Obituaries
Betty Vardeman Denmark APR 10, 2009 - FEB 26, 2009
Betty Vardeman Denmark, 74, died February 26, 2009. She was born in Columbus, Georgia, daughter of the late Roderick D. and Bonnie Snellgrove Vardeman. She was a graduate of Georgia Teachers College in Statesboro and was a school teacher in the Savannah-Chatham County School District for forty years. Her greatest role in life was a being a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Her husband, Mallie A. Denmark preceded her in death. Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Michele and Mike DiGiovanni of Guyton; and children, Jarrod Michael Smith and Graham Dhu Smith both of Pooler; Alana Michele ...
Vernice Brewster Ramsey JUN 16, 1922 - FEB 26, 2009
VERNICE BREWSTER RAMSEY Vernice Brewster Ramsey 86 died Thursday, February 26, 2009 at Savannah Square Retirement Community. She was the daughter of the late Mr. & Mrs. Floyd Brewster. Mrs. Ramsey was a native of Auburn, New York and a resident of Savannah for the past 15 years. She was a member of Bull Street Baptist Church. Mrs. Ramsey was a proud descendant from the Brewster and the Ludlow families, the Brewster's were very involved in forming the Plymouth Colony and Roger de Quincy a 15th generation descendant of the Ludlow family signed the Magna Carter in 1215. Mrs. Ramsey was prece ...
Carolyn Wallace Adams AUG 12, 1937 - FEB 26, 2009
CAROLYN WALLACE ADAMS Carolyn W. Adams, 71, passed away Thursday, February 26, 2009 at Candler Hospital with family and friends with her. She was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but moved with her family at a very young age to Savannah, where she resided until present. She was a graduate of Commercial High School with the class of 1956. Carolyn met her husband Jack in Savannah, but traveled with him extensively while he served his country in the United States Marines for over 20 years. Carolyn was a member of Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church and was an active member of the Fellowship Sunday ...
Robert G. Groover JUL 16, 1927 - FEB 25, 2009
Savannah- Mr. Robert G. Groover, 81, died Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at Memorial University Medical Center. The Bulloch County native served in the U.S. Coast Guard during WWII and for many years in the Coast Guard Reserves and National Guard. He was a Trainman with CSX Railroad for 42 years and a longtime member of Bible Baptist Church. He will always be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather. His grandchildren were the apple of his eye. Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Sue Groover of Savannah; five children, Robin Groover of Hinesville, Philip Jamie Groover of Hinesv ...
Reverend Mario Balbi, S.D.B. - FEB 23, 2009
Reverend Mario Balbi, S.D.B. Newark, NJ - Father Mario Balbi, S.D. B., 88, chaplain of the Port of Newark, New Jersey died February 23, in Newark. A priest of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Father Balbi taught Latin and French at Benedictine Military School in Savannah from 1969 to 1981 and served as chaplain of the Port of Savannah, part-time at first, and later full-time, from 1974 to 1990. Funeral services for Father Balbi were held at both Stella Maris Chapel in Newark and at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Orange, N.J. on February 26. Burial was in the Salesian Cemetery in Goshen, N.Y. on F ...
Mary Agnes Johnson FEB 11, 1929 - FEB 23, 2009
Thunderbolt- Mary Agnes Johnson died peacefully in her Thunderbolt home on Monday, February 23, 2009, two weeks after celebrating her eightieth birthday. She was the daughter of Margaret E. Hutton and Thomas E. Johnson. She was preceded in death by her beloved cousins, Gertrude Kehoe Beytagh and J. Herbert Johnson, Jr., whom she considered her sister and brother. She attended Cathedral Day School and was a graduate of the 1947 class of St. Vincent's Academy. After graduation, she was employed by Union Camp Corporation where she worked for forty years until her retirement. She was a communicant ...
Virginia Thackston Newman APR 19, 1920 - FEB 23, 2009
Dublin, Georgia - Virginia Jones Thackston Newman, 88, died February 23, 2009 at Dublinaire Nursing Home, Dublin, GA. Born in Savannah, she is the daughter of the late William Percy Jones and Julia Virginia Coffin Jones. She lived in Savannah until 1997 when she moved to Dublin, GA. For many years, she was a Physicians Assistant for Drs. David Fillingim and Dan Willoughby. Mrs. Newman was a former member of Southside Baptist Church and Pineland Baptist Church. She was involved in the Savannah Little Theater for many years. Preceded in death by her first husband, Harvey Clinton Thackston, Jr. a ...
