U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
OERTEL
Joseph Edward Oertel, age 101, of Fredericksburg, died on Saturday, January 20, 2001, at the Masonic Home of Virginia. He was a member of the Watervliet, N.Y., Elks Lodge #1500 for 62 years, the Fairfax Masonic Lodge #43 in Culpeper, the Albert Pike Scottish Rite in Washington, D.C., the ACCA Shrine Temple in Richmond and the Spotsylvania Lions Club. Also a member of the Spotsylvania Baptist Church. Mr. Oertel worked in sales during the early years of refrigeration, later heating and air conditioning. He retired in 1972 from the General Services Administration in Washington, D.C. He was a Pittsburgh, Pa., native, where he played semi-professional baseball during the 1920s. He was the widower of Bernice Lee Oertel. Survivors include several nieces; in addition to longtime friends, Charles and Nila Trigger of Spotsylvania. Remains rest at the Laburnum Chapel, Woody Funeral Home, 2110 E. Laburnum Ave., where the family will receive friends 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Graveside service with Masonic Rites will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Culpeper Masonic Cemetery.
PLEASANTS
Katherine (Kathy) J. Pleasants, 47, of Sandston, died Saturday, January 20, 2001. She is survived by her husband, John Pleasants; her father, Kenneth G. Jordan Sr. of Sandston; and two brothers, Dennis W. Jordan of Virginia Beach, and Kenneth G. Jordan Jr. of Richmond. Her remains rest at Nelsen Funeral Home, 4650 S. Laburnum Ave., Richmond, where funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 24, at 11 a.m. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be at Washington Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation.
PROBST
Phyllis Folkes Probst, of Sandston, passed away Sunday, January 21, 2001. She is survived by Bobbie Tatum and her husband, Gene; two nephews, William Tatum and Thomas Tatum, both of Varina; one niece, Phyllis Tatum Stafford of Portland, Oregon; and numerous friends. Mrs. Probst was a member of Elko Union Church. Her remains rest at the Nelsen Funeral Home, 4650 S. Laburnum Ave., where the family will receive friends Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and where funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Wednesday. Interment Oakwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Eastern Henrico Vol. Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 911, Sandston, Va. 23150.
REAMS
Dale Sanford Reams, 65, of Warsaw, died on Monday, January 22, 2001. Mrs. Reams was an office assistant for Reams Insurance Agency, a member of Saint Johns Episcopal Church, and a member of the Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post #7167, Warsaw. Survivors are her husband, R. Jack Reams; a son, David W. Reams of Warsaw; two brothers,
Carter Sanford Sr. of Ruther Glen and G.C. Sanford Jr. of Sandston; and a sister, Mae Sanford Andrews of Mt. Landing. Mrs. Reams was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Cordell Sanford. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at Warsaw United Methodist Church with interment in Saint Johns Episcopal Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Welch-Marks Funeral Home, Warsaw, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. this evening.
ROSE
Marie Davenport Rose, long time Williamsburg resident, died peacefully in her sleep January 22, 2001 in Mechanicsville, Va. She was 92. Her spirit reunites with that of her husband, Virgil Amon Rose who died in 1974. They were married for 44 years. Raised on a farm in Cumberland County, Mrs. Rose enjoyed a long, simple and good life. She loved all flowers and manner of gardening, for some time owning and operating a successful nursery noted for its boxwoods and azaleas. She was an expert seamstress, retiring from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, where she specialized in historic fabric reproduction. She lived independently until her death. Mrs. Rose is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Rose of Mechanicsville; four sisters, two brothers, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 24, 2001 from the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow in Williamsburg Memorial Park. Friends may call Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Bucktrout of Williamsburg is serving the Rose Family.
SAUNDERS
Dr. John R. Saunders, age 96, former medical director of Westbrook Psychiatric Hospital, died January 22, 2001. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Vera Coxwell Saunders. He is survived by two daughters, Barbara S.
