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January - March 2006
January 6, 2006 - Grand
Island Dispatch
Julia Margaret
Hulbert
Julia Margaret Hulbert quietly passed away at her home
in Fort Myers, Fla., on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2005.
Hulbert was born in Tonawanda. She was a former employee
at Bell Aircraft in Niagara Falls, where she met her husband, John Keightley
Hulbert.
After living in Ohio and Grand Island, the couple moved
to Highland Michigan. After John’s passing in 1988, Julia moved to Florida.
She will be sadly missed by her family and friends.
Hulbert has been cremated. There will be a memorial
service in Shipshewanna, Ind., in April. In her memory, donations can
be directed to your local Humane Society.
January
13, 2006 - Grand Island Dispatch
Arthur C. Ellsworth
Arthur C. Ellsworth, a resident of Grand Island, passed
away on Jan. 7, 2006.
He was a retired teacher in the Ken-Ton School System
and was a member of the Grand Island Fire Co. and the Eggertsville-Grand
Island Masonic Lodge 1138 F&AM.
Ellsworth was husband to the late Lauraine P. (Miller)
Ellsworth; father to Laura (Dr. Alfred) DiStefano of Fort Worth, Texas,
Nancy (late George) Perkovich, Vicki (Dale) Yoder of Grand Prarie, Texas,
Craig Ellsworth of Grand Prairie and Scott Ellsworth; and brother to
Marg (Peter) Burns of Ottawa, Howie (Marg) Ellsworth of Vancouver and
Fred (Kathy) Ellsworth of Toronto.
He is survived by nine grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his grandson Matthew DiStefano.
Visitation was held at the Kaiser Funeral Home, 1950 Whitehaven
Road. Funeral services will be held there today at 11 a.m.
Memorials may be made to the Grand Island Fire Co.
Jean D. Lansberry
Jean D. Lansberry, a 50-year resident of Grand Island,
passed away on Jan. 11, 2006.
Lansberry was born in Carthas, Pa., and formerly worked
at Acme Markets on Grand Island.
She was wife to Harold O. Lansberry; mother to Pamelia
(Benedict) Moraca and Brad (Catherine) Lansberry, both of Grand Island;
grandmother to Jennifer (Christopher) Newby, Bradley J. Lansberry and
Brandon Moraca; sister to Bernard (Ellie) Koval and the late Hester
Gropper, Andrew, Leonard and Jerry Koval. She was predeceased by her
son Barry Lansberry.
Visitation will be held today, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9
p.m., at Kaiser Funeral Home, 1950 Whitehaven Road. A Mass of Christian
Burial will be celebrated tomorrow at 10 a.m., inside St. Stephen’s
Church, 2100 Baseline Road. Interment will be in Whitehaven Cemetery.
Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials may be made
to the American Cancer Society.
Robert J. MacKenzie
Robert J. MacKenzie, 78, passed away on Jan. 5, 2006.
Born in Barre, Vt., on Oct. 18, 1927, to Alexander MacKenzie
and Bessie Griffin, Robert married Sylvia Blanchet and raised a family
of his own.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years; his daughters,
Jacqueline (Theodore) Hahin of West Seneca and Alison (John) Weisbeck
of Penfield; his son, Timothy A. MacKenzie of Buffalo; his grandchildren,
MacKenzie and Kirsten Weisbeck and Megan Hahin; his sister, Catherine
Perreault of Barre; many relatives – including nieces and nephews –
and dear friends. His sister, Eunice MacKenzie, predeceased him.
All are invited to attend a Memorial Mass for MacKenzie
tomorrow at 11 a.m., in St. Jerome’s Church in East Rochester. There
will be no prior calling hours. The family will hold a private burial
service in Vermont at a later date.
In accordance with MacKenzie’s wishes, contributions may
be made to the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, 601 Elmwood Ave., P.O.
Box 704, Rochester, N.Y., 14624 or to St. Jerome’s Church, 207 S. Garfield
St., East Rochester, N.Y., 14445.
Arrangements by Marloff Funeral Home.
