Osgood Journal Obituaries

July 1, 2014

Leota Mae Wafford

Leota Mae Wafford, age 100, of Dillsboro, entered this life on February 14, 1914 in Aurora. She went to be with her Lord on Thursday evening, June 26, 2014. Leota was the loving daughter of Harry and Effie Schuyler Greive.

She graduated from Dillsboro High School with the class of 1933. Following her graduation she was united in marriage with Earl Wafford “Chief” on May 6, 1933. This marriage lasted 61 years until his death in 1994. The first 17 years of her married life was spent as a navy wife. Earl served his country in the navy as a Master Deep Sea Diving Instructor. His career took them to live in Washington State, California, Panama, Maryland, and his final assignment was Key West, Florida.

Upon Earl’s retirement from the Navy, they returned to Dillsboro to raise their family. She made her home open and welcome to all who came through her doors. Most found love, laughter, and happiness in her home and many found the Lord through her witness; she had a servants heart.

Leota and Earl were foster parents for over 25 years to over 20 children, of which two boys were adopted, Jim and Steve. Leota’s theory was if a child needed a home she would pull them in. Leota accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior as a teenager. Because of her faith in Christ she has been a Godly influence and example to her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends and those who she came in contact with, even those at the nursing home. Regardless of the circumstances, whenever she was asked how she was doing, her reply was always “I’m Blessed”.

Leota is survived by her loving family: her daughter, Mary White of Huntington, WV; her three sons, Earl (Shirlee) Wafford Jr. of Loveland, Ohio, Tom (Berneta) Wafford of Dillsboro, and James (Carolyn) Wafford of Connersville; 13 grandchildren; 41 great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild. Also surviving is a dear friend, Rosalie Gordon, whom she loved as her own daughter.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Wafford; her daughter Shirlee; her son Steve Wafford; son-in-law Tom White; her brothers, Julius, Paul, and Glenn Greive; and her great grandson, Nathaniel White.

A funeral service celebrating the life of Leota will be Wednesday, July 2, at 11 a.m. at Dillsboro United Methodist Church, where Leota and her family worshipped for many years, with Pastor Leon Walters officiating. She will be laid to rest next to her husband at Oakdale Cemetery in Dillsboro.

Friends may meet her family on Tuesday, July 1, at DeVries Fellowship Room, 12667 Lenover St in Dillsboro (formerly the 50+ club building) from 5-8 p.m. Memorial contributions in her memory may be given to CI Family Worship Center Mission Fund. Arrangements are entrusted to DeVries Funeral Home in Dillsboro.

James Ichiro Furiya

James Ichiro Furiya, 91, of Versailles, passed away Sunday, June 29, 2014, at the Hamilton Hospice in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born in Sacramento, California, on June 19, 1923, the son of Jinnosuku and Ume Masia Furiya. He was married to Teruko Tabata and she survives.

Other survivors include two sons, Keven Furiya of Seattle, Washington, and Alvin Furiya of Noblesville; one daughter, Linda Furiya of Shelburne, Vermont; and also two grandsons.

Following the death of his mother at age four, James was sent to Japan to be raised by his grandmother in the shadow of Mt. Fuji. During the aftermath of the 1930 depression, James was adopted and raised in Manchuria.

At age 19 he was drafted into the army and was captured during the Soviet invasion of Manchuria in 1945 and was held as a Prisoner of War for three years in Russia. Returning to Japan after the war, he waited 10 years to regain his American citizenship, during which time he trained as a chicken sexer. It was this profession that brought him to the Midwest and during the 1950s he traveled to chicken hatcheries and farms throughout Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan.

He resided briefly in Osgood, but Mr. Furiya was a 50-year resident of Versailles where he pursued his passion for food, wine making, and gardening. Mr. & Mrs. Furiya attended the Tyson United Methodist Church.

Services will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorials may be given to the Hamilton Hospice of Cincinnati. The Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home, Versailles is in charge of arrangements.

Kenneth Leon Powers, Sr.

Kenneth Leon Powers Sr., 67, of Osgood, passed away Wednesday, June 25, 2014. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, July 2, at Osgood Legion Park, Osgood, at 7 p.m. Military services by the Wm. A. Gilland American Legion Post # 267 of Osgood and the Keene Henneke VFW Post # 9987 of Napoleon. The family requests that any donations please go towards the funeral. Arrangements are being handled by Neal’s Funeral Home, Osgood; www.nealsfuneralhome.net.

Gene Ferguson

Gene Ferguson, 80, of Dillsboro, passed away Saturday, June 28, 2014, in Dillsboro. He was born April 6, 1934, in New Madrid, Missouri, the son of the late Jake Ferguson and the late Florence Clark Ferguson.

