Obituaries
Obituaries for Bissler & Sons' Funeral Home and Crematory
In Memory of Our Dear Loved Ones
John C. Brown
Sep 17, 2019
John C. Brown, age 69, of Kent, died on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at home surrounded by his family.
John was born March 10, 1950 in Akron, to John "Jack" and Margaret (DeLong) Brown Jr.
John was a 1968 graduate of Kent Roosevelt High School and attended Kent State University. He was a veteran of...
Judy Jo Tenney
Sep 17, 2019
Judy Jo Tenney, 81, passed away September 17, 2019 in Ravenna. She is finally at peace.
She was born January 13, 1938 in Ravenna to parents, Joseph H. Corley and Glenna I. Texter. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, M. Dick Tenney; and her brother, Lester Corley. She is survived by her children,...
James C. Rankin
Sep 14, 2019
James (Jim) C. Rankin
Jim Rankin, age 80 of Kent, died peacefully at his home Saturday, September 14th 2019.
Born September 30, 1938 in Cleveland to Easton and Elizabeth (Yea) Rankin, Jim grew up in Mentor Headlands and attended Mentor High School where he played baseball and football. He was an acclaimed baseball catcher and...

Nermine Enin
Sep 12, 2019
Beloved mother of Rachel Favetta and daughter of Eileen and the late Abdo Enin, died on the evening of September 12th, 2019. Born in Egypt, she lived most of her life in the Akron/Kent area.
To mourn and miss her she leaves many friends and relatives here and abroad. In recent years, she devoted much of her...
Jack W. Lilly
Sep 11, 2019
Jack W. Lilly, age 91, of Streetsboro, died on September 11, 2019, at UH Portage Medical Center.
Jack was born June 26, 1928, in Akron, to Harold and Margaret (Culver) Lilly. Jack worked for Beck Sand & Gravel retiring after 42 years of service. He enjoyed camping, traveling, gardening and farming. In his early years Jack rode...

Mary H. (Cooper) Neuzil
Sep 9, 2019
Mary Helen Neuzil, age 75, of Kent, died on Monday, September 9, 2019 at University Hospital of Cleveland.
Mary was born May 11, 1944 in Keokuk, IA to Floyd and Anna Cooper. In addition to dedicating her career to early childhood education, she loved spending time with her beloved grandchildren.
She is survived by her...

Nola G. Trowbridge
Sep 9, 2019
Nola G. Trowbridge, age 80, of Kent, died on Monday, September 9, 2019 at her home.
Nola was born July 15, 1939 in Russell County, VA to Thomas and Edith (Bostic) Whited. Nola was a member of Faith United Methodist Church in Brimfield. Nola was a Registered Nurse having worked at Chapel Hill Nursing Home and various...
Margaret "Meg" (Olson) Phillips
Sep 8, 2019
Margaret “Meg” Phillips, of Kent, Ohio, passed away at her home with her family by her side on Sunday, September 8, 2019.
Born in Youngstown, Ohio, on June 28, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Lillian Olson. It was there she met the love of her life, Tom “Coach” Phillips and became a...
Joan H. (Skrocki) Smith
Sep 7, 2019
Joan Harriet Smith, age 85, of Kent, died on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at Summa Health System/Akron City Hospital.
Joan was born November 1, 1933 in Barberton, to Leo and Henrietta (Jakubowski) Skrocki. She was a member of St. Eugene Catholic Church and worked in the Healthcare field for many years.
She is survived by...

