OBITUARIES

Bertha Roberts

Bertha Lee Martin Roberts died Thursday, Jan. 8, at Friends Care. She was 89.

Bertha was born on March 11, 1920, in Indianapolis, Ind. to the late George Walter Martin and the late Blanche Lulu Martin Johnson. Bertha attended Indianapolis public schools and graduated from Crispus Attucks High School in 1937. She professed hope in Christ at the age of 12 and was baptized by Rev. George Baltimore at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Indianapolis.

Known to many as “Mom Bert” or “Aunt Bert,” Bertha was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, two brothers and her husband Walter Harvey Roberts (Papa Harvey).

Bertha’s children are Ted Roberts (Ann) of Yellow Springs and Sherrie Turner Maurer (Hugh) of Vt. From those unions there are six grandchildren: Veneda Gabourel, Lauree Martin, Eva Hocker, Jonathan Roberts, Amber Wylie and Adrian Roberts. In addition she leaves ten great-grandchildren, three nieces, three nephews and many grand nieces and nephews.

Bertha had been an active member of First Baptist Church since 1955. She worked as church clerk, Sunday school secretary and teacher of young adults. She organized and was the first chairman of the Ladies Circle, which later became the Pastors Aid. She was chairman of the 100th church anniversary program and was chairman of the calendar tea on several occasions. She was the first chairman of deaconess when that group was organized.

She started working for the U.S. government in 1940 at Ft. Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Ind. and later transferred to Wright Patterson AFB, retiring in 1972. She then became the coordinator of the Yellow Springs Motor Meals program, commonly called the “Yellow Springs Meals on Wheels.” Bertha and Harvey Roberts retired from Motor Meals 35 years later, having expanded the program county-wide. She was also a member of the Greene Joint Vocational Advisory Board.

In 1988, Bertha was named one of the “Top Ten Women of the Year” by the Dayton Daily News. She was also a past matron of the Ruth Chapter #104 Order of the Eastern Star, and was honored during a special feature entitled, “A Tribute to a Heroine Among Us” on July 28, 1994.

The funeral will be held at First Baptist Church in Yellow Springs on Friday, Jan. 15. Viewing will take place 10 a.m.–noon. Family will be present at 11 a.m., and services will begin at noon. Interment will be at Dayton National Cemetery with Rev. Vurn O. Mullins officiating.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her name to an Alzheimer’s organization of your choice, or through the family.

Jack Lawson

Jack R. Lawson of Springfield died Wednesday, Jan. 6, at the Springfield Regional Center. He was 57.

Jack was a former resident of Yellow Springs, where he lived with his long-time partner, Mollye Malone, until late 2006 when they moved to Springfield.

Jack was born on April 1, 1952 in Logan, W.Va., the son of Jack D. and Grace A. (Green) Lawson.

From 1969–71, Jack served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He was both a helicopter gunner and frontline machine gunner. Jack was awarded the National Defense Service medal, the Vietnam Service medal and star, the Vietnam Campaign medal and the Purple Heart.

For most of his life, Jack worked in the construction industry, specializing in the restoration of older and historical buildings. For the past five years, he was employed by S.A. Phillips Restoration, Inc. in Columbus.

Jack was loved by many family members and friends. He is survived by his parents, sister Dremea Myers of Springfield, niece JoVonna Myers of Virginia and his partner of 11 years, Mollye Malone of Springfield. He was the beloved “Uncle Jack” to Mollye’s nieces and nephews Matt and J.D. Larson of N.C., Joseph and Jacob Fugate of Yellow Springs and Jack and Jenna Malone of N.C. He is also survived by countless cousins, aunts and uncles, most especially Joe Walters of W.Va, who was more of a brother than a cousin.

Per Jack’s wishes, he will be laid to rest at a private family service. A memorial service in celebration of his life will be held in the spring. Details of this service will be provided in a future edition of the Yellow Springs News. Cards and letters are welcomed by Mollye and Jack’s family and may be sent to 1028 E. Jackson Road, Springfield, 45502. Mollye may be reached at 937-265-5622.

Eleanor Brown Rountree

Eleanor F. Brown Rountree of Springfield died Friday, Jan. 1, after a lengthy illness. She was 89.

Eleanor was born in Yellow Springs on April 21, 1920, the daughter of William Henry Hughes Sr. and Ella Cordell Phillips. Eleanor spent her entire childhood in Yellow Springs and graduated from Bryan High School in 1939. For most of her adult life she was employed in Greene County, retiring from the department of Human Services.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Paul Rountree, sister Juanita Temple, half-sister Fannie Sue Majors, brothers William “Buddy” Hughes, George “Baby” Hughes, Melvin Hughes, Lloyd Hughes and stepbrother, John Phillips. Survivors include a son, Richard (Virginia) Brown of Springfield, daughter Connie Brown Lee of Springfield, sister Eugenia Lawson Bautista of Oregon, half-sister Yvonne Hughes of Illinois, half-brother Charles Hughes of California, six grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Per Eleanor’s wishes, private services will be provided at Jackson Lytle Williams Funeral Home in Yellow Springs. Interment will be at Glen Forest Cemetery.

Brian Manny

A memorial service for Brian D. Manny will be held Saturday, Jan. 23, at 2 p.m. The service will take place at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Yellow Springs, located at 2884 U.S. Route 68 North.

Joseph Waddle

Joseph W. Waddle of Yellow Springs died Tuesday, Jan. 5. He was 94.

Joseph was born May 2, 1915, in Clark County. He was a retired school teacher with Wayne High School. Joseph was a member of the Cedarville Presbyterian Church, a graduate of Cedarville College and attended Ohio State. He belonged to American Legion Post #544 in Cedarville. Joseph was an avid sports fan and golfer who loved to travel, a Cedarville alumni supporter and a coach who took the Spring Valley basketball team to a state championship.

He is survived by Cletis, his wife of 69 years, sister Dorothy Jane Wheaton of Columbus, sister-in-law Louise J. Crawley of Yellow Springs, and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sisters Glenna Eidemiller and Martha Derby. No services will be observed. Memorial contributions may be made in Joseph’s memory to the National Alzheimer’s Association.

John Ferritto

John Ferritto died Thursday, Jan. 7. He was the conductor of the Springfield Symphony for 30 years. He and his wife, Marcia Ferritto, and their daughter, Annie Fullard, violinist of the Cavani Quartet, performed often in Yellow Springs and were important early contributors to Chamber Music Yellow Springs..

Funeral services were held Monday, Jan. 11, 10:30 a.m., at St. Mary Church in Hudson.