Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of April 15, 2005 Twyla Martin Twyla Sue Martin of Decatur, Georgia, formerly of Steelville, Missouri was born on April 15, 1944 to Kenneth William and Delma Ruth Martin. She passed away on Good Friday, March 25, 2005 at Dekalb Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia at the age of 60 years 11 months and 10 days. Twyla graduated from Steelville High School in 1961 and went on to complete college at Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri and Mississippi College. She briefly taught high school before joining "the telephone company" as an engineer. In 2000 after 30 years service with the company she retired from a Director-level position at BellSouth. For most of those years she was a manager and considered an expert on governmental regulatory issues, working from Atlanta, New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia. She also frequently represented BellSouth on prominent national telecommunications committees and forums. Despite her career accomplishments, the non-professional side of her life was far more intriguing and significant. Four aspects of Twyla's life were particularly important to her: missions, her faith community, friends and travel. While in a rather fast management track, she sought a sabbatical for mission work in Africa. Ultimately, with loss of her former position, sale of her beloved Porsche, and no guarantee of a job upon return, she left excitedly for a year in Uganda. "Missions" for Twyla was not an effort to convert others, to push a theology or proof-text the Bible. It was instead to serve those in need as her faith directed her, whether in Atlanta at the Buckhead Christian Ministry, in a Manhattan mission church, or on the other side of the world. Other extensive mission commitments included agricultural communities in Thailand, slums of Sao Paulo, the Philippines, Morocco, Liberia and Russia. Although an effective manager, Twyla did enthusiastically what was needed at the time in that place, including painting walls in Russia, scrubbing toilets in Prague, teaching English, developing singles programs, teaching Bible classes, hammering Habitat houses or sorting thrift shop clothes. Her travel adventures were not limited to mission trips; friends cannot even count them. Twyla had traveled to all continents but Antarctica and had graced all but two US states. She had climbed Kilimanjaro, recently hiked the entire Amalfi Coast, bungee jumped in Australia, skied the Rockies and Alps, rode rapids of the Snake River and jet-boated in New Zealand, to name a few. Her illness cancelled at a late date another working visit this March to Sao Paulo, Brazil. An avid photographer, her home was stuffed with slides and photos of adventures, missions, and travels, allowing friends and church to share those experiences and commitments. Twyla's service to her beloved Wieuca Road Baptist Church has been extensive and effective for decades. She was the first woman Chair of the Deacons. She won the highest award for service to her church and congregation and has had deep and leadership involvement in missions, Sunday school, most major committees, choir, outreach, and children's programs. At her death she was Vice Chair of Deacons, Chair of the Missions Committee, and Director of Mission Friends (children). Twyla's deep Christian faith and other more uncommon attributes enabled her to live an excitingly full and inspiring life and to share it widely with friends, family, and associates. But with all these adventures and contributions, perhaps her greatest gift was as a friend. Few have had comparable ability to cultivate and maintain friendships. It is striking that she could have been close or best friend to so many people in varied settings. Her accepting personality, wondrous energy, organized life, precise focus and desire to love and support are a few of many traits that make her "best friend." She graciously shared her life broadly and will be greatly missed by family and loving friends around the world. Twyla was preceded in death by, her parents; older brother Kenneth Martin Jr. and younger brother Robert Martin. She is survived by her brother Jerry Martin and wife Luci, sister Wanda Ransom, nephew Chris Ransom and wife Alisha, nephew Mike Ransom and wife Mary, Randy Lewis and wife Cindy, niece Tracy Garrison and husband Mark and niece Jeryl Martin, all of Steelville, Missouri. Great nieces and nephews Joshua, Jered, Trevor, Erica, Erin, Molly, Michelle, Thomas, and Randi Jean; close family Teri Geuse, Sonny and Sharon Turnbough, Spencer and Linda Jones, Mariah and Marissa, Gina Tetley, Candace, Caleb, Lisa Hughes, Johnny, Jamie and all other family and friends mourn the passing of this extraordinary woman. Kenneth Eugene Poling Kenneth Eugene Poling of Steelville, Missouri was born on Tuesday, June 14, 1932 in St. Louis, Missouri to Everett Poling and Bernice McMillen Poling. He passed away at his home on Saturday, April 2, 