Search Archived Marriage Records
ROBERT P. WOOD, 48, of Batavia, died Wednesday from burns received in a propane explosion a week ago at Auxier Gas Inc. He was a truck driver for the Batavia firm. Services: 10:30 a.m. Monday at Faith Evangelical Free Church, Price Road, Milford. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Maham Funeral Home, 187 N. Second St., Williamsburg. Memorials: Burns Institute, c/o USGC, 231 Bethesda Ave., Cincinnati 45229.
Date of announcement: 08-14-1998
Tom Shah, embassy worker
There will be no public burial services for Uttamlal Thomas Shah, the St. Xavier High graduate killed in the bombing of the American Embassy in Kenya.
Shah, 37, used his love of music to get an education and then served as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. State Department.
Shah left Cincinnati after his high school graduation in 1978 and spent four years at Boston's Berklee College of Music where he continued to play trumpet, the instrument he began playing in the fourth grade. He graduated cum laude in 1981 with an emphasis on jazz.
He then moved to Muncie, Ind., where he earned master's and doctorate degrees in music at Ball State University.
While there, he served as assistant director of the school's Jazz Ensemble and began playing professionally, performing with backup bands for Jim Nabors, Perry Como and Red Skelton.
He was a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, the National Association of Jazz Educators, the American Musicology Society and the American Federation of Musicians.
After college, he became a Foreign Service Officer, learning Arabic and being posted in Cairo, Egypt, and Damascus, Syria.
He was assigned to Washington, D.C., but was on consultations to the Embassy in Kenya at the time of the bombing.
He is survived by his wife, Linda, of Vienna, Va., and his parents, Uttamlal and Donna Shah of Atlanta, Ga.
Memorials may be made to the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service National Relief Fund, 1403 London Way, Lithia Springs, Ga., 30122.
Date of announcement: 08-15-1998
Dr. Robert Pudenz, neurosurgeon
Robert H. Pudenz, M.D., 86, an internationally known neurosurgeon, died July 29 at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, Calif.
Dr. Pudenz was born and raised in Cincinnati and attended college at the University of Dayton. He received his medical degree from Duke University, where he was senior class president. He then studied under the renowned Wilder Penfield while he completed his residency at Montreal Neurological Institute. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps, at the U.S. Naval Hospital and the Naval Medical Research Institute, Bethesda.
In 1946 he entered private practice in neurosurgery with Dr. C. Hunter Shelden in Pasadena, continuing a partnership that was to last 56 years. Dr. Pudenz was chief of staff at Huntington Memorial Hospital, Pasadena, and attending neurosurgeon at other southern California hospitals. He was clinical professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Southern California and director of medical research at the Huntington Medical Research Institutes, where he was a board member.
Dr. Pudenz is best known for perfecting a cerebrospinal fluid shunt to effectively treat hydrocephalus. The shunt that he pioneered is used by more than 100,000 patients around the world each year. He lectured on the continued development of shunt systems all over the world.
His studies also included research on head injury and the development of electronic devices for neural rehabilitation.
Dr. Pudenz received the Byron Cane Pavehouse Distinguished Service Award from the California Association of Neurological Surgeons. He also was a member of the Academy of Neurological Surgeons and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
His cousin from Cincinnati, Thomas Diehl, said, "He was a brilliant man, but a soft, gentle type of person. He was always very pleasant and unassuming."
Survivors include his wife, Rita; daughters Sandra Jones and Sheila Mayo; and four grandchildren.
Services were Aug. 4 at Holy Family Church in South Pasadena. Memorials can be made to PROBBE MRS Fund 4520, Huntington Medical Research Institutes, 734 Fairmount Ave., Pasadena, Calif. 91105.
Date of announcement: 08-15-1998
BLANCHE H. (SCHEITZ) HELLMANN, 81, of Toledo, Ohio, formerly of Covington, died Monday. Mass: 11 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick of Heatherdowns Church, Toledo. There is no visitation. Memorials: Foundation for Life, St. Vincent de Paul Society, the church, or National Osteoporosis Society. Arrangements: Coyle Funeral Home.
