Rev. Dr. Roger L. Shinn, ‘38
Dr. Shinn, Class of ’38, died May 13, 2013, in his Southbury, Connecticut, home at the age of 96. He was credited with authoring the United Church of Christ’s Statement of Faith, adopted by the General Synod in 1959. He was the Reinhold Niebuhr professor emeritus of social ethics at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where he had served as acting president from 1974-75.
A noted theologian and educator, a prolific author, administrator and advocate, Dr. Shinn taught in the Department of Religion and Philosophy from 1949-54. He was elected to serve on Heidelberg’s Board of Trustees in 1975. On three occasions, he was the baccalaureate speaker, in 1949, 1985 and 1998, the same year he received the Alumni Citation.
Dr. Shinn was born in Germantown, Ohio, on January 6, 1917. Following his graduation from Heidelberg, he then graduated from Union, having studied with some of the giants of 20th century religious thought. He served as adjunct professor of religion and society in the Graduate School of Columbia University and taught occasionally at Jewish Theological Seminary of America and at the New York University Stern School of Business Administration. After his retirement from Union, he was a visiting professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, Drew University School of Theology, Vanderbilt University Divinity School and Pacific School of Religion.
He was the author of at least 15 books, including “Forced Options: Social Decisions for the 21st Century,” reflecting his desire for a sharper sense of ethical and social responsibility. Additionally, he was a decorated war hero, having served during World War II.
(Published in the Summer 2012 Bulletin)
Alumni
1936
Kenneth Wetzel, Virginia Beach, Va., died Feb. 10, 2012. Kenneth was a chemist for research and development at Basic Inc., near Tiffin, for 37 years. He is survived by two sons, James, ’63, and Kenneth; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Dr. Mary Louise (Sheffer) Zellner, Penny Farms, Fla., died March 31, 2012. Mary was a teacher and school administrator for 43 years. She is survived by a sister, Dorothy Levesque.
1938
Kathryn (Heaver) Armstrong, Canfield, Ohio, died Sept. 4, 2011. Kathryn was a teacher in the Boardman School system. She is survived by a brother, Dr. Robert Heaver, ’38.
1940
Naomi (Hegnauer) Smith Martin, Canton, Ohio, passed away Jan. 6, 2012. Naomi taught home economics at Timken and Lehman High Schools for 40 years. She is survived by a son, Thomas Smith; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
1941
Dr. Eldon Hall, Frederick, Md., died April 1, 2012. Eldon worked as a rocket scientist/aeronautical engineer for NASA for 31 years. He was instrumental in enabling the U.S. to put the first man on the moon. Eldon was part of the Apollo mission and also helped launch the Saturn, Gemini and Lunar Module. He is survived by his wife, Hildegard; five daughters, Anna Marie Spargo, Barbara Tredway, Lorita Nicholson, Beatrice Towns and Teresa Saunders; seven sons, Mark, William, Daniel, John, Alan, Andrew and Joseph; 43 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren.
1942
Mary Jo (Fager) Young Eldridge, Mechanicsburg, Pa., died March 2, 2012. Mary Jo was a high school and middle school English teacher. She is survived by three daughters, Anne Kerr, Janie Payne and Marguerite Keller; one son, Nathan Young; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Anna (Borger) Wilson, Naples, Fla., died June 27, 2011. Anna was a teacher at Gulfview Middle School from 1960-1977. She is survived by a son, Gary; and two grandchildren.
Vera (Mollenkop) Warren-Hill, Sandusky, Ohio, died Dec. 10, 2012. Vera was a retired government and history teacher. She is survived by her husband, Horace Hill; one son, Charles Pheiffer; and two grandchildren.
1946
Ernest Clausing, Swarthmore, Pa., died Aug. 3, 2011. Ernest worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad for many years. He was an industry pioneer in system computer simulations for the railroad company. Ernest is survived by his wife, Cleora; two daughters, Beverly Miller and Wanda Armitage; a sister, Louise Anthony; a brother, Rev. John Clausing; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
1947
Verda (Schwitzgable) Winslow, Canton, Ohio, passed away Jan. 22, 2012. Vera was a retired teacher and real estate agent. She is survived by her husband, William, ’49; one daughter, Paula Weston; four sons, Bruce, Brian, Brady and Brent; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Rosemary (Lenhart) Wagner, North Kingsville, Ohio, passed away March 12, 2012. Rosemary taught math at various central Ohio schools, retiring from Conneaut High School in 1991. She is survived by five sons, John W., Daniel, James, Chris and Curt; one daughter, Ann Stevens; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
1949
Artha (Ahart) Hawksley, Asheville, N.C., died Dec. 22, 2011.
