U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
SMITH
Mrs. Dorothy Smith, 75, of Sandy Hook, Va., departed this life Thursday, February 7, 2002. Remains rest at the Robert Mealy Funeral Home, Goochland, Va. Funeral notice later.
SMITHERS
Caroline Sims Smithers, widow of J. Westwood Smithers, died in Richmond on February 5, 2002. She is survived by her son, J. Westwood Smithers Jr. and his wife, Nancyellen Keane Smithers; two grandchildren, J. Westwood Smithers III and Caroline Austin Freeman Smithers; one brother, the Rev. Mr. Wilbur M. Sims, a retired Episcopal Priest of Cascade, Virginia; and several nieces and nephews. She was a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, where she sang in the Choir for many years, The Woman's Club and the Farmington Country Club. A memorial service will be held at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church on Friday, February 8 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the J. Westwood Smithers Memorial Scholarship Fund at the University of Richmond Law School, Richmond, Virginia 23173.
SPEARS
Selden Wood Spears, 96, of Richmond, widower of Mary Stephenson Spears, died Tuesday, February 5, 2002. He is survived by his nephews, John Walton Grandy III and John Murray Stephenson; niece, Jeanne Grandy Watkins; great-nephews, Sherwood Spears Dance, John Walton Grandy IV, Derek Michael Stephenson, Kristofer Stephenson and Jeremy Stephenson; great-nieces, Carolyn Dance Turner, Kathleen Watkins Luton, Susan Watkins Ferebee and Megan Stephenson; sister-in-law, Audrey Waters Stephenson; and godson, Catlin Emmett Tyler Jr. Mr. Spears was a graduate of Midlothian High School in 1924 and was retired from the Virginia Department of Transportation. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, February 8, 2002 in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, Midlothian. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Building Fund of Bethel Baptist Church. Arrangements by the Central Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home.
SZPARA
Mr. Walter "Walt" Szpara of Richmond re-joined his beloved wife Bettie on February 7, 2002 when he was born to eternal life after a long illness. Mr. Szpara was born February 27, 1920 in Nutley, N.J. to the late Ludwik and Pauline Szpara. A graduate of Nutley High School, Mr. Szpara served as a Sgt. in the United States Army 2532nd Army Air Force Base Unit, Army Air Forces Pilot School until 1946. While in the service, Mr. Szpara met the love of his life, Bettie Anne Callaway, of Atlanta, Ga., whom he married in Biloxi, Miss. in April 1944. He received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech in 1950, and received his certification from the Tennessee State Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners. Mr. Szpara was a Member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, where he was appointed to the post of Virginia State Government Coordinator, in 1991. Mr. Szpara's career included his service as the President and owner of Szpara Engineering in Ashland, Va., consultant engineer with Chesapeake Engineering, Director of Engineering and Sales with Chattanooga Boiler and Tank Company. He authored several publications, including "Design, Complete Lay-out for Metal Fabricating Facility" and "Design and Manufacture Electric Utility Meter Socket Enclosures." He taught Math at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. A devout Catholic, Mr. Szpara was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Richmond, Va. and a member of the Knights of Columbus, council 5476, Third Degree. His life was deeply enriched the past years by the gentle care and compassion of his special friend, Jan Roach of Richmond, and the nursing staffs at Our Lady of Hope, and Holly Manor of Farmville. Mr. Szpara is survived by his loving son, Michael and daughter-in-law, Mary of Charlotte, N.C., granddaughters, Kathryn Park and Anne (Park) Ellis of Richmond; his sister, Helen Szpara, of Nutley N.J.; and son-in-law Donald Park of Richmond, Va. He was preceded in death by his sweetheart and wife Bettie, and devoted daughter Dr. Susan Szpara Park. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. James Catholic Church in Concord NC at 10 a.m. Friday February 15, 2002. Interment with his wife at the Parish cemetery in Concord. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to St. Mary's Catholic Church Building Fund, 9505 Gayton Rd., Richmond, Va. 23229.
TREXLER
Ruth Elizabeth Sandridge Trexler, age 91, of Richmond, died February 6, 2002. She was the widow of Frank James Trexler Sr. and was preceded in death by a son, Donald Lee Trexler. She is survived by a son, Frank J. Trexler Jr. and a host of grandchildren, great-grandgrandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Mrs. Trexler was a member of Gayton Baptist Church. Her remains rest at the Bliley Funeral Home's Staples Mill Chapel, 8510 Staples Mill Rd., where the family will receive friends Thursday 2 to 4 p.m. and Friday 6 to 8 p.m. and where funeral services will be held Saturday 11 a.m. Interment Westhampton Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Gayton Baptist Church Building Fund.
WATLINGTON
Robert L. "Bobby" Watlington Jr., 39, of Richmond, departed this life February 5, 2002. He is survived by his wife, Teresa Watlington; his children, Emily, Kelsey and Robert L. Watlington III; parents, Judy and Lee Watlington; sister, Elizabeth; brother, William; loving and supportive in-laws, Joyce and Chris Ellis; and extended family and friends. Bobby was Manager of Data Processing Operations for the Commonwealth Department of Motor Vehicles and a Certified Computing Professional. His remains rest at the Bliley Funeral Home's Staples Mill Chapel, 8510 Staples Mill Rd., where the family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and where funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday. Interment Westhampton Memorial Park.
