Our Obituaries
SUZANNE MARIE "SUE" GEBEL
November 25, 2021
SUZANNE MARIE "SUE" GEBEL of Urbandale, IA died November 25, 2021 at the age of 55. For the past seventeen years, she dedicated her life to promot-ing and supporting funeral service excellence. In 2004, Gebel became the executive director for the Iowa Funeral Directors Association, having served on its board of governors and funeral services of Iowa. Board. She was a member of the National...
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JERRE WIRT BLANK
November 22, 2021
JERRE WIRT BLANK of Northumberland, PA died November 22, 2021 at the age of 82. A fourth-generation funeral director, he took over the funeral business from his mother, Ethel M. Blank and his aunt., E. Jane (Wirt) Macdonald Wetzel in 1968. Blank graduated from the Eckels School of Mortuary Science.
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ROBERT BRUCE BURKE
November 21, 2021
ROBERT BRUCE BURKE of Oxford, OH died No-vember 21, 2021 at the age of 56. He was a funeral director and embalmer at Ogle & Paul R. Young Funeral Homes. Burke graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 2010.
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PAUL J CARBONNEAU
November 21, 2021
PAUL J. CARBONNEAU of Barre, VT died No-vember 21, 2021 at the age of 87. A funeral director, he spent his entire career at the Pruneau-Polli Funer-al Home in Barre, which he started in 1946. Car-bonneau was a member of the National Funerals Di-rectors Association
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STANLEY ANDREW SZPINDOR
November 15, 2021
STANLEY ANDREW SZPINDOR of Trooper, PA died November 15, 2021 at the age of 84. A licensed funeral director, he was the owner and operator of Szpindor Funeral Home for forty years. Szpindor graduated from the American Academy McAllister Insti-tute of Funeral Service.
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THOMAS RAY MILLS
November 14, 2021
THOMAS RAY MILLS of Longs, SC died Novem-ber 14, 2021 at the age of 83. He worked as a funeral director with Goldfinch Funeral Home until his re-tirement.
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DAVID STEPHEN ALTUM
November 14, 2021
DAVID STEPHEN ALTUM of Chattanooga, TN died November 14, 2021 at the age of 57. A funeral director, he worked many years at Williamson and Sons Funeral Home in Soddy Daisy, Max Brannon and Sons Funeral Home in Calhoun, GA and most recently at Lane Funeral Home and Crematory South Crest Chapel.
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HAROLD WARREN SR
November 13, 2021
HAROLD WARREN SR of Columbia, MO died November 13, 2021 at the age of 89. A licensed Mis-souri funeral director and embalmer, he worked at Stuart Funeral Home in Columbia. Eventually, War-ren and his wife, Helen, purchased the firm, renam-ing it Warren Funeral Chapel. He graduated from the Indiana College of Mortuary Science.
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FRANKLIN J FORSYTHE
November 13, 2021
FRANKLIN J. FORSYTHE of New Lenox, formerly of Manhattan, IL died November 13, 2021 at the age of 97. A licensed funeral director and embalmer for seventy-four years, he founded an ambulance service and Forsythe Funeral Home. A 1947 graduate of the Worsham College of Mortuary Science, he was the recip-ient of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association 50 years of Distinctive Service Award.
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DAVID A GARDNER
November 11, 2021
DAVID A. GARDNER of Windsor, CT died No-vember 11, 2021 at the age of 66. He served the South Windsor, Enfield, Windsor Locks and Somers communities for almost forty years as a funeral direc-tor. A graduate of the Mount Ida Mortuary College, Gardner was a member of the Connecticut Funeral Di-rectors Association.
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STEVEN MICHAEL MACK
November 10, 2021
STEVEN MICHAEL MACK of Van Wert, OH died November 10, 2021 at the age of 66. A retired funer-al director, he worked at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home for thirty-three years. A 1979 graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, he was a mem-ber of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association District 3.
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RICHARD A. FERRIS
November 9, 2021
RICHARD A. FERRIS of Lititz, PA died November 9, 2021 at the age of 81. He was the co-founder and then owner of R. A. Ferris & Co, Inc., a funeral di-rector's cremation service in West Chester, PA. Ferris earned his funeral licenses from Eckels College of Mor-tuary Science and worked for many funeral homes in Delaware County before establishing the crematory in 1974.
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MELVIN "MEL" DEAN LARSON
November 9, 2021
MELVIN "MEL" DEAN LARSON of Shoreview, MN died November 9, 2021 at the age of 85. He was a funeral director for nearly sixty years.