January 20, 2006 -
Grand Island Dispatch
Shirley G. Schultz
Shirley G. (Rohde) Schultz, 83, a longtime Grand Island
resident, passed away at home on Jan. 14, 2006, after a long illness.
Schultz was born in Buffalo. She grew up in Riverside,
and graduated from its high school. She worked in a business office
for a short time before she met and married Paul F. Schultz.
Active in the Grand Island school system, she was the
Parent Teacher Association’s first president and a lifetime member.
She was also an active member of the Women’s Republican Club and Grand
Island Republican Party.
Schultz was a member of the National Campers and Hikers
Association, the Bridgehoppers and the Niagara-Genesee Air Stream Group.
She worked as a business manager for Schultz Appliance Service and owned
and operated White Oak Farm with her family.
At the farm, she raised, trained and showed Arabian horses.
She scored three national top 10 titles and numerous regional championships,
reserves and top five finishes.
Shirley was the wife of the late Paul F. Schultz. She
was mother to Sally I. Brandon of Clinton, Tenn., Suzanne P. MacKay
of Amsterdam, N.Y., William E. Schultz, Paul F. Schultz II, Rebecca
J. Everett and Mary Beth Smith, all of Grand Island. She is survived
by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Her family was one of the founding Grand Island families.
Visitation was held at the Kaiser Funeral Home on Tuesday.
Funeral services were held Wednesday at the Bible Fellowship Center.
Interment in Trinity Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Bible Fellowship Center, 1136
Baseline Road, Grand Island, 14072.
January 21, 2006 -
Lewiston Porter Sentinel
Justin
R. Ormsby Sr.
Funeral services will be held yesterday in El Paso, Texas,
for Justin R. Ormsby Sr., 90, a Niagara Falls native and retired U.S.
Army officer who died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2006, in Fort Worth, Texas,
after a lengthy illness. A longtime resident of El Paso, Texas, he moved
to Fort Worth in 2003 to be closer to family members.
The son of the late John and Johanna Ormsby of Niagara
Falls, Ormsby was first stationed with the Army in El Paso in 1941.
After several tours of duty around the world, he returned to El Paso
in 1957, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1961. His last assignment
was as division chief of the H.A.W.K. missile battalion at Fort Bliss.
Ormsby subsequently worked at Fort Bliss as a civil-service
employee, retiring a second time after 25 years of service with the
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.
Active for many years in El Paso community organizations,
he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, rising to the rank of 4th
Degree Knight and district deputy for West Texas. He was also chairman
of the board of Our Lady’sYouth Center, chairman of the Yucca Council
of the Boy Scouts of America, chairman of the board of Loretto Academy,
chair of the Northeast El Paso Democrats, a member of the Rotary Club,
president of the El Paso Ballet Association, and a parishioner of Queen
of Peace Catholic Church.
Predeceased by his wife, Rita Agnes Ormsby, he is survived
by three children, Dr. Agnes (Gary) Crawford of Washington, D.C.; Madonna
(David) Hart of Columbus, Ga.; and Justin R. (Arlene) Ormsby Jr. of
Fort Worth, Texas; four grandchildren, Sarah, Theresa, and Laura Hart
of Columbus, Ga., and Amanda Ormsby of Fort Worth, Texas; a brother,
Louis J. Ormsby of Lewiston; and several nieces and nephews in the Niagara
Falls area and elsewhere. He was also predeceased by a sister, Rose,
and four brothers, Msgr. J. Stanly Ormsby, I. Murray Ormsby, Msgr. Basil
A. Ormsby and Linus L. Ormsby Sr.
A funeral Mass was celebrated at Queen of Peace
Church in El Paso. Burial will be in Fort Bliss National Cemetery with
full military honors. Funeral arrangements are being made by the Martin
Funeral Home, 128 N. Resler Dr., El Paso, Texas 79912. In lieu of flowers,
contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 909 E. San
Antonio, El Paso, Texas 79901.
January 27, 2006
- Grand Island Dispatch
Louise Truitt
Louise Truitt, a resident of Grand Island, passed away
on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2006.
