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Ritsel Thomas Sparks III, aided others
Ritsel Thomas Sparks III of Florence lived a clean-cut life.
'He didn't drink, smoke or do drugs,' said his mother, Brenda Sparks of Florence. 'He was very special. He was very honest in his work and everything he did.'
Mr. Sparks, 32, died at 6:56 p.m. Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North Hospice in Covington.
Mr. Sparks worked 15 years at Thriftway Marketplace in Florence, where he was an assistant frozen-food manager. He was a member of Florence Christian Church and a 1984 graduate of Boone County High School.
All his life, Mr. Sparks volunteered for many organizations. He worked at the Parish Kitchen, Redwood Rehabilitation Center, Florence Y'All, the Boone County Fair and the Boone County Bicentennial. He also was involved in Outstanding Young Men of America.
'He attended all kinds of events from the time he was a kindergartner,' his mother said. 'That's the way of life in our home. He had helped me and his dad so many years.'
Mr. Sparks also was a collector of compact discs and records. He especially enjoyed Elvis Presley and country music. He was a big fan of the late John F. Kennedy.
Mr. Sparks owned a 1979 LTD, which he refurbished.
'It looks brand-new,' Mrs. Sparks said. 'It's the only car he ever owned. And we're keeping it.'
Besides his mother, other survivors include his father, Ritsel Thomas Sparks Jr. of Florence; maternal grandmother, Dorothy E. Richie of Florence. His grandparents, Ritsel T. Sparks Sr. and Christine Sparks preceded him in death.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Entombment will be in Forest Lawn Mausoleum, Erlanger. Memorials are suggested to Redwood Rehabilitation Center, 71 Orphanage Road, Fort Mitchell, Ky. 41017; or Boone County Animal Shelter, 5643 Ildewild Road, Burlington, Ky. 41005.
Announced on: 03-04-1999
Lillian Sue Hobday Cahill, 54, of Falmouth, died Tuesday at Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include sons, Victor Hobday and Michael Hobday, both of Butler, and Mark Baxter of Falmouth; a daughter, Melissa Gentry of Winchester; her mother, Viola Hobday of Cynthiana; and five grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Peoples Funeral Home, Falmouth. Visitation will begin there at noon. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Falmouth.
Announced on: 03-04-1999
Dorothy K. 'Dot' Chester, 72, of Southgate, died Wednesday at her home. She was owner of Tiki Lounge and Dot's Corner, both in Newport, and the former owner of Dot's Friendly Kitchen in Newport. Her husband, Barney Chester, died in 1994.
Survivors include daughters, Sundra Moore of Covington, Linda Sue Robick of Bridgetown, Ohio, and Margaret Ann Armstrong, Kimberly Egan and Dorothy Lynn Turner, all of Newport; a sister, Margaret Grimm of Fort Thomas; brothers, James Powell of Newport and Billie Powell of Andalusia, Ala.; 13 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Radel Funeral Home, Newport. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill.
Announced on: 03-04-1999
Ferdinand J. Erion, 70, of Lawrenceburg, died Tuesday in Lawrenceburg.
Arrangements are pending at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger.
Announced on: 03-04-1999
Tristan Denae Faulkner, 7 months, of Walton, died Tuesday at her home.
Survivors include her father, Karlas Faulkner and Amanda Dorger of Walton; a brother, Simen Douglas Ballinger, at home; and grandparents, Phillip H. Dorger of Burlington, Patricia Meyer of Florence, Fredrick Faulkner of Crittenden and Rhonda Owens of Dry Ridge.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Erlanger. Visitation will begin there at 9:30 a.m. Friday. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill. Memorials are suggested to Children's Hospital or the charity of the donor's choice.
Announced on: 03-04-1999
Rolley A. Harrison, 88, of Petersburg, died Tuesday at Highlands of Fort Thomas. He was a retired crane operator with Carlisle Construction Co., and a member of Newport Baptist Church. His wife, Sarah Glover Harrison, and a daughter, Ruby Wagner, both preceded him in death.
Survivors include daughters, Wanda Lickert of Alexandria, Patty Birkle and Vera Gripshover, both of Petersburg; sisters, Dorothy Darlington of Cold Spring and Thelma Miller of Alexandria; brothers, Clyde Harrison and Roy Harrison, both of Grants Lick; 11 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Hebron. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Burlington Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice.
Announced on: 03-04-1999
Bennie Horn, 76, of Wax, formerly of Grant County, died Monday at his home. He was a retired plumber and a former member of Crittenden and Wax volunteer fire departments.