Dorothy (Haas) Gregersen, Charlotte, N.C., died Aug. 2, 2011.
Carol Anne (Bode) Marty, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, died April 26, 2012. Carol was a professional singer, pianist and voice instructor who taught for many years at Otterbein College and Capital University, while maintaining her private music studio. She is survived by two sons, David and Daniel; one daughter, Kathleen; one brother, Arden Bode; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
1950
Robert Quaintance, Huron, Ohio, died March 1, 2012. Robert served as a special agent for the FBI in Baltimore, New York, Cleveland and Sandusky from 1952-1978. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; one son, Rev. Robert; one daughter, Lori Kirk; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Gertrude “Billie” (Williams) Fink, Columbus, died Jan. 22, 2012. Gertrude taught elementary school for 18 years. She is survived by her husband, John “Ted,” ’50 ; and two daughters, Gay Payne and Beverly Fink.
1951
Margery (Schempf) Kirk, Columbus, died Sept. 25, 2012. Margery was a former employee of Ohio Bell. She is survived by two sons, Richard and Robert; a sister, Lois Zimmerman; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
1952
Daniel Creager, Aurora, Ohio, died Oct. 25, 2011. Daniel was a retired Air Force pilot. He is survived by his wife, Jo; two sons, Dan and David; and five grandchildren.
1953
George Bundick, Tiffin, died April 12, 2012. George was the former owner of The Print Shop in Tiffin.
1954
Jean (Bauer) Graham, Tiffin, passed away Nov. 1, 2011. Jean was a member of Bernie Bauer's All Girl Band during the 1940s. She also worked as a legal secretary and speech teacher. She is survived by her husband, Arthur, ’53; four daughters, Sheila Graham, Marcia Focht, Karen Kraft and Patti Rossi; one son, Thomas; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
1956
Rev. Larold “Larry” Schulz, Claremont, Calif., died Feb. 21, 2012. A minister by profession, Larry was an advocate for civil rights, peace and social justice, gender equality, affordable housing for the poor and homeless and advocate for the rights of the disabled and alternative lifestyle communities. He is survived by his wife, Donna; two sons, Karl and Keith; one daughter, Karen Schulz; two step-daughters, Kristin Danielson and Melissa Spear; two brothers, Glenn, ’60, and Dwight; and 10 grandchildren.
1958
Rev. Dr. Roger Perl, Tiffin, died Dec. 7, 2011. Roger served as a UCC pastor at various churches in Ohio. After retiring in 1996, he worked in the national offices in Cleveland. He is survived by his wife, Jeanie (Ziegler), ’58; two daughters, Amy Kuhn and Emily Perl; one brother, Thomas, ’64; one sister, Betty Roggenkamp, ’53; and two grandchildren.
1959
Dr. John Biller, Charlottesville, Va., died Oct. 27, 2011. John was a principal for 33 years at Stony Point, Woodbrook, Hollymead and Walton schools. He is survived by his partner, Michael Davis; and a sister, Janet Frye.
Marcia (Hosmer) Nuss, Rocky River, Ohio, died Oct. 30, 2011. Marcia is survived by three daughters, Dr. Michelle Nuss, Dr. Kathryn Nuss and Jennifer White; and six grandchildren.
1960
Dorothy Limbach, Fairborn, Ohio, died Jan. 28, 2012. Dorothy spent most of her career as a research scientist at the Kettering Research Lab in Yellow Springs. She later worked in the telecommunications department at Wright State University. She is survived by one brother, Ronald.
1962
Larry Ramey, Akron, Ohio, died Nov. 18, 2011. Larry was vice president of Dean Foods. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; one daughter, Traci Morrison; one son, Troy; one brother, Eugene; and grandchildren.
Dr. Herbert Topp, Mechanicsburg, Ohio, died Oct. 27, 2011. Herbert was the owner/operator of the Mechanicsburg Veterinary Clinic for more than 47 years. He is survived by his wife, Helen (Klopfenstein); one son, Douglas; one daughter, DiAnn McMillen; two brothers, Marvin and Thomas; two sisters, Martha Ewing and Doris Carr; two grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.
