Our Obituaries
STANLEY H. FRYCZYNSKI, JR
June 4, 2017
STANLEY H. FRYCZYNSKI JR of Bayonne, NJ died June 4, 2017 at the age of 90. He was a licensed funeral director, owner and operator of the S. Fryczynski & Son Funeral Home for over 40 years, which was established by his father in 1917. He graduated from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service.
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JOHN DANIEL CARON
June 1, 2017
JOHN DANIEL CARON of North Andover, MA died June 1, 2017 at the age of 77. He was a licensed funeral director and embalmer in North Andover and Haverhill, having worked alongside his father at the R. George Caron Funeral Home and later the N. Power O'Connor Funeral Home. He then became the owner and operator of the Caron Funeral Home in North Andover. He received a diploma in Sanitary Science,...
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EDWARD J. WAITT
May 29, 2017
EDWARD J. WAITT of Brockton, MA died May 29, 2017 at the age of 98. He was Massachusetts' oldest active licensed funeral director for almost 70 years, during which time, he established Waitt Funeral Home with his wife, Kay in 1928. He graduated from the New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences in 1947.
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DENNIS W. BOOM
May 20, 2017
DENNIS W. BOOM of Dallas, TX died May 20, 2017 at the age of 77. He was a long-time owner of what is now known as the Holcomb-Henry-Boom-Purcell Funeral Homes and Cremation Services. He purchased the funeral home in St. Paul, MN in 1981 from Earl and Roswitha Holcomb and in 1993, he and his wife, Elaine, expanded the business to include a second location in Shoreview, MN. The booms lived above...
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JOHN "JACK" K. WATKINS
May 19, 2017
JOHN "JACK" K. WATKINS of Sylvania, OH died May 19, 2017 at the age of 87. He worked at the Reeb Funeral Home as an embalmer, funeral director and ambulance driver where he had been employed since he was twelve years old doing yard work and other errands. He retired as partner in 2012 and continued to help at the funeral home. He graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1959...
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KATHREN LOIS RITCHEY WILLIAMS
May 16, 2017
KATHREN LOIS RITCHEY WILLIAMS of Redmond, OR died May 16, 2017 at the age of 77. She worked alongside her husband, Wally Williams as a licensed funeral director. Together, they purchased the Driskill Memorial Chapel in John Day, OR after the death of Carl Driskill. In 1980, she moved to Bend, OR, where she started working for Paul Reynolds at Niswonger Reynold Funeral Home and in 1986 she moved...
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ROBERT G. SHORT
May 15, 2017
ROBERT G. SHORT of Archbold, OH died May 15, 2017 at the age of 90. In 1949, he joined his father, the late Joseph L. Short, in the family business, Short Funeral Home, as a licensed funeral director and embalmer. He remained active in the funeral home for more than 65years, making him one of the longest serving funeral directors in Ohio. A graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science,...
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DORIS E. BAKER
May 15, 2017
DORIS E. BAKER of Zanesville, OH died May 15, 2017 at the age of 98. She joined the staff of the Bateman Memorial Home where her father, the late William DeLong, was manager and part owner. A graduate of the Cleveland College of Embalming, she passed the Ohio State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors exams, receiving both licenses in 1939, making her the only women in the area to hold both...
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B.D. BUD HUNTER
May 14, 2017
B.D. "BUD" HUNTER of Springfield, IL died May 14, 2017 at the age of 87. He worked for the S. P. Wright Advertising Co. that provided advertising and consulting services to the funeral industry. He purchased the company and expanded the scope of the business on an international scale. In the late 1960's, Hunter founded Amedco, Inc, which later became the second largest manufacturer of burial...
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BILL DEBERRY, SR.
May 13, 2017
Bill DeBerry Sr of Denton, TX died May 13, 2017 at the age of 84. He served the funeral industry for over 64 years as a licensed funeral director. He began working for the J. Levy Funeral Home in Galveston before moving to Denton to work for J. B. Floyd at the Schmitz-Floyd-Hamlett Funeral Home and later for Bob Schmitz at Jack Schmitz and Son Funeral Home. At the time Schmitz retired, he went...
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PATRICK FARRELL
May 13, 2017
PATRICK FARRELL of Rochester Hills, MI died May 13, 2017at the age of 79. He served a 41-year career with the Mt. Elliott Cemetery Association, where he excelled to the position of CEO and general manager until his retirement in 2004.
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FRANCES E. MESSMER MCCOMBS
May 13, 2017
FRANCES E. MESSMER MCCOMBS of Connersville, IN died May 13, 2017 at the age of 89. She worked alongside her husband, Paul W. McCombs for several years as a secretary, who along with Gene and Jeannie Krepp owned and operated Mac Machine & Metal Works.