Louise was wife to Charles W. Truitt; mother to Charles
W. Truitt Jr., Regina Truitt and Donald (Sue) Truitt. She is survived
by six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m., inside
Trinity United Methodist Church, 2100 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island.
Arrangements by the Kaiser Funeral Home.
Polly (Stainbrook) Spivey
Polly (Stainbrook) Spivey, a resident of Grand Island
for 42 years, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006.
Spivey was executive secretary for Johnson Tool and Precision
Company in Tonawanda. She served on the pastor-parish relations board
at Trinity Church and was the wedding coordinator there for many years.
Spivey was a renowned writer of poems and passages. She
was a member of the International Society of Poets and a 1996 award
recipient.
Polly was wife to the late John C. Spivey; mother to Judith
(Robert) Schaefer of Ocala, Fla., and Timothy Spivey of Orlando, Fla.;
sister to Carol (John) Welch of East Aurora and the late Irving (Violet)
Rudolph; grandmother to Gale (Ann) Raymond of Gray, Maine, David (Penny)
Schaefer of Lakewood, Wash., and Barbra (Adrian) Ruddle of Spring Valley,
Ohio; great-grandmother to Jennifer and Kate Raymond, Robert, William
and Chris Schaefer and John and Dan O’Grady; and great-great-grandmother
to two children.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25,
at 11 a.m., inside Trinity United Methodist Church, 2100 Whitehaven
Road, Grand Island.
Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials may be made
to Trinity Church.
Arrangements by the Kaiser Funeral Home.
Roy Hawkes
Roy Hawkes, 91, of Holly Hill Fla., passed away on Wednesday,
Jan. 18, 2006.
Hawkes was born in Buffalo. He worked for and retired
as director of purchases for the Harper Electric Furnace Company in
Buffalo. He was a member of the Lions Club, the Purchasing Association
of Western New York, the Masonic Lodge of Niagara Falls and the Western
New York Republican Party.
Roy is survived by his daughter, Karen Kirk of Rhinebeck;
his sons, Doug Hawkes of Flagler Beach, Fla., and Craig Hawkes of Petersburg,
Va.; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Lankford Funeral Home, DeLand, Fla.
Dennis F. Wilk
Dennis F. Wilk, 53, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 19,
2006, after a six-week battle with cholangeocarcinoma.
Wilk was born in Buffalo on Oct. 6, 1952. He graduated
from Kenmore West, Erie Community College North and the University at
Buffalo. At UB, he earned the Wall Street Journal Student Achievement
Award.
Most recently, he worked for Ronco Communications as the
executive vice president of sales and marketing. He also worked for
Siemens Energy and Automation for 18 years as a strategic account manager.
In that role, he frequently traveled to Toronto, Germany and Atlanta.
Wilk also worked for The Wurlitzer Company out of Chicago.
He was a field engineer until the company closed its manufacturing and
operations.
His hobbies included classic car restoration and playing
electric guitar. He and many of his dear friends performed in various
garage bands from the time they were teen-agers.
He will be remembered by his family and friends as a man
who always stood up for his principles.
Dennis is survived by his wife, Julie Anne Wilk; his three
sons, Michael, Stephen and Adam; and his two brothers, James and David,
both of San Diego.
Visitation will be held today, Jan. 27, from 3 to 6 p.m.,
at the Kaiser Funeral Home, 1950 Whitehaven Road. A memorial Mass will
be celebrated tomorrow at 10 a.m., in St. Stephen’s Church, 2100 Baseline
Road. Interment will be in Whitehaven Cemetery. Arrangements are being
prepared by Kaiser Funeral Home.
If desired, memorial donations may be made to Roswell
Park Alliance Foundation, P.O. Box 631, Buffalo, N.Y., 14240-0631.
February 3, 2006
- Grand Island Dispatch
Edward J. Lang
Edward J. Lang, 89, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006,
after a two-year battle with malignant mesothelioma.
Lang was born on April 12, 1916, in Buffalo, and was a
resident of Grand Island since 1947.
He graduated from Canisius College with a bachelor of
science degree in 1938 and a master of science degree in 1940. Lang
was a civilian employee for the U.S. Air Force, where he taught crew
chiefs and engineering officials at Yale University from 1942-43.
