Obituaries
Helen Peterson Ditlow DEC 17, 1921 - JUN 26, 2014
Helen Peterson Ditlow, cherished mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully at her home on June 26, 2014. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 36 years Anthony Ditlow. She was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 17, 1921 to William E. and Mary Masek Peterson. Following graduation from Iowa State University, she joined Armour & Company's research and development lab. At Armour & Co. she met Anthony Ditlow, who worked in the sales division and they quickly started a courtship and married in 1954. Several years after their marriage, the couple moved to Connecticut with ...
Jeffrey Lynn Kreiss, Sr. FEB 07, 1949 - JUN 26, 2014
Jeffrey Lynn Kreiss, Sr. passed away Thursday, June 26, 2014 at his home under the care of Hospice Savannah. Jeff was born February 7, 1949 in Oakland, CA to Ralph and Esther Kreiss. He was the oldest brother to William Kreiss and Jennifer Kreiss. In 1968 he was drafted into the US Army and proudly served his country. September 15, 1973, he married the love of his life, Diane Kreiss. In addition to his wife, Jeff leaves behind two sons, Jeff, Jr. and Daniel; two daughters-in-law, Katie and Barbara, and two grandchildren, Kailey and Jacob. Jeff was very involved in Scouting. He left a mark on e ...
Jean Annette Hanson MAR 10, 1934 - JUN 25, 2014
Jean Annette Hanson, 80, died Wednesday, June 25, 2014, at Spanish Oaks Retreat. A native and lifelong resident of Savannah, Mrs. Hanson was a charter member of Cresthill Baptist Church and was very involved in various church activities. She was preceded in death by her husband, Troy W. Hanson, a son, James Hanson, two sisters and three brothers. She is survived by two daughters, Linda Rutherford and Sharon Barefield (David) all of Savannah; three sons, Michael Hanson (Youngmi) of Fairfax, VA, Vance Hanson of Ellabell, GA and Douglas Hanson of Baxley, GA; three sisters, Virginia Carlyle, Carol ...
Thomas Franklin "Tommy" Williams AUG 09, 1959 - JUN 24, 2014
Thomas Franklin "Tommy" Williams, 55, passed away Tuesday, June 24, 2014 after a courageous battle with cancer at Mission-St. Joseph Hospital. Tommy was born in Augusta, Georgia, son of Franklin H. Williams, Jr. and Beatrice Edwards Williams. Tommy was a 1976 graduate of Windsor Forest High School and a 1980 graduate of Armstrong State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems. In 1982, he began a career in the IT healthcare field and at the time of his passing was employed with Mission-St. Joseph Hospital in Asheville as Director of Applications and Integration Developm ...
Betty Hasty Geriner MAY 04, 1942 - JUN 24, 2014
Betty Alice Hasty Geriner, 72, passed away Tuesday, June 24, 2014, surrounded by her beloved family after a long fought battle with cancer. She was born in Macon, GA May 4, 1942 to Hal and Lois Hasty and moved to Savannah when she was three months old. Betty graduated from Savannah High School in the class of 1960. During high school she worked part-time at the old Sears Roebuck & Co. After graduation she attended Armstrong Jr. College and then worked in the Trust Department of the C&S National Bank on Bull Street. Later she worked at the Georgia Welcome Center for the Dept. of Industr ...
Thomas Lee Zipperer JUL 26, 1946 - JUN 21, 2014
Tom Zipperer, 67, died Saturday, June 21, at his Tybee Island home with his family by his side. Tom was born July 26th, 1946, in Savannah, GA. to Calvin and Paula Zipperer, and was a descendant of the Salzburgers of Ebenezer, Effingham County. Tom's early years were spent in Savannah's Garden Homes and at Ft. Screven on Tybee Island where he met many of his lifelong friends and developed his avid love of sports, especially baseball and football. He was a diehard fan of Georgia Tech and the Atlanta Braves and spent many years competing in pool, horseshoes, and dart leagues. His family settled o ...
Gloria Virginia Werner Strang SEP 10, 1925 - JUN 20, 2014
Gloria Strang passed away on Friday, June 20, 2014 in Battle Creek, Michigan at the age of 88. A graveside service celebrating her life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 26, 2014 at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, with Elder Barbara Kaneiwa officiating. A reception will follow at the home of Jeff and Carol Walsh. Gloria was born on September 10, 1925 to Arthur and Anna Papke Werner in Detroit, Michigan. She married Richard C. Strang on August 10, 1946. She is survived by her daughters Linda (David) Barnett and Carol (Jeff) Walsh, grandchildren Ben (Teresa) Barnett, Kelly (James) Carroll ...
