• 1920-1950
• 1951-1970
• 1971-1990
• 1991-1999

’51
John E. Black, Springfield, OH, died April 5, 1999. He served with the U.S. Air Force. President of Springfield Newspapers, Inc. for many years, he was a member of many civic organizations. Survivors include his mother, a brother and several nieces and nephews.

Lennart L. Kopra, Austin, TX, died Dec. 8, 1998. During World War II, he served as a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot and aircraft commander in Burma and China. He continued his service in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1972. At the time of his death, he was professor emeritus at the University of Texas at Austin, where he taught in the School of Communications until his retirement in 1985. He developed the audiology program in the department of speech and researched and wrote extensively on a variety of subjects in his field. Active in many professional organizations, he was elected Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and was awarded honors for his service with the Texas chapter. Surviving are his wife, Martha Witthoft Kopra, ’51, three sons, a daughter, two grandchildren and a sister.

Well-known artist, sculptor and illustrator, Paul C. Lehr, Orangeville, PA, died July 26, 1998. His paintings brought him to prominence as a major science fiction artist during the 1960s with his original covers for Robert Heinlein’s Starship Troopers and Stranger in a Strange Land. His sculptures and paintings have been exhibited at Bloomsburg University and the Smithsonian Institute. He served with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Surviving are his wife, two sons, two daughters and a brother.

Harold C. “Clay” Schultz, Cadillac, MI, died July 2, 1998. He was employed by Union 76 of California for 30 years. Following his retirement, he worked at Ace Hardware and Wal-Mart. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and had sung with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He is survived by his wife, a son, a daughter, 16 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and a sister.

’52
Victor G. Vely, West Chester, PA, has retired after 37 years as a research chemist with Scott Worldwide.

’54
Phillip M. Fox, Urbana, OH, died Feb. 12, 1999. He served with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and retired after 40 years of service as plant operations manager with the Champaign Telephone Co. A member of High Street Church of the Nazarene, he is survived by his wife, two daughters, a son, three step-children, two grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and a sister.

Formerly of Springfield, OH, John C. Kreis, died Feb. 11, 1999, in Cincinnati, OH. A 26-year employee of General Electric, he was a member of Faith Lutheran Church. His wife, a daughter and a brother, Kohler Kreis, ’50, survive. An aunt, Dora Kreis, ’30, preceded him in death.

’55
Winberg Chai, Laramie, WY, was awarded the 1999 Third World Humanitarian Award in Chicago, IL.

Kenneth D. Johnson, Springfield, OH and Naples, FL, died March 13, 1999. He retired in 1993 as owner/operator of Johnson Oil Handling Equipment Co. after 25 years of service. A member of Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church and Clark Lodge 101 Free and Accepted Masons, he is survived by his wife, two sons and four grandchildren.

Clara Edler Squires, formerly of Yellow Springs, OH, died Dec. 23, 1998 in Tucson, AZ. A former teacher, she is survived by two daughters, five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

’56
Dean C. Cheek, Parma, OH, died Sept. 6, 1997. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during the Korean War. Following his retirement in 1993 as pastor of St. Matthew Lutheran Church with 25 years service, he drove the train at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. He and his wife, Carol Lyon Cheek, ’56, who survives, were the first married couple to graduate from Wittenberg. Also surviving are a son, two daughters and four grandchildren.

Betty Jo Murphy Woodhouse, Springfield, OH, died March 26, 1999. Co-owner of the Candle Cove, she was an active member of Hillside Avenue Church of God and the 4-H. Survivors include her husband, her mother, three daughters, 10 grandchildren, a sister and a brother.

’57
Raymond A., Jr., and Dolly Burkhard Kline, ’65, live in Xenia, OH. Ray retired as professor of marketing from the University of Dayton. Dolly, former teacher and chair of the social studies department at Springfield North High School, has also retired. They are active with marketing consulting, real estate development and directing Ray Kline’s Bandwagon, a distributor of band uniforms and accessories to schools in Ohio and surrounding states.

Alan R. Stone, formerly of Michigan, died Dec. 8, 1997 in Sebring, FL. A quality control engineer for the automobile industry, he was a member of several fraternal organizations and was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Surviving are his wife, two sons, a daughter and a sister.

’58
Phyllis Miller Seibert, a retired social worker, lives in Hendersonville, NC.

Barbara Tinholt Salisbury-Wills, Scottsdale, AZ, died Aug. 21, 1998. A professor in the Arizona State University’s theatre department, she was a nationally known expert in children’s theatre education. In 1997 she received the Alliance Award from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. For her contribution to theater at A.S.U. and throughout the nation, the University has renamed the child drama studio in her memory. She is survived by her husband, J. Robert Wills, a former instructor at Wittenberg, four sons and seven grandchildren.

’59
Joseph H. Garber, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, died Dec. 21, 1998. A former teacher and principal, he also promoted education through the sale of encyclopedias and library resources. An active member of Holyrood Mennonite Church, he served as a volunteer teacher of English as a second language at the Mennonite Centre for Newcomers in his retirement. Survivors include his wife, 10 children, 20 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Janet K. Greenleaf has retired from nursing and moved to Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Ronald J. and Judith McCombs Hagaman live in Lima, OH. Ron serves as a consultant to Study Circles, a community group he organized and promoted, which explores attitudes and solutions to problems of racism and violence. He has received the Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award from the Diocese of Toledo and the Ebony-Ivory Award from the local black community for this remarkable achievement.

