William G. Lloyd, 87, of Sylvania, passed away Thursday, December 13, 2012, at The Toledo Hospital surrounded by his loving family. He was born December 9, 1925, in Pueblo, Colorado to Max L. and Mary (Werntz) Lloyd. He served in the Navy during WWII and was employed in the Aircraft Industry with Sperry for 32 years, retiring in 1984. William was an open person who never stopped learning. A sensitive soul, he loved singing, meeting people, giving and receiving hugs, and vanilla ice cream. He had a generous and giving nature: “You possess only that which you give away.”

He was preceded in death by his parents. William is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Mary; daughters, Barbara (Carlos) Lloyd, Martha (Rick) Fansler, Carol (Doug) Smith; sister, Helen E. Johnson, and a grandson, Raoul Pomalaza-Lloyd (Monique).

Visitation will be Monday from 2-6 p.m. at the Dowling Funeral Home, 7509 New West Road at King Road, (King Rd. between Central and Sylvania Ave.) Toledo, 419-841-8111. Memorial contributions may be made to Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA) or Unity of Toledo Library Fund. For additional information or condolences, please visit;

www.dowlingfh.com

Robert Hamm Sr.

URBANA – Robert Lee Hamm Sr., 89, of Urbana, formerly of Oakland, Ill., passed away at 7:56 p.m. Friday (Dec. 14, 2012) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, at Owens Funeral Home, 101 N. Elm St., Champaign. Rev. Kenneth Young will officiate. Military rites will be accorded by VFW Post 5520.

Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday prior to the service at the funeral home.

Bob was born on July 17, 1923, in Elkhart, Ind., the son of Albert and Clema Rae (Utterback) Hamm. He married Lois Benson on June 15, 1946, in Chicago. She survives.

Other survivors include two sons, Don (Donna) Hamm of Mahomet and Larry Hamm of Oakland; two grandsons, Darren Hamm of Kohlsville, Wis., and Neal Hamm of Busan, South Korea; three granddaughters, Tiffany Hamm of Mahomet, Sarah Hamm of Bloomington and Mandy Hamm of Evansville, Ind.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Bernice Hunter, and a son, Robert Lee Hamm Jr.

Bob was proud to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II. As one of 700 sailors left aboard the USS Franklin after it was bombed and badly damaged off the coast of Japan, he aided in bringing the ailing ship back to port in New York City. He attended many years of USS Franklin reunions, keeping in close contact with many of his shipmates.

He had a long and prominent career with the Carpenters’ Local 44 Union in the Champaign-Urbana area, helping to build many local structures. He served eight years as a maintenance custodian in the Oakland schools.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Fountain of Life Family Fellowship, 102 E. Main St., Tolono, IL 61880.

Condolences may be offered at http://www.owensfuneralhomes.com.

http://www.news-gazette.com/obituaries/2012-12-18/robert-hamm-sr.html

In Memory of John A. Hoover Sr.

Obituary for John Hoover

John A. Hoover, Sr., 86, of Perrin Road, Saxton, passed away on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at Altoona Regional Health System Bon Secour Campus. He was born on January 5, 1925 in Liberty Township son of the late William E. and Dorothy (Hinish) Hoover. On March 19, 1946 he was united in marriage to the former Geraldine M. (Aday). She preceded him in death on November 4, 1992.

He is survived by the following family:

Three Children:

John Hoover Jr. married to Sharon (Gosnell), Saxton

Beverly married to Dick Shontz, Powell, TN

Stephen Hoover married to Nancy (Hetrick), Saxton

One Sister: Mildred Blair, Williamsport, PA

One Brother: Gilbert Hoover married to Nancy, Saxton

Grandchildren:

Angela married to Vincent DeMarro, Chadds Ford, PA

Adam Hoover married to Barbara, Saxton

Jason Hoover married to Lindsay, Logan Township, NJ

Jared Hoover married to Jennifer, State College

Ryan Hoover, Saxton

Megan married to Jonathan Zimmerman, Morgantown, WV

Six Great Grandchildren:

Grace and Tess DeMarro

Hayden Hoover

Amelia Shontz

Nicholas and Katie Hoover

He was preceded in death by a son: Barry Hoover; one brother: William Hoover and two grandchildren:
Erika and Bradley Shontz.

