Lenox, Taylor County, Iowa obituaries
transcribed by: Lorelei Rusco - lorerus@iowatelecom.net
 
 

Aytes, Christina -

Aytes, Kathy Lee -

Aytes, Roland -

Aytes, Saundra -

Four members of a Blockton family and a 16 year old youth from Diagonal were killed in a two-car accident near Mt. Ayr

on Saturday evening.

The fatalities include Roland Aytes, 34, his wife, Kathy Lee Aytes, 29, and daughters, Christina, 12, and Saundra, 5.

Listed in critical condition following the accident were Michele Aytes, 10, and Ronnie Aytes, 4.

A passenger in the second car, Kenneth Carson, 16, of Diagonal, was also killed in the accident. Driver of the second

car, James McDaniel, 17, of Diagonal, was listed in critical condition.

The injured were taken from the scene of the accident to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines by Life Flight. According

to officials at the Ringgold County Hospital, all were listed in critical condition at noon on Monday.

Iowa Highway Patrol officers were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident, although rain and muddy road

shoulders may have contributed to the loss of control of one of the vehicles involved.

Three ambulances, the Mt. Ayr Fire Department, and Highway Patrol officials responded to the call. The

accident occurred six miles east of Mt. Ayr on Highway 2.

Funeral services for the four members of the Aytes family will be conducted Thursday, April 14 at 2 p.m. at

the First Christian Church in Mt Ayr. Pastors Doris and Phil Kenton will officiate. Interment will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Blockton.

A memorial trust fund has been established for the surviving children of the Aytes family with donations to be forwarded

to Pastors Doris and Phil Kenton in Mt. Ayr.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 13, 1983

 

Carson, Kenneth -

Four members of a Blockton family and a 16 year old youth from Diagonal were killed in a two-car accident near Mt. Ayr

on Saturday evening.

The fatalities include Roland Aytes, 34, his wife, Kathy Lee Aytes, 29, and daughters, Christina, 12, and Saundra, 5.

Listed in critical condition following the accident were Michele Aytes, 10, and Ronnie Aytes, 4.

A passenger in the second car, Kenneth Carson, 16, of Diagonal, was also killed in the accident. Driver of the second

car, James McDaniel, 17, of Diagonal, was listed in critical condition.

The injured were taken from the scene of the accident to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines by Life Flight. According

to officials at the Ringgold County Hospital, all were listed in critical condition at noon on Monday.

Iowa Highway Patrol officers were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident, although rain and muddy road

shoulders may have contributed to the loss of control of one of the vehicles involved.

Three ambulances, the Mt. Ayr Fire Department, and Highway Patrol officials responded to the call. The

accident occurred six miles east of Mt. Ayr on Highway 2.

Final rites for Kenneth Carson were held Tuesday, April 12 at the Diagonal High School. Interment was in the

Knowlton Cemetery north of Diagonal.

Carson is survived by his mother, Mrs. Bob Strange; his father, Frank Carson; two half-brothers, Jimmy Strange

and Nicholas Carson; two half-sisters, Mindy and Trisha Carson, all of Diagonal; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Leo

Carson, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil J. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Strange, Jr., all of Diagonal, and Mr. and Mrs. Marion

Garner of Mt. Ayr; greatgrandmother, Beatrice Ruby of Clearfield; and greatgrandfather, Ed Garner of Diagonal.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 13, 1983

 

Hammond, Foster Merle -

Foster Merle Hammond, the son of Wiley and Grace Spiller Hammond, was born in Letts Creek Township, Ringgold

County, Iowa on November 7, 1903. He died at his home in Lenox, Iowa on Friday, April 15, 1983 at the age of seventy-nine

years, five months and eight days. Foster had been in ill health for some time.

He was united in marriage with Mary Novak on December 30, 1925.

Foster was a farmer early in his life and later worked as a carpenter. He had spent his entire life in Ringgold and

Taylor counties.