1963
Karen (Friedley) Tabak, Lorain, Ohio, died Dec. 6, 2011. Karen was a teacher in the Lorain City School District for 25 years. She is survived by her husband, William Russell; three daughters, Becky Evans, Jenny Evans and Brandy Evans; one stepson, Jeff Tabak; her mother, Kathryn Friedley; and three step-grandchildren.
1965
David Brickner, Fremont, Ohio, died Jan. 5, 2012. David was the director of student services at Fremont City Schools until he retired in 2002. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne (Warnecke) '67; three sons, Seth, William and Timothy; one daughter, Alissa Ward; and 11 grandchildren.
1969
Rosalie (Hall) Nehls, Vermilion, Ohio, died Jan. 6, 2012. She had an active career in music. She is survived by her husband, Roger, ’69; two sons, Trenton and Cory; and five grandchildren.
1970
Jerry Shackelford, Talbott, Tenn., died May 21, 2011. Jerry was retired from the Hamblen County school system. He is survived by his wife, Margaret; one son, Bobby; and one sister, Patsy Sykes.
Nancy (Gresser) Getz, Tiffin, died March 15, 2012. Nancy taught at Krout Elementary School and Tiffin Middle School for 30 years. She is survived by her husband, Jim, ’58; one son, Jim, ’80; one daughter, Kelly Lamoreaux, ’82; one brother, Ronald Gressner; and six grandchildren.
1972
Sheryl (McQuown) Rook-Steinmetz, Tiffin, died Feb. 22, 2012. Sheryl was the retired director of the Seneca County Detention Center. She is survived by her husband, William Steinmentz; parents, Norman and Beulah McQuown; one daughter, Heather Rook; and three brothers, Roger, John and David.
1976
Kathryn Jane (Cleveland) Mowery, Salem, Ohio, died Jan. 18, 2012. Kathryn taught fifth grade at Prospect and Southeast schools for 35 years. She is survived by her husband, William “Bill”; one son, Matt; and one sister, Audrey Null,’80.
Edward Palmer, New Port Richey, Fla., died Dec. 21, 2011. Edward owned a private dentistry practice for 27 years. He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; two daughters, Amanda and Sara; mother, Faye Palmer; one brother, Kim; and one sister, Karen Palmer.
Greg King, Kimball, S.D., died Jan. 11, 2012 as a result of an automobile accident. He was a UCC pastor in South Dakota, Ohio and Missouri.
1981
Linda (Bird) Kirkpatrick, Akron, Ohio, died Dec. 30, 2011. Linda was a retired teacher at Musselman High School in Martinsburg. She is survived by her husband, Jerry; two daughters, Kristen and Caroline; parents Robert and Shirley Bird; two sisters, Brenda Bird and Kathy Miller; and one brother, Robert Bird.
1984
Jonathan Freeman, Chillicothe, Ohio, died Nov. 11, 2011. Jonathan was employed as a unit manager at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution. He is survived by his parents, Richard and Phyllis Palmer; girlfriend, Deborah Vonville; one son, Nathaniel; and one daughter, Alyssa.
1988
Anne (Graf) Rutherford, St. Paul, Minn., died April 16, 2012. Anne was a manager at the Walker Place Theater in Minneapolis. She is survived by her husband, James; daughter, Madeline; and son, Thomas.
1995
Bobbie J. Silvernail, Des Moines, Iowa, died Nov. 26, 2011. Bobbi was a former TV news reporter and anchor. She also was a former Mrs. Iowa. She is survived by her husband, John Brunscheon; one daughter, Chloe Bergman; two step-daughters, Jaina and Lily Brunscheon; mother, Margaret; father, Robert; one sister, Belinda Silvernail; and one brother, David.
Friends
Mary Jo (Creeger) Lust, Tiffin, died Nov. 29, 2011. Mary Jo worked in the Financial Aid Office at Heidelberg and as a secretary at Turner-Engle Funeral Home for many years. She is survived by two daughters, Barbara Schetzsie and Jane McNamee; one son, Rich, ’71; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Dr. John Sacorafos, Atlanta, died March 27, 2012. John was a Spanish professor at Heidelberg and a long-time Tiffin resident. He is survived by his wife, Mary; two daughters, Tessie Zaczek, ’74, and Anna Hovind; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Archibold “Archie” Thomas, Fostoria, Ohio, died Feb. 21, 2012. He joined the faculty in 1947 and served as dean of men, dean of students, vice president of student affairs and chief planning officer. He also taught communication and broadcasting, and had a successful run as the debate coach. He is survived by his wife, Margaret; one son, Dr. Paul, ’66; one daughter, Barbara James; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.