He served his country as a member of the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He worked as a truck driver for Roadway Express, retiring after over 28 years of service. Gene did some preaching when he was a young man, he then began his truck driving career, going over three million miles without an accident. He was even given a truck that was exclusively for his use. After retirement he went back to his love of preaching and has spread the word ever since. His family and church are most important to him.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Evelyn Ferguson of Dillsboro; children, Rodney (Julie) Ferguson of Indianapolis, Diane (Chuck) Bennett of Indianapolis, Gene (Nancy Barrott) Ferguson of Lawrenceburg, and Vickie (Jim) Wright of Fortville; siblings, Louise Gray and Vera (Keith) Foushee, both of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Marybelle Stone of Humbolt, Tennessee; 12 grandchildren, and 20 great -grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and nine siblings.

Funeral services were held Monday, June 30 at the Cross Plains Baptist Church in Cross Plains, with Hobert Byrd officiating. Interment was in the Brown Chapel Cemetery, in Broseley, Missouri.

Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Please call the funeral home office at (812) 926-1450 and the family will be notified of your donation with a card. Rullman Hunger Funeral Home, Aurora was in charge of arrangements; www.rullmans.com.

Cheryl A. Frensemeier

Cheryl A. Frensemeier, 61, of Batesville, passed away Thursday, June 26, 2014 at her home. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 1 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Morris. Memorials may be given to the Margaret Mary Health Foundation or to St. Anthony Church. Weigel Funeral Home, Batesville, is in charge of arrangements.

Loretta J. Rose

Loretta J. Rose, 75 of Versailles, passed away Thursday, June 26, 2014 at the Waters of Clifty Falls at Madison. She was born near Freedom in Owen County, Indiana on June 27, 1938, the daughter of Forest and Zella Noel Strouse. She was married to Wayne Rose on September 17, 1960, and he preceded her in death on June 16, 1997.

Survivors include three sons, Donald (Paula) Rose of Cross Plains, Kenneth Rose of Seymour, and Daniel (Sherry) Rose of Wagner, Oklahoma; three daughters, Linda King and friend Jerry Durham of Seymour, Nancy Adams of Versailles, and Muriel (Rev. Sherman) Hughes of Dillsboro; 15 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her parents, and her brother Richard Strouse.

Mrs. Rose was a 1956 graduate of Patricksburg High School. She was employed with US Shoe in Osgood from 1962 to 1999 and had also worked for the Mirrus Corporation in Versailles. Loretta was a member of the Versailles Amvets and attended the Bear Creek Baptist Church in Friendship.

Funeral services were held on Monday, June 30 at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with Rev. Sherman Hughes officiating. Burial was in the Grandview Memorial Garden near Madison. Memorials may be given to the Bear Creek Baptist Church in care of the funeral home.

Alan Chester Eaton

Alan Chester Eaton, 71, of Sellersburg passed away June 21, 2014, at Floyd Memorial Hospital in New Albany. He was born on February 19, 1943 the son of Chester and Lena Diem Eaton.

Survivors include his wife Judy; son Timothy (Pam) Eaton of Borden; daughter Kathi (Steve) Charlson of Richmond, Virginia; stepson Allen (Anita) Wilkerson of Louisville; 7 grandchildren; three sisters Martha Jean Jarvis and Patsy (James) Hyatt both of Cross Plains, and Alice (Leon) Gray of Pleasant.

Mr. Eaton was a 1961, graduate of Cross Plains High School and was a 1965 graduate of Purdue University. He worked as a licensed landscape architect with Walnut Ridge Greenhouses. Alan was a member of Christ’s Community Church of the Nazarene and Gideons International, Floyd County Camp.

Funeral services were held Thursday at the Garr Funeral Home in Sellersburg. Burial was in the St. Paul Cemetery at Olean.

Gregory Rosendahl

Gregory Rosendahl, 52, of Friendship, passed away Friday, June 27, 2014, unexpectedly at his home. He was born April 3, 1962, in Cincinnati, the son of Robert Rosendahl and Mary Jo Chambers Rosendahl.

Gregory graduated from Western Hills High School with the class of 1980 and served four years in the Marines, leaving in 1984. On August 24, 2012, he was united in marriage to Kim Cowans. He was employed as a master plumber.

Survivors include his mother, Mary Jo Rosendahl of Dillsboro; wife, Kim Rosendahl; son, Tom Mayhaus (Nikki) Kerlin of Cross Plains; two brothers, Doug Rosendahl of California and Jason (Laurie) Rosendahl of Rising Sun; mother and father-in-law, Pat and Bud Cowans of Cincinnati.

A memorial funeral mass will be held Monday, July 7, at 11 a.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 542 Walnut Street, Lawrenceburg with Father Peter Gallagher officiating. Military rites will follow the mass. Memorials may be given to the Dearborn County P.A.W.S. Arrangements are being handled by DeVries Funeral Home, in Dillsboro.

Patricia “Pat” Whetstone

Patricia “Pat” Louise Feigert Whetstone, 66, of Pittsboro, formerly of Connersville, passed away Thursday, June 26, 2014, in Brownsburg, Indiana. Funeral services were held Monday, June 30 at St. Gabriel Church of Connersville; burial was in Dale Cemetery. Miller, Moster, Robbins Funeral Home, 765-825-5641, was in charge of arrangements; millermosterrobbins.com.