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MARJEAN S. McCOLAUGH
May 3, 2017
MARJEAN S. McCOLAUGH of Xenia, OH died May 3, 2017 at the age of 99. In 1960, together with her late husband Bob, they purchased the former Nagley Funeral Home in Xenia and proudly founded the current McColaugh Funeral Home based on their dedication to serve families in their time of need.
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NORMAN DUGGAN HOLMAN, SR
April 30, 2017
NORMAN DUGGAN HOLMAN SR of Headland, AL died April 30, 2017 at the age of 73. He served as Henry County Coroner for twenty-four years and was president of the Headland & Abbeville Mortuaries, Inc before retiring in 2016 as a licensed funeral director and embalmer in Alabama and Florida. A 1965 graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, he was a member of the Academy of Graduate...
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IVAN E. BEYERS, JR
April 27, 2017
IVAN E. BEYERS, JR of Leesburg, FL died April 27, 2017 at the age of 94. He was a second generation funeral director, owner and operator of Beyers Funeral Home. A graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, he was a recipient of the Clyde Lankford award for funeral service. He was a member of the Florida Funeral Directors of Florida and the Independent Funeral Directors of Florida.
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STEPHEN N. STEINBERG
April 26, 2017
STEPHEN N. STEINBERG of Manhasset, NY died April 26, 2017 at the age of 74. He worked alongside his brother, Franklin O. L. Steinberg as the owner and operator of Sunset Chapels, Inc for 52 years. He graduated from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in 1957.
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GALE A. GOHLKE
April 26, 2017
GALE A. GOHLKE of Monroe, WI died April 26, 2017 at the age of 77. He was a licensed funeral director for over 50 years, serving area communities like Poynette, Kenosha, Racine, Albany, and Janesville. He served the Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home in Monroe for the past 21 years. He graduated from the Wisconsin Scholl of Mortuary Science in Milwaukee.
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WILLIAM "BILL" JOSEPH KOCH
April 24, 2017
WILLIAM "BILL" JOSEPH KOCH of Ridge, NY died April 24, 2017 at the age of 97. He worked as an insurance salesman, manager and investigator for 25 years. After retiring in 1982, he began working for various funeral homes on the East end of Long Island as a licensed funeral director and embalmer until he was 94. He graduated from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in 1949.
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JOSEPH E. NUTTER
April 13, 2017
JOSEPH E. NUTTER of Lost Creek, WV died April 13, 2017 at the age of 80. He was the former owner, funeral director and embalmer at Davis Weaver Funeral Home in Clarksburg, WV, retiring in 2003. A graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, he conducted a seminar on Death and the Clergy for the American College in Belgium. He was a member of the West Virginia Funeral Directors...
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JOHN V. SERPAS, JR
March 29, 2017
JOHN V. SERPAS JR of Covington, LA died March 29, 2017 at the age of 93. He was a leader in the funeral industry for over 76 years with Orleans Manufacturing and Orleans Casket Company in Mandeville, LA. He was a member of the Casket & Funeral Supply Association.
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GEORGE WELDON BRIGGS
March 28, 2017
GEORGE WELDON BRIGGS of Jennings, LA died March 28, 2017 at the age of 96. He was the oldest licensed funeral director and embalmer in the state of Louisiana. A graduate of the Southern School of Morticians in Shreveport, he was a member of the Louisiana Funeral Directors Association.
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DAVID L. "DAVE" SEELEY
March 28, 2017
DAVID L. "DAVE" SEELEY of Bellefontaine, OH died March 28, 2017 at the age of 60. He was a licensed funeral director and embalmer at Eichholtz Funeral Home for over 35 years. He was a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association.
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HERSCHEL ERNEST KIMES, JR
March 26, 2017
HERSCHEL ERNEST KIMES, JR of Parkersburg, WV died March 26, 2017 at the age of 87. He was a licensed funeral director and owner of Kimes Funeral Home until 1977. He was the great uncle of Rob Kimes, WVFDA Executive Director and Brad Kimes, current owner of Kimes Funeral Home.
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RICHARD L. EBERSOLE
March 24, 2017
RICHARD L. EBERSOLE of Conway Springs, KS died March 24, 2017at the age of 85. He served his apprenticeship at the Elliott Funeral Home in Hutchinson, KS in 1957 before moving to Conway Springs in 1960 to purchase Ebersole Mortuary. He continued to serve the Conway Springs community and the surrounding area for the next 57 years as a licensed funeral director, embalmer and owner. He graduated...
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LOUIS CHARLES "L.C" POWELL
March 23, 2017
LOUIS CHARLES "L.C" POWELL of Hattiesburg, MS died March 23, 2017at the age of 78. He was a licensed funeral director at Smith Funeral Home in Columbia, MS. He previously worked at Hall Fairly and Golden Gate Funeral Home & Chapel of Hattiesburg, MS.