Survivors include a son, Richard Hammond and wife, Martha of Diagonal, Iowa; a daughter, Phyllis Andrews and

husband, Bill of Benton, Iowa; three grandchildren; five greatgrandchildren; a sister, Wilma Buchanan of Diagonal; as well

as other relatives.

Services were held Monday, April 18 at 2 p.m. at the Larkin-Bender Funeral Home in Lenox. Pastor Jack Cutbirth of

the First Christian Church officiated.

Music was by Mildred Walter, organist.

Casket bearers were Bill Huntington, Reldon Huntington, Jerry Sheridan, Barney Miller, Don Sams, and Elmer

Bose.

Interment was in the West Fairview Cemetery at Lenox.

A memorial has been established to purchase a headstone for Mr. Hammond's grave.  Donations may be left at

Huntington Repair Service in Lenox.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 20, 1983

 

Jenkins, Lela P Fish -

Mrs. Lela P. Jenkins, 76, a resident of 500 Mulberry Street, Atlantic, Iowa, died Thursday March 31 at the Cass County

Memorial Hospital in Atlantic.

The daughter of James Ruffus and Gertrude Mae Myers Fish, she was born in Dunlap, Missouri April 16, 1906 and

moved to the Griswold, Iowa area with her family as a young girl.

She attended the Griswold school system and was married to Earl Jenkins on September 10, 1924 at Bethany, Missouri.

They lived near Oakland until 1929 when they moved to Atlantic where they have resided since that time except

for three years as residents of Lenox, Iowa.

Mrs. Jenkins was a member of the First Church of Christ of Atlantic.

She is survived by her husband Earl, and five daughters, Mrs. Leo (Norma) Powers of Clarinda; Mrs. Henry (Violet)

Vokt of Atlantic; Mrs. Robert (Virginia) Thompson of Omaha; Mrs. Charles (Pearl) Brown of Lenox; and Mrs. Ross (Betty)

Kunze of Atlantic; fifteen grandchildren; twenty-four greatgrandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Herbert (Bonnie) Peek of

Council Bluffs; two brothers, Claude Fish of Albany, Missouri and Kenneth Fish of Frost Proof, Florida; several nieces

and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a stepson, Clair Raymond Jenkins; a granddaughter, Connie Clair Powers; her

parents, and a brother, Dell Fish.

Final rites were conducted on Monday, April 4 at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic. Reverend John Morris, pastor of

the First Church of Christ, officiated.

Music was provided by John Morris, soloist, and Mrs. Kenyon King, organist. Selections were "Take My Hand Precious Lord",

and "Beyond the Sunset".

Casket bearers were grandsons, Larry Powers, Ronald Thompson, Kevin Kunze, Donald Brown, Richard Vokt, and

Gary Thompson.

In charge of flowers were Mr. and Mrs. Marion Kaufmann, Mr. and Mrs. Gale Dolch. and Mr. and Mrs. Burdette Parrott.

Interment was in Southlawn Memory Gardens near Atlantic, Iowa.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 13, 1983

 

McIntyre, William Thomas -

Dr. William Thomas Mclntyre, 91, died December 5, 1982 at a Topeka, Kansas retirement home.

He was born December 14, 1890 on a farm five miles south of Corning, Iowa to J. Ross and Olive O. Fife Mclntyre. William

moved with his family to Lenox, Iowa in 1892 and graduated from Lenox High School in 1910.

Dr. Mclntyre graduated from Tarkio College in 1914. He attended Xema Theological Seminary, Xenia, Ohio, graduating

from there in 1919. He had resided in Topeka since 1961.

Ht was united in marriage with Myrnah R. Franklin on June 17, 1920.

Survivors include his wife, Myrnah; two daughters and one son; six grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren .

The late Mineva (Minnie) Muon of Preston and Aulora Mclntyre, a missionary in the Sudan were his sisters He was

a cousin of the late D Gilbert Douglas and Eara Duuglas of Lenox.

