OBITUARIES

Cora Weaver
Cora Lillian Weaver of Xenia died Monday morning, March 17, at her residence. She was 79.
She was born Nov. 14, 1923, in Grayson, Ky., the daughter of Elijah Samuel Barker and Elizabeth Lewis Barker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Byron W. Stephens, on July 13, 1980; a son, Garry L. Stephens; three grandchildren; a sister, Eva Newell; and a brother, John Barker.
She is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, Anderson and Sherry Stephens of Winchester, Henry and Loretta Stephens of Xenia, Wendell and Gina Stephens of Texas, Herschel and Marty Stephens of Nevada; two daughters and a son-in-law, Viola Keeton of Xenia, and Dorothy and John Farnham of Madison, Wis.; 23 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; five sisters, Gladys Marie Moore of Xenia, Mazie Nipper of Yellow Springs, Lena Stapleton of St. Paris, Mary L. Ramby of St. Paris and Ethel Gillum of Indiana; a daughter-in-law, Billie Stephens of Xenia; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held tomorrow (Friday), 10:30 a.m., at the Neeld Funeral Home, 1276 North Detroit Street in Xenia. Visitation will be held today (Thursday), 6–8 p.m. Burial will be in Glen Forest Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Clinton County, 61 East Main Street, Wilmington, Ohio 45177.

J. Robert Oster
J. Robert Oster of Springfield died on Wednesday, March 12, in Mercy Medical Center. He was 79.
Born in Yellow Springs on April 21, 1923, he was the son of Kenneth and Anna (Haas) Oster.
He graduated in 1941 from Catholic Central High School. He served in the U.S. Air Force in World War II.
He retired from Delco Moraine after 35 years of service. He was a devoted member of St. Teresa Catholic Church. He was also an avid cyclist for over 23 years and biked over 177,054 miles.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha, in 2001, his grandson Michael and a brother, Kenneth.
He is survived by his five children and their spouses, David and Donna Marie Oster, Pittsburgh, Gretchen and Doug Humphrey, Westerville, Marian and Mick Riordan, Bethesda, Md., Sharon and Bill Roggenkamp, Georgetown, Ky., and Janice and Richard Spohn, Westerville; eight grandchildren, Patrick, David, Amy, Mark, Madeleine, Karl, Natalie and Sofia; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Maryann Mahoney of Springfield and Gretchen and Bill Walsh of Caldwell, Idaho, and several nieces and nephews.
A mass of Christian burial was held on Monday, March 17, in St. Teresa Church, with burial in St. Bernard Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Bike Trails Program, c/o National Trail Parks & Recreation District, or the Vision Center of Central Ohio.

Gerville ‘Tess’ Mericle
Gerville “Tess” Mericle of Carlsbad, N.M., died at home on Saturday, March 15. She was 81.
She was born on Jan. 10, 1922, in Sullivan, Ind, the daughter of Clyde and Era Ruth.
She was a longtime resident of Fairborn and left many friends in Fairborn and Carlsbad.
She retired after 27 years from the Chrysler Corporation of Dayton, where she worked as an expediter.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Lindley Ruth; and her aunt, Lula Morgan.
She is survived by her husband of 33 years, Jerry Mericle; two daughters and sons-in-law, Anita and Carl Bryant of Xenia and Pam and Melvin Shearer of Yellow Springs; four grandchildren and their spouses, Ron and Donna Bryant, Pamela and Jason Meeks, Mike and Tammy Shearer and Jodi and Alan Koogler; and six great-grandchildren, Madison, Shelby and Griffin Bryant, Michayla Chapman, Dalan Koogler and Aidan Shearer.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lakeview Christian Hospice Care, 1300 North Canal Street, Carlsbad, N.M., 88220.