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GARY L. WALLIN
March 21, 2017
GARY L. WALLIN of Oak Harbor, WA died March 21, 2017 at the age of 68. He worked for Bartleson Funeral Home as a licensed funeral director and embalmer before he founded Wallin Ambulance Service in 1976, alongside his brother, Ron. In the early 1980s, the ambulance service transitioned to Whidbey General Hospital, where Gary became department head. While still working at the hospital, Gary began...
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LARRY C. THOMPSON
March 20, 2017
LARRY C. THOMPSON of Sheboygan, WI died March 20, 2017 at the age of 76. He was a licensed funeral director in Watertown and Waterloo, WI before relocating to Sheboygan, where in 1992 he took a position at the Novak-Ramm-Ziegler Funeral Home until 2005. He then assisted other local funeral homes until his retirement. He graduated with a degree in mortuary science from the Milwaukee Area Technical...
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CLAIR GRIGGS
March 17, 2017
CLAIR GRIGGS of Newark, OH died March 17, 2017 at the age of 90. He and his wife, Lois, established Courtesy Ambulance and Courtesy Funeral Livery in 1971. He graduated from Cleveland Mortuary College in 1954 and was a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, where he had been recognized for holding a funeral director license for over 50 years.
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JOHN DELMER LONGANACRE
March 15, 2017
JOHN DELMER LONGANACRE of Fort Spring, WV died March 15, 2017 at the age of 79. He was a funeral director for over 50 years, beginning his career with the Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Ronceverte, and later served as the owner and operator of Longanacre Funeral Home in Fairlea and Fort Spring, WV.
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RUTH MYERS MATICS
March 15, 2017
RUTH MYERS MATICS of Clendenin, WV died March 15, 2017 at the age of 81. She was the co-owner of Matics Funeral Home Inc and was a member of the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association and the Capital City District Funeral Directors Association.
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ROBERT "BO" HAGEMIER
March 14, 2017
ROBERT "BO" HAGEMIER of Indianapolis, IN died March 14, 2017at the age of 72. He was a partner at the Indiana law firm, Hagemier Allen & Smith, which focused on business litigation. He was instrumental in shaping Indiana laws dealing with funeral services, such as the Practice Act, the Pre-Need Act and the Funeral Planning Declaration in the Rights of Disposition. He was well-known for his work...
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FRANCIS "FRAN" BERGIN
March 10, 2017
FRANCIS "FRAN" BERGIN of Twin Falls, ID died March 10, 2017at the age of 82. He was a licensed funeral director, owner and operator of Bergin Funeral Chapel in Shoshone, ID. He also operated an ambulance service in Lincoln County, was elected coroner for Lincoln County and worked as a secretary/treasurer for the Shoshone Cemetery. He attended mortuary college in San Francisco.
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RICHARD E. MYERS
March 8, 2017
RICHARD E. MYERS of North Ogden, UT died March 8, 2017 at the age of 85. He was a licensed funeral director at Myers Mortuary, which over the past 64 years, has operated alongside his business partners, his father Elmer; his sons, Greg and Shaun; and his grandsons, Matthew and Marcus. He graduated from the Los Angeles College of Mortuary Science and was the founder of the NFDA's Pursuit of...
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THOMAS PAUL HOLTZ
March 5, 2017
THOMAS PAUL HOLTZ of New Berlin, WI died March 5, 2017 at the age of 74. He was a Wisconsin funeral director and a member of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association.
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RICHARD L. GOODIE
March 5, 2017
RICHARD L. GOODIE of Rising Sun, MD died March 5, 2017 at the age of 85. A licensed funeral director and embalmer for over 50 years, he has been working for the R. T. Foard Funeral Home since 1985. He graduated from the Eckels College of Mortuary Science in 1951.
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THOMAS "TOM" C. MAXWELL
March 5, 2017
THOMAS "TOM" C. MAXWELL of Mound, MN died March 5, 2017at the age of 74. He established Dial Caskets in the early 90's alongside his family. He also sold stationery to the funeral industry and was a representative for several companies, including Messenger, Rob-Win and Regal Line.
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R. DAVIS HARPER
March 3, 2017
R. DAVIS HARPER of Temple, TX died March 3, 2017 at the age of 58. He worked as a fourth generation funeral director at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home before he and his partner, Philip Scanio established Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in 1997. He graduated from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in 1979.
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WILLIAM J. BICAN , JR
March 3, 2017
WILLIAM J. BICAN JR of Cleveland, OH died March 3, 2017 at the age of 86. He was the owner of Bican Brothers Funeral Home from 1957 until his retire-ment in 1994.