Frank Skipper Dunn OCT 21, 1944 - FEB 22, 2009
Bluffton, SC – Frank Matthew Dunn died quietly Sunday, February 22, 2009 at his home in Bluffton, South Carolina at 65 years of age. He was the son of Dr. and Mrs. Laurence Blun Dunn and the grandson of Dr. and Mrs. Matthew Francis Dunn and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Duncan Strachan. A lifelong resident of Savannah and in recent years, of Bluffton, he was a 1962 graduate of Savannah Country Day School and attended Princeton University. "Skipper" as he was known to friends and relatives, was a brilliant chess player, a voracious reader and most of all, an orchid enthusiast and grower. He was employed f ...
Elise Graves Dugger FEB 01, 1930 - FEB 22, 2009
ELISE GRAVES DUGGER Elise Graves Dugger 79, died Monday, February 23, 2009 in Savannah after a short illness. Mrs. Dugger was a native and longtime resident of Savannah. She attended Brewton Parker College and graduated from Georgia Southern University. Mrs. Dugger retired from the Chatham County School System after 32 years of teaching. She was a longtime member of Calvary of Savannah, the Christian Women's and the YMCA in Pooler. Surviving are, her husband, Charles L. Dugger of Savannah, her son and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Melissa Dugger of Franklin, TN; her brother, William Graves of Sav ...
Roger Wayne Parian MAR 14, 1944 - FEB 22, 2009
Roger Wayne Parian Roger Wayne Parian was born March 14, 1944, passed away on February 22, 2009. A graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology, Roger served as director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Coastal Regional Crime Lab-Savannah for 22 years. A passionate philosopher, scientist, inventor, and artist, Roger was a selfless genius beloved by his family and many friends. Preceded in death by his father, Aldo Pariani. Survived by his wife, Mary Ford Parian, and two daughters, Dagny Pariani and Asha Parian of Savannah. His mother, Eleanor Hoffer Parian of Carrollton. Two brothers, Ro ...
JoAnne Marie Jenney MAR 01, 1932 - FEB 22, 2009
JoAnne Marie Jenney, 76, died February 22nd at the Spanish Oaks Retreat in Savannah, Georgia. JoAnne was born on March 1, 1932 in Brooklyn, New York to her late parents, Joseph and Ann Steiner. JoAnne was predeceased by her late husband, Edward Gorham. She is survived by her loving husband, Miles Jenney; her brother, Don Steiner; her sister-in-law, Margaret Gorham of Fripp Island, SC and cousin, Carolyn De Palma of Somers, New York. JoAnne is also survived by her four children, Edward Gorham and wife Angelika of Fabius, New York, Robert Gorham and wife Juliette of Mahuah, New Jersey, Maryann ...
Anne Orpik Whelden MAR 12, 1928 - FEB 22, 2009
Savannah - Anne Orpik Whelden, 80, died February 22, 2009 at Hospice Savannah, Inc. She was born in Concord, MA, daughter of the late Victor and Mary Melka Orpik. Mrs. Whelden moved to Savannah in 1995 from Stow, MA when she and her husband retired. Surviving are her husband of 59 ½ years, Arthur N. Whelden of Savannah; two sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Colleen Whelden of Pagosa Springs, CO; Victor and Melissa Whelden of Rincon; three daughters and a son-in-law, Lois and Robert Libby of Pepperell, MA; Sandra Whelden of Rock Hill, SC; Debra Goransson of York, SC; brother, Stanley Orpik ...
Barbara Dekle Sowell MAY 07, 1923 - FEB 22, 2009
Barbara D. Sowell 1923 to 2009 Barbara Dekle Sowell died February 21, 2009 at the age of 85 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida after a long illness. Born May 7, 1923, she spent her childhood in Cordele, Georgia. After she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Valdosta State College, she married Pat Blackshear Sowell of Brewton, Alabama. They lived and raised their three children at Isle of Hope in Savannah. Mrs. Sowell was an active volunteer in the Isle of Hope community including the Isle of Hope United Methodist Church. She spent many years as a reading teacher at Savannah County Day School. ...
Phillip Levi Lightfoot SEP 15, 1943 - FEB 21, 2009
Captain Phillip Levi Lightfoot Captain Phillip Levi Lightfoot was born September 15, 1943 in Pembroke, GA to Roan and Fleetie Phillips Lightfoot Strickland and departed this life February 21, 2009. He was a resident of Bethesda Home for Boys from 1950 to 1963 and graduated from Savannah High School in 1963. He served four years in the United States Navy aboard the USS Matthews aka 96 Amphibious Ship making landings in DaNang, Hue and Chulai, South Vietnam. He later transferred to the USS Pandemus based in Charleston, S.C. After serving 2 years with the Naval Reserve, he transferred to the GA A ...