Marilou L. Harvey APR 06, 1933 - JUN 20, 2014
Marilou Harvey, 81, died Friday, June 20, 2014 at Candler Hospital. Marilou was born April 6, 1933 in Chicago, IL to the late Dee Dee L. and Louise LaLonge. She was a Communicant of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. She is survived by two sons, Thomas Harvey, of Savannah, and Timothy (Sarah) Harvey, of Houston, TX. Also surviving are her beloved granddaughters, Isabel Harvey and Kate Harvey. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Burial will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 26, 2014 in the Georgia National Cemetery in C ...
Cornelia Johnson Rollins JUL 21, 1928 - JUN 20, 2014
Cornelia Johnson Rollins, 85, passed away Friday, June 20, 2014 at Memorial University Medical Center. Mrs. Rollins was born in Savannah July 21, 1928 to Gilbert Edward and Mary Bowen Johnson. She was a graduate of Savannah High School and Grady Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. She worked as a registered nurse for over fifty years, mostly in the Savannah area. She was a member of The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Ascension and enjoyed sewing. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Gilbert Edward "Gee" Johnson, Jr. Survivors include her, daughters, Pamela ...
Myrtle Biel Vick Downs SEP 29, 1929 - JUN 16, 2014
SAVANNAH - Myrtle Biel Vick Downs, longtime Savannah resident, passed away on Monday, June 16, 2014 at Hospice Savannah. She was the daughter of the late Cornelia and George Biel of Charleston, SC. Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and David Gallahan; son and daughter-in-law, Ralph Vick, Jr. and Linda Vick; her precious grandsons, Kelly (Ashley) Vick, Steven (Jessie) Vick, and Chad (Valerie) Gallahan; great-grandchildren, Shelby Vick and Hunter Vick; and a sister, Elizabeth Maddox. A Memorial Service will be held at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel on Wednes ...
Blair K. Christensen, MD MAY 20, 1950 - JUN 14, 2014
Blair K. Christensen, MD, 64, passed away June 14, 2014. He was born in Montpelier, Idaho son of Melvin A. and Doris Hill Christensen. After high school graduation, he enrolled in the United States Air Force Academy and then enrolled at Idaho State University graduating with a degree in Pharmacy. He later obtained his medical degree from the University of Colorado in Denver. After medical school, he spent ten years in the United States Army as a Captain working as a Doctor at Letterman Hospital at San Francisco, Wynn Hospital at Fort Stewart and the Hunter Army Airfield Base. After leaving the ...
Henry H. Nichols AUG 24, 1932 - JUN 13, 2014
Henry H. Nichols, 81, passed away peacefully, June 13th at Hospice House. Henry was a communicant of St. Thomas Episcopal Church and a member of the St. Thomas Men's Group. Henry was an Eagle Scout and a captain in the U.S. Air Force. He earned a Bachelor's Degree at the University of Florida and a Master's Degree at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Henry retired from Union Camp and enjoyed playing golf in his retirement. Heaven has gained an Angel. Henry was a simple man with simple tastes. He loved Jesus, his family, golf, the Florida Gators, black coffee and banana bread. He was one of ...
Leland Carson "Slick" Thrash OCT 28, 1942 - JUN 12, 2014
Leland Carson Thrash, better known to his friends as "Slick", 71, passed away Thursday afternoon, June 12, 2014, at Tara Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Thunderbolt, GA. He was born in Jackson, Michigan to the late Frank Patillo Thrash and Ruth Miriam McIntosh Thrash and grew up in Moncks Corner, South Carolina where he was a proud "Berkeley Stag", excelling in track, football, baseball, and basketball, and later an LSU Tiger. After moving with his family to Bristol, Virginia, he worked with his father at the Bristol Boys Club and briefly served as Director before starting a 41 year caree ...
Sherry Dwyer Beasley MAY 09, 1939 - JUN 12, 2014
Sherry Dwyer Beasley, 75, passed away peacefully, Thursday June 12th at her home. Sherry was a native and lifelong resident of Thunderbolt Georgia. She was the daughter of Judge Lawrence J Dwyer and Helen Howard Dwyer. Sherry was a member of Nativity of Our Lord Parrish where she served for many years as the organist and choir director. She was a graduate of Saint Vincent's Academy and a member of the St. Vincent's Alumnae Choir. Sherry retired from Union Camp and was a member of the Union Camp Bag Ladies. She served as a member of the Nativity and Thunderbolt Woman's Auxiliary, was a Charter ...