Joseph M. and Claudia Benedict Wagner, ’58, live in Barrington, IL. Joe is executive director of the Division for Ministry with the E.L.C.A. Claudia has retired from her position with the English department at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.

’60
Discovering Texas Dinosaurs, the third book by Charles E. Finsley, Cedar Hill, TX, has been published by Gulf Publishing, Houston, TX.

Frances McCollum Parrish, Springfield, OH, died April 7, 1999. She was a school teacher with the Springfield City Schools, retiring with 35 years service at McGuffey and Simon Kenton schools. A member of Trinity Lutheran Church and many professional organizations, she volunteered at Community Hospital and Mercy Medical Center. Her survivors include a son, Alan E. Parrish, ’66, a sister and several nieces and nephews.

His Majesty the King Carl XVI Gustaf presented the Elder Linnaeus gold medal to Kjell I. Peterson for his publishing activities in the field of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Ronald A. Rebbin, North Lewisburg, OH, died Jan. 26, 1999. He was retired from the U.S. Air Force and A.P. Technoglass, Bellefontaine, OH. He is survived by his wife, four daughters, two sons and 11 grandchildren. A brother, William R. Rebbin, ’67, preceded him in death.

Kathryn A. Wick, formerly of Indianapolis, IN, died Jan. 9, 1999 in Morristown, IN. She was an art teacher for the Indianapolis Public and Carmel Clay schools. Surviving are two sisters, including Janet Wick Landwehr, ’68, a brother, a nephew, Kevin A. Darbro, ’91, and a niece, Elise M. Darbro, ’93. Preceding her in death was her father, Walter M. Wick, ’57H.

’63
Larry L. and Leila Storts Hill, ’59, live in Springfield, OH. Former president of the Springfield Noon Optimist Club, Larry was named Honor Club President at the Ohio District Optimist meeting.

John M. “Skip” Kunst Jr., who is with Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, Cincinnati, OH, was re-elected to serve as litigation practice group chair. A member of the firm’s general management committee, he specializes in commercial disputes, product liability, employment disputes, discrimination and occupational safety and health. He lives in Forest Hills.

Beatrice Sites vonTobel, a former teacher/coach/superintendent with several school districts around the country, is superintendent of the Orcas Island Country Golf Club, Eastsound, WA. She is also a licensed pilot.

’66
Esther Shump Ark, Springfield, OH, died Feb. 6, 1999. She began her teaching career in a one-room school and retired after 27 years with the Mad River Green Schools. A member of the congregation at Rocky Point Chapel, she is survived by her husband, a daughter, five sons, 10 grandchildren and a sister.

’67
Anna Thompson Crabill, South Charleston, OH, died Dec. 12, 1998. In 1977, she retired as a sixth grade teacher from Miami View Elementary School. She was a 50-year member of the South Charleston United Methodist Church and the Eastern Star Lodge 490 Anna Gilbert Chapter. Survivors include her husband, two sons, a daughter, seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a sister, a brother and several nieces and nephews.

Linda Hardison Hartley, senior associate with the Albuquerque, NM, office of CB Richard Ellis, has been elected 1999 president of the Commercial Association of Realtors-New Mexico. An office sales and leasing specialist, Linda holds the certified commercial investment member designation and was the first woman to achieve the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors designation.

Robert C. Perry, a career member of the Foreign Service, is the new U.S. ambassador to the Central African Republic.

Pamela Honan Peterson is children’s ministries director at First Christian Church, South Bend, IN.

’68
David W. Benfer, Naperville, IL, has been elected chair of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Daniel Schneider, Cincinnati, OH, is director of Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search with the University of Cincinnati Clermont College, Batavia, OH.

Mary F. Zolman, McLean, VA, is an administrator with the Arlington (VA) County Schools.

’69
Melva Treffinger Graham, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is director of music at Grace Church On-the-Hill, where she leads one of the country’s biggest choral programs. She also served as copy editor of Common Praise, the new Canadian Anglican hymnal.

William R. Noble, Palm Harbor, FL, is vice president of human resources with Pride Enterprises, St. Petersburg, FL.

G. Robert and Patricia Bronson Rose, ’70, live in Sylvania, OH. Rob, who was selected the Ohio High School Coaches Association Division I Coach of the Year in 1997, has retired as a teacher/baseball coach from Whitmer High School, Toledo, OH. He has been inducted into the Ohio High School Coaches Hall of Fame. Pat is with the Washington Local Schools.

Robert C. Wagner is an assistant football coach at the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.

’70
Mary Killackey Arnstad-Aebi is president and CEO of Broken Top, Bend, OR.

John R. Aughenbaugh, Aurora, OH, practices dentistry in Solon, OH. He has been named executive director of the Dr. Neeman Society, a group devoted to the study of the dentitions of the great apes.

Cinda Smith Borling owns Decorating Den Interiors, Fort Myers, FL.

Jeffrey A. Connelly, a principal in the law firm of Vendetti & Vendetti and a frequent speaker on the subject of addiction and substance abuse, is the host of a weekly radio show, Legally Speaking, on WLKK, Erie, PA.

Phillip D. Hoberty, Hilliard, OH, is an assistant professor at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.

Paul D. Schullery, author and naturalist-ranger in Yellowstone National Park, received the Wallace Stegner Award for his contribution to the cultural identity of the American West from the University of Colorado’s Center of the American West in Boulder. Paul, the author, co-author or editor of 28 books, is an affiliate professor of history at Montana State University and an adjunct professor of American Studies at the University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY. He lives in Mammoth Hot Springs, WY.