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VANDERLYN R. PINE
November 9, 2021
DR. VANDERLYN R. PINE, a lifelong resident of New Paltz, NY died November 9, 2021 at the age of 83. Upon his father's death in 1957, Pine left Dart-mouth College to help operate Pine Funeral Home. In 1970 he formed Research and Analysis Associates to carry out his appointment as management consultant for NFDA. A college professor at SUNY, Dr. Pine published articles and books, as well as...
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BOOKER T. HOGAN , JR
November 5, 2021
BOOKER T. HOGAN JR of Brenham, TX died November 5, 2021 at the age of 86. A third-generation funeral director, he was the owner and op-erator of the Hogan Funeral Home.
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ROBERT L. "BOB" PARKS
November 1, 2021
ROBERT L. "BOB" PARKS of Enfield, CT died November 1, 2021 at the age of 90. He owned and operated Parks Superior Sales Inc in Somers from 1952 until 2010.
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BRIAN REESE GILLESPIE
October 31, 2021
BRIAN REESE GILLESPIE of Bellefontaine, OH died October 31, 2021 at the age of 65. He was a long-time sales representative for Batesville Casket Company, covering as a sales trainee in the states of North Dakota, eastern Montana and western Minnesota. In 1980, Gillespie accepted a sales territory in central Pennsylvania. Following an additional seven years of service with Batesville, he completed...
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JOHN STEPHEN SMITH
October 28, 2021
JOHN STEPHEN SMITH of North Little Rock, AR died October 28, 2021 at the age of 78. He was president of the North Little Rock Funeral Home, which was established by his father, Clifford Smith in 1955. For the next forty-five years, Smith and his wife Kay, worked to build the funeral home to be one of the largest and most respected funeral homes in the state. Together, John and Kay were elected...
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J. ROBERT "ROB" VARNER
October 27, 2021
J. ROBERT "ROB" VARNER of Sligo, PA died October 27, 2021 at the age of 58. A funeral director, he was the owner and operator of Varner Funeral Home in Sligo and Rimersburg for the last thirty-three years. Varner graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1986.
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JACK MILLER
October 27, 2021
JACK MILLER of Gretna, VA died October 27, 2021 at the age of 89. He completed his funeral director and embalmers apprenticeship at Community Funeral Home in Lynchburg, VA under the supervision of the late M. W. Thornhill, Jr. Miller later served as a funeral director and embalmer at Craw-ford Funeral Home in Halifax before establishing Miller Funeral Home in Gretna in 1964. A 1962 graduate of...
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JAMES A REED
October 27, 2021
JAMES A. REED of Riverhead, formerly of Manorville, NY died October 27, 2021 at the age of 79. A New York State funeral director, he worked for the S. B. Horton Funeral Home in Greenport, Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead and the DeFreist Funeral Home in Southold. Reed was a long-time sales associate in the casket industry, having worked for the National Casket Company, Batesville...
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SHIRLEY ANN MOORE ALTHOFF
October 24, 2021
SHIRLEY ANN MOORE ALTHOFF of Centerville, OH died October 24, 2021 at the age of 85. A licensed funeral director, she was vice president and co-owner of Schlientz and Moore Funeral Homes. Althoff was the first female president of the Greater Montgomery County Funeral Directors Association and was a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and the Ohio Funeral Directors Association.
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HERRY L CAPELLO) RONAN
October 23, 2021
SHERRY L (CAPELLO) RONAN of Carlisle, PA died October 23, 2021 at the age of 54. She assisted her husband, Lynn A. Ronan in operating the Ronan Funeral Home.
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GEORGE LESICKO
October 18, 2021
GEORGE LESICKO of New Douglas, IL died October 18, 2021 at the age of 91. A licensed funeral director and embalmer for fifty years, he was the owner and operator of Lesicko Funeral Home, which he purchased alongside his wife, Clara in 1961. They were also pioneers in EMT service receiving their training while operating Lesicko Ambulance Service from 1961 to 1976. A 1953 graduate of the College of...
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RABBI EARL A GROLLMAN
October 15, 2021
RABBI EARL A. GROLLMAN of Belmont, MA died October 15, 2021 at the age of 96. A pioneer in the field of death and dying, he wrote one of the first books for children about death, Talking about Death: A Dialogue Between Parent and Child. He was one of the founders the Good Grief program. Grollman had written 27 books on all aspects of loss and grief, such as Alzheimer's disease, divorce, and death...
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VAUGHN E PAINE
October 15, 2021
VAUGHN E. PAINE of Orwell, OH died October 15, 2021 at the age of 77. He was the former owner of Paine Funeral Homes in Orwell and Rock Creek.
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JOHN BAMBER
October 14, 2021
JOHN BAMBER of Mason, OH died October 14, 2021 at the age of 81. A retired funeral director at Tufts Schildmeyer Family Funeral Homes, he was the former owner and operator of Bamber Funeral Home in East Walnut Hills. Bamber was a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association.