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WILLIAM D. "BILL" BACKMAN, JR
March 1, 2017
WILLIAM D. "BILL" BACKMAN JR of Aurora, IN died March 1, 2017 at the age of 85. He was employed at Aurora Casket from 1948 until his retirement in 1993. During this time, he served as president from 1978–1993, CEO from 1983–1996 and chairman of the board from 1989–2002. He graduated from Wabash College in 1953 and later established the William D. Backman Sr Scholarship.
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JOHN THURMAN CAMPBELL
March 1, 2017
JOHN THURMAN CAMPBELL of Trenton, NJ died March 1, 2017 at the age of 73. He was a licensed funeral director, owner and operator of Campbell Funeral Chapel for nearly 35 years, which he established in 1982. A 1976 graduate of the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in New York, he was a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, New Jersey State Funeral Directors...
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GEORGE E. WITTMAIER, JR
March 1, 2017
GEORGE E. WITTMAIER JR of Chalfont, PA died March 1, 2017 at the age of 80. He served his apprenticeship at Levine Funeral Home in Philadelphia before establishing the Wittmaier Funeral Home in 1963. He continued to own and operate the firm as a licensed funeral director until retiring in 1994, at which time, the business was sold to Jim Scanlin who continues George's same tradition of excellence...
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ALYCE LOUISE CARTER GRIFFIN
February 28, 2017
ALYCE LOUISE CARTER GRIFFIN of Chicago, IL died February 28, 2017 at the age of 98. She worked alongside her husband, Ernest A. Griffin as a licensed funeral director and embalmer for over 50 years. Together they purchased the Bell Auto and Undertaking Company from his father, Stephen A. Griffin in 1947, operating it as Griffin Funeral Home, Ltd. In 1955, Ernest passed away and Alyce, along with...
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FREDERICK KELLOGG GIFFORD
February 28, 2017
FREDERICK KELLOGG GIFFORD of South Berwick, ME died February 28, 2017 at the age of 57. He was a sales representative for The Dodge Company and a licensed funeral director. He graduated from Fine Mortuary College in Norwood, MA.
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GREGORY D. BRIDGEFORTH
February 27, 2017
GREGORY D. BRIDGEFORTH of Maple Heights, OH died February 27, 2017 at the age of 65. He was a licensed funeral director and embalmer at Gaines Funeral Home. He was a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association.
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JOEL E. LEVINGSTON
February 26, 2017
JOEL E. LEVINGSTON of Port Neches, TX died February 26, 2017 at the age of 85. He was a licensed funeral director, embalmer and owner of Levingston Funeral Home, which he established in 1955. He received his mortuary science degree from Landig Mortuary College in Houston.
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LARRY M. JENKINS
February 23, 2017
LARRY M. JENKINS of Avon Park, FL died February 23, 2017 at the age of 62. He joined his father in operating the family owned business, Highland Park Cemetery in Fort Wayne, IN. In 2000, he relocated to Florida to work for Service Corporation International, and in 2009, he joined Northstar Memorial Group. He later served as sales manager for Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Avon Park, FL and was a...
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DOUGLAS J. "DOUG" LUCZAK
February 22, 2017
DOUGLAS J. "DOUG" LUCZAK of Bay City, MI died February 22, 2017 at the age of 54. He was a licensed funeral director and co-owner of Gephart Funeral Home, Inc along with his father, Gerald A. Luczak and brother, David. He graduated from the Wayne State College of Mortuary Science in 1986 and was a member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, where he served as past president of District...
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ROGER THOMAS VOIE
February 17, 2017
ROGER THOMAS VOIE of Stevens Point, WI and Iola, WI died February 17, 2017 at the age of 85. He owned and operated Voie Funeral Home alongside his brother, Eugene, and later ran the Voie Furniture Store until its closing in 1966. They also operated the area's ambulance service from the late 1940s until 1970, when it became the Iola Area Ambulance Service. He retired in 1990 as a licensed funeral...
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CLIFFORD ALLEN GREENE
February 13, 2017
CLIFFORD ALLEN GREENE of Wooster, OH died February 13, 2017 at the age of 71. He began working for the McIntire Funeral Home in 1964 and in 1984, along with Thomas E. Davis, became co-owner of the funeral home. After Davis retired in 2000, he became sole owner until his retirement in December of 2011. A 1969 graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, he was a member of the Ohio...
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LOREN D. ROTH
February 13, 2017
LOREN D. ROTH of Pettisville, OH died February 13, 2017 at the age of 62. He started his career with Sauder Woodworking Co in 1989, and in 2014, he joined Sauder Funeral Products as the director of strategic planning. He was a member of the Casket & Funeral Supply Association.
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GERALD R. "JERRY" COOK
February 13, 2017
GERALD R. "JERRY" COOK of Northfield, MN died February 13, 2017 at the age of 86. He spent 40 years as a successful funeral home sales representative and graduated from the University of Minnesota, School of Mortuary Science in 1957.
