha L. Poorman of Fairborn died Saturday, July 10, at Bethany Lutheran Village. She was 83.

Born in Yellow Springs on April 24, 1921, she was the daughter of Ralph and Mildred (Reinwald) Figgins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dale L. Poorman; sister, Mary Kathryn (Kay) Grimshaw; and brother, Ralph Donald (Don) Figgins.

She is survived by her daughter Natalie Cowgill and her friend Mike Kelly of North Fort Myers, Fla.; sons and daughter-in-laws, Kenneth and Gail Poorman of Kettering, Bruce and Patricia Poorman of Kettering, and Douglas and Dee Poorman of Delta; grandchildren, Jennifer, Thomas, John, Robert, Amy, Carl and Tracy, Rita and Frank Whitcomb, Leslie Gamble, Jason, Bruce, Angela Odegaard, Curtis Jasmin and Valarie; and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 15, 10 a.m., at the Burcham Funeral Home, 119 East Main Street in Fairborn. Interment will follow at Fairfield Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.