EVANSVILLE COURIER PRESS I SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 2002 www.myinky.com/ecp/obits/ OBITUARIES Venita G. Benham Venita G. Benham, age 76, of Evansville, died on Thursday, June 27, 2002 at the Good Samaritan Home. She was born September 29, 1925, in Carrier Mills, Illinois, the daughter of Fred and Nellie (Chase) Bailey. Venita moved to Evansville to attend Lockyear's Business College and graduated from Lockyear's Business College.
She began her work career as a bookkeeper at Common Wealth Loan Company, and later she worked at the Old Courthouse. Venita was a delegate to the Democratic State Convention. She retired in 1988 from Zeidler Florist. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Otis L. Benham of Evansville, a daughter and son-in-law, Gale A.
and Galen Avery of Bowling Green, grandchildren, Jason and Brian Avery; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son, Donald L. Benham, who died on November 8, 1998, and by a brother, Victor Bailey. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, July 1, 2002, at Browning Funeral Home, Rev.
Mary Hendrickson officiating, with burial in Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 7 8 p.m. Sunday, June 30, 2002 at Browning Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Visiting Nurse Asso- ciation. Blake Foster Blake Gerald Foster, age 83, of Evansville, Indiana, died at 2:30 am, Thursday, June 27, 2002, at Angel Rivers Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Mr. Foster managed Finke's Furniture Warehouse for 28 years. He was a World War II Army veteran, a member of Masonic Lodge 464, a charter member of Northside Kiwanis, and a charter 1 member of Rolling Hills Country Club. He enjoyed fishing. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Florence Woods Deems Foster.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jayne Elizabeth (Sauer) Foster in 1966. He is also survived by four daughters, Sharon Gayle Foster of Denver, Victoria Jayne Rider of Fort Myers, Mary Beth Foster Patterson of Springfield, and Diane Sue Foster Coffman of Fort Myers, two stepdaughters, Susie Deems Tittle of Indianapolis, and Judy Deems Nussbaum of Evansville, one son, Robert Henry Foster of Fort Myers, one stepson, William Deems of Evansville, six grandchildren, Jayne and Bob Patterson, Jennifer, Rebecca and Nick Rider, and Bob Foster; five stepgrandchildren, Scott and Maggie Tittle and Beth, John, and Michael Nussbaum; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, July 1, 2002 at Boone Funeral Home East Chapel, 5330 Washington Ave. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until service time at Boone Funeral Home East Chapel, 5330 Washington Avenue. Memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity. Mamie 'Kay' Williams Mamie Katherine "Kay" Hudson Williams of Sullivan, Kentucky, and Newburgh, Indiana, died Thursday, June 27, 2002, at her daughter's home in Sullivan, at the age of 82. She was born November 15, 1919, in Pride, Kentucky, to parents Beulah and Harris Shields.
Surviving are a husband of 14 years, Monte Williams of Newburgh, a daughter and sonin-law, Janet and A.Y. Hodge Jr. of Sullivan, a son, Ron Hudson of Sullivan, three DIRECTORY LOCAL ILLINOIS The Evansville Courier Press publishes number of grandchildren. Occupation and serVenita Benham Edna Hamilton obituaries with basic information at no charge vice in the military will be listed. One memorial Evansville Carrier Mills as a public service to the community.
The free contribution may be listed. Blake Foster obituaries will consist of name, including maiden Paid obituaries, which allow additional bio- Henry Milligan Evansville name, age, city, date of death, day, place and graphical details, photographs or other identify- Eldorado Mamie 'Kay' Williams time of funeral. Survivors are mother, father, ing emblems, are published according to a fee Merton Sechrest Newburgh spouse, siblings, children, grandparents and schedule available from area funeral homes. Lawrenceville INDIANA Ronald Barnes Hilda Magee Lorna Scohy KENTUCKY Betty Rhineburger Boonville Tell City Vincennes Lester Higgs Owensboro Donna Cropper Elizabeth McGrath Gordon Spradlin Manitou Kaye Werner Princeton Washington Boonville Edmond Rearden Henderson Carla Gibbs Jack Schatz John Steelman Hawesville Alice Young Somerville Decker Patoka Salem stepchildren, Ned Williams of Newburgh, Dr. Julie Trudeau of Chesapeake, and Joey Williams of Bradenton, four brothers, Lewis Edwin Shields of Madisonville, William Harris "Bill" Shields of Henderson, Wilburn Troy Shields of Sturgis, and Dr.