WEST
William "Bill" West, 63, of Glen Allen, died February 7, 2002. He is survived by two children, D. Craig West and his wife, Jan and Nevin Hartman and her husband, John; five grandchildren, Hunter, Lindsey and Allison West and Kathryn and Ian Hartman; also survived by Dot West. Services private. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.
WILKERSON
Loyce C. Wilkerson died on Wednesday, February 6, 2002. She is the beloved wife of Earl F. Wilkerson; mother of Bill Tillman Sr., Earl F. Wilkerson Jr., Wanda Riccione and Susan Douthat; sister of Carolyn Hughson, Kathleen Philip and Jackie Seay. Also surviving are eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Friends may call at the Murphy's Falls Church Funeral Home, 1102 W. Broad St. (Rt. 7), 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, where funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 14 at 12:30 p.m. Interment Arlington National Cemetery. The family requests contributions to the Alzheimer's Association, National Capital Area, 11240 Waples Mill Rd., Suite 402, Fairfax, Va. 22030.
WINSTON
Mrs. Caroline H. Winston of Richmond departed this life February 2, 2002. She is survived by her sister, Mrs. Catherine H. Walker; brother, Phillip H. Harris; many nieces and nephews, among them devoted, Mrs. Helen Dixon and Larry D. Harris; cousins and a host of friends. Her remains rest at the W.S. Watkins & Son Funeral Home, where a Rosary will be said at 6 p.m. Friday. Funeral services will be conducted at St. Peter Catholic Church, 9 a.m. Saturday. The Rev. Fr. Robert Brownell officiating. Interment Oakwood Cemetery.
BLOXTON
Kathleen Watts Bloxton, 78, of Rockbridge Baths, departed this life at the Augusta Medical Center, Fishersville, on Wednesday, October 24, 2001 with her husband at her side. Mrs. Bloxton was born on April 25, 1923 in Rockbridge Co. and was the adopted daughter of Edward Echols Watts and Bertie McCown Watts. She was a graduate of Brownsburg High School and madison College. She taught school for 10 years in Rockbridge County and the City of Richmond. She and her family moved to Powhatan and pioneered Bloxton's Pharmacy. She was very active in community service. She and her husband sold their pharmacy and moved back to her home in Rockbridge County in 1986. She was a member of the Fairfield United Methodist Church. Mrs. Bloxton is survived by her husband of 57 years, Francis E. Bloxton Sr.; one son, Francis E. Bloxton Jr. and his wife, Mary Ann, all of Rockbridge Baths; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, October 27, 2001 at the Harrison Funeral Chapel. Rev. Jim Simmons and Rev. David Dickerson officiating. Burial will follow in the Bethesda Presbyterian Cemetery, Rockbridge Baths. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Fairfield United Methodist Church Building Fund. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Harrison Funeral Home, Lexington.
BRADBY
Stanley O. Bradby Sr., 81, a retired editorial assistant for National Geographic Society, died October 21, 2001 in Alexandria, Va. of heart failure. A Charles City County native and beloved husband of Julia (Adams) Bradby, Mr. Bradby lived in Alexandria. In his youth he was a pitcher for the "Black Socks" baseball team of Charles City County and served in the Civilian Conservation Corps. A strong supporter of education, he joined the legal fight for school integration in the 1950's. Besides his loving wife, survivors include sisters, Rae Bradby and Charlesanna Christian of Charles City; children, Lawrence, Stanley Jr. and Floyd Bradby, Joyce Bradby Summers and Deborah Bradby Lytle, all of Northern Virginia, and Marie Bradby of Louisville, Ky.; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; nieces, Addiebell Crawley, Rita Crewe, Rae
Smith and Mildred Christian; nephews, Larry, Vernon and W. Oliver Miles, all of Charles City County, Leslie Crawley of Manassas, Va. and Milton Bradby of Jersey City, N.J.; and many cousins. A wake will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. with funeral service immediately following on Saturday, October 27, at Oakland Baptist Church, 3408 King St., Alexandria, Va.
BROWN
Ruth G.
Brown passed away October 25, 2001 at the Laurels of Willow Creek, Midlothian, Va. A native of Louisville, Ky., she is survived by her grandchildren, Carol A. Boegershausen, Chesterfield, Va., Robert Boegershausen Jr., Va. Beach, Va., patricia Paris, Midlothian, Va.; great-granddaughter, Stefania Paris, Midlothian, Va.; and son-in-law, Robert L. Boergershausen, Bon Air, Va. Mrs.
Brown was a long time member of Centenary United Methodist Church. Friends may call 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, October 27, 2001, at the Bliley Funeral Home's Chippenham Chapel, 6900 Hull Street Rd. Burial will be in Louisville, Ky. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Centenary United Methodist Church, 411 East Grace St., Richmond, Va. 23219.