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THOMAS DAVID CARROLL
October 12, 2021
THOMAS DAVID CARROLL of Paris, IL died October 12, 2021 at the age of 68. A third-generation funeral director for forty-six years, he worked at Zieren Funeral Home before owning and operating Carroll Funeral Home. Carroll was also a licensed insurance agent for Forethought and Global Atlantic insurance companies. He was a member of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association and the National...
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RONALD L LOMPE
October 7, 2021
RONALD L. LOMPE of Waterloo, IA died October 7, 2021 at the age of 83. A funeral director for fifty-three years, he managed Chapel of Memories Funeral Home and continued to manage Parrott & Wood and Chapel of Memories Funeral Home when they merged in 1967, until it was sold. Lompe continued to work there until 2006. He graduated from the Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science.
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RONNIE D. "RON" MARTIN
October 4, 2021
RONNIE D. "RON" MARTIN of Pendleton, OR died October 4, 2021 at the age of 69. A funeral director for fifty years, he worked with various funeral homes in California and Oregon before managing the Rigdon-Ransom Funeral Home in Salem, Bateman Funeral Home in Newport, and Pacific View Memo-rial Chapel in Lincoln City. In 2008, Martin and his wife, Valori purchased Pendleton Pioneer Chapel, Folsom...
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JAMES POWELL HUNTER III
October 3, 2021
JAMES POWELL HUNTER III of Lufkin, TX died October 3, 2021 at the age of 84. A licensed funeral director for over fifty-six years, he formerly owned Oakley-Metcalf in Lufkin and Cason-Monk-Metcalf in Nacogdoches. Hunter was the founder, chairman and CEO of Equity Corporation International, which merged with Service Corporation International in 1999 after trading on the NYSE. He was a former...
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JOSEPH F REBMAN, CCCE
October 3, 2021
REV. MSGR. JOSEPH F. REBMAN, CCCE of Wilmington, DE died October 3, 2021 at the age of 85. Pastor at St. Joseph's more than 21 years, Msgr. Rebman served in numerous jobs at the Diocese of Wilmington including chancellor, vicar general and judicial vicar. His resume lists almost every important role a priest can fulfill. He met two popes in his life-time, both saints, John XXIII during his...
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BENJAMIN R EASTERLING, JR
October 1, 2021
BENJAMIN R. EASTERLING JR of Canal Fulton, OH died October 1, 2021 at the age of 71. A funeral director for forty-five years, he began working part-time at the Campfield-Hickman-Collier Funeral Home in Barberton. In 1978, Easterling started working at Swigart Funeral Home in Canal Fulton, which he purchased in 1989. He owned and operated it for thirty-two years. A graduate of the Pittsburgh...
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KAYE PATTERSON
September 29, 2021
KAYE PATTERSON of Fort Worth, TX died September 29, 2021 at the age of 67. A licensed funeral director, she and her husband, David founded Glob-al Mortuary Affairs in Mesquite in 2006. She owned and operated it until her retirement.
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RANDON LEE SHORT
September 29, 2021
RANDON LEE SHORT of Archbold, OH died September 29, 2021 at the age of 71. A licensed funeral director, he worked alongside his father, Robert Short at Short Funeral Home. He became the owner and operator of the firm upon his father's retirement in 2016.
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LARRY C REAVES
September 24, 2021
LARRY C. REAVES of Johnson City, TN died September 24, 2021 at the age of 78. A retired licensed funeral director and grief facilitator, he worked at Appalachian Funeral Home for over forty years. He served as president of the Upper East Tennessee-Southwest Virginia Funeral Directors Association.
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BOBBY G FANNING
September 22, 2021
BOBBY G. FANNING of Tullahoma, TN died September 22, 2021 at the age of 86. A retired funeral director, Fanning served as an embalmer in Saigon, Vietnam, 1965-1966, with the United States Air Force. After Vietnam, Bobby was employed with Robert A. Pumphrey Funeral Home in Bethesda, MD and the Danzansky and Goldberg Funeral Home in Washington DC/Rockville, MD. In 1982, he relocated to North Palm...
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DUPLAIN W. "PETE" RHODES III
September 22, 2021
DUPLAIN W. "PETE" RHODES III of New Orleans, LA died September 22, 2021 at the age of 61. He managed Rhodes Limousine Service. A graduate of the Worhsam College of Mortuary Science, he was a member of the Louisiana Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.
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ALBERT J. "PETE" KRISTAN
September 20, 2021
ALBERT J. "PETE" KRISTAN of Mundelein, IL died September 20, 2021 at the age of 95. He worked for Tobin's Funeral Home in Waukegan be-fore opening Burnett-Kristan Funeral Home in 1954, which became Kristan Funeral Home in 1969. A 1948 graduate of the Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science, he was a member of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association and the Northeastern Illinois Funeral...