Jerry Allen Shields of Philadelphia, two sisters, Margaret Helen Banull of Arcadia, and Joy Evelyn Hogue of Del Ray, four grandchildren, Stacy Renee Hodge of Beacon, N.Y., Kimberly Anne Hodge of Woodland Hills, A.Y. "Trey" Hodge III of Sullivan, and Holly Hudson Dixon of Sullivan, six great-grandchildren, Kaela, Josh, Morgan, Seth, Rachel and Autumn; and 29 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her first husband, George Walter "Josh" Hudson of Sullivan, Ky. The Hudsons, married for 41 years, were co-founders and operators of Hudson's Restaurant and Motel, Rainbow Bowling Lanes and Starlite Skating Rink from 1956 until his death in 1979. A sister, Mary Virginia Bean of Sullivan, preceded her in death in 1994.
She was a member of Bethany Baptist Church in Sturgis, Ky. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at Whitsell Funeral Home in Sturgis, with the Rev. Dennis King officiating. Burial will be in Rock Spring Cemetery in Wheatcroft, Ky.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today and from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at Whitsell Funeral Home in Sturgis, Ky. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Anthony's Hospice.
FUNERALS Addie Lester Addie Rene Lester, 91, services 1 p.m. Monday at Cleaves Memorial C.M.E. Church, burial in the Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the church.
Mason Bros. Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements. Delores Summers Delores "Runt" Summers, 64, services will be at 11 a.m. today at Browning Funeral Home, burial at Park Lawn Cemetery. INDIANA INDIANA Ronald Barnes BOONVILLE Ronald Barnes, 58, died at 12:44 a.m.
Friday, June 28, 2002, at St. Mary's Medical Center in Evansville. Ronald was a U.S. Army veteran, serving his country from 1962 to 1965. Ronald worked as a coal miner at Squaw Creek Mine from 1971 to 1997.
He was an avid fisherman and golfer. Ronald was preceded in death by his brothers, Ralph Barnes in 1972, and Rendall P. Barnes in 1994, and by his father, George B. Barnes in 1981. Ronald is survived by his wife, Cynthia Payne Barnes of Boonville, two sons, Devin Barnes of Vashon, and Jonathon Barnes of Lawrenceville, his mother, Naoma West of Boonville, two sisters, Rita Sellers of Newburgh, and Roberta Kay Okes of Boonville, and one brother, Rick Barnes of Boonville, Ind.
Ronald is also survived by several nieces and nephews and one grandson, D.J. Barnes. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 30 at Koehler Funeral Home Boonville Chapel. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery.
Friends may call Saturday, June 29 from 2 until 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon until funeral time. Memorials may be made to the ALS Association, 1980 East 116th Street, Carmel, IN 46032. A. Werner; two sisters, Cathy Wischer and Priscilla Simpson; and a grandson.
Services will be at noon Monday at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, with burial in St. Louis Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Monday at Rudy-Rowland Funeral Home, with a prayer service at 5 p.m.
Sunday. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Alice Young SALEM Alice Jean Young, 74, died Thursday, June 27, 2002, at her home. Surviving are her husband, James H. Young; a daughter, Sheila Marlene Russell; a son, James Duane Young; a sister, Laura Tackett; two brothers, Lewis and Loren Grace; and seven grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion, with burial in Mapleview Cemetery. Friends may call from 11 a.m. to service time at the funeral home. HAWESVILLE Marylin (Garrett) Doggett, 47, graveside service 2 p.m.
today in Mount Eden Baptist Cemetery in Hawesville. DAWSON SPRINGS Tomiko "T.J." (Naruyama) Jones, 72, memorial services 6 p.m. Tuesday, at Beshear Funeral Home, burial in Rosedale Cemetery. MADISONVILLE Marcella (Potts) Morris, 65, services 2 p.m. today at Barnett-Strother Funeral Home, burial in Grapevine Cemetery.
Visitation is from service time. MADISONVILLE Helen (Byrum) Taylor, 87, services 2 p.m. today at Harris Funeral Home, burial in Odd Fellows Cemetery. Visitation is from 8 a.m. to service time.
ILLINOIS Edna Hamilton CARRIER MILLS Edna Hamilton, 97, died Thursday, June 27, 2002, at the Carrier Mills Nursing Home. Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Felty Funeral Home in Carrier Mills, with burial in Wise-Robinson Cemetery near Ozark. Friends may call from 11 a.m. to service time at the funeral home.
Henry Milligan ELDORADO Henry H. Milligan, 76, died Thursday, June 27, 2002, at his home. He was a coal miner and a police officer for the Eldorado Police Department. Surviving are his wife, Wanda; a son, Bob L. Milligan; and three grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Watson Funeral Home in Eldorado, with burial in Spring Valley Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to V.N.A.
