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May 17, 2007
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May 17, 2007 |
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OBITUARIES
Marjory Stewart Russell Marj was a drill sergeant, Marjory (Marj) Stewart Russell died Wednesday, May 9, at Friends Care Center where she had been living since Sept. 16, 2005. She was 86. She was born in Johnstown, Pa., June 26, 1920, and grew up there, where her father was an engineer for U.S. Steel, and her mother was a Latin teacher. She learned to play piano and clarinet while growing up there, and continued while at Oberlin College, where she graduated in 1942. She then went to New York City and earned a masters degree in social work at Columbia University, in 1944. During her first job in Hartford, Conn., she contracted polio (non-paralytic) and recovered after many weeks at a sanitarium “where I had to lie on my back and stare at the ceiling all day and night!” This was known as the “Sister Kenny Method” of polio treatment. The experience was the basis of her lifelong determination to stay healthy by eating well and getting plenty of exercise. Her father died shortly after that, and her mother got a job at Mount Vernon College in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Marj got a job in Dayton so she would be within a day’s travel of her mother. While working as a social worker at the Community Chest in Dayton, she met Virginia Swackhammer, of Greenmont Village, Dayton, and Suzi Vernet, Yellow Springs, both of whom were social workers, and both of whom introduced her to Tony Russell. Marj and Tony were married May 1, 1949, by Mayor Kinzel. Almost immediately, she joined the League of Women Voters because she was so amazed that Yellow Springs had not yet ended the burning of the town’s garbage and felt it was time to establish a “sanitary landfill,” the current standard in other communities. At about the same time, a local child, Gerry Partee, drowned in the Little Miami River. Marj’s reaction to that tragedy was, “Children aren’t learning to swim in this town?” She had her Red Cross Swim Instructor’s certification, and discovered there was one other person, Marge Champney, who also had the certification. The two of them started the Yellow Springs community swim instruction program in 1951, which, in the early years, was held at Orton Pool, John Bryan State Park. So many families and children signed up for swim lessons that it was decided that the Village needed its own pool instead of having to lease time at Orton Pool and pay for school bus transportation. After an ambitious and successful fundraising campaign, the new pool was built on the site of the old dump, on Mr. Gaunt’s land, an irony Marj enjoyed. Many reunion attendees, over the years, have thanked her for her “drill sergeant” method of teaching them to swim. After the 1979 tornado in Xenia, Marj joined the staff of the Xenia Guidance Center and worked there until her retirement in 1982. Marj was active in the Yellow Springs Recorder Society, and the combined Antioch/Community Orchestra/ Chorus as well as the Community Band, singing alto and playing clarinet for the past 50 years. For many years she enjoyed yakking and sparring with her friends at the Emporium when picking up her daily New York Times. Her endless curiosity motivated her world travels; she especially enjoyed learning about Cuba by traveling there three times in the last few years. Her loyal support of her husband’s long and precedent-setting fight with the House Un-American Activities Committee, which was won in the U.S. Supreme Court (1962) was noted by many. Preceding her in death was her son, Peter Ibbotson Russell, in 1967, and her husband, Norton Anthony (Tony) Russell, in 1996. She is survived by her daughter, Lynn Russell Hickerson, of Bangor, Maine, and her grandson, Michael Hickerson, of Brooklyn, N.Y. Two funds have been established at the Yellow Springs Community Foundation: The Peter Russell Memorial Fund, and The Marj Russell “Learn to Swim” Scholarship Fund. Swim lessons have always been free, but as expenses to run the pool increase, the membership fees have gone up, and some families will need assistance to join the pool so their children can learn to swim. The Peter Russell fund will support efforts toward social justice and programs working to reduce drug addiction. A memorial gathering for family and friends was held Saturday, May 12.