Mildred Elizabeth Tonning SEP 27, 1916 - FEB 21, 2009
Mildred Elizabeth Tonning, 92 died peacefully at home in Savannah, GA where she lived with her daughter on Saturday, February 21st, 2009. She was a longtime resident of Memphis and moved to Savannah in 2005. Mrs. Tonning is the widow of Dr. Wayland A. Tonning, Sr. She was preceded in death by her parents Mr. & Mrs. Robert William Tonning, Sr., her sister, Dorothy Tonning Skelton and her brother, Robert William Tonning, Jr. Born in 1916, Mrs. Tonning was a member of what has been called 'The Greatest Generation' whose lives were tempered by extraordinary events including The Great Depressi ...
Nora Floyd Clifton NOV 10, 1919 - FEB 21, 2009
Nora Floyd Clifton died Saturday, February 21, 2009 at the age of 89. She lived in Savannah most of her life and was educated in Savannah. She worked for thirty years as a bookkeeper. She was a member of White Bluff United Methodist Church, the Friendship Sunday School Class, The Social Seniors. She was also a member of Mary/Martha Circle, Bethel Burton Homemakers and the County Extension Agency. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph D. Clifton; sons, Alan R. and Harold J. Clifton; grandson, Marlin D. Clifton, Jr. and daughter-in-law, Christa S. Clifton. She is survived by her son, M ...
Henry S. Brown MAY 28, 1918 - FEB 21, 2009
Henry S. Brown, 90, died at home Saturday, February 21. He was born May 28, 1918, the youngest child of Emily Sulter Brown and Edward J. Brown, Sr. and was a 1935 graduate of Benedictine Military School. He served in the Air Corps in Africa during World War II. He and Mary Jane Fahey were married on Sept 18, 1948. He was an accountant at Union Camp Corp. and retired in 1980 after a 30 year career in Savannah, Alabama and Michigan. A longtime communicant of Blessed Sacrament Church, he sang in the choir for many years. He was a Knight of Columbus, a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, ...
Frank J. Canzanella, Sr. SEP 28, 1926 - FEB 21, 2009
Frank J. Canzanella, Sr. Frank J. Canzanella, Sr., 82, died Saturday February 21, 2009 under the care of Hospice Savannah Inc. Frank was born on September 28, 1926 in Brooklyn, NY, one of fourteen children to the late Anthony and Catherine Canzanella. He also lived in New Jersey and Florida before settling in Savannah in 2005. He served his country during WWII as a Navy gunner on a Merchant Marine ship. He retired in 1988 from the Carpenter's Union where he was a construction superintendent. In addition to his parents, Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Sidney Canzanella and his ...
Marion Keith Burk JAN 07, 1922 - FEB 20, 2009
SAVANNAH - Marion Keith Burk, 87, died February 20, 2009 at Candler Hospital. He entered God's kingdom peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Keith Was born January 7th, 1922 in Torrington Wyoming. He served in WWII as a B-17 pilot in the Eighth Air Force. Keith was stationed in Savannah where he met Anne Yarbrough, dec'd 2006 and they were married after the war, in 1946. After graduating from University of Colorado he was hired by General Electric, in Schenectady, New York and retired in 1984 with 35 years as an Electrical Engineer. After returning to Savannah for retirement, Keith an ...
Maude Brannen Futch MAY 25, 1914 - FEB 18, 2009
Savannah - Maude Brannen Futch, 94, died February 18, 2009 at St. Joseph's Hospital. She was born in Bulloch County, daughter of the late Alonzo L. Brannen and Annie Fountain Brannen. She lived in Savannah since 1938. Mrs. Futch served as Linen Manager for Sears and Roebuck Company for many years and was a prestigious clothier of women' apparel for Fines and retired from Caldwell's at Piccadilly. She was a faithful member of Immanuel Baptist Church. Mrs. Futch always welcomed her family into her home and over the years served as a boarder for many of her nieces and nephews. She had a great pas ...
Essie Fountain Schreck DEC 02, 1918 - FEB 16, 2009
Essie Fountain Schreck died Monday, February 16, 2009. She was the widow of Peter Reilly Schreck, Sr. She was born December 2, 1918 in Savannah where she attended St. Vincent's Elementary School and was a graduate of St. Vincent's Academy. Later she attended Ryan's Business College, Armstrong Atlantic State University and Savannah State College obtaining a certified professional secretarial rating. Her working career spanned some 50 years of service with the following federal government agencies: Department of Defense at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah; Officer's Club, U.S. Air Force, Lubbock ...
Edward Ward Hayden SEP 30, 1922 - FEB 14, 2009
Zionville, NC- Mr. Edward Ward Hayden, 86, died Saturday, February 14, 2009 at Watauga Medical Center in Zionville, NC. Mr. Hayden was born in Mansfield, PA where he attended Mansfield State Teachers College. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII and later worked for Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation. After retirement in 2001, he moved to Zionville, NC, where he enjoyed reading, cooking and gardening. Mr. Hayden was preceded in death by his wife Deidre Adams Hayden; parents, Joseph Lord and Mildred Colgrove Hayden and his brother, Joseph Lord Hayden, Jr. He will be greatly missed by his daugh ...