Hospice. Merton Sechrest LAWRENCEVILLE Merton C. Sechrest, 77, died Friday, June 28, 2002, at his home He was an oil field laborer and worked in the maintenance department at Lawrence County Memorial Hospital. He was a World War II Army veteran. Surviving are his wife, Flora Mae Sechrest; two daughters, Barbara "Bobbie" Eckiss and Patty Stoltz; four sons, M.
Calvin Mike, Roger and John Sechrest; and eight grandchildren. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at at Emmons-Macey Steffey Funeral Home in Lawrenceville, with burial in Shiloh Cemetery in Bridgeport, with full military rites. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Good Samaritan Hospice in Vincennes, Ind. See OBITUARIES on Page B5 ALEXANDER FUNERAL HOMES CEMETERIES CREMATORY PRE-PLANNING CENTER 424-5600 Dignity www.dignitymemorial.com He da ur bu Ge dli Donna Cropper PRINCETON Donna Lee (Kraus) Cropper, 42, died Tuesday, June 25, 2002, at her home. She formerly worked for the Federal Assembly in Princeton. Surviving are her husband, Fred Cropper; three daughters, Rene Blakely, Tonya Graham and Nicole Graham; a son, David Ravellette; two stepdaughters, Beth Lohman and Shannon Mains; her parents, Tommy and Roberta Kraus; a sister, Tamara Chambers; a brother, Paul Kraus; 11 grandchildren; and six stepgrandchildren. Graveside services were held at 2 p.m.
Friday in Columbia "White" Church Cemetery. Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton handled arrangements. Carla Gibbs SOMERVILLE Carla Gibbs, 37, of Dilly, Texas, formerly of Somerville, died Friday, June 21, 2002, in Dilly. She worked for the Frio Nuecus Current Newspaper and as an E.M.T. for Frio County, Texas.
Surviving are two daughters, Katrina and Casey Gibbs; her parents, Jerry and Pat Thompson; and a brother, Jeremy Thompson. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Corn-Colvin Funeral Home in Oakland City, with burial in Somerville Cemetery. Friends may call from noon to service time at the funeral home. Hilda M.
Magee she had TELL CITY Hilda M. Magee, 73, passed away Thursday, June 27, 2002, at St. Charles Health Campus in Jasper, Indiana, where she had patient since March 6, Mrs. Magee was born ry County, Indiana, on 16, 1928, to the late Conrad Letitia Turner Pfister. been a 2002.
in PerDecember and A 1946 graduate of Tell City High School, she married William Magee on May 10, 1949. He preceded her in death on October 27, 1961. Also preceding her in death was a brother, Cletus Albert Pfister in 1976. Hilda worked in the office at Tell City Chair Company and as a teller at Citizens National Bank. Later, she was employed at Swiss Plywood.
She previously attended Evangelical United Church of Christ, where she taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. She is survived by two daughters, Cathy Weatherholt of Huntingburg, and Susan Edgeworth of Port Allen, one sister, Ruth King of Tell City, and three nieces, Brenda Goffinet and Linda Hubert, both of Bandon, and Karen Kelly of Tell City, Ind. Graveside services will be at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29, 2002, in Greenwood Cemetery in Tell City. There will be no visitation at Huber Funeral Home Tell City Chapel.
Elizabeth McGrath WASHINGTON Elizabeth Ellen McGrath, 79, of Portland, formerly of Washington, died Wednesday, June 26, 2002, in Portland. She was a secretary and loan officer at the former McCord Manufacturing Corp. Surviving are two sisters, Mary Ethel Barber and Rita Jeanne Springer; and a brother, John J. McGrath. Services will be at 10 a.m.
today at St. Simon Catholic Church in Washington, with burial in St. John's Cemetery. Friends may call from 8 to 9:30 a.m. today at the Ed Lee Mortuary in Washington.
Jack Schatz DECKER Jack R. Schatz, 47, died Thursday, June 27, 2002, at Crestview Nursing Home in Vincennes. He had worked as a truck driver and was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Surviving are a daughter, Inez Schatz; a son, Jeremy Schatz; his stepmother, Norma Schatz; a sister, Reba Singer; a brother, David Schatz; a half sister, Vickie Stoker; and three half brothers, Chris, Brad and Jamie Schatz.
Services will be at 10 a.m. today at Goodwin Funeral Home in Vincennes, with burial in Shiloh Cemetery in Hazelton. Lorna Scohy VINCENNES- Lorna Elva (Harris) Scohy, 88, of Palm Beach, formerly of Vincennes, died Sunday, June 23, 2002, at Palm Rehab and Health Center in Palm Beach. Surviving are two daughters, Diane Shaffer and Jean Ann Shoemaker; a son, James Scohy; and two grandchildren. Services will be at 10 a.m.