Livia Check Baker Livia Check Baker, 89, of Xenia died peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday, May 7, at her residence at Elmcroft Assisted Living, following a courageous battle with lung disease. Born in central Pennsylvania, Livia spent most of her childhood in Burcharest, Romania, before returning with her family to Mount Union, Pa. Following graduation from high school, she married Michael Kanoff and resided in Harrisburg, Pa. The marriage ended in divorce, but the union produced her first daughter, -Marianne. Livia enlisted in World War II as a WAC and proudly served in the Pacific Theatre in the Philippines. Following the war, she met and married fellow Pennsylvanian John “Jay” Check. They moved to Cedarville, Ohio, where they both graduated from Cedarville College. The couple’s daughter, Mary Margaret (Margie), was born in 1948, the same year that Livia was crowned Homecoming Queen at the college. Soon daughters Theresa, Susan, Christina and Rita blessed the Check family. Livia taught English at several local schools, including Greenview, Cedarville and eventually retired after many years at Beavercreek High School. There she taught tenth grade English, scholarship English, and was the moderator of the National Honor Society. Livia was active in many sports throughout her life, including tennis, basketball and softball. She and Jay shared their mutual love of sports, cars and fun with their daughters and all those who came to know them. Following her beloved Jay’s death in 1981, Livia relocated to Clearwater, Fla., where she made her home for many years. She reunited with a pre-War “flame,” Bert Baker, whom she married in 1990, and who is now also deceased. Livia returned to Greene County five years ago in failing health and made many close friends at her new home at Elmcroft in Xenia. While living there she became the “Team Mom” to the Central State University Lady Marauders basketball team. In addition to her husbands, Livia was predeceased by her parents, two brothers, and one son-in-law, John Martin, late of Yellow Springs. She is survived by six daughters and their families: Marianne Loney of Harrisburg, Pa., Margie Check of Xenia, Theresa Check of Oakwood, Susan Honeyman and Robert Stewart of Xenia, Christy Martin of Yellow Springs, and Rita Check and husband Michael Neal of Yellow Springs; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren (and another on the way) and several other relatives. Mass of Christian burial was held on Friday, May 11, at 11 a.m., at St. Paul Catholic Church in Yellow Springs, followed by interment at North Cemetery in Cedarville. Livia’s family wishes to express its sincere gratitude and appreciation to the staff at Elmcroft of Xenia, and to the numerous friends and caregivers who showed Livia and her family such kindness and love during her stay with them. James W. Miller James W. “Pete” Miller of Springfield died Sunday, May 13, at Mercy Medical Center. He was 91. He was born in Springfield on Nov. 11, 1915, the son of James A. and Della (Hawk) Miller. Pete retired as a supervisor tool and die maker from YSI, Yellow Springs, after 20 years of service. He was instrumental in new product development which included space age technology. At the age of 80 he was honored by the Greater Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce at the Columbus College of Art and Design for designing the awards presented for the Lazarus “Innovators in Education TRY-IT Awards.’ Pete and Vera greatly enjoyed 34 years of retirement and traveled to Florida and Indian Lake. He loved playing cards and fishing, but his greatest enjoyment was found in fixing things and having his grandchildren and great grandchildren around him. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Robert James Miller; three sisters, Angie Russell, Gladys Davis and Betty Miller; three brothers, Tom, Forest and John Miller; and a daughter-in-law, Vicki Lynn Miller. He is survived by his wife, Vera L. (Dunn) Miller, with whom he celebrated 70 years of marriage on Jan. 25, 2007; two daughters and sons-in-law, Joan and Roger McMahan of Dublin, Ohio and Patricia Ann and Fred Fishbough of Springfield; a son, James T. Miller of Roswell, Ga.; two sisters, Norma Miller and Marjorie Holton, both of Springfield; 10 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and his special pets, Coco and Crickett. Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 17, 1 p.m., in the Littleton & Rue Funeral Home in Springfield. Entombment will be in Rose Hill Mausoleum. The family would like to express their appreciation to the nurses and staff of the Intensive Care Unit at Mercy Medical Center. Sarah Phillips Sarah Phillips died on Thursday, May 10, in Yellow Springs. She was 78. She was born Nov. 18, 1928 in Cumberland County, Va., to the Nash family. At an early age her family moved to Newark, N.J., where she attended the New Jersey public schools. In later years the family returned to Hampton/Newport News, Va. She retired from the Peninsula Association for Aging Newport News, Va. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman J. Phillips. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Gloria J. and John Pamplin and Cora E. and Tyrone Callis; one sister, Lucy Banks, New York City, five grandchildren, Monica Freeman, Kimya Singleton, Katina Callis, Tyrone Callis Jr., John Pamplin II, and four great grandchildren, Tyshaun Ashby, Xavier Singleton, Dashari Williams, and Dashawn Williams. Services were held on Saturday, May 12, at the Central Chapel AME Church in Yellow Springs with burial on Monday, May 14, at the Hampton Memorial Gardens in Hampton, Va.
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