Brown of Wake Forest, N.C., Janice S. Hemric and husband, Dick Hemric of N. Canton, Ohio; son, John R. Saunders Jr. and his wife, Mary Nicholas Saunders of Richmond; sister and best friend, Janice S. Jilcott of Lewiston, N.C.; eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Dr. Saunders was a member of The Commonwealth Club, Davie Lodge #39 AF&AM and a Shriner. The family will receive friends Tuesday, January 23, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Central Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 3215 Cutshaw Avenue, where funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, January 24, 2001, at 11 a.m. Interment Forest Lawn Cemetery. The Rev. Samuel A. Coxwell, brother-in-law, of Crawfordville, Fla., officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
SHERMAN
Departed this life Friday, January 19, 2001, Russell R. Sherman of Mechanicsville. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Sylvia Sherman; two daughters, Priscilla Hobbs and Debora Campbell; son, Fitzgerald R. Sherman; two sons-in-law, Michael Campbell and Kenneth Hobbs Sr.; five grandchildren, Michelle and Michael Campbell II, Kenneth Jr. and Keturah Hobbs, Edia Clark; and one great-grandson, Tyler Jasiah Campbell; three sisters, Lillian Davis, Clara Mitchell and Lottie Blocker of New York; four brothers, Ollie (Edna), George (Edith), James (Annie) and Leroy (Marian) Sherman of Mechanicsville; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Remains rest at the Chiles Funeral Home, 2100 Fairmount Ave. Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday 2 p.m. from First Shiloh Baptist Church, 8150 Walnut Grove Rd., Mechanicsville, Rev. R. Neal Siler, pastor. Rev. Proctor Beard, eulogist, officiating. Interment Forest Lawn Cemetery. Remains will rest in church one hour prior to services.
SHOOK
Marjorie Brulle Shook of Irvington, Va., died on January 20, 2001. Reared in Virginia, she was born in Fredericksburg on October 19, 1902, to the late Rose Frances Stoll and William Henry Brulle. Mrs. Shook was graduated from the College of William and Mary and later attended Johns Hopkins University. Before her marriage to the late Clinton John Shook, she lived in upstate New York where she headed the social services department at Rome State School. In 1947, she and her husband moved to Lancaster County, Va., residing there at "Clintmar Orchards" for many years. Mrs. Shook was a former member of The Wednesday Club of Rome and the Woman's Club of Lancaster County. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Newport News. She is survived by two stepdaughters, Anne E. Shook and Suzanne Whitman. Interment will be private. Announcement of a memorial service to be held in the future will be published at a later time. Memorial contributions may be made to the Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury Foundation or the Historic Christ Church Foundation, both of Irvington, Va., 22480.
TALIAFERRO
Henry Lee Taliaferro Sr. of Richmond entered eternal rest January 21, 2001. Professional services entrusted to the Dabneys' Morticians. Funeral notice later.
UKROP
Alice W. Ukrop, died Saturday, January 20, 2001. She is survived by nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday at Oakwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Henrico Rescue Squad or Trinity Episcopal Church.
WELLS
Sadie M.
Wells of 2001 Joshua St. entered eternal rest January 21, 2001. Professional services entrusted to the: A D PRICE FUNERAL HOME
WHITAKER
Madge A. Whitaker, 88, of Highland Springs, formerly of Fennville, Mich., went to be with the Lord Monday, January 22, 2001. She is the mother of Merline King and her husband, Kenneth. Funeral notice later. Nelsen Funeral Home handling arrangements.
WHITE
Paul Charles White Sr., 51, of Chester, Va., died Sunday, January 21, 2001 at Henrico Doctors Hospital. He was born in Massachusetts and was the son of the late Charles Harold White. Mr. White Sr. was the proprietor of the Suburban Shopper Newspaper in Colonial Heights. He is survived by his wife, Linda Jean White; a son and daughter-in-law, Paul C. Jr. and Barbara Ann White of Colonial Heights; daughter and son-in-law, Diane Lyn and William L. Steele of Mechanicsville; granddaughter, Brianna Nicole White; his mother, Mrs. Margaret Germaine White of Chester; three brothers, Chester White of Massachusetts, Donald White of Florida, and Edward White of Massachusetts; also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. A funeral prayer service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m., January 25, 2001 at St. Ann Catholic Church, 17111 Jefferson Davis Hwy. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Chester. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at E. Alvin Small Funeral Home, 2033 Boulevard, Colonial Heights, Va. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 4240 Park Place Ct., P.O. Box 6359, Glen Allen, Va. 23058-6359.
