In Memoriam

We honor those OGR family members who died over the past year

July 2, 2010 - Albert E. Armbruster, father of Beverly whose husband, Ed Pearce, is OGR Regional Chair in Illinois and director of the Pearce Funeral Home in Marshall, Ill., died July 2, 2010. He was 83. Mr. Armbruster is survived by his wife of 19 years, Barbara (Rush-Ulin); Children Beverly, Paul of Lewistown, Mont.; Peter of Chandler, Ariz.; and Brett of St. Charles; Barbara's children Joselle Roloff of Elgin; Marissa Lucas and Paul Ulin all of West Chicago; John Ulin of Geneva and Barbara Preston of Escondido, Calif.; 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Audrey Arbizzani, who died in 1983. Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army, 1710 S. 7th Ave., St. Charles, IL 60174.

May 16, 2010 - Mary E. Williams, OGR Past President Robin Williams’ mother, of Seminole, Fla., died May 16, 2010. She was 82. She was a native of St. Petersburg, Fla., and was co-owner of the R. Lee Williams & Son Funeral Home for many years. During the development of the family business she was active in the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Opti-Mrs Club of St. Petersburg. She was a member of the Clearview Baptist Church and most recently the Park Place Wesleyan Church.  She was a loving mother to her children and family and enjoyed gardening, fishing and being in the mountains of North Carolina. She is survived by her daughter, Arlene Kincaid (Larry), son, Robin Williams (Carolyn) and three grandchildren, Katie, Kirstie and Megan.

April 27, 2010 - Helen G. Green, of Munhall, Pa., died April 27, 2010, at her residence surrounded by her family. Helen was a licensed funeral director who worked with her husband, George, in establishing the George I. Green Funeral Home. She was 91.Helen was a member of the Homestead Chapter Order of the Eastern Star #139, member and former Sunday School teacher and member of  the Betty Lee Sunday School of the Homestead Park United Methodist Church. Beloved wife of George I. Green; loving mother of Donald (Debra)  Green of Munhall and Nancy (Gary) Beresford of Dillon, Colorado; cherished grandmother of Scott Green, Amy Beresford, Heather Green, Gary R. Beresford, and Todd Green.

April 14, 2010 - Florence D. “Floss” Kroeger, of Logansport, Ind., died April 14, 2010, at Miller’s Merry Manor, Logansport. She was 86. Floss was the retired secretary/treasurer of Kroeger Funeral Home. In earlier years she served on the board of directors of the Neal Home, Logansport Art Association as past president, Cass County Chapter of the American Red Cross plus numerous other civic, community and business organizations. She was a member of the All Saints Catholic Church. She is survived by a step-daughter and her husband, Cindy and Lee Gaumer, Logansport; step-sons Paul P. Kroeger, Logansport and Father Timothy D. Kroeger, Lebanon; four grandchildren Allison Gaumer, Lauren Gaumer, Christopher Gaumer and Mathew Gaumer; good friend Donald Grace, Logansport and brother and sister-in-law, Corbin and Irene Adams, Logansport

January 18, 2010 - Dixie A. (Coomer) Hickrod (mother of Rick Hickrod, funeral director of the Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton, Indiana), died at the Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Ind., she was 78. Dixie retired in 1994 as a registered nurse. She had lived in Princeton her entire life. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Sandy and Barry Bane of Patoka; son and daughter-in-law Rick and Kathy Hickrod of Princeton (Rick is funeral director of  the Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton); two brothers Richard (wife, Susan) Coomer of Seabrook Island, S.C. and James D. Coomer of Princeton; five grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Condolences may be expressed online at http://www.colvinfuneralhome.com.

January 15, 2010 - James Davis Grubbs (OGR member, he was also owner of Chambers & Grubbs Funeral Homes in Walton, Kentucky),  died at the age of 73. He was past president of the Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky and the Northern Kentucky Funeral Directors Association. He is survived by his wife, Janice Osborne Grubbs; sons, Steven C. Grubbs, Crittenden, and James Christopher "Chris" Grubbs, Verona; sisters, Jeanette Clore, Belleview Bottoms, and Elizabeth Poore, Walton; brothers, Wallace S. "Buddy" Grubbs, Louisville, and John Grubbs, Danville; and six grandchildren. Memorials may be sent to Hickory Grove Baptist Church, 11969 Taylor Mill Road, Independence, KY 41051.

January 9, 2010 - Lucy Glenn Taylor (She succeeded her late husband, Ira P. Taylor, Jr., as president of Glenn Funeral Home and Secretary of Owensboro Memorial Gardens until her retirement. She was a third generation funeral director and the mother and grandmother respectively of fourth and fifth generation funeral directors of Glenn Funeral Home.) She died at her home Jan. 4, 2010 at the age of 88. Born in Owensboro, Kentucky, the daughter of the late Delbert J. and Ann Glenn, she is survived by her sons, Glenn P. Taylor and his wife Camilla, and David P. Taylor and his wife Marilyn, all of Owensboro, her foster son, Richard Stringer and his wife Kazco of Tokyo; her grandchildren, Christy Taylor Chaney and her husband Travis, Glenn P. Taylor, Jr. and his wife Rachael, Katherine Taylor, and William "Will" Beckley Taylor; and three great-grandchildren Condolences may be posted at www.Glenn Funeral Home.com.