In 1946, he joined Niagara Alkaline as a research chemist.
When Hooker Chemical purchased the company, he was assigned to the Durez
Resins Department. Lang was awarded “Project of the Month Winner” in
October 1975, and received multiple division manager awards in following
years.
An avid outdoorsmen, Lang took great pride operating his
tractors and chain saws on his 42-acre property – where he personally
built his house in 1960.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ilona H. Lang.
He was father to Catherine A. (James E.) Driscoll of Grand Island and
the late Ilona B. O’Connor and Theresa E. Lang; grandfather to Donald
P. O’Connor of Buffalo and Timothy Sean O’Connor of Pocono Park, Pa.;
great-grandfather to three children; brother to the late Robert A. Lang;
and son to the late John and Teresa Lang.
Visitation was held this week at the Kaiser Funeral Home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated today at 10 a.m., at St.
Stephen’s Church, 2100 Baseline Road. Interment will be in Grand Island’s
Assumption Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Buffalo, 225 Como Park
Blvd., P.O. Box 590, Buffalo, N.Y., 14240.
February 10, 2006 -
Grand Island Dispatch
Phyllis
‘Max’ Schmidt
Phyllis “Max” Schmidt, a 50-year resident of Grand Island,
passed away on Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, in Our Lady of Peace Nursing Care
Residence, in Lewiston.
Schmidt was an avid bowler and played volleyball and softball
with the Grand Island Recreation Department for many years. She also
enjoyed golfing and swimming.
Phyllis was sister to Audrey (the late Dr. Glenn) Downey
of Fort Myers, Fla., and the late Ronald and Marge Schmidt; she was
aunt to Bonnie (Gerald) Rowe Peete of Grand Island, Vicki (Al) Tuttle
of Rochester and many other nieces and nephews.
Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials may be made
to St. Timothy Lutheran Church, where memorial services will be held
Saturday, Feb. 18, at 11 a.m. Interment in White Chapel Memorial Park,
Amherst.
Arrangements by Kaiser Funeral Home.
Norma M. Somer
Norma M. Somer, a descendent of an early Chautauqua County
settler, and a former resident of Grand Island and Lake Worth, Fla.,
passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006.
Somer was an avid republican who was active in Grand Island
politics. She was a Grand Island Republican Committeewoman for many
years – as well as past president – and had served as an alternate Delegate
to the Republican National Convention.
Norma was wife to the late Michael N. Somer; mother to
Christine M. Weaver, Michael N. Somer and the late Suzanne S. Dawson;
and she was grandmother to Jennifer and Michael Weaver and Nicholas
and Matthew Dawson. She was predeceased by three sisters and one brother.
Friends may call Friday, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.,
at the Kaiser Funeral Home, 1950 Whitehaven Road. Funeral services will
be held Saturday at 10 a.m., in St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church, 2587
Baseline Road. Interment will be in Whitehaven Cemetery.
Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials may be made
to St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church.
February 17, 2006
- Grand Island Dispatch
Kathryn ‘Betty’ O’Dea-Carr
Kathryn “Betty” O’Dea-Carr of Englewood, Fla., formerly
of Grand Island, died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006, at the age of 85. She was
born Feb. 14, 1920, in Buffalo.
She and her husband, the late Edward D. O’Dea, lived on
the Island for more than 37 years. She not only made a home for her
husband and children, but also was an active member of St. Stephen’s
parish and the larger community.
Many will remember her as a Catechism teacher, Cub Scout
den mother, Girl Scout leader, china painter, crafter, ceramist, hostess
and as an avid worker wherever she was needed.
She will be greatly missed by her children by birth and
marriage: Martin O’Dea of Phoenix, Ariz., James and Christine O’Dea
of Grand Island and Rotunda West, Fla., Michael and Carol O’Dea of Carmel,
Ind., Patrick O’Dea of Englewood Fla., Mary Jo (O’Dea) and Pete Beyer
of Englewood, Fla., and Kathy (O’Dea) and Kurt Donath of LaFayette,
N.Y. Marrying former Grand Island resident Dr. Francis Carr at the age
of 77, she added Carol (Carr) Fox and Tom Fox of Hickory, N.C., and
Debra (Carr) Rice and Chuck Rice of Grand Island to her family.