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JOHN P. "JACK" MOLONEY
February 12, 2017
JOHN P. "JACK" MOLONEY of Central Islip, NY died February 12, 2017 at the age of 81. He served as the director of Moloney Funeral Home beginning in 1956, after the death of his father. He continued in the role until his illness took over last summer.
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ROBERT "BOB" W. DELMORE
February 12, 2017
ROBERT "BOB" W. DELMORE of Robbinsdale, MN died February 12, 2017at the age of 95. A licensed funeral director in Minneapolis for over 60 years, he was the owner and operator of Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapels and was previously employed at White Funeral Home. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1941 with a degree in mortuary science.
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MEADE VERNON ROWE , SR
February 8, 2017
MEADE VERNON ROWE SR of Morristown, NJ died February 8, 2017 at the age of 92. He was a licensed funeral director, owner and operator of Rowe Funeral Home, which he established alongside his late wife, Marion Cecelia Rowe. The business later merged with another funeral home in town and was renamed Rowe-Lanterman Home for Funerals, and is operated by Rowe's son, M. Vernon Rowe, Jr.
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CLEO A. HAWK
February 8, 2017
CLEO A. HAWK of Sligo, PA died February 8, 2017 at the age of 84. He and his father, Guy, ran the Hawk Funeral Home for many years until he purchased the family business. He was instrumental in helping to start the Community Ambulance Service, which he ran in Sligo and the surrounding communities. He graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.
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ARNETT RAY BURNSIDE
February 8, 2017
ARNETT RAY BURNSIDE of Bridgeport, WV died February 8, 2017at the age of 83. He established Burnside Funeral Home in 1997 alongside his son, Scott P. Burnside and was a member of the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association.
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JOHN H. KERNS
February 4, 2017
JOHN H. KERNS of Oelwein, IA died February 4, 2017 at the age of 75. He worked as a funeral director for the Murdoch Funeral Home in Marion and the Fawcett Funeral Home in Winthrop before joining Brant Funeral Home in Oelwein in 1968. He later purchased the firm along with the Delsing-Wright Funeral Home in Maynard and the Gleim Funeral Home in Arlington and continued to own and operate them...
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TERRY L. MOFFETT
February 3, 2017
TERRY L. MOFFETT of Boise, ID died February 3, 2017 at the age of 72. He worked alongside his wife, Faye as a licensed funeral director, owner and operator of Moffett's Memorial Chapel for over ten years and was a graduate of the Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science.
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CARL LEONARD GERBER, SR
February 2, 2017
CARL LEONARD GERBER SR of Norwalk, OH died February 2, 2017 at the age of 79. He was a licensed funeral director and embalmer at Gerber and Son Funeral Home, which his father, the late Leonard David Gerber established in 1939 as Gerber Funeral Home.
He then acquired Heaston Funeral Home in the late 1970's and created Heaston-Gerber Funeral Home in Norwalk and he also acquired Norwalk Monument...
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DORIS D. BELL
January 29, 2017
DORIS D. BELL of Brooklyn, NY died January 29, 2017 at the age of 95. She was president and co-owner of the Frank R. Bell Funeral Home, which was established in 1957. She took over operations of the firm officially as a licensed funeral director after her husband, the late Frank. R. Bell, sustained a stroke in 1971, which left him paraplegic.
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GEORGE B "MIKE" DODGE, JR
January 29, 2017
GEORGE B "MIKE" DODGE JR of Cambridge, MA died January 29, 2017 at the age of 87. He joined The Dodge Company in 1956, was elected treasurer in 1966, and served as vice president alongside his brother, Arnold Dodge and later both daughters, Debbie and Kristie.
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WILLIAM "STEVE" SOUTHERLAND, SR
January 26, 2017
WILLIAM "STEVE" SOUTHERLAND, SR of Lynn Ha-ven, FL died January 26, 2017 at the age of 79. He was a licensed funeral director at Southerland Family Funeral Home for 41 years, which he established alongside his parents, Ray and Bobbie Southerland in 1955. As president of the firm, he and his wife, Mary Sue, expanded the business beyond Bay County to include neighboring counties. A 1966 graduate of...
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R. KLINE ASHTON, SR
January 25, 2017
R. KLINE ASHTON SR of Palmer Township, PA died January 25, 2017 at the age of 84. He was a fourth generation funeral director and owner of the Ashton Funeral Home in Easton for more than 60 years. He graduated from Lafayette College in 1954 with a degree in mortuary science and was a founding member of the Northampton County Community College Funeral Service program and advisory board. He was...