Elinore Elva Vankirk
Sep 2, 2019
ELINORE ELVA (RUSSELL) VANKIRK
Elinore went to be with her beloved husband Charles (Chuck) on September 2, 2019. Born September 14, 1932, to Nelson and Frances (Beal) Russell in Brimfield, Ohio, she was beloved mother to Arlie Taylor (Ted Bixler) and Amelia (Packy) Crago, grandmother to Caroline Taylor, Margaret Taylor-Harvey, Amanda Crago and Charles Russell...
Marie K. (Fenstermaker) Knauss
Sep 1, 2019
Marie K. Knauss, 86 of Kent passed away on Sunday, September 1, 2019 after a lengthy illness. She was born and raised in Kempton, PA to Paul and Elizabeth (Dietrich) Fenstermaker, and was a dear and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother to eight grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband Carl of 51 years...
James O. Starkey
Aug 30, 2019
James O. Starkey, age 73, of Kent, died on Friday, August 30, 2019 at 6449 Church Street.
James was born January 22, 1946 in Akron, to Hoy and Lena (Scheiller) Starkey. Jim worked as a trim carpenter and enjoyed general construction and was an all-around handyman. He was a member of the Cuyahoga Falls Eagles, social members...
Jack Arthur Zeman
Aug 29, 2019
Jack Zeman, age 85, of Kent, died on Thursday, August 29, 2019 at Aurora Manor.
Jack was born October 28, 1933 in Mogadore, to Lewis and Vivian (Mavis) Zeman. Avid fisherman, sports lover, and card player.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years Marilyn Zeman; daughter, Deborah Anne Lamb; sons, Doug (Mary Anne)...

Linda Diane (Comp) Thomas
Aug 25, 2019
Linda Diane Thomas, age 65, of Kent, died on Sunday, August 25, 2019 after a long illness.
Linda was born August 5, 1954 in Cleveland to Albert and Christie Snyder Comp.
She is survived by her husband of 43 years, James Thomas; son, John (Kara) Thomas; daughter, Andrea (Christopher Mcilnay) Thomas (Daughter); son, Peter Thomas. ...
Donald S. Babbitt
Aug 20, 2019
Donald Salter Babbitt
Lifelong Kent resident, Donald S. Babbitt, 86, passed away at home, Wednesday, August 20th after a short illness.
Don was born in Akron, September 26, 1932 and attended Kent Schools, graduating in 1950 from Theodore Roosevelt High School. He was employed for many years by Lamson and Sessions Company. He was a...
Hunter Allen Ohler
Aug 17, 2019
Hunter Allen Ohler, age 4, of Cuyahoga Falls, died on Saturday, August 17, 2019 at UH Portage Medical Center.
Hunter was born December 31, 2014 in Akron, to Benjamin and Melinda (Barbee) Ohler. Hunter loved to play the guitar with his Poppa, camping with his grandma and grandpa Barbee and always wanted to go fishing with his...
Tara Leigh (Ludick) Jackson
Aug 16, 2019
Tara Leigh Ludick Jackson, age 63, of Kent, died on Friday, August 16, 2019 at Akron City Hospital.
Tara was born March 18, 1956 in Ravenna, to Glen and Barbara (Vincent) Ludick. Tara was a member of the Kent United Methodist Church. She graduated from Kent Roosevelt High School in 1974 and then received her bachelor’s from...
Anthony Michael Boykin
Aug 12, 2019
Anthony Michael Boykin, age 45, of Kent, passed away on Monday, August 12, 2019 at Hillcrest Hospital in Cleveland.
Anthony was born July 21, 1974 in Kent, to Roger and Jennifer (Loftin) Boykin. Tony was a graduate of Kent Roosevelt High School, where he played football and basketball. He enjoyed working with and mentoring kids.
...
Larry A. Brown
Aug 11, 2019
Larry A. Brown, age 74, of Kent, died on Sunday, August 11, 2019 at his home.
Larry was born February 4, 1945 in Brady Lake, to Lester and Freda (Baker) Brown. Larry served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam Era. He was employed as a Machinist at Lamb Electric/Ametek.
He is survived by...
David L. Smith Sr.
Aug 11, 2019
David L. Smith Sr., age 73, of Stow, died on Sunday, August 11, 2019 at his home.
David was born March 24, 1946 in Akron, to David and Ruby (Beyerle) Smith. He was a member of St. Patrick Church and Knights of Columbus. Dave was a mortgage broker servicing Portage County for many years. He was a...
John C. Brown
Sep 17, 2019
John C. Brown, age 69, of Kent, died on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at home surrounded by his family.
John was born March 10, 1950 in Akron, to John "Jack" and Margaret (DeLong) Brown Jr.
John was a 1968 graduate of Kent Roosevelt High School and attended Kent State University. He was a veteran of...
Judy Jo Tenney
Sep 17, 2019
Judy Jo Tenney, 81, passed away September 17, 2019 in Ravenna. She is finally at peace.
She was born January 13, 1938 in Ravenna to parents, Joseph H. Corley and Glenna I. Texter. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, M. Dick Tenney; and her brother, Lester Corley. She is survived by her children,...
James C. Rankin
Sep 14, 2019
James (Jim) C. Rankin
Jim Rankin, age 80 of Kent, died peacefully at his home Saturday, September 14th 2019.
Born September 30, 1938 in Cleveland to Easton and Elizabeth (Yea) Rankin, Jim grew up in Mentor Headlands and attended Mentor High School where he played baseball and football. He was an acclaimed baseball catcher and...