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TIMOTHY J. STEVENHAGEN
September 15, 2021
TIMOTHY J. STEVENHAGEN of Manchester, OH died September 15, 2021 at the age of 72. He was a licensed funeral director and certified celebrant, working with Bacher Funeral Home and since 2006, the Swigart-Easterling Funeral Home.
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HERVEY W WALKER, JR
September 12, 2021
HERVEY W. WALKER JR of McCormick, SC died September 12, 2021 at the age of 95. He was the owner and operator of Walker Funeral Home in McCormick, SC and Brown and Walker Funeral Home in Abbeville, SC. Walker graduated from The American Academy of Embalming in New York in 1946.
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DAVID A ROSS
September 12, 2021
DAVID A. ROSS of Akron, OH died September 12, 2021 at the age of 82. A graduate of the Simmons Institute of Mortuary Science, he joined his father in the family business, Ross Funeral Home, where he was a funeral director for over fifty years.
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HENRY PRESTON SHAW
September 12, 2021
HENRY PRESTON SHAW of Thomasville, GA died September 12, 2021 at the age of 26. He obtained an associate degree from Ogeechee Technical College in mortuary science and was a licensed funeral director and embalmer apprentice at Hopkins Mortuary Inc.
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JACK R SCHMIDT
September 12, 2021
JACK R. SCHMIDT of Chagrin Falls, OH died September 12, 2021 at the age of 81. In 1976, Jack continued his father's business, which is the National Di-rectory of Morticians (The Red Book). Jack built his legacy by hiring retired business people as salesman; of-ten times employing friends. He was always up for a good joke, with his dry humor. He had an uncanny knack of making you feel like were...
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JOHN BERNARD SCHMITT
September 10, 2021
JOHN BERNARD SCHMITT of Shoreview, MN died September 10, 2021 at the age of 84. He was a longtime salesman for Brown Wilbert Vault Co.
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EDWARD TIMOTHY "TIM" O'NEILL
September 7, 2021
EDWARD TIMOTHY "TIM" O'NEILL of Day-ton, OH died September 7, 2021 at the age of 75. He was associated with, and has assisted many funeral homes throughout his career as a licensed Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky funeral director and embalmer. O'Neill later became an account executive at Homesteaders Life Company, and for the past ten years he represented Cincinnati Equitable Life as an account...
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LARRY JOE ALEXANDER
September 6, 2021
LARRY JOE ALEXANDER of Jerseyville, IL died September 6, 2021 at the age of 57. A funeral director and embalmer, he started his career at Gubser Funeral Home in 1985 and became owner in 2000, naming it Alexander & Gubser Funeral Home. In 2020, the funeral home became Alexander Funeral Home. He was the longest running coroner in Jersey County, having been elected in1992. A graduate of the Worsham...
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JOE A BUNN
September 3, 2021
JOE A. BUNN of Columbus Grove, OH died September 3, 2021 at the age of 77. He started his job at Superior Coach Corporation in Lima the day after he graduated from college in 1964. Passionate about the funeral car industry throughout his 57 year career, Joe was known as "Mr. Superior." He served as Vice President of Sales Distribution at the time of his death.
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HENRY L. . "STALLY" STALLWORTH
September 1, 2021
HENRY L. "STALLY" STALLWORTH of Orlan-do, FL died September 1, 2021 at the age of 88. He was the head embalmer for Postell's Mortuary for over twenty-five years as well as a trade embalmer for several local firms.
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RALPH E GALLEY
August 28, 2021
RALPH E. GALLEY of Dawson, PA died August 28, 2021 at the age of 98. A funeral director, he was the proprietor of the Ralph E. Galley Funeral Home for seventy years, which was founded by his father, Frank B. Galley. A graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, he served as deputy coroner for many years.
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JERRY GILMORE III
August 27, 2021
JERRY GILMORE III of Winston-Salem, NC died August 27, 2021 at the age of 75. A longtime funeral director, he was the owner and operator of Gilmore Memorial Funeral Service, which was founded by his father. A 1966 graduate of the John A. Gupton College of Funeral Service, he served on its board and was chairman of state and national funeral directors associations.
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JERRY GILMORE III
August 27, 2021
JERRY GILMORE III of Winston-Salem, NC died August 27, 2021 at the age of 75. A longtime funeral director, he was the owner and operator of Gilmore Memorial Funeral Service, which was founded by his father. A 1966 graduate of the John A. Gupton College of Funeral Service, he served on its board and was chairman of state and national funeral directors associations.