Date of announcement: 08-15-1998
HAROLD LANGE, 91, of Aurora, Ind., died Thursday. Mr. Lange was a former employee of Sutton's Hatchery. Services: 10 a.m. EDT Monday at Alliance Church, Aurora. Visitation: 3 to 6 p.m. EDT Sunday at Rullman Funeral Home, Aurora. Memorials: Aurora Fire Company No. 2; Aurora Emergency Unit; or charity of donor's choice.
Date of announcement: 08-15-1998
DORIS H. (BAKER) SMITH, 84, of Aurora, Ind., formerly of Boone County, died Aug. 6. Graveside service: 10 a.m. EDT Monday in Riverview Cemetery, Aurora. There will be no visitation. Memorials: Shady Nook Care Center Patient Activity. Arrangements: Rullman Funeral Home.
Date of announcement: 08-15-1998
WILLIAM H. WISBY, 53, of Bethel, Ohio, died Wednesday. He was a construction worker for Commercial Dry Wall Systems. Memorial service at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Kennedy-Stevens Funeral Home, Bethel. There is no visitation.
Date of announcement: 08-15-1998
Sister Mary Clare Ennis, longtime teacher
Sister Mary Clare Ennis, of the Sisters of St. Francis at Oldenberg, Ind., died on Friday. The career-long teacher was 86.
In Greater Cincinnati, Sister Mary Clare taught at St. Michael, St. Joseph and St. Aloysius schools, and St. Mary of the Rock in Oldenburg.
She leaves sisters Mary Murtaugh and Rita Widolff; and a brother, Frank Ennis, all of Guilford, Ind.
Mass: 3 p.m. EST today at Sisters of St. Francis Motherhouse chapel in Oldenburg. Visitation: 1 p.m. EST in the chapel.
Date of announcement: 08-17-1998
RACHEL MARY COLLINS, 79, of Georgetown, Ohio, died Saturday. She was a homemaker. Services: 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Cahall Funeral Home, Georgetown. Visitation: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Date of announcement: 08-17-1998
ROBERT E. DONLEY SR., 86, of Sardinia, Ohio, died Saturday. He was a mechanic. Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m. today at Beam-Fender Funeral Home, Sardinia. Services: 1 p.m. Tuesday at Greenbush Union Plains Church, Greenbush, Ohio.
Date of announcement: 08-17-1998
JANET S. HAMILTON LYON, 59, of Madison, Ind., died Saturday. She was retired from the Social Security Administration. Services: 7 p.m. EDT Tuesday at Morgan-Webster-Nay Funeral Home, Madison. Visitation: 4 p.m. EDT Tuesday at the funeral home.
Date of announcement: 08-17-1998
HAROLD J. MILLER II, 30, of Elmwood Place, died Saturday. He was self-employed. Services: 10 a.m. EST Wednesday at Cook Funeral Home, Sunman, Ind. Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m. EST Tuesday at the funeral home.
Date of announcement: 08-17-1998
Rev. James Peaker, retired pastor
The Rev. James N. Peaker, 76, a former pastor of St. Agnes Church in Bond Hill and spiritual director of the St. Martin Council of the St. Vincent DePaul Society, died Friday.
Father Peaker was ordained in 1948, served several local parishes as associate pastor and was a part-time instructor at Mother of Mercy High School in Cincinnati. Father Peaker also served at the former St. Matthew Church in Norwood; St. Columban in Loveland; Holy Family Church in Price Hill; and St. Martin of Tours Church in Cheviot.
He was appointed administrator of St. Agnes in 1971, then pastor in 1973. He left St. Agnes in 1976 and retired in 1993.
Reception of the body will be at 4 p.m. today at St. Louis Church, Owensville, Ohio. Mass: 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Arrangements: Evans Funeral Home, Milford.