September 11, 2009 - M. Graham Vinzant, Jr., father-in-law of John Dallas "J.D." Slack (OGR member, former Board member and committee member), died on August 27, 2009, at the age of 78. Mr. Vinzant is survived by his wife, former Beverly Kessler. He is also survived by a son, Mike Vinzant of Sparks; four daughters Pat Lindh-Slack, Meredith Howard, Jeannie Vogel and LeAnn Batty; 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Memorials to: the OGR Award of Excellence Scholarship Fund. The family may be contacted at slackfh@aol.com or (410) 465-4400.

August 24, 2009 - Horace K. (Jap) Brown, father of Koven L. Brown (OGR President), died on August 22, 2009, at the age of 83. Mr. Brown is also survived by his wife, Faye M. Brown; four sisters, Ruth Huston, Burma Bible, Martha Denney and Inez Clark; two brothers, Lamar Brown and Dan Brown; four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Memorials to: the First United Methodist Church of Clanton, P.O. Box 1976, Clanton, AL 35046 or SIFAT (Servants in Faith and Technology), 2944 Co. Road 113, Lineville, AL 36266. Condolences may be posted at www.klbrownfuneralhome.com.

July 18, 2009 - Anna Belle Walter, mother of Mark Walter, employee of Colvin Funeral Home, Inc., Princeton, Indiana (OGR member firm), died on July 14, 2009, at the age of 82. Mrs. Walter is also survived by her husband, Rev. Dr. William M. Walter; two other sons, Jerry Walter and Patrick Walter; six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Memorials to: The Good Samaritan Fund of Aberdeen Village, 17500 119th St., Olathe, KS 66061. Condolences may be expressed at www.colvinfuneralhome.com.

June 16, 2009 - Richard E. Barkdull, father of Eric Barkdull and Lesli Neal, co-owners of Barkdull Funeral Home, Shelby, Ohio (member firm), died on June 14, 2009, at the age of 78. Mr. Barkdull is also survived by his wife, Bette Barkdull; his other son, Kurt Barkdull; his other daughter, Colbi Reese; eight grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; his mother, Elizabeth Barkdull; and a brother, Jim Barkdull. Memorials to: Hospice of NCOH and the Shelby Home and Public Health. Condolences may be posted at www.barkdullfunderalhome.com.

May 11, 2009 - Roseann Patterson Myers, co-founder of Myers Mortuaries (member firms), died on May 7, 2009, at the age of 95. Mrs. Myers is survived by a son, Richard Patterson; four grandchildren, including Shaun Myers and Gregory Myers, owners of Myers Mortuaries, Ogden and Brigham, Utah; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and a brother, Larkin Patterson. Memorials to: the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 771 East Winchester, Murray, UT 84107. Condolences may be posted at www.myers-mortuary.com.

May 1, 2009 - Dolores Anne Loftus, mother-in-law of Skip Urban, Anton B. Urban Funeral Home Inc., Ambler, Pa. (member), died on April 25, 2009, at the age of 73. Mrs. Loftus is survived by her husband, John A. Loftus; her daughters, Dolores Urban and Theresa Zataveski; her sons, John Loftus, William Loftus, Peter Loftus and Daniel Loftus; her brothers, Robert Dwyer and Daniel Dwyer; and 15 grandchildren. Memorials to: St. Martin de Porres Church, c/o The Rev. Edward Hallinan, 2340 W. Lehigh Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19132-3234. For more information, visit www.urbanfuneralhome.com.

March 3, 2009 - Eleanor T. Byles, the mother of Donald W. Byles, the owner of the Byles-MacDougall Funeral Service, Inc., New London and Groton, Conn. (member firm), died on March 1, 2009, at the age of 98. She is also survived by another son, Robert W. Byles; four grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. Memorials to: the Memorial Scholarship Fund, Groton Congregational Church or the Bill Memorial Library, 240 Monument St., Groton, CT 06340. Condolences may be left at www.byles.com.

March 2, 2009 - Carolyn "Connie" Fry, the mother of David Fry, past OGR Board member and the owner of Fry Funeral Home, Tipton, Iowa (member firm), died on Feb. 28, 2009, at the age of 76. In addition to David, she is survived by her other son Robert Fry; a sister, Mildred Martin; a brother, Dale Peterson; grandchildren; great grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Memorials to: the Mediapolis Ambulance Service. Condolences may be left at www.fryfuneralhome.com.

