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Norman M. Straughn, 75
Centerville - Norman M. Straughn, 75, a World War II combat veteran, died at home February 7, 1998 of cancer.
Mr. Straughn was born in Dorchester. He served with the Army's 328th Infantry during World War II as a heavy machine gunner. He was stationed in France, Belgium and along the German border until being evacuated to England due to wounds. Mr. Straughn was credited with shooting down a Fokker 190 plane that was strafing the rifle company he was supporting.
After the service, he worked as a salesman and exterminator for an exterminating company in Dedham.
He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans. Mr. Straughn was a longtime resident of the Hough's Neck section of Quincy and a member and deacon of the Congregationalist Church in Quincy before moving to Centerville in 1993.
He is survived by five sons, Norman M. Straughn, III of Centerville, Jo H. Straughn of Baytown, Texas , Francis M. Straughn, Greg E. Straughn and Russell B. Straughn, all of Brewster; two daughters, Kim A. Straughn of Elgin, Ill., and Gloriann L. Henderson of South Yarmouth; three brothers, Robert Straughn of Needham, Paul Straughn of Carver and Harold Straughn of Hanover; two sisters, Ann Malloy of Bradenton, Fla., and Shirley Tobin of Quincy; 19 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
Funeral and burial were private.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Cape Cod, 923 Route 6A, Yarmouthport, MA 02675.
Howard B. Vail, 92
Boca Raton, Fla. - Howard B. Vail, 92, who leaves a daughter in Hyannis, died January 30, 1998 at his home.
He was the husband of Alta Vail. Mr. Vail was born in East Orange, N.J., and graduated from Princeton University in 1926. He received a law degree from Yale Law School, graduating magna cum laude.
After his admission to the New York bar in 1931, Mr. Vail practiced law in New York City with Hughes & Hubbard.
During World War II he served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1946, and was honorably discharged as a major.
Mr. Vail was legal counsel to the Board of Foreign Missions of the United Presbyterian Church, serving in West Germany in 1950.
He worked with the United Nations International Refugee Organization on the resettlement of displaced persons.
Surviving besides his wife are four daughters, Patricia Gordon of Hyannis, Judith Hanf of Guilford, Conn., Elizabeth Willard of Wayland and Linda Kauffman of Deep River, Conn.; and four grandchildren.
A memorial service was held in Boca Raton.
Charles F. Whitehead, 72
Venice, Fla. - Charles F. Whitehead, 72, a retired vice president of the Falmouth Cooperative Bank, died February 7, 1998.
He was the husband of Jeannine Whitehead.
Mr. Whitehead was born in Fall River. He moved to Venice three months ago from Centerville. He was vice president of the Falmouth Cooperative Bank for nine years until his retirement.
Mr. Whitehead served in the Army during World War II.
Surviving besides his wife are four daughters, Elizabeth Dyke of Beverly, Mass., Kathleen McGuigan of Colts Neck, N.J., Nancy Patterson of Braintree, Mass., and Patricia Hagerman of Middleboro, Mass.; and two granddaughters.
A Mass of Christian burial was held February 10 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Venice.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2100 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice, FL 34293.
Grace S. Adair, 76
Wellesley - Grace Shumway Adair, 76, a former chairman of the board of the Exchange National Bank in Atchison, Kan., died February 7, 1998 at Newton Wellesley Hospital after a brief illness.
She was the wife of John Augustine Adair, Sr., who died in 1980, and Potter Hessler Carroll, Sr., who died in 1964.
Born in Chicago, she was a 1942 graduate of Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., with a degree in music. She was a resident of Wellesley and Osterville.
During her 21 years in Atchison, Mrs. Adair was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church and the first woman on its vestry committee. She served on the board of governors of Mount St. Scholastica College and in 1974 was the first laywoman on the board of Benedictine College, the successor to the merger of Mount St. Scholastics and St. Benedict's colleges.
Mrs. Adair and her husband were awarded the Cross of the Order of St. Benedict for outstanding service to Benedictine College. For many years they sponsored scholarships at the college for Kansas students. They founded the Adair/Exchange Bank Foundation, which assists Kansas charities.
Mrs. Adair was the first woman to serve as a director of an Atchison bank. She was chairman of the board from 1980 to 1986. Mrs. Adair was also active in many other Kansas organizations.
A resident of Wellesley since 1985, she was an active member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Wellesley. In Osterville, she was a member of St. Peter's Parish, the Wianno Club and the Beach Club.
Surviving are a son, Hess Carroll of Holliston; three stepsons, John A. Adair, Jr. of Tokyo, Paul H. Adair of Atchison, Kan., and William A. Adair of Topeka, Kan.; and eight grandchildren. She was the mother of the late Virginia "Ginny" Carroll Lyman and the stepmother of the late Bruce D. Adair.
A funeral service was held February 11 at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Wellesley. Burial was in Lake Forest, Ill.
Memorial donations may be made to Dana Hall School, 45 Dana Road, Wellesley, MA 02181; St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 79 Denton Road, Wellesley, MA 02181; or to Vassar College.
David B. Archibald, Sr., 76
Centerville - David Barnes Archibald, Sr., 76, a retired public accountant, World War II veteran and prisoner of war, died February 9, 1998 at Falmouth Hospital after a long illness.
He was the husband of Lillian (Guilford) Archibald.
Born in Longmeadow, he graduated from Suffield Academy, Suffield, Conn., and received a degree in accounting from Bentley College, Waltham. He lived in Millis from 1956 to 1976, when he moved to West Harwich. In 1978 he moved to Centerville.