He was a member of the Raven Run Church of the Brethren.

Mr. Hoover attended Saxton Liberty High School.

He served in the United States Navy during World War II from 1943-1946 as Seaman First Class aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Franklin as a airplane mechanic.

Mr. Hoover worked as a milk delivery man for Ritchey’s and Workman’s Dairies early in his working career and later went on to spend the majority of his life owning and operating a dairy farm until his retirement in 2002.

He loved the family farm and was very passionate about farming. He was devoted family man and a loving husband, father and grandfather.

Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at 10:00 A.M. at the

Raven Run Church of the Brethren with Pastor Dan Hammel officiating.

Friends may call at Akers Funeral Chapel, 715 Church Street, Saxton, PA, on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 from 6-8 P.M. and on Wednesday from 9:00 A.M. until the hour of service at the church. Burial will be held at St. Luke’s Cemetery, Saxton with full military honors conducted by Broad Top Area Honor Guard.

If friends so desire memorial contributions may be made in memory of Mr. Hoover to Saxton Volunteer Fire Company, P.O. Box 115, Saxton, PA 16678 or to the Tussey Mountain School District Education Foundation Emily Mervin, 199 Front Street, Saxton, PA 16678.

In Memory of

Michael C. Sansone

February 1, 1926 – October 8, 2012

Mike changed his address and reported for duty. The gates of Heaven are guarded by the U.S. Marines.

Michael Charles Sansone was born February 1, 1926, at home in St. Louis, Missouri to Charles and Mary Sansone. At the age of 17, Mike enlisted with the Marines and served in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. He was a member of “Pappy” Boyington’s Black Sheep Marine Fighter Squadron #214 and was a survivor of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Franklin.

After returning from the war, Mike enrolled at St. Louis University where he played center for the football team and met his future wife, Kay Cassidy of Clayton, Missouri. Mike and Kay’s life together as husband and wife began October 13, 1951. Mike began his career as a salesman for Johnson & Johnson, which brought him to Dallas, Texas in 1953. Mike spent the last three decades of his career with Frank W. Winnie & Sons.

Mike and Kay were blessed with seven children: Danny Sansone, Carol Baker (and her husband Ron), Mark Sansone, Christopher Sansone (and his wife Harriet), Mary Schaar (and her husband Allen), Ann Sansone and Anthony Sansone. Mike was Grandad of Keith, Cara, Ben and Maryann Baker, Cullen and Chris Schaar, Katie Schaar Cutri (and her husband Nick Cutri), Bryan and Cassidy Sansone. Mike will also be remembered as a caring uncle and cousin and was preceded in death by his parents and his two sisters, Maryann and Jean.

Mike was dedicated to his family and his community, giving liberally of his many talents toward the establishment of St. Pius X Catholic Parish and Bishop Lynch Catholic High School. Mike was passionate about the St. Louis Cardinals, passing on his enthusiasm for football, baseball and basketball to his sons and grandchildren.

Family and friends will never forget his outsized charm, strength of spirit, and the unwavering discipline and faith that served as a rock for us all. Dad loved people and seemed to make a connection with everyone he met.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Pamela Lindsay and Compass Hospice of Dallas, wonderful caregiver Donna, friend Sylvester, Sarah Atwood of Dallas Area Parkinsonism Society, and Clinic 3 and Neurology at Dallas V.A. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to support the work of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers P.O. Box 302 Maryknoll, NY 10545 or http://www.maryknollsociety.org in memory of Fr. Denis O’Brien.

Semper Fi.