Her 23 grandchildren and six step-grandchildren will remember
her with great love and affection as “a gutsy lady who knew how to serve
others and have fun,” her family said. Living to know 12 great-grand
children and one great-great grand child pleased her to no end.
O’Dea-Carr resided in Englewood and Venice, Fla., for
the past 25 years; all who knew her were impressed by her love and generous
spirit. Funeral services were held in Englewood on Feb. 11. Burial will
be held at St. Stephen’s Church on July 1, with a memorial service to
follow.
Memorial donations may be made to American Heart
Association, P.O. Box 21475, St. Petersburg, FL 33742.
February 24, 2006 -
Grand Island Dispatch
J. Robert Fisher Sr.
J. Robert Fisher Sr. of Southside Beach, S.C., passed
away on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006, in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Born Nov. 29, 1940,
in Uniontown, Pa., Fisher was the son of the late Elmer and Isabella
Harshman Fisher.
He owned St. Angelo’s IV in Surfside Beach for the past
23 years.
Fisher is survived by his wife, Sandra; his son, Timothy
(Stephanie) Fisher of Conway, S.C.; a daughter, Denise (Chip) Ivey of
Texas; grandchildren Aaron, Kristin, Brandon and T.J.; a brother, James
Fisher of Pennsylvania; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased
by his son, Robert Fisher Jr., his brother, Elmer Fisher Jr. and his
sister, Mary Palazzo.
Memorial services were held at Goldfinch Funeral Home,
Murrells Inlet, S.C. A “Celebration of Life” was held at St. Angelo’s.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Memorial Center,
PO Box 5216, Glen Allen, Va., 23058-5216.
March 3, 2006 - Grand
Island Dispatch
Constance (Manuse) Teresi
Constance “Connie” Teresi, a Town of Tonawanda resident,
passed away on Friday, Feb. 17, 2006, from pancreatic cancer in the
Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, in Cheektowaga. Born Constance
Manuse in Niagara Falls on Aug. 8, 1952, she attended Grand Island schools
and graduated from Madonna High School in Niagara Falls. She also attended
Niagara County Community College for two years.
Teresi worked in human resources for Cannon Design on
Grand Island for 16 years before becoming a traffic coordinator at Sihi
Pumps – also on Grand Island – where she worked for the past 10 years.
She was a member of the Nickel City Roadrunners, a former
officer, and a longtime member of the Buffalo Erie Marathon Association.
She also helped organize the annual Buffalo Marathon. Teresi was an
active volunteer for many other organizations; she enjoyed watercolor
painting and participated in many craft shows. She had a special love
for traveling throughout Europe, the United States and the Caribbean.
In addition to the many wonderful qualities she possessed
– such as kindness, grace and poise – she had an unforgettable smile
and touched many lives. Many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews
and treasured friends will forever miss her.
Survivors include her husband, Salvatore J. Teresi; two
daughters, Kimberly M. Dunn of Lockport and Rachelle Teresi of the Town
of Tonawanda; a son, Salvatore J. Teresi Jr. of South Buffalo; her mother,
Anne M. (Giambattista) Manuse of Grand Island; her two sisters, Joanne
M. Cinti of East Amherst and Marilyn J. Claydon of Bloomington, Ill.;
and four much-loved grandchildren. Her twin sister, Virginia Anne “Ginnie”
Manuse, and her father, Joseph J. Manuse, predeceased Connie.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered on Tuesday,
Feb. 21, 2006, with the Rev. Patrick Keleher of the UB Newman Center
officiating at St. Stephen’s Church on Grand Island. Burial was in St.
Stephen’s Church Cemetery.
March 10, 2006 -
Grand Island Dispatch
Pfc. Benjamin C. Schuster
Pfc. Benjamin C. Schuster, 21, of Grand Island, was killed
Saturday, Feb. 25, 2006, while serving with Company C, 876th Engineers
B, 2nd Marine Division, AR - Ramadie, Iraq.