Nermine Enin
Sep 12, 2019
Beloved mother of Rachel Favetta and daughter of Eileen and the late Abdo Enin, died on the evening of September 12th, 2019. Born in Egypt, she lived most of her life in the Akron/Kent area.
To mourn and miss her she leaves many friends and relatives here and abroad. In recent years, she devoted much of her...
Jack W. Lilly
Sep 11, 2019
Jack W. Lilly, age 91, of Streetsboro, died on September 11, 2019, at UH Portage Medical Center.
Jack was born June 26, 1928, in Akron, to Harold and Margaret (Culver) Lilly. Jack worked for Beck Sand & Gravel retiring after 42 years of service. He enjoyed camping, traveling, gardening and farming. In his early years Jack rode...

Mary H. (Cooper) Neuzil
Sep 9, 2019
Mary Helen Neuzil, age 75, of Kent, died on Monday, September 9, 2019 at University Hospital of Cleveland.
Mary was born May 11, 1944 in Keokuk, IA to Floyd and Anna Cooper. In addition to dedicating her career to early childhood education, she loved spending time with her beloved grandchildren.
She is survived by her...

Nola G. Trowbridge
Sep 9, 2019
Nola G. Trowbridge, age 80, of Kent, died on Monday, September 9, 2019 at her home.
Nola was born July 15, 1939 in Russell County, VA to Thomas and Edith (Bostic) Whited. Nola was a member of Faith United Methodist Church in Brimfield. Nola was a Registered Nurse having worked at Chapel Hill Nursing Home and various...
Margaret "Meg" (Olson) Phillips
Sep 8, 2019
Margaret “Meg” Phillips, of Kent, Ohio, passed away at her home with her family by her side on Sunday, September 8, 2019.
Born in Youngstown, Ohio, on June 28, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Lillian Olson. It was there she met the love of her life, Tom “Coach” Phillips and became a...
Joan H. (Skrocki) Smith
Sep 7, 2019
Joan Harriet Smith, age 85, of Kent, died on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at Summa Health System/Akron City Hospital.
Joan was born November 1, 1933 in Barberton, to Leo and Henrietta (Jakubowski) Skrocki. She was a member of St. Eugene Catholic Church and worked in the Healthcare field for many years.
She is survived by...