Saturday, July 6 at GardnerBrockman Funeral Home in Vincennes, with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery in Vincennes. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 5 at the funeral home. Gordon 'Peachy' Spradlin the Pentecostal BOON. VILLE Gordon "Peachy" Spradlin, 79, died Thursday, June 27, 2002, at St.
Mary's Warrick Hospital. He was of the Pentecostal faith and attended the Haven of Rest Church in Folsomville, Ind. Gordon was a member of the Dale American Legion Post 446. He retired from the oil fields in 1961. Gordon was preceded in death by his wife, Emma Lou Rice Spradlin in 1994.
Gordon is survived by one daughter, Sandra Witherby of Richmond, two nieces, Nancy Lauderdale of Gentryville, Ind. (who was also his caregiver), and Lana Barclay of Boonville, one nephew, Larry Moore of Evansville, several greatnieces and nephews; another caregiver, Teresa Delene Garrison; and two grandchildren, Chad and Jill Witherby of Richmond, Ind. Funeral services will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 30 at the Koehler Funeral Home Boonville Chapel. The body will be cremated, with burial in Selvin Cemetery at a later date.
Friends may call Sunday, June 30 from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Koehler Funeral Home Boonville Chapel. Memorials may be made to the Blind Services of Indiana, Family and Social Services, 700 E. Walnut Street, Evansville, IN 47713.
John Steelman PATOKA John H. Steelman, 87, died Thursday, June 27, 2002, at his home. He was a farmer in the rural Patoka area. Surviving are a daughter, Jill Phelps; two sons, John Lee and Jack E. Steelman; a sister, Laura W.
Smith; and nine grandchildren. Services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton, with burial in Shiloh Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to a favorite church. INDIANA FUNERALS PETERSBURG Etta L. (Nelson) Armstrong, 79, services 1 p.m. Sunday at Harris Funeral Home, burial in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery. Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m.
today and from 9 a.m. to service time. VINCENNES Lois Ruby (Wright) Barmes, 83, services 2 p.m. today at the First Church of the Nazarene, burial in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation is from 1 p.m.
to service time at the church. Goodwin Family Funeral Home is handling arrangements. WINSLOW Leon "Blackberry" Richeson, 82, services 4 p.m. today at Curtis Funeral Home, burial in Augusta Cemetery. Visitation is from 1 p.m.
to service time. FORT BRANCH Dallas Eugene Wilkerson, 62, services 2 p.m. today Stodghill Funeral Home, burial in Walnut Hill Cemetery, with military rites. KENTUCKY Lester Higgs MANITOU Lester Freeman Higgs, 78, died Friday, June 28, 2002, at his home. He retired as the owner of Les' Mobile Home Transport Company and was a World War II Army veteran.
Surviving are is wife, Miriam; two daughters, Diane Rone and Brenda Kaye Gibson; a son, Wayne Higgs; two sisters, Sue West and Shirley Vanover; a brother, Chester Higgs; and 10 grandchildren. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Tompkins Funeral Home Slaughters-Hanson Chapel, with burial in Gish Cemetery near Bremen. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today and from 10 a.m.
to service time at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Green River Hospice, 109 S. 2nd Street, Central City, KY 42330. Edmond Rearden HAWESVILLE Edmond C. Rearden, 71, died Thursday, June 27, 2002, at Owensboro Mercy Health System.
He retired from Southwire Kentucky Division and was a Korean War Army veteran. Surviving are his wife, Eva Mae Rearden; a daughter, Pamela Mayo; two sons, David Edmond and Joseph William Rearden; two brothers, Carrol and Charles Dale Rearden; and eight grandchildren. Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Blackford Baptist Church in Hawesville, with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m.
today, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 8 a.m. to noon Monday at Wallace Funeral Home in Cloverport. Betty Rhineburger OWENSBORO Betty Ann (White) Rhineburger, 63, died Friday, June 28, 2002, at Hillcrest Health Care Center.
Surviving are three sons, James Martin, Johnny Lee and Donald Ray Rhineburger; a brother, Nat White and 11 grandchildren. Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the James H. Davis Funeral Home in Owensboro, with burial in Rose Hill Cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 7 p.m.
Sunday and from 10 a.m. to service time at the funeral home. Kaye Werner HENDERSON Kaye Abernathy Werner, 55, died Friday, June 28, 2002, at Methodist Hospital. She worked for 36 years as a legal assistant for Dorsey, King, Gray and Norment Attorneys at Law. Surviving are her husband, John Werner; a daughter, Teresa (T CI te te ru pi fa al ir S1 le st a 8.