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Michael-Sansone&lc=2253&pid=160350136&mid=5267891&locale=en-US

James Preston Wheeler, Jr
Born in Wilmington, NC on Jan. 6, 1923
Departed on Oct. 27, 2011 and resided in Longwood, FL.
Service: Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011
Cemetery: Sealawn Memorial Park

James Preston, known affectionately as “J.P.”, 88, loved Husband, Father and grandfather, went Home to be with his Lord on Thursday, October 27, 2011.  He was born the only son and youngest child of James and Bertha Wheeler on January 6, 1923, in Wilmington, North Carolina. As a young man he worked side by side with his father after school and on weekends in the construction business, helping to build Wilmington and its Port prior to WWII. When he was old enough he enlisted in the armed services, serving a tour in the Army and two tours in the Navy. During his enlistment with the Navy, he served on “Big Ben”, christened the USS Franklin, CV-13, one of the Navy’s 24 Essex Class aircraft carriers. J.P. was on board during both serious bombings of Big Ben, and it is said that he and the remainder of the crew that survived were alive due to sheer valor and tenacity. After WWII J.P. was employed as a crosscountry truck driver, moving families from the East Coast to the West Coast and back. When he retired, J.P. returned to his beloved North Carolina where he was able to fish for spots, net shrimp, eat oysters and work on his boat to his heart’s content. In 2005 he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and in 2006 he moved to the Central Florida area to be closer to his children. J.P. was never at a loss for words, and could look you in the eye whenever he had something to say. He was strong, both physically and emotionally, honest and trustworthy. J.P. was one of those people that if he gave you his word, you could “take it to the bank”. He was preceded in death by his Wife, Mildred Eaton Wheeler. J.P. is survived by his Children: James P. Wheeler, III, Fayetteville, Georgia; James Reid Wheeler, Zellwood, Florida; and Sterling Wheeler Dixon, Orlando, Florida, and by his Grandchildren: J. Preston Wheeler, IV, Fayetteville, Georgia; Kristen Karen Moore, Charlotte, North Carolina; Madison Noel Wheeler, Zellwood, Florida, and Rachel Elizabeth Wheeler, Clermont, Florida. A Celebration of J.P.’s life will be held at the Hampstead Baptist Church, Hampstead, North Carolina, at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 2, 2011, followed by interment at Sea Lawn Memorial Park, Hampstead, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to your local Hospice. Please view and sign the guestbook at http://www.AndrewsMortuary.com Andrews Hampstead Chapel.
This Memorial Obituary provided by Andrews Hampstead Chapel

http://obit.andrewsmortuary.com/obitdisplay.html?task=Print&id=986770

Chester R. Wood, 82, died at 5:50 p.m. Saturday, May 12, 2007, at Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Alton.
He was born April 10, 1925, in Alton to the late Roy and Blanche Elizabeth (Woods) Wood.
He married the former Peggy L. Lowe in Alton on Nov. 28, 1946, and she survives.
He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II on the U.S.S. Franklin. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Alton, where he was a Deacon Amerites. He retired in 1987 after 41 years of service as a security guard at McDonnell-Douglas in St. Louis. He was a volunteer for many years at Saint Anthony’s Health Center, delivering meals to homebound patients.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Linda S. and the Rev. Michael Morgan of Brighton; a son and daughter-in-law, Kevin P. and Cindy Wood of Glen Carbon; four grandchildren and two spouses, Susan and Josh Plymale, Steve and Tressa Morgan, Chelsey Quick and Ethan Wood; three brothers, Paul Wood of Ottawa Lake, Mich., Robert Wood of Riverside, Calif., and James Wood of Alton; and three sisters, Faye Wood of Alton, Della Wenner of Godfrey and Ella Darr of Jerseyville.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Tom and Glen Wood; and six sisters, Blanche, Jane, Glenda and Mary Alice Wood, Jenny Winters and Fern Weiss.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Gent Funeral Home in Alton.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Calvary Baptist Church in Alton, with the Revs. Andre Dobson and Michael Morgan officiating.
Burial will be at Valhalla Memorial Park in Godfrey with full military honors by VFW Post 1308 of Alton.
Memorials may be made to the Calvary Baptist Church Homebound Ministry.
Additional information and an online guestbook may be found at http://www.gentfuneralhome.com.
http://www.thetelegraph.com/onset?id=1648&template=article.html

1925 – 2005

Billy Gene Wood, 79, a Fort Worth orthodontist, passed away Saturday, March 5, 2005, after a long bout with cancer.
Funeral: 2 p.m. Thursday at All Saints Episcopal Church. Burial: Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Greenwood Funeral Home.