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MONTY RENN THORNBURG
August 23, 2021
MONTY RENN THORNBURG of Kings Mountain, NC died August 18, 2021 at the age of 61. A licensed funeral director and embalmer, he began his funeral service career at Harris Funeral Home in 1998. Thornburg was manager of the firm since 2017. He graduated from the Fayetteville Technical College with an associate's degree in funeral service.
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RICHARD ALAN JONES
August 19, 2021
RICHARD ALAN JONES of Harlan, IA died Au-gust 19, 2021 at the age of 80. He became a licensed funeral director in the state of Iowa in 1965 and the state of Nebraska in 1968. Jones started his funeral career in Council Bluffs before moving to Harlan to work at Pauley Funeral Home, which he purchased in 1975. In 2003, Jones partnered with his son, Michael and renamed the firm, Pauley Jones Funeral...
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STEPHEN E. "STEVE" BURGESS
August 10, 2021
STEPHEN E. "STEVE" BURGESS of Coshocton, OH died August 10, 2021 at the age of 62. He worked as a professional salesman for American Coach Sales for over twenty-five years. Burgess served funeral professionals in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and beyond helping funeral directors obtain hearses, lim-ousines and utility vehicles for their fleets.
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DONALD GENE "DONNIE" FORD
August 9, 2021
DONALD GENE "DONNIE" FORD of Grafton, WV died August 9, 2021 at the age of 71. He owned and operated the Donald G. Ford Funeral Home for forty-two years. A graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, he was a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association.
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THEODORE "TED" M. CHAPMAN
August 7, 2021
THEODORE "TED" M. CHAPMAN of Carlisle, OH died August 7, 2021 at the age of 99. He co-founded the Trostel, Chapman, Dunbar & Fraley Funeral Home and was president of the Chapman-Raff, Inc. Chapman retired from the Trostel-Chapman Funeral Home and Richards Raff & Dun-bar Memorial Home at the end of 1988 as a funeral director and embalmer. He continued to work in the funeral homes for over fifty...
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MARVIN F STEWARD
August 7, 2021
MARVIN F. STEWARD of Pueblo, CO died Au-gust 7, 2021 at the age of 77. In 1966, he began his career in funeral service at the Rouch Funeral Home. In 1986, he and Gerry Montgomery purchased the funeral home, renaming it Montgomery & Steward Funeral Directors. In 1996, the City of Pueblo awarded them the contract to manage Mountain View Cemetery. A graduate of the Dallas Institute of Mortuary...
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GREGORY "GREG" R. LYBRANO
August 6, 2021
GREGORY "GREG" R. LYBRANO of Kingsport, TN died August 6, 2021. A licensed funeral director and embalmer since 1976, he held licenses in the state of Tennessee, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York. Lybrano worked at Carter-Trent Funeral Homes as he held several titles in the fifteen plus years, he was currently an operations support specialist.
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CHARLES R FRENCH, MD
August 6, 2021
DR. CHARLES R. FRENCH, MD of Brazil, IN died August 6, 2021 at the age of 71. A Certified Funeral Service Practitioner, he was a licensed funeral director in the states of Indiana and Illinois. French and his wife, Susie purchased the Miller and Sons Funeral Home in 1995 and owned and operated it as French Funeral Home. A graduate of the Carl Sand-burg College of Mortuary Science, he served as...
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EARL MACK SHAW , JR
August 6, 2021
EARL MACK SHAW JR of Jackson, TN died Au-gust 6, 2021 at the age of 62. A licensed funeral director since 1978, he began working in the funeral business at an early age, helping his parents in the family business, Stephenson-Shaw Funeral Home, Inc. Upon the death of his father 1987, Earl Jr assumed the position of president and chief financial officer. He graduated from the John A. Gupton College...
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HEYWARD "TREY" PRESTON SCOTT
August 5, 2021
HEYWARD "TREY" PRESTON SCOTT of Seneca, SC died August 5, 2021 at the age of 45. He was the owner and operator of the Keowee Funeral Services of Oconee County since 2019, a firm that he has been affiliated with since 2016.
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JANICE LYNN (BLACK) NOVAK
August 5, 2021
JANICE LYNN (BLACK) NOVAK of Brownsville, PA died August 5, 2021 at the age of 47. She was co-owner of the Novak Funeral Home in Brownsville. A graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, Novak was a member of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association.
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SAMUEL J STEFF
August 4, 2021
SAMUEL J. STEFF of Albion, PA died August 4, 2021 at the age of 76. He started his career in the funeral profession, working at Rzepka, Dusckas, Quinn and Kloecker Funeral Homes. In 1978, Steff along with his family, purchased the James P. Summers Funeral Home and operated it until 2008, when he retired. In 1978, he was appointed to serve as a part time deputy coroner in the West Erie County area...