During World War II, he flew P-51 fighters. He was an instructor in aerial gunnery and an aerial sharpshooting record holder for many years. Mr. Archibald was an ace, having shot down six enemy planes in Germany.
In December, 1944, Mr. Archibald was shot down by ground fire over northern Germany and was incarcerated in Stalag 4B in Germany until May, 1945. He received two Purple Hearts and eight Oak Leaf Clusters.
After the war and Bentley College, he worked as a public accountant and was comptroller for Nenantum Lumber in Watertown for 19 years, retiring in 1973.
Mr. Archibald was a member of the Charles River Lodge AF & AM, Medway, and often participated with the Mariners Lodge AF & AM, Cotuit.
He was a member of P.O.W., Cape Cod Saltiesbeing an avid saltwater fisherman and hunteras well as the Osterville Men's Club. He also belonged to the American Fighter Aces Association, P-51 Fighter Association, Retired Air Force Officers Association and American Ex-Prisoners of War.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hyannis and a volunteer at its food pantry.
Surviving besides his wife are two sons, David B. Archibald Jr. of Waxhaw, N.C. and Robert T. Archibald of Marstons Mills; three sisters, Lumina Nortaine of Del Ray Beach, Fla., Eleanor Waytovich of Hardeeville, S.C., and Elizabeth Monell of Texas ; a brother, Frederick B. Archibald of Homosassa Springs, Fla.; 10 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was the father of the late Donna Barnes Archibald.
A funeral service was held February 12 at the First Baptist Church in Hyannis. Burial followed in the Massachusetts National Cemetery
in Bourne.
Memorial donations may be made to Shriners Burns Institute, 51 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114.
Vincent A. Centrella, 78
Centerville - Vincent A. Centrella, 78, retired mechanic and machinist, died February 12, 1998 in Hyannis after a brief illness.
He was the husband of Esther M. (Mozzetta) Centrella.
Born in Boston, he lived there for several years before moving to Medford, where he graduated from Medford High School in 1939. He worked as a locomotive mechanic for a brief period before serving in the Army during World War II.
He was stationed in Hawaii, Saipan, Guam and Iwo Jima. Upon his discharge, he moved back to Medford, where he worked as a mechanic and machinist for New Haven Railroad, which later became Penn Central Railroad, then Con Rail.
Mr. Centrella moved to Centerville from Medford in 1978 and retired from Con Rail in 1980. He was an avid baseball fan and loved the Red Sox. He also enjoyed gardening and was an usher at Our Lady of Hope Chapel in West Barnstable for many years.
Surviving besides his wife are a son, Gary Centrella of Phillipsburg, N.J.; two sisters, Rose Cirella of Medford and Emma Kazanjian of Sandwich; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was the father of the late Gerald J. Centrella.
A funeral Mass was held February 16 at Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery
in Medford.
Memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of Victory Church, Centerville, MA 02632.
Kenneth E. Griffin, 82
Centerville - Kenneth E. Griffin, 82, former truck driver, retired foreman and World War II veteran, died February 10, 1998.
He was the husband of the late Mary A. (Grant) Griffin.
Born, raised and educated in Taunton, he summered in Pocasset since the 1960s and moved there permanently in 1973. He moved to Centerville in the early 1980s.
Mr. Griffin was a World War II Army Air Corps veteran, serving as a staff sergeant. He worked as a truck driver for a brief period in Taunton before going to work at the Taunton Municipal Plant, where he retired in the mid-70s as a foreman.
He enjoyed refinishing furniture and working outdoors.
Surviving are a son, Thomas R. Griffin of Centerville; three daughters, Joan M. Griffin of Centerville, Rosemary A. Chausse of Machias, Maine, and Ann Marie Sanford of Berlin; and six grandchildren.
A funeral Mass was celebrated February 13 at Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville. Burial was in the Massachusetts National Cemetery
in Bourne.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Cape Cod, 923 Route 6A, Yarmouthport, MA 02675.
Robert Ernest Johndrow, 71
Dummerston, Vt. - Robert Ernest Johndrow, 71, who leaves a son on Cape Cod, died February 13, 1998 at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend, Vt. following a battle with cancer.
He was the husband of Margaret "Peg" (Harding) Johndrow.
Mr. Johndrow was born and raised in Canton, N.Y. where he attended St. Mary's High School.
A veteran of World War II, he served with the 503rd infantry's 11th Airborne unit stationed in Italy. He saw action in the Normandy invasion and was severely wounded in battle, the only surviving member of his unit. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
Following his discharge he went to work for the Sargent Corp. of New Haven, Conn., where he was employed for 20 years. From 1972 to 1979 he owned and operated the Harmonyville Store in Townshend. Since 1980 he worked as store manager for Falvey Pools in Brattleboro.
Mr. Johndrow was a member of the American Legion, Brattleboro Post No. 5 and the John Blake Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, horseshoes, tinkering and crossword puzzles.
Besides his wife, Mr. Johndrow is survived by four sons, Robert Johndrow of Springfield, Vt., Laurence Johndrow of Ellsworth, Maine, David Johndrow of Hyannis Park, and Craig McCullock of Dummerston, Vt.; three daughters, Elizabeth Johndrow of Putney, Vt., Kimberly Goddard of Chester, Vt., Tammy Bedard of Hinsdale, N.H.; one brother, Albert Johndrow of Lee, Mass., 20 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service was held February 16 at the Atamaniuk Funeral Home in Brattleboro. Burial was private.
Memorial donations may be made to the Grace Cottage Hospital Building Fund, Route 35, Townshend, VT 05353 or to the Southern Vermont Home Health Agency, 1 Holstein Place, Brattleboro, VT 05301, or to the Brattleboro Area Hospice, P.O. Box 1053, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