Date of announcement: 08-18-1998
Robert T. Howard, publicist at Miami U
Robert T. Howard, longtime Miami University publicist, died Saturday at Ft. Hamilton-Hughes Hospital from complications of heart disease. He was 83.
The 1939 graduate of DePauw University earned a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University in 1939. After 
military service in World War II, he worked for the Indianapolis News and joined Miami University as sports information director in 1947.
While at Miami, Mr. Howard also edited the international magazine of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, and later received the Oxford Cup Award for distinguished service as a Beta alumni.
He was named director of public information in 1960, and became the university's "institutional memory" while overseeing news, public information and publications services for three Miami campuses. He retired in 1978 but later returned to Miami for a time as special assistant to the president for selected projects.
Mr. Howard was preceded in death by Betty Howard, his wife of 36 years. She was a well-known artist in and around Oxford, Ohio.
He leaves his second wife, Madra Hutchinson Howard; son, Robert T. Howard, Jr., of Asheboro, N.C.; daughter, Betsey Howard, of Anchorage, Ala.; stepson, Ralph Hutchinson, of Fairfield; stepdaughter, Jeanne Hendrix, of Tucson, Ariz.; and seven grandchildren.
Arrangements were through Smith & Ogle Funeral Home, Oxford. Memorials: Oxford Museum Association for the Pioneer House and Fram Museum Fund or Robert T. Howard Scholarship Fund of the Beta Theta Pi Foundation.
Date of announcement: 08-18-1998
Thomas A. Riestenberg, county inspector
Thomas Allen Riestenberg, an electrical inspector with the Hamilton County Building Department and a master tradesman, died Monday of cancer. He was 43.
The Miami Township resident had worked for the county since 1994. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer in June, 1997, but continued to work even after being weakened by radiation treatments and chemotherapy. When could work no longer, fellow employees donated vacation days to the family.
Mr. Riestenberg was a 1973 graduate of Elder High School, and received his certificate from the University of Cincinnati College of Applied Science in Industrial Wiring in 1976. He was a former employee of Conrad Spring Co., Huss Electric Co., Meyer Builders and Clipper Instrumental Co. He also was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
"He was the best neighbor anyone could have," said a friend, Annie Macke. "He had the perfect remedy to solve a problem and was so willing to help anyone out."
Mr. Riestenberg leaves his wife, Lori; daughters, Eva and Faye Riestenberg; and sons, Bryan and Alex Riestenberg. Another son, David, died in 1996.
Mass: 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Dominic Church, Delhi Township. Visitation: 4 to 9 p.m. today at Vitt-Stermer & Anderson Funeral Home, Delhi Township. Memorials: Elder High School Thomas and David Riestenberg Scholarship Fund.
Date of announcement: 08-18-1998
ERICA J. BRADLEY, 40, of Lincoln Heights, died Friday. Ms. Bradley was a private duty nurse. Services: 7 p.m. Wednesday at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Lincoln Heights. Visitation: 6 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Arrangements: Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home.
Date of announcement: 08-18-1998
JOSEPHINE MARGARET GERMANN, 74, Ripley, Ohio, died Monday. She was a bookkeeper with the former Germann Brothers Trucking Co. Services: noon Wednesday at Cahall Funeral Home, Ripley. Visitation: 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials: Hospice of Hope, Maysville, Ky.
Date of announcement: 08-18-1998
RUTH MAE GIBBS, 69, of Roselawn, died Friday. Ms. Gibbs was a nurse's aide at Good Samaritan Hospital. Services: noon Wednesday at Tryed Stone Missionary Baptist Church, Bond Hill. Visitation: 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Arrangements: Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home.
Date of announcement: 08-18-1998
ROBERT KIRKLAND, 53, of Pleasant Ridge, died Friday. Services: noon Thursday at Jamison & Jamison Jr. Inc. Funeral Home, Evanston. Visitation: 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Date of announcement: 08-18-1998
ARELL LUCKEY JR., 60, of Northside, died Friday. Services: 7 p.m. Wednesday at Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home, Lockland. Visitation: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Date of announcement: 08-18-1998