Memorials: in lieu of flowers, the Salvation Army, 1855 E. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76103.

Dr. Billy Gene Wood was a graduate of Baylor University and Baylor College of Dentistry and earned his M.S.D. in orthodontics from Northwestern University in Chicago.

A veteran of World War II, Dr. Wood was commissioned a Navy ensign and fighter pilot at age 17. He served on the USS Wasp, USS Lexington and the USS Franklin. He was a graduate of the Air War College and National War College. He was awarded the General Jimmy Doolittle Fellow along with the Navy Cross, the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He flew F6F-3 Hellcats and he saw action in the Battle of Leyte Gulf invasion of the Philippines and Tarawa. He served as an orthodontic consultant at Carswell Air Force Base for 34 years.

During his life he received many honors including the Distinguished Alumnus by Baylor Dental Alumni Association. He served as secretary of the Baylor College of Dentistry Century Club, past president of the Fort Worth District Dental Society and past chairman of the Westside Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. He founded the Fort Worth Civic Leaders Association in 1976 and instituted the first Fort Worth Military Ball in 1979. He received the Department of Defense Exceptional Service Award presented by Secretary of Defense Weinberger and won Fort Worth District Dental Society’s Veteran Honor Award.

Dr. Wood had been a Sunday school teacher, chairman of the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Parker County Sheriff’s Posse, past president of Weatherford Noon Lions Club, founder and president of the Chisholm Trail Days and chairman of the Weatherford Peach Festival.

Dr. Wood was a fellow in the American College of Dentists and also a fellow in the International College of Dentists. He was a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, Texas Dental Association, Fort Worth District Dental Society, Texas Tweed Society, the Southwestern Society of Orthodontics, the Texas Association of Orthodontics and the Tarrant County Society of Orthodontists.

Survivors: Wife of 49 years, Carol Hall Wood; son, William Millard Wood; daughter, Susan Wood Torpy and husband, Art Torpy; son, Steven Charles Wood and wife, Stacey McKay Wood; and grandchildren, Wil and Abby Torpy and Reilly, Zöe and Amy Wood.
Published in the Star-Telegram from 3/8/2005 – 3/9/2005.

Wesley, Charles VanMeter
posted May 8, 2006
Charles VanMeter Wesley died on Saturday, May 6, 2006, in a local nursing home.

Charles was born atop Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga on Sept. 20, 1913. He was preceded 15 minutes earlier by his twin brother, the late John Henry Wesley.

Charles was the son of the late Henry Willis Wesley and Blanche Van-Meter. While growing up in the Chattanooga area, Charles was very active in sports. He held both the city boxing and badminton championships.

He attended Western Kentucky State Teachers college. Then the Navy came calling. Charles was stationed at Pensacola NAS teaching flying when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He stayed on in Pensacola as a flight instructor to both British and American pilots. In 1942, he became part of a new fighter squadron, VF-11 J headed for the Pacific.

While en route from San Diego, the squadron got word that their ship, the USS Wasp, had been hit by three Japanese torpedoes and had to be scuttled. They were diverted to Pearl Harbor then to the Fiji Islands. While on Maui, the squadron, named themselves the “Sundowners” and designed the squadron’s insignia. In April of 1943, they found themselves land-based on Guadalcanal and sharing a runway with a squadron of Marines. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his conduct as a Navy fighter pilot in the Solomon Islands area during June-July 1943. After 12 weeks of combat, the Navy rotated several of the experienced fighter pilots back to the states to Fighter Director School. Charles spent the rest of the war as a fighter director on the USS Enterprise, USS Franklin and the USS Ranger.

In 1947, he met his future wife, Sara Frances Colvin, on a blind date. They were married in 1948. In 1949 he resigned his Navy commission and went back to school, this time at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Charles found himself back on active duty when the Korean War broke out, this time in the Air Force. He stayed in the Air Force until his retirement in 1969.