Survivors include his wife, Diana Horn; sons, Wayne E. Horn of Crittenden and Eugene Horn of Cincinnati; daughters, Carolyn Rayburn of Crittenden and Jeannie Walker Henry of Fort Knox; brothers, Bill Horn of Lexington and Jesse Horn of Williamstown; sisters, Julie Long of Corinth and Anna Williams of Leesburg, Fla.; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Elliston-Stanley Funeral Home, Crittenden. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Hill Crest Cemetery, Dry Ridge.
Announced on: 03-04-1999
Donald A. Kingkade, 56, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., died Monday at Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale. He was a self-employed painter and a Vietnam veteran.
Survivors include brothers, William A. Kingkade and Gregory J. Kingkade, both of Covington.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Benedict Church, Covington. Visitation will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Covington. Burial will be in Mother of God Cemetery, Fort Wright. Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice.
Announced on: 03-04-1999
Dennis Lee McGuire, 55, of Atlanta, formerly of Florence, died Saturday in Atlanta. He was a dental technician and an Army veteran.
Survivors include sons, Dennis H. William McGuire of Hamilton, Ohio, Jacob N. S. McGuire of Urbana, Ohio, and Robert S. McGuire of Fort Bragg, N.C.; daughters, Tonya Renard of Zanesville, Ohio, and Mary Hope Shelton of Chattanooga, Tenn.; his parents, Gordon and Mary McGuire of Florence; brothers, Darryl McGuire of Warington, Va., Gary McGuire of Florence, Gordon McGuire of Burlington and Russell McGuire of Erlanger; and six grandchildren.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Highland Cemetery
Chapel, Fort Mitchell. Visitation will begin there at 2 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice. Stith Funeral Home, Florence, is handling arrangements.
Announced on: 03-04-1999
Helen Bingaman Melvin, 80, of Augusta, died Wednesday at her home. She was a retired employee of Clopay Corp., Augusta, and a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, James Martin Melvin; and a son, James Ray Melvin of Augusta.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Metcalfe-Hennessey Funeral Home, Augusta. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Payne Cemetery, Augusta.
Announced on: 03-04-1999
Janice Arlene Butler Riley, 60, of Newport, died at 4 a.m. Tuesday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas. She was an executive secretary with American Airlines and a member of Our Savior Church, Covington.
Survivors include daughters, Jil Evetta Pogue of Fairfield, Ohio, Lisa Diane Riley of North Canton, Ohio, Valerie Rae Slaughter, Dawn Renee Riley, Kelly Arlene Rily and Wendy Lois Riley, all of Covington; a son, Rev. Frank Davis Beal of Covington; brothers, James Butler, David Butler and Timothy Butler, all of Sacramento, Calif.; half-brothers, Michael N. Burton of New York and John Wimzib of Covington; sisters, Lois E. Butler of Dayton, Ohio, Alison D. Wimzib of Newport, Laura Steele of Frankfort, Diana B. Montgomery, Sidney Butler and Margaret B. Guice, all of Cincinnati; and 14 grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Covington. Cremation will be at the Cincinnati Cremation Co.
Announced on: 03-04-1999
Raymond 'Jack' E. Smith, 81, of Falmouth, died Tuesday at his home after an extended illness. He was a retired farmer and carpenter, and a member of Short Creek Baptist Church in Pendleton County. He was a member of Woodmen of the World and Falmouth VFW Post No. 1978, and was an Army veteran of World War II. A daughter, D. Anita Smith Mains, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Rainie C. Flynn Smith; daughters, Rita Ann Smith Bishop, Rebecca Gallagher, Pauline Smith Glass and Janie M. Smith, all of Falmouth; brothers, Johnathon E. Smith of Falmouth, Forrest 'Bud' Smith of Sulphur Springs, Ind., Kenneth 'Pete' Smith of Rushville, Ind., and Lawrence 'Andy' Smith of Shelbyville, Ind.; daughters, Ruby Glass of Falmouth and Virginia 'Ginny' Wills of Independence; and nine grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Woodhead Funeral Home, Falmouth. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, with Woodmen of the World services at 8 p.m. Burial will be in Morgan Cemetery, Pendleton County. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Hope, 1 W. McDonald Parkway, Maysville, Ky. 41056.
Announced on: 03-04-1999
Howard A. Swope, 77, of Fort Thomas, died Wednesday at St. Luke Hospital East in Fort Thomas. He was a pipe fitter with Honeywell Inc., Cincinnati, and a member of Pipe Fitters Local No. 392, Cincinnati. He was a former member of the Newport Auxiliary Police and Fort Thomas Volunteer Fire Department. He was an Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Frances Swope; daughters, Mary Kaye Kessler of Wilmington, Del., and Carol Smith of Orange, Calif.; a sister, Martha Houser of Cincinnati; and five grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Dobbling Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Visitation will begin there at 9 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate. Memorials are suggested to Salvation Army, 340 W. 10th St., Newport, Ky. 41071.
Announced on: 03-04-1999
Walter Whatley, 84, of Covington, died Tuesday at his home. Arrangements are pending at Joseph R. Garr Funeral Home, Cincinnati.
Announced on: 03-04-1999
Dr. Harlan Williams, 67, of Cincinnati, died Tuesday at University Hospital, Cincinnati. He was a retired physician and a member of Christ's Community Church in Portsmouth, Ohio. He was a member of the American Medical Association and a past president of the Scioto County Medical Society.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce Steinhauer Williams; sons, Dr. Philip D. Williams of Northern Kentucky, and Jonathan Williams; a daughter, Lisa Williams Bellington; a brother, Robert G. Williams; and three grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Montgomery Community Baptist Church, Cincinnati. Memorials are suggested to American Heart Association, 2936 Vernon Place, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219; or Christ's Community Church, 25th and Thomas, Portsmouth, Ohio 45662. Thomas Memorial Funeral Home, Cincinnati, is handling arrangements.
Announced on: 03-04-1999
Underwriter Walter Whatley, devoted to service, children
Walter Leslie Whatley was a generous man who came to the aid of just about anyone who needed help.
'He was a person who loved people,' said his sister, Mary Northington of Covington. 'He was concerned about people. Anybody that was in need, he would help them.'
Mr. Whatley, 84, died Tuesday at his home in Covington.
He was a district manager for several insurance companies in Cincinnati and Chicago and ultimately opened his own office for accounting and real estate in Covington. Licensed in both Ohio and Kentucky, he was inducted as the first black member of the Cincinnati Life Underwriters.
In addition to running his business, Mr. Whatley was very active in community service. He was a member of the NAACP and the American Legion, where he served as commander for a number of years.
Mr. Whatley also was involved in several efforts to establish youth services, including the building of a YMCA.
He was particularly fond of young people.
Mr. Whatley was a member of Ninth Street Baptist Church in Covington, where every Christmas he would give children who attended Sunday School a dollar each. He put the dollars in separate envelopes with the children's names on the outside.
'Even as he sat there in the house unable to move himself, if a child would walk in the house, he would ask me, "Do you have a dollar?' so he could give that child a dollar,' Mrs. Northington said. 'He loved children.'
Mr. Whatley was an Army veteran. He was an expert cook and an avid bridge player. He loved to read and enjoyed music and the theater.
He also was a fascinating storyteller. But Mr. Whatley wasn't one to hold his tongue.
'Whatever he thought he would tell you,' his sister said. 'He was honest.'
His wife, Lena Martin Whatley, preceded him in death.
In addition to his sister, survivors include a son, Roderick Stewart of Covington; daughters, Tonya Whatley Lane and Linda Whatley Hadden, both of Cincinnati, and Patricia Henderson of Covington; sisters, Rella Bagley of Anniston, Ala., Lucille Collins of Fort Myers, Fla., Georgia Summers of Chicago, Marquita Brown of Flint, Mich.; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at noon Saturday at Ninth Street Baptist Church, Covington. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill. Joseph R. Garr Funeral Home, Cincinnati, is handling arrangements. Brandon Lee Ailstock, 5 months, of Covington, died Tuesday at his home.
Survivors include his parents, David and Julie Ailstock; brothers, David Ailstock Jr., Robert Humphries, Cody Ailstock and Brendon Ailstock, all of Covington; grandparents, Robert Humphries of Union, Rose Kinney of Independence, and Burley and Henrietta Ailstock of Florence; and a great-grandmother, Emma Herindon of Covington.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Burlington. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell.
Announced on: 03-05-1999
Blanche Elizabeth Bloemer, 76, of Florence, died Thursday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. She was a teacher and librarian with the Covington Independent School District, and a member of Covington Church of Christ. Her husband, Harold Bloemer, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, John Bloemer of Florence; and sisters, Mildred Hudson and Nora Martin, both of Hebron.
Services will be at noon Monday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Monday. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell.
Announced on: 03-05-1999