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CHARLES EDWIN GILLILAND
January 24, 2017
CHARLES EDWIN GILLILAND of Greensburg, IN died January 24, 2017at the age of 75. He joined his father's business, Gilliland-Howe Funeral Home at the age of 20 and later operated it as a licensed funeral director until his retirement. He graduated from the Indiana School of Mortuary Science in 1962.
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RICHARD H. SEARER
January 22, 2017
RICHARD H. SEARER of Tyrone, PA died January 22, 2017 at the age of 91. He served his apprenticeship at Graham and Getz Funeral Home before becoming sole proprietor of the firm in 1988. He owned and operated it as the Richard H. Searer Funeral Home, Inc for 29 years. In 2012, he was recognized for 60 years of service as a licensed funeral director in Pennsylvania. A 1954 graduate of the...
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ROBERT "BOB" J. CHOATE
January 18, 2017
ROBERT "BOB" J. CHOATE of Chico, CA died January 18, 2017 at the age of 56. He was a licensed embalmer for several mortuaries in Butte County for 35 years and he also assisted the Butte County medical examiner's office up to the time of his death.
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THOMAS EDWARD "TOM" GRAVES, JR
January 13, 2017
THOMAS EDWARD "TOM" GRAVES, JR of Norfolk, VA died January 13, 2017 at the age of 92. He served his apprenticeship at Hale Funeral Home in Norfolk before establishing the Graves Funeral Home in 1953 with the help of his family and wife. It was the first establishment ever designed and built to service the African-American community in the area. He remained licensed with the Virginia State Board...
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GERALDINE BROWSER WOOD
January 13, 2017
GERALDINE BROWSER WOOD of Wynnefield, PA died January 13, 2017 at the age of 89. In 1959, she and her husband, Clarence M. Wood established the Wood Funeral Home in Philadelphia, where she acted as the support staff and lady attendant.
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JOHN HARVEY GIVENS, JR
January 10, 2017
JOHN HARVEY GIVENS, JR of Pearisburg, VA died January 10, 2017at the age of 82. He served his apprenticeship at J.T. Morris & Son Funeral Home in Petersburg before receiving his funeral directors license in 1957.He returned to Pearisburg in 1959 to join his brother, Cale T. Givens at Givens Funeral Home, which was established by their father, the late John Harvey Givens Sr in 1912. He was a...
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WAYNE H. JUSTICE
January 7, 2017
WAYNE H. JUSTICE of Hendersonville, TN died January 7, 2017 at the age of 78. He joined Ambulance & Coach Sales of Nashville in 1986, and later became part-owner for 25 years, supplying hearses and limousines to the funeral industry throughout the Southeast. He was a member of the Tennessee and Mississippi Funeral Supply Sales Clubs.
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REVEREND DONALD H. JORDAN, SR
January 2, 2017
REVEREND DONALD H. JORDAN SR of Middletown, OH died January 2, 2017 at the age of 83. He was the founder and owner of Thompson, Hall & Jordan Funeral Homes of Cincinnati, OH; Green, Hall & Jordan Memorial Chapel of Hamilton, OH; and the Hall Jordan & Petty Memorial Chapel of Middletown, OH. He founded his first funeral home in Middletown in 1953 and grew the organization into one of the largest...
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REV. VANDROTH BACKUS
December 26, 2016
REV. VANDROTH BACKUS of Florence, SC died December 26, 2016 at the age of 91. He was a licensed funeral director and founder of Backus Funeral Home.
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DELBERT DUANE BOWERS
December 26, 2016
DELBERT DUANE BOWERS of Harker Heights, TX died December 26, 2016 at the age of 87. A licensed funeral director, he and his business partner, William "Bill" Crawford established the Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen in 1972 and Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Copperas Cove in 1988. They sold the business to Service Corporation Inter-national in 1989, although he remained active as a...
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ALBERT "AL" E. BRIEDE III
December 23, 2016
ALBERT "AL" E. BRIEDE III of New Orleans, LA died December 23, 2016 at the age of 94. He was a licensed funeral director and owner of the McMahon-Coburn-Briede Funeral Home for more than six decades. He was a member of the New Orleans Funeral Directors Association and the Louisiana Funeral Directors Association.
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H. BARTH LITTLETON
December 22, 2016
H. BARTH LITTLETON of Sabina, OH died December 22, 2016 at the age of 86. He was a licensed funeral director at Littleton Funeral Home for over 60 years. He graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and was a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association.
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DANIEL "DAN" WEBSTER MCBRIDE
December 21, 2016
DANIEL "DAN" WEBSTER MCBRIDE of Paragould, AR formerly of Rector, AR died December 21, 2016 at the age of 93. He was a funeral director, embalmer and owner of Irby Funeral Home for 35 years. He served on the board of directors and was past president for both the Arkansas Embalmers and Funeral Directors and the Arkansas State Burial Association.