BUTLER
Kenneth "Tooty" Butler, 72, died October 24, 2001 in his home in New Kent. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Anne Durrette Butler; his sons, Kurt and Marc; his daughter, Karen; grandchildren, Erica, Kyle and Rachel Butler; one sister, Sharon B. Duling; nieces, nephews and friends. He was general contractor, building homes in the Hanover area and a retired captain of the Richmond Bureau of Fire with 32 years of service. He was a Past Master of Washington and Henry Lodge No. 344 AF&AM, a member of Richmond Scottish Rite Bodies and Bethlehem Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Mechanicsville Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 8014 Lee-Davis Rd. Graveside services will be held 9 a.m. Saturday, October 27 at Signal Hill Memorial Park in Hanover. The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Building Fund of Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, 2446 Old Church Rd., Mechanicsville, Va. 23111.
CARRERAS
Elizabeth G. Carreras, 90, of Richmond, died October 24, 2001. She was the daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Elizabeth Grasberger. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas J. Carreras. Survivors include her sister, Margaret G. Horne; and 10 nieces and nephews. Mrs. Carreras was a retired Western Union employee. Her remains rest at the Bliley Funeral Home's Central Chapel, 3801 Augusta Avenue, where the family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, with a Christian Wake at 7 p.m. Friday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Interment Mount Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to your favorite charity.
CAUDLE
Otis M. Caudle, 80, of Richmond, died Wednesday, October 24, 2001. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary M. Caudle; and is survived by two daughters, Melva V. Richardson and Faye C. Stephens; three sisters, Helen, Estelle and Betty Lou; two brothers, Russell and Marshall; two grandchildren, Donna and Melvin; special granddaughter, Barbara; three great-grandchildren; and a nephew, Gordon Lee Marshall. Mr. Caudle was a member of Local No. 10, Plumbers and Steamfitters Union and Richmond East Moose Lodge No. 1947. Friends may call 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Laburnum Chapel, Woody Funeral Home, 2110 East Laburnum Ave. Graveside services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at Westhampton Memorial Park. Moose Memorial Service 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
COUNCIL
Robert B. Council of Richmond departed this life on Tuesday, October 16, 2001. He leaves to mourn, a devoted friend, Mary Smith; a host of other friends and relatives. Services will be held in his memory on Saturday, October 27, 2001 at 11 a.m. at K.L. Jordan Funeral Services. K L JORDAN
HAGEE
Carrie Brightwell Hagee, 96, of Richmond, died Saturday, October 20, 2001. She is survived by her son, Davidson Hagee of Rolling Meadows, Ill.; four grandchildren, Kelly Hagee, Joseph Hagee, Allison Fish and Kristen Trujillo; and three great-grandchildren. Family and friends will gather at the Central Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 3215 Cutshaw Ave. on Friday, October 26 at 10:15 a.m. Graveside services will follow at 11 a.m. in Hollywood Cemetery.
HECHT
Dr. Alan Hecht, age 76, of Suwanee, Ga., passed away on Wednesday, October 3, 2001. Surviving are his wife of 22 years, Gabriele Rodrigues-Hecht of Suwanee, Ga.; his son, Dr. James Hecht of Gloucester, Va.; four grandchildren; his sister, Mrs. Judith Goodman Van Riper of Washington, D.C.; and two nephews. Dr. Hecht was born in New York City. He was the son of the late Susan Rubin and Abraham L. Hecht, who was one of the two originators of the local electronics firm named Wards Company, later to become Circuit City. Dr. Hecht was a good and gentle man whose passing has created a painful void in those who loved him. Dr. Hecht received his B.A. degree from Sarah Lawrence College; M.D. degree from Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo. Dr. Hecht was a Doctor of Medicine and was retired. He was in private practice several years in Richmond. He was staff physician at Beth Sholom Home for Aging in Richmond from 1959 to 1979; a Chief Physician at Richmond City Nursing Home and Chief of Disability Evaluation Clinic for Richmond Department of Welfare. He was a volunteer Medical Consultant for Richmond City Action Program Senior Center and Volunteer Medical Advisor for initial License and Certification for Chesterfield County Lucy Corr Nursing Home. He was a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. He was an insurance company Vice-President and Medical Director for Fidelty Bankers Life Insurance Company, Richmond; the Southern Medical Association of Birmingham, Ala.; and the Academy of Insurance Medicine. He was listed in the Who's Who Fifty-Third Edition. He was a member of the Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Buford, Ga. Memorial services were held on Tuesday, October 16, 2001 at 10 a.m. from the Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Father John Anderson officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Red Cross for the victims of the September 11, 2001 tragedy in memory of Dr. Alan Hecht.
HEPPERT
Doris Tyler Heppert, 84, of Richmond, widow of Allen T. Heppert (a disabled WWII veteran), died Wednesday, October 24, 2001. She is survived by two sisters and a brother-in-law, Mildred T. Wicker, Norma T. and Stanley A. Graves; a brother and sister-in-law, James M. III and Anna S. Tyler; and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Heppert was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, William W. Wicker. She was a member and Deacon of Southampton Baptist Church and a member of the Areme Chapter No. 17 OES. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Parham Chapel, Woody Funeral Home, 1771 Parham Rd., where a funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, October 27, 2001. Interment Westhampton Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Southampton Baptist Church.