Charles and Sally joined St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club in 1969, the same year that the “Flying Scot” replaced the “Fish Class” as the club boat. He had been active in sailing most of his life, beginning when he and his brother, John, built their first Snipe in their mother’s basement. He was introduced to the “Fish Class” while he was stationed in Pensacola before the war. Charles was very active in the yacht club, spending several years as the fleet captain. He also served on the race committee, as a USYRU judge at various local and national events and on the GYA appeals committee. Charles and Sally were members of several Bridge Clubs in the local area. Charles continued to play duplicate at the Panama City Bridge Club until 2004.

Charles is survived by his wife, Sara Frances Colvin Wesley; children, Barbara Harrell Wesley, of Panama City, Charles Van Meter Wesley Jr., of Arizona, Richard Colvin and Kay Ellen Wesley, of Panama City; grandchildren, Donna Christine Exum, her husband, Lee Exum, and Richard Colvin Wesley Jr., all of Panama City; and greatgrandchildren, Sara Nicole Martin, Wyatt Lee Exum and Madison Leigh Exum, of Panama City, and Richard Nicholas Wesley, of Louisiana. He also is survived by several nieces and nephews in California, Texas and Chattanooga.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, at Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home with the Rev. Tully Hunter officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens with full military honors.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Jim and Flo Nixon Respite Center, Council on Aging, in Panama City, FL.

Arrangements are by Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 2403 Harrison Ave., Panama City, FL 32405.
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_85377.asp

Kenneth Westby was killed in action aboard the USS Franklin in the South Pacific. He was buried at sea, his name is also noted on the Punchbowl Cemetery Halls of Honor on the island of Oahu. This marker is in the Dawson cemetery next to his parents and the Westby family stone.
Kenneth was a radio technician and worked with the radar system which had been installed on the USS Franklin.
http://www.hickoryhill-mn.com/Heritagestones.html

Roy A. Weslager / Beloved pianist for Kane patients
July 19, 1926 – Jan. 6, 2007
Thursday, January 11, 2007

By Linda Wilson Fuoco, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

When childhood health problems kept him out of school for long periods of time, Roy A. Weslager taught himself to play the piano. That skill would bring joy to many, especially after 1983, when he retired from the LTV steel plant and began making weekly visits to play for patients at the Kane Regional Center in Scott.

He played almost up to the day he died at the center — Saturday. Mr. Weslager, 80, had been a patient there for two months. He was being treated for complications following surgery in October.

“My father never did learn to read music, but if you sang him a song, he could play it,” said his daughter, Nancy Hale of Castle Shannon.

Mr. Weslager played at Kane on Thursdays for more than 20 years, very seldom missing a day. “Everybody loved him — patients and staff. The women would fight over who would sit next to him,” said Sally Finley of Bethel Park, who sings and dances with a group called The Kane Entertainers. Mr. Weslager was their accompanist.

Mr. Weslager grew up in Mount Washington. He and his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth, raised their children in Castle Shannon and moved to Bethel Park when he retired.

Mr. Weslager provided the piano playing and more for The Kane Entertainers.

“He played the old songs like ‘Let Me Call You Sweetheart,’ ” Ms. Finley said. “We also did the Hokey Pokey and polkas. He would drive anyone who needed a ride to Kane, including me. We will miss him so and we will miss his piano playing.”

Rita Morreale, who works with volunteers at Kane and schedules their visits, described Mr. Weslager as “a unique individual and a true gentleman who forgot his own ills to bring joy to the patients.”

Mr. Weslager served in World War II in the Navy aboard the USS Franklin. He was one of the founding members of Baldwin United Presbyterian Church and participated in the church’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2005.

Survivors, in addition to his daughter and wife, include another daughter, Susan Huemrich of Castle Shannon; his twin brother, Robert, of Belle Vernon; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

A memorial service was held yesterday.
http://postgazette.com/pg/07011/752887-122.stm