2005 at the age of 72 years, 9 months and 18 days. Kenneth married Janet Sweeny Poling and to this union four children were born. He served his country honorably in the United States Navy Reserves. Kenneth later married Margaret Ann Stinson on December 23, 1985. They have made their home in Steelville, Missouri the last ten years. Most of his adult life he was a machinist at the Tool & Die Industry in St. Louis, Missouri. His hobbies were fishing, hunting, golfing and being outdoors. Kenneth made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and attended the Presbyterian Church. He was preceded in death by his parents Everett and Bernice Poling. Those who remain to mourn his passing are his wife Margaret Poling of the home; children Karen Hungerford of Bridgeton, Missouri, Cindy Hickman of St. Peters, Missouri, Kim Poling of St. John's, Missouri and Kenneth "Kip" Eugene Poling, Jr. (Jackie) of Florissant, Missouri; grandchildren Kenneth Eugene Poling III (Christine), Tiffany Rehg, Robby Hickman (Jackie) and Laura Hungerford; great grandchild Kenneth Eugene Poling IV; sister Carolyn Sellini (Charlie)of Cottleville, Missouri; nephews Chuck Sellini (Sandy) of St. Peters, Missouri and Tim Sellini (Kim) of O'Fallon, Missouri; stepchildren Steve Murphy (Laura) of Elbert, Colorado, Dorothy Foley (Don) of Florissant, Missouri, Janet Dandever and family of Spanish Lake, Missouri, Nancy Tolan and family and Brian Murphy all of Florissant, Missouri; brothers-in-law Lee Stinson (Audrey) of Tega Cay, S.C. and James Stinson (Pat) and eight step-grandchildren; cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by two stepchildren, James Murphy and Dennis P. Murphy. Visitation was Wednesday, April 6, 2005 from 3-8 p.m. at Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Funeral services were Thursday, April 7, 2005 at 11 a.m. at Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri with Bro. Delmar Hutson officiating. Burial was at Berryman Cemetery, Berryman, Missouri with pallbearers Kip Poling, Kenneth Eugene Poling III, Chuck Sellini, Tim Sellini, Anthony "Bum" Parry, Mike Smith and Jimmy Halbert. All arrangements were under the direction of Hutson Funeral Home, Steelville, Missouri. Donald N. Rimbach Don Rimbach, noted geologist, caver and activist, died at the Missouri Veteran's Home in Mexico Missouri April 6, 2005. He was 62. Mr. Rimbach, of Webster Groves, Missouri, is known to older Free Press readers from the 1970's as one of the most vocal opponents against the building of the Meramec Lake Park Project. He was employed by Lester Dill of Onondaga Cave as the cave geologist, 1973-75. Mr. Rimbach debated the Army Corps of Engineers at many public hearings in the Sullivan-Cuba-Steelville area and aided many local residents along the river engaged in condemnation hearings, and testified before the US Congress about what he saw as geological flaws in the Corps engineering plans. A welder by trade, Mr. Rimbach suffered ill health in his later years, but never lost his love of the Upper Meramec River and passion for Onondaga Cave and the Leasburg-Cuba area, which he visited frequently. After strokes in 2001 and 2002, Mr. Rimbach, a Navy veteran, entered the Missouri Veteran's Home in Mexico. Mr. Rimbach will be cremated, and an outdoor memorial service is being planned within the next month or so. Details will be posted at his online obituary www.ozarkspringstudies.org as they become available. Ruth Mae Cassidy Willhite Ruth Mae Cassidy Willhite nee Neff of Cuba, Missouri was born on November 24, 1913 in Iron County, Missouri to the union of Allen Levi Neff and Della Abney Neff and passed away on April 7, 2005 at the Cuba Manor, Cuba, Missouri at the age of 91 years, 4 months and 13 days. Ruth was united in marriage to Leonard Cassidy. One son, Orville, was born to this union. Leonard preceded Ruth in death. On August 4, 1983 she was united in marriage to Lloyd Willhite at Cuba, Missouri, Lloyd preceded her in death on March 4, 1999. Ruth was also preceded in death by her parents, son, Orville Cassidy, five brothers, Logan Neff, Floyd, Claude, Rainey and Woodrow Britton and four sisters, Edith Cassidy, Esther Richards, Geriene Abney and Dorothy Chandler. Those who survive to mourn her passing from this life are her two brothers, Ocie Neff and Julius Britton; one sister Adeline Farmer; three grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Ruth was a loving wife, mother, and sister, good friend to all who knew her and will be sadly missed. Ruth Mae Cassidy Willhite nee Neff was in state at the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri where funeral services were held on Saturday, April 9, 2005 at 1 p.m. with Rev. James Self officiating. Interment was in the Davisville Cemetery, Davisville, Missouri. All arrangements were under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site. ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Winnie Brooks ====================================================================