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LEVI RODNEY KING , SR
August 3, 2021
DR. LEVI RODNEY KING SR of Belleville, IL died August 3, 2021 at the age of 73. He was the owner and operator of the L King Funeral Chapels PC in Belleville. A member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Illinois Funeral Directors Association and the St. Clair County Funeral Directors Association, he served on the board of directors and was a graduate of the Midwest Theological...
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GRANT HOWARD ARMSTRONG, JR
August 1, 2021
GRANT HOWARD ARMSTRONG JR of Dan-bury, IA died August 1, 2021 at the age of 67. He began in the funeral industry by living and working at the Hogan-Bremer Funeral Home in Mason City prior to joining the Weinstein & Piser Funeral Home in Chicago. Armstrong was hired as a licensed funeral director at the Walter Funeral Homes in Danbury in 1975, which he resided in. In 1979, he partnered with Irvin...
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SUSAN FALVO WARCO
July 29, 2021
SUSAN FALVO WARCO of Washington, PA died July 29, 2021 at the age of 68. A funeral director since 1978, she purchased the Robert C. Gordon Home for Funerals alongside her husband in 1978. Warco co-owned and operated the Warco-Falvo Fu-neral Home Inc and served as chief deputy for the Washington County Coroner's office for twenty-six years pro bono. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the...
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BRUCE WHITCOMB JUDD
July 26, 2021
BRUCE WHITCOMB JUDD of Barre City, VT died July 26, 2021 at the age of 88. He was affiliated with the Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home for over fifty years as a funeral director, prearrangement counselor, embalmer, and for many years corporate president. A 1958 graduate of the New England Institute of Embalming, he was a member of the Vermont Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral...
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ROBERT A NARDOLILLO, JR
July 24, 2021
ROBERT A. NARDOLILLO JR of Narraganset, RI and Boca Raton, FL died July 24, 2021 at the age of 67. He was president of the Nardolillo Funeral Homes, Inc of Cranston and Narragansett since 1980. A 1976 graduate of the New England Institute of Mortuary Sciences, he was an executive board member and past president of the Rhode Island Funeral Di-rectors Association, and was a member of the National...
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CHARLES S. "CHUCK" WETMORE
July 21, 2021
CHARLES S. "CHUCK" WETMORE of Spokane, WA died July 21, 2021 at the age of 70. A funeral director and embalmer, he was the founding partner of the Cremation Society of Washington and was a past president of the Washington State Board of Funeral Di-rectors and Embalmers. Wetmore graduated from the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science.
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KEITH JORGENSEN
July 19, 2021
KEITH JORGENSEN of Zelienople, PA formerly of Ellwood City, PA and Alexandria VA died July 19, 2021 at the age of 92. A graduate of the Eckles College of Embalming, he was employed by Joseph Gawlers & Sons in Washington, DC from 1959 until his re-tirement in 1993. While at Gawlers, he conducted the funeral service for President Woodrow Wilson's wife, Edith. He was also at the White House with...
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CHRISTOPHER "CHRIS" JON ADAMAS
July 14, 2021
CHRISTOPHER "CHRIS" JON ADAMAS of Herndon, VA died July 14, 2021 at the age of 56. A funeral director, he worked for several years with the Everly Funeral Homes and became manager of the Falls Church facility in 1996. In 1997, Adams began working at the Green Funeral Home in downtown Herndon and in 2000, he and his wife, Kathryn be-came owners of the Adams-Green Funeral Home. He graduated from...
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MARY ALICE SOLIS
July 13, 2021
MARY ALICE SOLIS of McAllen, TX died July 13, 2021 at the age of 73. She worked as a funeral director for over fifty years in the family business, De Leon Funeral Home in Pharr, TX. Solis graduated from the Commonwealth College of Funeral Service in Houston, TX.
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STEVEN J SCHUMACHER
July 11, 2021
STEVEN J. SCHUMACHER of Branson, MO, formerly of Wayne died July 11, 2021 at the age of 77. He completed his funeral service apprenticeship at Culter Funeral Home in Council Bluffs, IA and was later employed as a funeral director at Lattin-Dugan-Chambers Funeral Home in Fremont. In 1973, Schumacher and his late wife, Donna, moved to Wayne, where they owned and operated Schumacher Funeral Homes...
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RICHARD "DICKIE" MARVIN MULLIN
July 5, 2021
RICHARD "DICKIE" MARVIN MULLIN of Wills Point, TX died July 5, 2021 at the age of 72. A licensed funeral director, he and his two sons, Doug and Josh, purchased American Mortuary Service in Dallas in 2000. Mullin graduated from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science.
