August 11, 2005

OBITUARIES

Morton C. Sheets Jr.

Morton C. Sheets Jr. of Springfield died Saturday, Aug. 6, in Columbus. He was 51.

He was born Oct. 25, 1953, in Spring-field, the son of Donna Hutchinson of Springfield and the late Morton C. Sheets Sr. He was a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Mary L. Sheets; a daughter, Monica Faye Sheets of Springfield; siblings, Lynnette and William Hinton of Yellow Springs, Vanessa James, Valeria Elliot, both of Springfield, Chara A. Hutchinson of Columbus and Jeffrey Sheets of Springfield; three sisters-in-law and their husbands, Barbara and Marvin Cupps, Patty and Sam Rucker, all of Defiance, Marsha and Bill Moore of Westerville; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, Aug. 9, in Rose Hill Burial Park Mausoleum. Adkins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. The Sheets family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Adkins Funeral Home, 7055 Dayton Road, Enon 45323.

Amy Blickenderfer Acheson

Amelia “Amy” Edith Blickenderfer Acheson died of cancer on Saturday, July 30, at her home in Freeland, Wash. She was 59.

She was born on May 3, 1946, in Tacoma, Wash., the first child of Charles and Olive Blickenderfer. She attended primary and secondary school in Puyallup, Wash., and continued her education at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where she majored in astronomy.

She met her husband-to-be, Meldon Acheson, at Steward Observatory on the University of Arizona campus in the fall of 1964. A year later, they married. Amy and Mel lived in Yellow Springs from 1973 to 1983.

When she discovered that conventional astronomical teaching would not encompass her wider interests in unconventional theories, she shifted her ambition to child rearing. She was a pioneer in the resurgence of home birth and home education in Ohio in the 1970s and 1980s, training herself in lay midwifery and “unschooling” practices. In 1983, she and her family moved back to Washington, settling on Whidbey Island. She continued to explore child-led learning until her children left home to attend college.

In the final decade of her life, she returned to astronomy. She joined a worldwide network of pioneering scientists and scholars, and she helped to popularize the new science of plasma cosmology in conjunction with comparative mythology. She became managing editor of the online newsletter Thoth and the www.thunderbolts.info “Picture of the Day.”

She is survived by her husband, Meldon; a son and daughter-in-law, Alazel and Frances Acheson; two daughters and a son-in-law, Talitha, and Eleadari and Ray Ludwig; grandchildren, Çravixtha Acheson and Vasudeva Ludwig; foster daughter and son-in-law, Amie and Leland Love; siblings, Gail Pope, Jack and Ted Blickenderfer; and many colleagues, friends and exten- ded family.

A memorial celebration of Amy’s life will be held at Greenbank Farm (www.greenbankfarm.com), just north of Greenbank, Wash., on Sunday, Aug. 28, at noon. For more information, call 360-331-6188.

John David Hart

John David Hart of Springfield died unexpectedly on Saturday, Aug. 6, in Community Hospital. He was 51.

He was born July 26, 1954, in Springfield, the son of Joann (Smith) and Roger Hart. He was an Eagle Scout. He graduated from North High School in 1972, Oklahoma Farrier’s College in 1974 and Bowling Green State University in 1976.

John was employed by Jeff Wyler and Clark-Shawnee School District. He loved teaching his students. He also loved playing Santa Claus for hundreds of children each year. He was the president of Kindergarten Parents Club and the PTO at Possum School for several years. He coached soccer and baseball with his children.

He had several businesses during his lifetime, including John T. Bryant Co., Skalny Basket Company and Ye Olde Trail Tavern in Yellow Springs, Baker Ambulance Company, Wicker Outlet and Fogarty Florist.

He was an EMT and volunteer fireman with Harmony Township. John was previously president of the First Lutheran Church Council. He served on the YMCA board of trustees, the New Hope World Mission and Feast board, was the director of the Camp Evergreen and was a member of Springfield Sertoma Club.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Stella and John Hart, and Helyne and Harold Smith.

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl D. (Spurgeon) Hart; children, Sarah and Jonathan Jackson, Jonathan Hart and Rachel Hart, all of Springfield; his parents; sister, Catherine Christian; brothers-in-law, Charles Spurgeon, James Spurgeon, all of Springfield; several nieces and nephews and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and neighbors.

A memorial service was held Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the Littleton and Rue Funeral Home in Springfield. A private committal service will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hart Children Scholarship fund, c/o Security National Bank, 40 South Limestone, Street, Springfield 45502.

Warren M. Finch

Warren M. Finch died at home on Sunday, July 31. He was 67.

He was born on July 23, 1938, in Xenia, the son of John W. and Lelah M. (Wills) Finch. He graduated from East High School and began working at Adair’s Furniture in Xenia. He retired after working for 30 years from Vernay Laboratories in 1998.

He was preceded in death by his parents and grandson Torez Lavauge Finch.

He is survived by his loving wife, Betty “Boo”; daughters and a son-in-law, Regina, Deborah, Audrey “Sissy,” Jacqueline Finch, and Sue and Jerry Neal, all of Xenia; sons and daughters-in-law, Warren “Tuffy” and Tamara Finch, Darryl and Karen Wolaver of Xenia, and Dwayne Wolaver of Watauga, Texas; brother and sister-in-law John F. and Consuella Finch of Xenia; 18 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Services were held Thursday, Aug. 4, at the Middle Run Baptist Church, with interment following in Valley View Memorial Gardens.

Carolyn Leighly

Carolyn Sue Parrish Leighly of Xenia died suddenly. She was 59.

She was born in Dayton on July 24, 1946, the daughter of Eugene and Dovie Ellen Parrish. She was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother. She gave the gift of life by being an organ donor.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Eugene Jr. and Eddie Parrish; sisters, Ilene Kelly, and Margaret Payne; and a granddaughter, June Ellen Close.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl Leighly Adams and Billy; four grandchildren, Justin, Jessica, Jackie and Ryan; siblings, Charles and Pat Gabbard of Colorado, Virgil and Edna Gabbard of Florida, Mike and Darla Parrish of Xenia, Wanda Dye of Sabina, and Barbara and Jim Shattuck of Yellow Springs; her ex-husband Harry Leighly; several nieces, nephews and many friends.

A memorial service was held Sunday, Aug. 7, at Frontier Campground, 9580 Collett Road in Waynesville.

Marguerite Zurbuchen

Marguerite Emilie Cécile “Mama Zèze” Zurbuchen died peacefully with family members at her side on Friday, July 29, in Tucson, Ariz. She was 94.

She was born on March 15, 1911, in France. She was a strong, courageous woman, loving life and devoted to her family. Raised in Switzerland, she was a champion swimmer as a teenager, educated as a master gardener and worked as a governess in England in the early 1930s.

She married the late Louis E. Zurbuchen in Switzerland in 1936, and they moved to Dayton in 1950 with their four children. Marguerite and Lou traveled extensively. They moved to Green Valley, Ariz., in 1996. She was active in the West Carrollton Home Maker’s Club, Dayton YWCA International Club and Green Valley French Club.

She is survived by John and Fairl Zurbuchen of Yellow Springs, Charles Zurbuchen of Green Valley, Ariz., Eric Zurbuchen of Vero Beach, Fla., Chris Zurbuchen of Yellow Springs, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held Friday, Aug. 5, at Silver Springs in Green Valley, Ariz. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice.