Clarke Co. GA - Obits from the Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald 29 Jun 1997 Thanks for permission from the Athens Daily News /Banner-Herald http://www.onlineathens.com/ ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Obituaries header ANET Options Tom Harper Cleveland Tom Elijah Harper, 65, formerly of Royston, died Thursday, June 26, 1997. A native of Hart County, Mr. Harper was a son of the late Ernest and Mae Chapman Harper. No funeral services are planned. Survivors include a brother, Merrell Harper, Colorado. Announcement courtesy of Pruitte Funeral Home, Royston. Louise Hunter Cornelia Louise Hunter, 56, died Friday, June 27, 1997. A native of Habersham County, Mrs. Hunter was a daughter of James and Minnie Lee Loudermilk Hunter of Oakwood. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Lola Louise Hunter. She was employed by the Habersham County School System and was a member of the Habersham Central Band of Blue Booster Club and Mount Carmel Baptist Church. Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. today at Whitfield Funeral Home, Baldwin, with the Rev. Charles Taylor and Ricky Ward officiating. Burial will be in Level Grove Cemetery. Survivors, in addition to her parents, include her husband, Bobby Hunter; two daughters, Michelle Loudermilk, Mount Airy, and Sonya Powell, Cornelia; four sisters, Judy Merritt, Clermont, Carol Swafford, Lawrenceville, Linda Dotson, Gainesville, and Misty Lea Hunter, Oakwood; a brother, William Pete Hunter, Carnesville; and four grandchildren. The family will receive friends 3-4 p.m. today at the funeral home. Raymond E. Lester Athens Raymond Edwin Lester, 79, of 160 Lullwater Road died Saturday, June 28, 1997. A native of Clarke County, Judge Lester was a son of the late Albert J. and Madaline Yearwood Lester. He served in the Air Force during World War II and retired from the Air Force Reserves with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law and was judge of the Clarke County Magistrate Court for 11 years. At the time of his retirement, he was president of Burger Chef Franchises of Georgia Inc. He was a member of Athens Elks Lodge 790, the Western Bar Association, the Athens Area Retired Officers Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2872 and St. James United Methodist Church. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Oconee Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Kent Reynolds officiating. Survivors include his wife, Barbara Elder Lester; two sons and daughters-in-law, Alfred C. and Linda J. Lester, Myrtle Beach, S.C., and David R. and Jane M. Lester, Kennesaw; three sisters, Sara Huff and Ethelyn Bailey, both of Athens, and Mildred Brackett, Social Circle; and three grandchildren, Andrea Lester, Athens, and Jonathan Lester and Andrew Lester, both of Kennesaw. The family will receive friends 7-9 p.m. today at Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. James United Methodist Church, 111 West Lake Drive, or to a favorite charity. Lila H. O'Shields Loganville Lila H. O'Shields, 66, died Friday, June 27, 1997. A native of Georgia, Mrs. O'Shields was retired after 25 years as box office manager at the Omni Coliseum. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Snellville United Methodist Church with Dr. Skip Johnson officiating. Entombment will be in Eternal Hills Memory Gardens. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m. Survivors include her husband, Louie L. O'Shields; two sons, Alan Wayne O'Shields, Dayton, Ohio, and Kevin Hayes O'Shields, Seymour, Tenn.; a daughter, Michele H. Godwin, Snellville; three sisters, Thelma Doster, Watkinsville, Ruby Clements, Hartwell, and Hazel Carter, Commerce; two brothers, John Rich Hayes, Winder, and Pete Hayes, Arnoldsville; and six grandchildren. The family will receive friends 4-8 p.m. today and 7-9 p.m. Monday at Wages Funeral Home, Snellville. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or to Olsten Hospice. Dorothy K. Ritchie Athens Dorothy Kimbrell Ritchie, 82, died Thursday, June 26, 1997, at her home in the presence of her family. A native of Athens, Ms. Ritchie graduated from the University of Georgia in 1936. She married an Army officer, David L. Edwards of Youngstown, Ohio, and served as an Army wife for 30 years. After her husband's retirement, she began a career as an art teacher and taught in public schools in Newport News, Va., for 15 years before returning to Athens in 1979. She gave private art lessons for many years. In 1991, she married childhood friend H.B. Ritchie and began the happiest chapter in her life. Ms. Ritchie was a member of the Athens Town Committee of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Georgia, the Roadrunners and First Baptist Church. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Athens. Survivors, in addition to her husband, include a son, David Edwards, Flagstaff, Ariz.; a daughter, Mary Edwards Wertsch, St. Louis; two grandsons, Nicholas and Tyler Wertsch, both of St. Louis; a stepson, Bill Ritchie, The Dalles, Ore.; and a stepdaughter, Margaret Turk, Moreno, Calif. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the building fund of First Baptist Church, 355 Pulaski St., Athens, Ga. 30601, or to Peachtree Hospice, 3600 DeKalb Technology Parkway, Atlanta, Ga. 30340. Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Joseph M. Schmittou Colbert Master Sgt. Joseph Marion Schmittou, 79, died Friday June 27, 1997, at Veterans Hospital, Augusta. A native of Waynesboro, Tenn., Master Sgt. Schmittou was a son of Naomi Johns Schmittou of Nashville, Tenn., and the late Raybon Schmittou. He was preceded in death by two daughters, Nancy Jo and Linda Lee Schmittou. He was retired from the Marine Corps with 30 years of service and from the Clarke County Sheriff's Department with 20 years of service. He served in World War II with the 1st Marine Division and also in the Korean War. He had several medals, citations, campaign ribbons and unit commendations. He received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. He was a member of Colbert Baptist Church and the Men's Bible Class. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Monday at Colbert Baptist Church with the Revs. Don Fuller and Mark Fite officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery with full military honors. Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his wife, Margaret Faye Schmittou; a son by a previous marriage, Joseph Eby, Oregon; two sisters, Morelle Murray, Snellville, and Elizabeth Gurkin, Mount Juliet, Tenn.; five brothers, Charles Schmittou, Waynesboro, Tenn., James and Tom Schmittou, Donaldson, Tenn., Rudolph Schmittou, Auburn, Ala., and Clarence Schmittou, Nashville; three granddaughters, Monica Ray Hill, Chrilyn Olivia and Lauren Leigh Howard; and nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends 5-9 p.m. today at Bridges Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a favorite charity. Ernest T. Ahl Sr. Lavonia Ernest Theodor Ahl Sr., 88, of 164 Lakeshore Circle died Thursday, June 26, 1997. A native of Sweden, Dr. Ahl was a son of the late Anders and Josephina Ahl. He was a graduate of Atlanta Dental College and practiced dentistry in Fulton County for many years. He was a member of Seventh-day Adventist Church, Westminster, S.C. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Westminster Seventh-day Adventist Church with the Rev. John Earnhardt officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Mildred Hanes Ahl; a son, Ernest Theodor Ahl Jr., Asheville, N.C.; and a sister, Anna Pack, Placerville, Calif. The family is at the residence and will receive friends 7-9 p.m. Monday at Hamby-Weldon Funeral Home. Pearl Walters Royston Pearl Kathryn Shirley Walters, 90, died Saturday, June 28, 1997. A native of Hart County, Mrs. Walters was a daughter of the late Ernest L. and Tensie Pearl Holland Shirley and the widow of L.C. Walters. She was preceded in death by a son, Levis Charles Walters. She was retired from Airline Elementary School cafeteria and was a member of Rock Springs Baptist Church. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Rock Springs Baptist Church with the Revs. J.W. Stowe and Al Price officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 10:30 a.m. Survivors include four daughters, Alice Haley and Kathy Isom, both of Hartwell, Gloria Foster, Lavonia, and Shirley King, Carnesville; two half brothers; a half sister; 20 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends 7-9 p.m. today at Hamby-Weldon Funeral Home, Lavonia. DEATH NOTICES James Key James Key of 316 Evans St. died Friday, June 27, 1997. Winfrey's Mutual Funeral Home will announce arrangements. Anna L. Middlebrooks TALMO - Anna Lucille Middlebrooks of 198 Lois Lane died Saturday, June 28, 1997. Jackson Funeral Home, Jefferson, will announce arrangements. Oliver Pruitt HOMER - Oliver Pruitt, 56, of 275 Oscar Rucker Road died Saturday, June 28, 1997. Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, will announce arrangements. ______ ______________________________ Athens Daily News/Banner Herald Šopyright 1998 Athens Newspapers Inc.