March 2, 2009 - Carrol Kay Beckwith, the owner of the Beckwith Mortuary, Inc., Larned, Kan., and Beckwith Funeral Home, Jetmore, Kan. (member firms), died on Feb. 25, 2009, at the age of 74. He is survived by his wife, Betty Jo Beckwith; his brothers, Keith Beckwith, Kim Beckwith (current owner) and Kevin Beckwith; his sisters, Carolyn Murphy, Clione Bieber and Kathy Johnson; his sons, Kendall Beckwith and Kyle Beckwith (current owner); daughter Krystal Watts; and four grandchildren. Memorials to: the Welcome Inn Senior Center or the United Methodist Church in care of Beckwith Mortuary, Inc., P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. The family may be reached at (620) 285-2024 or by writing to 219 E. 18th, Larned, KS 67550. Condolences may be left at www. beckwithmortuary.com.

Feb. 26, 2009 - William "Will" Gray Wasson, son of Danny Wasson, co-owner of Wasson Funeral Home (member firm) and a Regional Chairperson, died on Jan. 1, 2009, at the age of 17. In addition to his father, he is survived by his mother, Carolyn Wasson; a step-mother, Lyn Wasson; a sister, Bryn Wasson; a step-brother, Collin Stancomb; grandparents, Sharon and Bob Wasson (co-owner); aunts and uncles. Memorials to: the Siloam Springs High School Scholarship Fund, 1500 W. Jefferson, Siloam Springs, AR 72761. The family may be contacted by writing to P.O.Box 29, Siloam Springs, AR 72761 or at www.wassonfuneralhome.com.

Feb. 23, 2009 - Samuel G. Mann, the father-in-law of Carl Slonaker, Jr., owner of  Mann-Slonaker Funeral Home, East Greenville, Pa. (member), died on Feb. 21, 2009, at the age of 89. He is survived by his daughters, Cynthia A. Mann and Sheri G. Slonaker; his sons, Frederick G. Mann and Samuel G. Mann; seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Memorials to: the New Goshenhoppen UCC Nather Endowment Fund, 1070 Church Rd., East Greenville, PA 18041. The family may be contacted by writing to Mann-Slonaker Funeral Home, 222 Washington St., East Greenville, PA 18041.

Jan. 15, 2009 - John J. Lee, a funeral director at Windsor Locks Funeral Home, Windsor Locks, Conn., died on Jan. 15, 2009, at the age of 66. He is survived by his daughters, Sheri Lee, Gina Ahern and Tracy Lee; his son, Timothy Lee; brothers Albert E. Lee, Jr. and Dana Lee; and nine grandchildren. Memorials to: St. Mary Church, 42 Spring St, Windsor Locks, CT 06096 or online at www.windsorlocksfuneralhome.com.

Jan. 10, 2009 - Lowell W. Hooper, the owner of Hooper Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inverness, Fla., died on Jan. 10, 2009, at the age of 78. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Blackburn Hooper; his daughter, Diane Hooper Deariso; his son, Dwight Lowell Hooper (member); and four grandchildren. Memorials to: the First Baptist Church of Inverness Organ Fund, 550 Pleasant Grove Rd., Inverness, FL 34452, or to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, 12502 N. Pine Dr., Tampa, FL 33612-9499. The family may be contacted by writing to Mrs. Ruth B. Hooper, c/o Hooper Funeral Homes, 501 W. Main St., Inverness, FL 34450 or online at www.HooperFuneralHome.com.

Oct. 25, 2008 - Clarence Boyd (Sonny) Baugher, the father of OGR member S.M. (Scott) Baugher, manager of Kyger Funeral Homes, Elkton and Harrisonburg, Va., died on July 8, 2008, at the age of 80. Memorials to: Elkton Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 152, Elkton, VA 22827. The family may be contacted at the Kyger Funeral Home, 3173 Spotswood Trail, Harrisonburg, VA 22801, or at (540) 434-1359.

Oct. 14, 2008 - Dorothy M. Vollmerhausen, mother-in-law of OGR member J.D. Slack, Slack Funeral Home, Ellicott City, Md., died on Oct. 11, 2008, at the age of 80. Mrs. Vollmerhausen is survived by her daughters, Patti Lindh-Slack, Meredith Howard and Jeannie Vogel; her son, Mike Vinzant; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her friend, Graham Vinzant. Memorials to: the Dove Hospice House, 292 Stoner Ave., Westminster, MD 21157. A complete notice, online condolences and memorial information: www.slackfuneralhome.com. The family may be contacted at P.O. Box 267, Ellicott City, MD 21041, or slackfh@aol.com.

How to Notify OGR About a Death

Please notify OGR as soon as possible about the death of a member or the member's loved one so that OGR can inform the membership. Notices are posted on the web site for one year and are publ;ished in The Independent.

Click here to download a Notification of Death form. Information also may be faxed to: (512) 334-5514.

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