Joe Earl McAllister, Sr. MAR 17, 1927 - FEB 12, 2009
Joe Earl McAllister, Sr. Savannah, - Joe McAllister, 81, died February 12, 2009 at his residence. He was born in Mt. Vernon, Georgia and lived in Savannah most of his life. He was United States Army Veteran serving during World War II. Joe was Superintendent of Metal Equipment Company for twenty years and after leaving Metal Equipment, he operated a machine and fabrication shop in Garden City for seventeen years, from which he retired in 1988. After retirement, Joe served as President of Talahi Lake Association for several years. He was a member of Wilmington Island United Methodist Church, Fr ...
Isaiah Hubert Beasley JAN 09, 1931 - FEB 11, 2009
Isaiah Hubert Beasley, 78, died Wednesday, February 11, 2009 in Savannah. Mr. Beasley was born in Stilson, GA on January 9, 1931, the youngest son of eleven of the late Isaiah Hubert and Bessie Lee Beasley. He was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, serving during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of American Legion Post #36, a member of Thunderbolt Lodge #693 F.&A.M., The Scottish Rite Consistory-Valley of Savannah and a member of the Alee Shrine where he was active with the Oriental Band. Hubert was an avid hunter and fisherman and a former member of the Pope Hunting Club. Mr ...
Richard F. Brown FEB 16, 1909 - FEB 11, 2009
SAVANNAH - Richard F Dick Brown passed on February 11, 2009. He was 99. Dick Brown was born in Kansas City, Kansas. He was the last survivor of the family of Robert and Grace Brown. Dick married Pearl Proctor his loving wife of 69 years in Kansas City in 1933. Pearl died in 2002. Dick graduated from the University of Kansas with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Education. He later did graduate work in Engineering. His lifetime career was in chemical engineering and management. This started during World War Ii. Because of his experience and education the government made him supervisor of the ...
William Jackson Barton OCT 03, 1923 - FEB 11, 2009
William Jackson Barton passed away peacefully on February 11, 2009. He was born October 03, 1923 in Canton, North Carolina. He was a graduate of Canton High School and a graduate of North Carolina State University where he was named a Distinguished Alumni of the School of Forest Resources. Mr. Barton was a decorated veteran of World War II having served as First Lieutenant in the Infantry. He began his legendary career as an assistant state forester for the State of South Carolina. In 1956 he joined Union Camp Paper Corporation now International Paper. He retired from the company in 1987 as W ...
William E. Bradley, Jr. DEC 19, 1942 - FEB 10, 2009
Savannah- William Emmett Bradley, Jr. passed away on February 10, 2009 at Hospice Savannah. He was a 1960 graduate of Benedictine Military School, and attended Armstrong College. He served in the Georgia Air National Guard-165th Airlift Group as a medic. He was an engineer with Allen Hydraulics in Savannah, Metroplex Products, Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas and Diamond Manufacturing in Savannah. More recently, he owned Bradley Woodworkers. He was a member of Knights of Columbus Council 631, The St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee and the Coastal Heritage Society. He attended Blessed Sacrament Cath ...
Almareta Williamson DEC 23, 1922 - FEB 10, 2009
Almareta Williamson, 86, died Tuesday, February 10, 2009 in Savannah. Mrs. Williamson was born in Register, GA on December 23, 1922, the daughter of the late David Henry and Debbie Bird Williamson. Almareta attended the schools of Register. She enjoyed participating in the school basketball team and also played in the City Leagues. Upon graduation she began working with Sears Roebuck and Co. where she retired after over forty years of service as Head Cashier. Almareta loved to visit the Flea Market whether perusing or in her booth which she had for many years. She was a longtime member of Asb ...
Charles Sherburne Putnam APR 22, 1921 - FEB 09, 2009
CHARLES SHERBURNE PUTNAM Charles Sherburne Putnam 87 died peacefully in his sleep February 9, 2009. A resident of Skidaway Island since 1994, he was born 4/22/1921 in Boston, MA, the son of Sarah S. and George Endicott Putnam. A proud graduate of Groton School 1939 and Harvard College 1943 where he played football, squash and was on the crew, he married Nancy Parker King on 8/8/1942 and shortly went off to Naval service on the USS Philadelphia in the invasion of North Africa 10/42 and on the Light Cruiser USS Biloxi CL-80 in the Pacific where he earned the Bronze Star 2/45. After the war, he a ...