West, Kenneth Palmer MAR 22, 1948 - JUN 12, 2014
Kenneth Palmer West, 66, passed away peacefully June 12, 2014 at his home under the care of Hospice Savannah. He was a native and longtime resident of Boston, MA, moving to Savannah in 1979. Kenneth had a long and successful career in the hospitality industry. He is survived by his wife, Lynn West of Savannah; a son, James West of Savannah; two daughters, India West of Savannah and Arwen Guay and her two children, Cayman and Jayme Guay of Albuquerque, NM; his brother, Richard West (Susan) of Kennebunkport, ME; several nieces and nephews; and lifelong friends, Walt Winnie and Abby Palmer. Servi ...
Colonel Jamie Robert Hendrix USA, Ret. JUL 26, 1930 - JUN 09, 2014
Colonel Jamie Robert Hendrix (USA, Ret.) died June 9, 2014, under the care of Hospice Savannah surrounded by his family, friends and former soldiers. He was born in Summit (now Twin City), Georgia on July 26, 1930, son of Jamie Hendrix and Lena Sconyers Hendrix. Following graduation from Metter High School in Metter, GA, he enrolled at The Citadel in Charleston, SC and graduated in 1951 as a Distinguished Military Graduate. Colonel Hendrix earned his master's degree from Georgia Southern University and attended the Army War College in Carlisle, PA. He fought as an infantry officer in the Unite ...
Betty W. Siler JUN 07, 1923 - JUN 09, 2014
Lilian (Betty) Walford Siler, age 91 died, Monday, June 9, 2014. Born in Cheddar, Somerset, England on June 7, 1923, she arrived at three years of age living on the peninsula south of San Francisco. She was educated on the West Coast but continued learning throughout her life for she enjoyed people and all the beauty of the world. She started doing volunteer work at an early age due to World War II. Her work as an advertising clerk for Standard Oil of California (Chevron) led to her being the Victory Garden model for Shell Oil plus photo model for many large companies. At the same time, she wa ...
Judge James Wesley Head SEP 19, 1927 - JUN 09, 2014
Judge James Wesley Head, 86, passed away on June 9, 2014 at the home of his daughter, Theresa Head Turner in Lecanto, FL, after an extended illness under the care of Hospice of Citrus and the Nature Coast and previously with Gentiva Hospice in Savannah. A native of Nashville, TN, Jim and his mother moved to Savannah in 1942. He attended Benedictine Military School. While attending BC, he worked for the Savannah Morning News as an assistant to W.D. McMillan, Sports Editor. He also worked under the watchful eye of Mr. Miller, the editor of the News at the time. Leaving Benedictine after his juni ...
Dorothy Hughes Simmons JAN 14, 1927 - JUN 09, 2014
Dorothy Hughes Simmons passed away and went to heaven, Monday, June 9, 2014. She was born in Savannah on January 14, 1927 to the late Marion and Ina Hughes. Dorothy graduated from Savannah High School and went to nursing school at St. Joseph Hospital as a cadet in Baltimore. As a registered nurse she was later employed by Memorial Hospital for 20 years. She was also the recording secretary for "The Happy Geechee Club" for a number of years. Mrs. Simmons was a lifelong and very active member of First Presbyterian Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 44 ...
Lauren Shannon Brown Smart JUL 10, 1979 - JUN 07, 2014
Lauren Shannon Brown Smart passed away Saturday, June 7, 2014, at age 34. Heaven has gained a beautiful soul and those of us left behind on earth are full of sadness and loss. Lauren loved life, adventure, and the sand beneath her feet; but most of all, she loved her children, Brayden and Phoenix, more than anything. Lauren had tremendous energy and everyone around her could feel her presence when she entered the room; she was so full of life and magnetism and could draw one into her sphere and we were better because of it. Lauren also strived to better herself through education and received a ...
Herbert Lee Taylor NOV 03, 1927 - JUN 06, 2014
Herbert Lee Taylor, 86, passed away Friday, June 6 of complications from cancer. He was born in Kingsland, Georgia to John and Idell Taylor. With 8 siblings, the family fell victim to the Great Depression and he was raised in the Anson Dodge Home for Boys, running the beaches of St. Simon's Island. At the age of 17, Herbert joined the Marine Corp and served as WWII ended in post-occupational China. He then returned to coastal Georgia, where he met and married the love of his life, Audilee. Starting with very little, Herbert grew H.L. Taylor Construction into one of the most successful local bu ...
Wayne O. Kieft AUG 16, 1935 - JUN 06, 2014
Wayne O. Kieft, 77, died Friday, June 6, 2014 at Hospice House. He was retired from Kemira and was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. He was preceded in death by his wife Carole Jean Kieft. Surviving are his son, Christian M. Kieft, Sr. of Savannah, grandson, Christian M. Kieft, Jr., of Savannah, and several brothers and sisters in Michigan. Graveside Service will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, June 9, 2014 at the Greenwich section of Bonaventure Cemetery. Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Islands Chapel ...