Elinore Elva Vankirk
Sep 2, 2019
ELINORE ELVA (RUSSELL) VANKIRK
Elinore went to be with her beloved husband Charles (Chuck) on September 2, 2019. Born September 14, 1932, to Nelson and Frances (Beal) Russell in Brimfield, Ohio, she was beloved mother to Arlie Taylor (Ted Bixler) and Amelia (Packy) Crago, grandmother to Caroline Taylor, Margaret Taylor-Harvey, Amanda Crago and Charles Russell...
Marie K. (Fenstermaker) Knauss
Sep 1, 2019
Marie K. Knauss, 86 of Kent passed away on Sunday, September 1, 2019 after a lengthy illness. She was born and raised in Kempton, PA to Paul and Elizabeth (Dietrich) Fenstermaker, and was a dear and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother to eight grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband Carl of 51 years...
James O. Starkey
Aug 30, 2019
James O. Starkey, age 73, of Kent, died on Friday, August 30, 2019 at 6449 Church Street.
James was born January 22, 1946 in Akron, to Hoy and Lena (Scheiller) Starkey. Jim worked as a trim carpenter and enjoyed general construction and was an all-around handyman. He was a member of the Cuyahoga Falls Eagles, social members...
Jack Arthur Zeman
Aug 29, 2019
Jack Zeman, age 85, of Kent, died on Thursday, August 29, 2019 at Aurora Manor.
Jack was born October 28, 1933 in Mogadore, to Lewis and Vivian (Mavis) Zeman. Avid fisherman, sports lover, and card player.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years Marilyn Zeman; daughter, Deborah Anne Lamb; sons, Doug (Mary Anne)...

Linda Diane (Comp) Thomas
Aug 25, 2019
Linda Diane Thomas, age 65, of Kent, died on Sunday, August 25, 2019 after a long illness.
Linda was born August 5, 1954 in Cleveland to Albert and Christie Snyder Comp.
She is survived by her husband of 43 years, James Thomas; son, John (Kara) Thomas; daughter, Andrea (Christopher Mcilnay) Thomas (Daughter); son, Peter Thomas. ...
Donald S. Babbitt
Aug 20, 2019
Donald Salter Babbitt
Lifelong Kent resident, Donald S. Babbitt, 86, passed away at home, Wednesday, August 20th after a short illness.
Don was born in Akron, September 26, 1932 and attended Kent Schools, graduating in 1950 from Theodore Roosevelt High School. He was employed for many years by Lamson and Sessions Company. He was a...
Hunter Allen Ohler
Aug 17, 2019
Hunter Allen Ohler, age 4, of Cuyahoga Falls, died on Saturday, August 17, 2019 at UH Portage Medical Center.
Hunter was born December 31, 2014 in Akron, to Benjamin and Melinda (Barbee) Ohler. Hunter loved to play the guitar with his Poppa, camping with his grandma and grandpa Barbee and always wanted to go fishing with his...
Tara Leigh (Ludick) Jackson
Aug 16, 2019
Tara Leigh Ludick Jackson, age 63, of Kent, died on Friday, August 16, 2019 at Akron City Hospital.
Tara was born March 18, 1956 in Ravenna, to Glen and Barbara (Vincent) Ludick. Tara was a member of the Kent United Methodist Church. She graduated from Kent Roosevelt High School in 1974 and then received her bachelor’s from...
Anthony Michael Boykin
Aug 12, 2019
Anthony Michael Boykin, age 45, of Kent, passed away on Monday, August 12, 2019 at Hillcrest Hospital in Cleveland.
Anthony was born July 21, 1974 in Kent, to Roger and Jennifer (Loftin) Boykin. Tony was a graduate of Kent Roosevelt High School, where he played football and basketball. He enjoyed working with and mentoring kids.
...
Larry A. Brown
Aug 11, 2019
Larry A. Brown, age 74, of Kent, died on Sunday, August 11, 2019 at his home.
Larry was born February 4, 1945 in Brady Lake, to Lester and Freda (Baker) Brown. Larry served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam Era. He was employed as a Machinist at Lamb Electric/Ametek.
He is survived by...
David L. Smith Sr.
Aug 11, 2019
David L. Smith Sr., age 73, of Stow, died on Sunday, August 11, 2019 at his home.
David was born March 24, 1946 in Akron, to David and Ruby (Beyerle) Smith. He was a member of St. Patrick Church and Knights of Columbus. Dave was a mortgage broker servicing Portage County for many years. He was a...