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LARRY E. MINOTT
December 20, 2016
LARRY E. MINOTT of Janesville, WI died December 20, 2016 at the age of 58. He worked as a funeral attendant at the Whitcomb-Lynch Funeral Home and Cremation Services and the Albrecht Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
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HENRY & ANN JORDAN, JR
December 19, 2016
HENRY "TRAIL" HUNTER JORDAN JR, 73, and his wife, ANN FIRESTONE JORDAN, 71, of Kosciusko, MS died December 19, 2016 during an early morning house fire. Trail and Ann were owners of Jordan Funeral Home, which was established by his grandfather, L. W. Jordan, Sr. in 1904 and is now in its fourth generation of continuous service to Central Mississippi.
Trail graduated from the John A. Gupton...
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DONALD E. KOPPELMAN
December 18, 2016
DONALD E. KOPPELMAN of Pekin, IL died December 18, 2016 at the age of 83. He started his funeral directing career as an apprentice with Hurley Funeral Home in Petersburg and remained with the firm as a licensed funeral director and embalmer until moving to Pekin in 1961, at which time he began working for William Weimer at the Noel Funeral Home. He continued working for Merl Henderson at Noel...
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FRANK M. PROUT
December 18, 2016
FRANK M. PROUT of Hutchinson Island, FL died December 28, 2016 at the age of 92. A licensed funeral director since 1948, he was also a certified public accountant. He operated an accounting service while also working at Prout Funeral Home, a firm founded by his father, Michael C. Prout in 1924 and is presently owned and operated by his son, Bob and daughter-in-law, Meg. He graduated from the...
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JAMES E. "JIM" SMITH
December 16, 2016
JAMES E. "JIM" SMITH of Wilmington, OH died December 16, 2016 at the age of 72. He began his long career in the funeral industry working with his father, the late L. Eugene Smith at the L. Eugene Smith & Son Funeral Home in New Vienna. Together they purchased the Reynolds-Smith Funeral Home in Wilmington in 1973. He later owned and operated both funeral homes with his son, Shane C. Smith as well...
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LYLE CLINKINGBEARD
December 15, 2016
LYLE CLINKINGBEARD of Ava, MO died December 15, 2016 at the age of 87. He was a licensed funeral director, embalmer and co-owner of Clinkingbeard Funeral Homes, Inc, both in Ava and Gainesville, MO. He also worked alongside his wife, Florence for 56 years in operating the only ambulance company in Ava and Douglas County for over 25 years. A graduate of St. Louis Mortuary College, he was a member...
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JOHN JACOBSON
December 13, 2016
JOHN JACOBSON of Slayton, MN died December 13, 2016 at the age of 78. He worked as a licensed funeral director at Johnson Funeral Home in Newton, IA and later at Schroeder Funeral Home in Boone, IA. In 1976, he and his wife, Elizabeth "Liz" Latham purchased the Butson Funeral Homes in Tracy and Walnut Grove, MN. He continued to operate it until 2002 when he retired and sold the business. He...
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THEODORE WILLIAM KUHNS
December 12, 2016
THEODORE WILLIAM KUHNS of Las Animas, CO died December 12, 2016 at the age of 87. He worked as a licensed funeral director in Titusville, PA and Clintonville, PA before moving to Las Animas in 1974 to work for Powell Funeral Home. He later purchased the firm and renamed it Powell-Kuhns Mortuary. He graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.
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PETER IGNATIUS MORRISON
December 10, 2016
PETER IGNATIUS MORRISON of Boardman, OH died December 10, 2016 at the age of 56. He was a funeral director and pre-arrangement consultant at Edward J. Fox & Sons Inc after receiving his licenses by the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors in 2006. He was a member of the Tri-County Funeral Directors Association and the Ohio Funeral Directors Association.
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THOMAS A. CORRIGAN
November 22, 2016
THOMAS A. CORRIGAN of Fairview Park, OH died November 22, 2016 at the age of 81. He was a licensed funeral director at Corrigan Funeral Homes until 2005 and graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1959.
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PAUL H. WIGGINS, JR
November 22, 2016
PAUL H. WIGGINS JR of Mount Vernon, OH died November 22, 2016 at the age of 73. He worked alongside his wife, Kay Dowds as a licensed funeral director at Dowds-Wiggins Funeral Home. They owned and operated the business until their retirement in 1989 when they sold it to the Snyder family of funeral homes. He graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and was a member of the Ohio...
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ROSS C DEJOHN, SR
November 19, 2016
ROSS C DEJOHN SR of Mayfield Heights, OH died November 19, 2016 at the age of 88. He began working as a licensed funeral director at the McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home in Middle Town before moving to Cleveland to work for the Nosek Funeral Home and later the Flynn Froelk Funeral Home. Due to a series of back surgeries, DeJohn left the funeral business in 1956. In 1986, with his son, Ross, Jr., he...