WOODSON
Departed this life January 17, 2001, Walter (Shorty) E. Woodson Sr. of 3523 Maryland Ave. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Dorothy G. Woodson; four daughters, Everetta Gray, Shirley A. Woodson, Michelle Gray and Sherita Holmes; four sons, Clarence E., Gylynn J. and Bruce L. Woodson and Donnell Gary; 19 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Evelyn Minor and Mary Shakespeare; two brothers, Everette and James Woodson; several nieces, nephews and cousins, two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law, four sisters-in-law, four brothers-in-law, and other relatives and friends. Remains rest at Joseph Jenkins Jr. Funeral Home, 2011 Grayland Ave. Funeral Wednesday 1 p.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church at Judah and W. Leigh St., where remains will lie in state one hour prior to funeral time. Dr. Wallace J. Cook (pastor) officiating. Interment Oakwood Cemetery. Family, friends and organizations assemble at the church 12:45 p.m. Wednesday.
WOODSON
Virginia Perkins Woodson of Richmond, died Sunday, January 21, 2001. She was 95. Graveside service will be held at Westhampton Memorial Park. She was born August 15, 1905 in Bedford Springs, Campbell Co., Va. Mrs. Woodson was the widow of Col. Charles William Woodson Jr., who served as the first Superintendent of the Virginia State Police and headed that department July 1, 1942 until his retirement January 1, 1968. Mrs. Woodson was an elementary school teacher and homemaker. She is survived by two daughters, Betty Brady of Spartanburg, S.C. and Virginia Rupp of Littleton, Colo.; three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the Tuckahoe Vol. Rescue Squad.
Neon sign pioneer Louis Rudd dies
Jan 19, 2001
Louis L. Rudd knew how to paint the town, and during his almost 67 years as one of the city's premier makers of neon signs, all of Richmond was his canvas.
"He said he figured he could at least go around the earth once - maybe twice with all the [neon] tube he had used in his life," said Charles Jeske of Richmond, who was Mr. Rudd's main pattern maker since 1982.
Mr. Rudd, 87 and a native of Richmond, died Tuesday after a long illness. He was known in the industry as "Mr. Neon."
"He taught me everything I know," said Jeske, of the man responsible for lighting up some of Richmond's most memorable landmarks.
Mr. Rudd created the Universal Ford sign on Broad Street. He created signs for Miller & Rhoads and Thalhimers, and the Firestone "F" that graced the corner of Lombardy and Broad for many years. He also made nearly all of the signs Heilig-Meyers Co. used at its furniture stores across the country.
Orphaned at age 12, Mr. Rudd began working for a local sign company when he was in his teens. In 1933, he accepted an offer from a coworker to work for a new sign painting company. Not long after, the two decided to branch out into the then-new business of neon signs.
"I taught myself mostly," Mr. Rudd said in an interview for the Valentine Museum. "I had no one to teach me. It's a hard way to learn, but once you learn it, you don't forget it."
Mr. Rudd weathered numerous ups and downs in his craft, including the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson, whose wife, Lady Bird Johnson, took personal offense at neon.
"She said it was gaudy looking," Mr. Rudd recalled, having none of the former first lady's opinion. "I thought she was kind of stupid."
Mr. Rudd continued "bending neon" until just weeks before his death, said friend Doug Solyan, owner of Uptown Neon. "He made neon that went all over this country."
A graveside service for Mr. Rudd will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Robert P. Gioia dies at 88
Aug 13, 2001
From messenger boy to company president, Robert P. Gioia's life story could have sprung from the pages of a classic Horatio Alger novel.
In 1931, he took the only job he could find in Depression-era New York City: a messenger for Serra International Inc., then an Italian-owned international forwarding company.
He retired 58 years later as president of the company after taking ownership and helping build it into a multimillion-dollar, family-run operation.
Serra International grossed about $19.8 million last year and has offices in five U.S. cities with headquarters in Jersey City, N. J.
Mr. Gioia, who continued to serve as chairman of the company's board of directors throughout his retirement, died Friday from complications caused by an infection. He was 88 and had lived in Henrico County since 1989.
"He was really a master at moving anything, no matter how big or small," said his daughter, Jeanette R. Gioia of Convent Station, N.J.
Ms. Gioia, who took over as company president when her father retired, said her father led the company through some of the greatest innovations in an industry that hadn't seen much change since the 18th century.
"He was right there in the midst of all the key changes in the industry," she said, chronicling the introduction of airplanes and computerization to the shipping process.
Described by his daughter as a true patriot, Mr. Gioia served in the Pacific theater with the Army in World War II. He earned his bachelor of science degree from New York University in 1948.
Mr. Gioia is also survived by his wife, Cecilia T. Gioia, and another daughter, Sandra G. Treadway of Henrico County.
A memorial service will be held Monday at 4:30 p.m. at Bliley Funeral Home's Staples Mill Chapel, 8510 Staples Mill Rd.