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DARRYL J HART
July 1, 2021
DARRYL J. HART of Asheville, NC died July 1, 2021 at the age of 59. A funeral director since 1985, he joined his father at Hart Funeral Service. Upon his father's death, Hart became owner and operator. A graduate of the Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, he was a member of the Pi Sigma Eta National Morticians Fraternity. Hart received the Professional of the Year award in 2002 from the...
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JAMES PARNICK JENNINGS, JR
June 27, 2021
JAMES PARNICK JENNINGS SR of Rome, GA died June 27, 2021 at the age of 91. He became licensed as a Georgia funeral director in 1950 and embalmer in 1955. Jennings served as the assistant manager of Jennings Funeral Home from 1955-1960, manager from 1960-1972, vice-president and co-owner from 1972-1977, and owner and president from 1977-1988. He oversaw the growth of the business to a second and...
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WILLIAM "BILL" STEVEN MALCOM
June 26, 2021
WILLIAM "BILL" STEVEN MALCOM of Lewis-ton, ID died June 26, 2021 at the age of 72. In 1981, he worked as an apprentice mortician for his dad, Kermit Malcom, at their family funeral home, Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home. In 1983, Bill, along with his brother and brother-in-law Marsh Harwick, purchased the funeral home. In 1997, he worked in Northern Ireland and Great Britain as a guest...
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CHARLES L. "CHUCK" CROUSE
June 23, 2021
CHARLES L. "CHUCK" CROUSE of Dunbar, PA died June 23, 2021 at the age of 81. A funeral director, he owned and operated Burhans Crouse Funeral Home, which he purchased in1984. Crouse previously did reconstructive work for other funeral homes throughout the Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. A graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, he served as deputy coroner for Fayette County...
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ARLEEN IDA (RINAS) FITZPATRICK
June 19, 2021
ARLEEN IDA (RINAS) FITZPATRICK of Rolling Prairie, IN died June 19, 2021 at the age of 87. She obtained her funeral director license early in her marriage to assist her husband, the late Thomas Francis Fitzpatrick. In late 1968, they established the Fitz-patrick Funeral Directors Funeral Home in Kankakee, IL.
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J. DOUGLAS SMART
June 18, 2021
J. DOUGLAS SMART of Tilton, NH died June 18, 2021 at the age of 80. A licensed funeral director, he worked at Cunningham and O'Connor in Los Angeles before moving to New Hampshire to establish the William F. Smart Sr Memorial Home in Tilton in 1978. Smart graduated Magna Cum Laude from the California College of Mortuary Science in 1967. Smart graduated Magna Cum Laude from the California College...
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J. DOUGLAS SMART
June 18, 2021
J. DOUGLAS SMART of Tilton, NH died June 18, 2021 at the age of 80. A licensed funeral director, he worked at Cunningham and O'Connor in Las Angeles before moving to New Hampshire to establish the William F. Smart Sr Memorial Home in Tilton in 1978. Smart graduated Magna Cum Laude from the California College of Mortuary Science in 1967. Smart graduated Magna Cum Laude from the California College...
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DEBBIE LOU SCHRODER
June 17, 2021
DEBBIE LOU SCHRODER of Moline, IL died June 17, 2021 at the age of 78. She and her husband, Stephen Schroder owned and operated Schroder Mortuary in Silvis for over thirty-five years before they retired in 2002.
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BETTYE O'NEAL HUTCHINGS
June 17, 2021
BETTYE O'NEAL HUTCHINGS of Macon, GA died June 17, 2021 at the age of 90. A licensed funeral director since 1967, she was employed part-time at Hutchings Funeral Home during the early 1960's and was a full-time employee from 1966 until 1987 as manager and secretary/treasurer. Hutchings was the owner of the funeral home at the time of her passing. A member of the Georgia Funeral Service...
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THOMAS CLAY GRAHAM
June 13, 2021
THOMAS CLAY GRAHAM of Pittsburgh, PA, died June 13, 2021 at the age of 64. He worked for several funeral homes over the years, was most recently employed at House of Law Inc in Pittsburgh. He graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.
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GREGORY FORBES
June 12, 2021
GREGORY FORBES of Parsons, KS died June 12, 2021 at the age of 52. A licensed funeral director, embalmer and life insurance agent, he established Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in 2000 alongside Marlan Hoffman. In 2004, the partners expanded the business by purchasing Bath Funeral Homes in Altamont and Chetopa. A member of the Kansas Fu-neral Directors Association, and the National Funeral Directors...
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DARRYL KEITH BENTLEY
June 7, 2021
DARRYL KEITH BENTLEY of Butler, GA died June 7, 2021 at the age of 59. He was the owner and CEO of Bentley-Montfort Mortuary.