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STEPHEN J. SEKERES, SR.
November 11, 2016
STEPHEN J. SEKERES SR of North Canton, OH died November 11, 2016 at the age of 90. A licensed funeral director and embalmer for 67 years, he was the former owner of Sekeres Funeral Home and Welch-Sekeres Funeral Home and served as president of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, District 16.
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SAMUEL "SAM" L. CASKEY , JR
November 5, 2016
SAMUEL "SAM" L. CASKEY JR of Columbia, SC died November 5, 2016 at the age of 59. He worked as a funeral director at Temples Halloran Funeral Home until the time of his passing. He graduated from Point College with a Bachelors of Science in Biology in 1979.
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RUTLEDGE EVERETT "RON" SHULER, JR
November 5, 2016
RUTLEDGE EVERETT "RON" SHULER JR of Hendersonville, NC died November 5, 2016 at the age of 75.
He was a licensed funeral director, embalmer and owner of Shuler Funeral Home, which he founded alongside his wife Faye Kirby in 1997. He previously worked at Batesville Casket Company and was inducted into their Masters Club. He graduated from the Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in 1964.
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GARY D. BIDWELL
November 4, 2016
GARY D. BIDWELL of St. Anthony, ID died November 4, 2016 at the age of 69. A licensed Idaho and Montana mortician, he was the owner and operator of Bidwell Funeral Home in St. Anthony for 37 years and has been a bugler at veterans' funerals for over 45 years. He previously worked for Hansen Memorial Chapel.
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CHARLES H. SIMMONS
November 1, 2016
CHARLES H SIMMONS of Buffalo, NY died November 1, 2016 at the age of 84. He was the owner and operator of Memorial Chapels of Buffalo from 1996 until 2009.
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JOHN LOWELL ABRAMSON
October 31, 2016
JOHN LOWELL ABRAMSON of Colorado Springs, CO died October 31, 2016 at the age of 89. Formerly of Minnesota, he was a funeral director in the Twin Cities area for over 50 years. He graduated from the mortuary science program at the University of Minnesota.
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RICHARD "DICK" DUNLAP LOWNES, SR
October 24, 2016
RICHARD "DICK" DUNLAP LOWNES SR of Harleysville, PA and formerly of Lafayette Hill, PA died October 24, 2016 at the age of 86. He was a fourth generation funeral director, mortician and owner of Lownes Family Funeral Home, which was founded by his grandfather, William A. Dunlap, in 1888 as Dunlap-Lownes Funeral Home. He retired in 1992 after his son, Randall Lownes took over operation. He...
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WILLIAM E. "BILL" CALHOUN
October 21, 2016
WILLIAM E. "BILL" CALHOUN of Akron, OH died October 21, 2016 at the age of 75. He was one of the original co-founders of the Stewart and Calhoun Funeral Home and Cremation Services. He served the families in the Akron community for over 50 years as a licensed funeral director and embalmer.
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JOHN GREGSTON BARKER
October 19, 2016
JOHN GREGSTON BARKER of Paducah, KY died October 19, 2016 at the age of 94. He was the owner of Barker Funeral Home, co-owner of Fendley-Barker & Harris Funeral Home, and longtime owner of Roth Funeral Chapel, Inc. While serving as funeral director and embalmer, Barker also served on the state board. He served as McCracken County coroner for numerous years and was past president of the Kentucky...
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J. BRADLEY MCGONIGLE
October 17, 2016
J. BRADLEY MCGONIGLE of Hermitage, PA died Oc-tober 17, 2016 at the age of 83. He was a third generation funeral director for more than 40 years. He began his career in New Castle where his grandfather, John McGonigle, established the McGonigle Funeral Home in 1897. In 1964, he and his wife, Mary Ellen moved to Sharon and established the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and the McGonigle...
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SAMUEL DWIGHT CAMPBELL
October 16, 2016
SAMUEL DWIGHT CAMPBELL of Rutledge, TN and Maynardville, TN died October 16, 2016 at the age of 78. He worked alongside his wife, Dottie Looney Williams Campbell in owning and operating the Cooke-Campbell Mortuary in Maynardville. A 1961 graduate of the John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science, he was a member of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors...
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LAWRENCE "LARRY" MANDEL
October 16, 2016
LAWRENCE "LARRY" MANDEL of Highland Park, IL died October 16, 2016 at the age of 67. Larry was an interfaith life cycle celebrant and funeral director concierge. A fourth generation funeral director, he was owner and manager of Piser Funeral Services in Skokie, IL from 1980 until SCI purchased the firm. In July of 2013, Larry participated in a strike against SCI by the International Brotherhood...
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