Ruth E. Kitchen NOV 02, 1949 - JUN 05, 2014
Ruth E. Kitchen, 64, surrounded by her close family and friends, passed away June 5, 2014 at Memorial Hospital, Savannah, GA. She was born November 2, 1949, in Baltimore City, MD. She will be greatly missed by her daughter and son-in-law, Monica and Floyd Allen Snyder, her grandchildren, Rachelina, Stephanie and Dustin Snyder, and her four lovely great grandchildren, Ace, Mariah, Gage Snyder and Logan Reinersten. They will always carry her memory in their hearts. Her family will hold a private memorial service. ...
Cecelia G. Seiler NOV 28, 1933 - JUN 05, 2014
Cecelia Gunn Seiler passed away Thursday, June 5th, after a lengthy illness. Born in Upatoi, GA, to Mary Charles and Cecil Gunn, she spent much of her childhood in Muscogee County. She graduated from Columbus High School. She attended Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia before transferring to the University of Georgia, where she pledged Chi Omega sorority. It was there she would meet her future husband, Frank W. "Sonny" Seiler. The couple would be given a solid white English bulldog puppy as a wedding gift. They named him UGA, and the University of Georgia Mascot dynasty would ...
Virginia M. Carlisle DEC 29, 1947 - JUN 05, 2014
Virginia McGrath "Ginger" Carlisle Ginger's extraordinary and inspiring seven-year battle with cancer ended Thursday evening, June 5, 2014. Her family and friends are grateful for the special time together she won for them as a result of the consistent faith and fierce determination she brought to that battle, and for the support she received from her incredible team of doctors at St. Joseph's Candler. Born and raised in New England, Ginger's 40 plus year career in nursing and hospital administration began in Boston and took her to New York City in 1974, where she met and married her husband, ...
J. Thomas Coleman, Jr. SEP 08, 1928 - JUN 04, 2014
SAVANNAH - Tom Coleman, 85, of Savannah, Ga, passed away June 4, 2014 after a long illness. Visitation will be held at the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament on June 6, 2014 from 5:30 – 8:00 PM, with a rosary service at 7:30 PM. Funeral services will be held at the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament on June 7, 2014 at 11:00 AM. J. Tom Coleman was the epitome of a public servant, a successful businessman and a loving husband, father and grandfather. He will long be remembered for his devotion to the Savannah community and his desire to make a lasting difference. A native of Savannah, Georgi ...
Clarence C. Graham JAN 21, 1937 - JUN 03, 2014
Savannah - Clarence C. Graham, 77, succumbed to Huntington's disease, as he passed away peacefully yesterday at Spanish Oaks Retreat. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence E. and Idaree Graham. Mr. Graham is survived by a wife, Nancy, two children: Kimberly Graham and Dana Graham Wodkowski Michael. He also leaves behind two grandchildren, Brittany McLaughlin and Graham Wodkowski. A Retired Major, Carl is a veteran of the Vietnam War, where he proudly served two tours of duty, instructed various courses, and was awarded several badges and medals. His awards and decorations include t ...
Edwin C. Shepherd, MD JUN 19, 1921 - MAY 30, 2014
Savannah- Edwin Collier Shepherd, 92, died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on May 30, 2014. Born June 19, 1921 in Charleston, West Virginia, he was the son of the late Tisdale Talmadge Shepherd and Katherine Evelyn Sauls Shepherd. His family moved to Savannah in 1927 where he attended public schools and graduated from Savannah High School. He received a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Georgia, where he was a member and president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, a member of the University of Georgia Male Glee Club and a member of Phi Kappa Phi Literary Society. During World War II, ...
Jack Hinton Rhodes JAN 17, 1923 - MAY 30, 2014
Savannah, GA - Jack Hinton Rhodes, 91, died on May 30, 2014 at Hospice Savannah after a long illness. Jack was born on January 17, 1923 in Savannah, Georgia to Robert Hinton Rhodes and Thelma Whitford Rhodes. He was predeceased by a sister, Mary Rhodes Czarnecki. Growing up in Savannah, Jack attended Savannah High School and Armstrong Junior College. During World War II, he was a Captain in the U.S. Army Air Force, serving as a Navigator aboard C-54 Skymaster and C-87 Liberator Express aircraft, flying supply routes from Miami to North Africa and India. Of his service, he was characteristicall ...