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RICHARD ANTHONY KULESZA
June 6, 2021
RICHARD ANTHONY KULESZA of Monroe Township, NJ died June 6, 2021 at the age of 92. He was the third generation of his family to work in the casket and funeral supply industry. Kulesza dedicated over 60 years to the business as the former president and owner of Edison Casket Company. He served one term on the board of directors of the former Casket Manufacturers Association and was a member of the...
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SAM SAXTON
June 5, 2021
SAM SAXTON of Allentown, PA died June 5, 2021 at the age of 95. He worked alongside his father in owning and operating the Cedar Hill Memorial Park until it closed in 2003. Saxton also acquired and developed several cemeteries and was an advisor for the first memorial park in Japan. A member for over sixty years, Saxton was president of the Pennsylvania Crematory, Cremation and Funeral...
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JAMES B KELLY
June 1, 2021
JAMES B. KELLY of Worcester, MA died June 1, 2021 at the age of 65. A third-generation funeral director for forty-seven years, he owned and operated the Kelly Funeral Home and Bereavement Care Center, which was established by his parents, Walter F. and Lillian Kelly. A graduate of the New England Institute of Funeral Service, he was past president of the former Greater Worcester Funeral Directors...
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JOHN BRENTON MAYNARD
May 31, 2021
JOHN BRENTON MAYNARD of Little River, SC died May 31, 2021 at the age of 68. A retired funeral director, he worked at the Harmer's Funeral Home in Shinnston, WV for several years before purchasing the Sample-O'Donnell Funeral Home in Sharon, PA in 1991. He sold the business in 2015.
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SAM A TWIFORD , JR
May 28, 2021
SAM A. TWIFORD JR of Elizabeth City, NC died May 28, 2021 at the age of 77. A retired funeral director, he was the former co-owner of Twiford Funeral Homes and was president of the North Carolina Funeral Directors Association in 1989. A graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, he taught at the Gupton Jones School of Mortuary Science for several years and became dean of the college.
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JOHN WHITE CROXTON
May 25, 2021
JOHN WHITE CROXTON of Cincinnati, OH, died May 25, 2021 at the age of 91. A funeral director and embalmer for sixty-four years, he owned and operated the T.P. White & Sons Funeral Home.
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G. THOMAS "TOM" GENTILE
May 23, 2021
G. THOMAS "TOM" GENTILE of Hackensack, NJ, died May 23, 2021 at the age of 72. A funeral director for over forty years, he began working the funeral business every summer throughout his high school years. In the mid-1970s, Tom purchased the former Gromley Community Funeral Home. He lat-er expanded the business, acquiring the Stewart Funeral Home, Ricardo Memorial Home and the Rocciola Funeral...
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ALFONSE F GAMBACORTA
May 21, 2021
ALFONSE F. GAMBACORTA of Amherst, NY died May 21, 2021 at the age of 82. Throughout his forty-six years as a licensed funeral director, he worked for the Greco Funeral Home, Rubino Memorial Home and Amigone Funeral Home, among others. A 1961 graduate of the Simmons School of Mortuary Science, he was a member of the Erie Niagara Funeral Directors Association.
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RICHARD J GALANTE, JR
May 19, 2021
RICHARD J. GALANTE JR of Union, NJ died May 19, 2021 at the age of 69. He worked with his family as a third-generation funeral director for the Galante Funeral Home in Union his entire life. Galante Jr graduated with a degree in mortuary science from the University of Minnesota in 1973 and was appointed the president of the State Board of Mortuary Science by former governor Jim McGreevy. He was a...
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CHARLIE ALBERT REID, JR
May 14, 2021
CHARLIE ALBERT REID JR of Augusta, GA died May 14, 2021. He worked alongside his father, Charlie Sr at Blount and Reid Funeral Home. In 1987, after his father's death, Charlie renamed the firm C. A. Reid Sr. Memorial Funeral Home. He graduated from the Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service.
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MICHAEL HUGHES
May 14, 2021
MICHAEL HUGHES of Adel, GA died May 14, 2021 at the age of 47. He was a funeral director for twenty-five years at both Boone and Purvis Funeral Home.
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WALLACE "WALLY" D. LEWELLYN
April 30, 2021
WALLACE "WALLY" D. LEWELLYN of Grove City, OH died April 30, 2021 at the age of 86. A re-tired funeral director, he worked at the Schoedinger Funeral and Cremation Service for over forty years, mostly serving the Grove City Chapel. A graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, he served as president of the Grove City Cemetery board.
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DORIS THOMPSON SLACK
April 29, 2021
DORIS THOMPSON SLACK of Howard County, MD died April 29, 2021 at the age of 93. In 1966, she and her husband, John R. Slack purchased the Higinbothom Funeral Home. Upon John's is 1983, Doris became president of the Slack Funeral Home, P.A. in Ellicott City, a position which she held until her death. She was a member of the Maryland Funeral Directors Association.
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