He was born on Nov. 8, 1984, in Hudson, the son of Phyllis
Schuster of Williamsville and Rick Davis of Grand Island. He moved to
Amherst as a child, where he attended local schools and later moved
to Grand Island, where he attended Grand Island High School.
He was employed as a cable technician for White Mountain
Cable in Buffalo prior to leaving for Iraq.
Surviving are his parents, Rickie and Fran Davis of Grand
Island; his mother, Phyllis of Williamsville; three brothers, Andrew
Davis of Williamsville, and Nathan Kampas and Alex Kampas, both of North
Carolina; three sisters, Chelsea Simanovich of North Carolina, Krista
Ziegler of Sanborn and Elaine Laskowski of the Town of Tonawanda; his
grandmother, Mary Leggio of Buffalo; and his grandfather, Michael Amatuzio
of Wheatfield. The fallen solider also came from a military family.
Two of his grandfathers served in the Marines, and his father is a Navy
veteran who served from 1977-81 aboard the destroyer USS William C.
Lawe (DD-763) based out of New Orleans and the fast frigate USS Connole
in Newport, RI.
Should friends desire to make a memorial contribution,
such a gift may be made to Jammie’s for GI’s, care of Cheryl Lepsch,
founder, at 65 Harriett St., Tonawanda, NY 14150.
Visit www.rhoneyfuneralhome.com
for guest register.
(included photo)
Charles R. Cole
Charles R. Cole, 74, of Tonawanda, passed away suddenly
on Wednesday, March 1, 2006. He was in North Carolina with family and
friends at his bedside at the time.
Cole was born on July 15, 1931. He was a resident of Grand
Island and an employee of Trinity United Methodist Church. Prior to
serving the church, he worked 43 years at Spaulding Fiber.
A devoted family man and friend, Cole served his country
during the Korean War.
Charles is survived by his wife of 53 years, Anita Cole;
his children, sons David (Adele) Cole of Grand Island and Daniel (Georgia)
Cole of Smithfield, N.C.; daughters Cindy (Steven) Gardell of Boston
and Linda (Phillip) Jerzak of Raleigh, N.C.; his grandchildren Michael,
Deanna and David Cole, Elizabeth and Eric Gardell, Christopher and Katelyn
Jerzak, Emily, Chandler and Elana Cole; and his sister, Bernice Cole
of Tonawanda.
Visitation was held this week at the Kaiser Funeral Home.
Funeral services where held Wednesday at Trinity United Methodist Church.
Interment in Trinity Church Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Leukemia Society of
Western New York or to Trinity Church.
(included photo)
March
24, 2006 - Grand Island Dispatch
Jane Louise (Seyfarth) Elias
Jane Louise (Seyfarth) Elias, a Grand Island resident
and a former newspaper layout artist at Niagara Frontier Publications,
passed away on March 17, 2006.
Jane was wife to the late William R. Elias; mother to
W. Richard (Kathryn) Elias of Medina, Ohio, and Leslie E. (Michael)
Madigan of Grand Island; and grandmother to Kristen M. Elias, William
K. and M. Matthew Madigan.
Private services were held at the convenience of the family.
Interment will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo.
Arrangements by Kaiser Funeral Home.
“Les bon temps rouler.”
Ruth Evelyn (Slacer) Muck
Ruth Evelyn (Slacer) Muck, a resident of Grand Island
for more than 50 years, passed away on March 17, 2006.
Originally a Lockport teacher in a one-room schoolhouse,
Muck received her doctor of education degree from the University at
Buffalo and was a professor of elementary education at Buffalo State
College.
She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and Trinity United
Methodist Church – where she was very active. She was the founder of
its “Cum On In” children’s clothing exchange.
Ruth is survived by her husband of 77 years, Gordon E.
Muck, and her daughter, Linda (Muck) McGuire of Grand Island. She was
sister to Jean (Thomas) Cunningham and the late Robert and Phillip Slacer
and Edith Pentz. She was the special aunt of Roberta (Michael) Cap,
Thomas (Beth) Cunningham Jr. and to other nieces and nephews. Her parents,
the late Robert and Hatti Slacer, predeceased her.
Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials may be made
to Trinity Church, 2100 Whitehaven Road, where memorial services were
held this week.
Interment will be in Trinity Church Cemetery. Arrangements
by Kaiser Funeral Home.
March
31, 2006 - Grand Island Dispatch
Ralph B.
Barker
Ralph B. Barker, 93, of Grand Island, passed away
on Thursday, March 23, 2006.
The son of the late Joshua and Grace (Kennedy) Barker,
Ralph attended Niagara Falls-area schools, and was president of the
graduating class of 1931 at Trott Vocational. He went on to work at
the former Steele Electric, beginning as an apprentice electrician in
1934 and working his way up to foreman of the electric motor repair
shop in 1942.
In 1949, he founded Barker Electric Motor Service at
1719 Pierce Ave., Niagara Falls. He was president of the company until
he retired in 1977, and was instrumental in the company's expansion
and move to its present Packard Road location.
Barker was also a partner in the Niagara Falls Realty Corporation; active
in the Niagara Falls Kiwanis Club, the LaSalle Yacht Club, the Niagara
River Lodge Masons and Hyde Park Presbyterian Boy Scouts; a lifetime
member and past commodore of the B&T Power Boat Association; a lifetime
member of the Niagara Frontier Boat Racing Association; and a charter
member of the Niagara Chapter of Electrical Apparatus Service Association.
As an active powerboat racer for more than 40 years, he was the leader
behind the Tor-Gre Racing Team from 1954-1981. The team won many local
and national events, including the E-Racing runabout Eastern and National
championships, and the Canadian competition. It set kilo records in
the 145 hydroplane class.
With his boat, "Honey Bun," Barker and crew won the Quebec
Championship (2.5 liter hydroplane class) in 1993, and the Canadian
High Point Championship in 1996. In 1999, Barker was inducted into the
Canadian Boating Hall of Fame.
In addition to building race boats throughout his racing career, Barker
also restored antique cars and Chris-Craft runabouts.
Ralph is survived by his sons, Torby W. (Karen) Barker
of Tonawanda and Gregory R. (Liz) Barker of Grand Island; his grandchildren,
Eric, Craig, Kelly and Anne "Honey Bun" Barker; and several
great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother Ivan (Sue) Barker;
and his sisters, Edith (Arthur) Robson and Margaret (Joseph) Hughes.
Visitation was held last week at the Kaiser Funeral Home.
Interment in Riverdale Cemetery, Lewiston.
Memorials may be made to the Niagara Frontier Boat Racing
Association, 76 Grove St., Tonawanda, NY 14150.
Ronald N. Spong
Ronald N. Spong, 72, of Grand Island, passed away
on Friday, March 24, 2006.
Spong worked at Shanor Electric in Buffalo in the early
'60s and returned there in 1986. He was a sales manager before semi-retiring.
He also worked as a deputy sheriff in the El Paso County
Sheriffs Department, Colorado Springs, Colo., before retiring from there
in 1986. While serving the public, Spong worked as training officer
and developed several community programs.
He was very active in the Grand Island Moose Lodge, No.
180, and served as an officer until a recent illness.
Ronald was husband to Marie Spong; father to April (Ron)
Wyatt of Sterling, Va., Perry (Kathy) Schultz of Wheatfield, Scott (Deanna)
Schultz of North Tonawanda, Chuck (Kim) Spong of Colorado Springs, Rob
(Debby) Spong of Desert Hot Springs, Calif., Debbie (David) Mayfield
of Highlands Ranch, Colo., and Shellie Spong of Casper, Wyo. He was
stepfather to Michael (Sheryl) Deneke of North Tonawanda; grandfather
to 15; great-grandfather to six; brother to James (Jean) Spong of Clarence,
Brooks (Linda) Spong of West Seneca and Gary (Chris) Spong of Getzville.
He was the son of Ethel Spong and the late Harold Spong.
Funeral services were held earlier this week at the Kaiser
Funeral Home. Interment in Union Cemetery, in Elma.
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