Interment was in Mount Hope Cemetery.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 13, 1983

 

 

 

Miller, Mary Alphonsia Sapp -

Mary Alphonsia Miller, the only child of Eugene and Margaret Ryan Sapp, was born on the family farm two miles north and two miles west of Sharpsburg, Iowa on January 7, 1893.  She died at the Rosary Hospital in Corning, Iowa on Monday April 18, 1983 at the

age of ninety years, three months and eleven days.

On February 10, 1915, she was united in marriage with Joseph C Miller in Lenox, Iowa.

Mary lived all her life on the farm where she was born until moving into Lenox in 1974.  She was a member of the Altar Society, the American Legion Auxillary and the Rose Ann Auxillary of Rosary Hospital.  She will be remembered for her hard work and her devotion

to her family.

Preceding her in death were a daughter in infancy and her husband in 1962.

Survivors include two sons, Eugene Miller and wife Rose of Lenox and Raymond Miller, also of Lenox, seven grandchildren and sixteen greatgrandchildren.

Services were Wednesday April 20 at 10 a.m. at St Patrick's Catholic Church in Lenox.  Father Michael Sims, pastor, officiated.

Music was by Jen Hanzlik, organist and Florence Robinson cantor.

Casket bearers were Robert Fisher, John Bridgeman, Leonard Knott, Roy Beck, Bill Scott and George Sweeney.

Interment was in the East Fairview Cemetery at Lenox.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 27, 1983

 

 

Reynolds, Sidney Pearl -

Sidney Pearl Reynolds, the son of H. Chauncey and Curnettie Susan Collins Reynolds, was born October 30, 1897 at LeRoy, Illinois. He died Thursday, April 7, 1983 at the Lenox Care Center in Lenox, Iowa where he had made his home since December 2, 1981.

Pearl moved with his family to the Lenox community in 1915.

He was united in marriage with Annis Mae Trost on February 12, 1919. This union was blessed with the birth of six

children and they took another child, Adeiyn Reynolds, into their home to raise when she was five years old.

Pearl and Annis celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in 1969. She preceded him in death on November 23, 1972.

On June 18, 1976, Pearl was united in marriage with Ruth Vicker at Diagonal, Iowa.

Mr. Reynolds was a retired produce dealer. He was a member of the Lenox Volunteer Fire Department for fifty years,

past Worthy Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star, the first Rainbow "Dad" in Lenox, and was past Master of Tremont

Lodge #343 A.F.&.A.M. He and Annis attended all events at the Lenox schools and were proud of their children and

grandchildren in their various activities.

Pearl will be remembered as kind and loving father and grandfather and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Others preceding him in death were a son, Harold during World War II; his parents; a sister, Ida Mayhew; four

brothers, Claude, Guy, Ray, and Amon; and a son-in-law, Fred VerSteeg.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth of Lenox; his children, Gerald and wife, Mildred of Torrence, California, Betty

Holben and husband, Gene, Robert and wife, Dortha, Virginia Bennett and husband, Roy, all of Lenox, Evelyn VerSteeg of

Altoona, and Adeiyn Cox and husband, George of Hornick. Iowa; a sister, Amelia Jordan and husband, Les of Burbank,

California; fourteen grandchildren, sixteen greatgrandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Services were held Saturday, April 9 at 1:30 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Lenox. Reverend Lester

Hesseltine, pastor, officiated.

Casket bearers were Jim Bennett, Robert H. Reynolds, David Holben, Russell Paul, Frank Schweers, Kelly Nielsen,

and Joe Erspamer.

Music was by Norma Paymal, organist. The special selection was "Lights Out".

Masonic Rites were conducted by Tremont Lodge #343 A.F.&.A.M.

Interment was in the West Fairview Cemetery at Lenox.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 13, 1983

 

Rychonovsky, Judy Ann -

Judy Ann Rychonovsky, the daughter of James and Marilyn McKee Rychonvsky of Prescott was born September 6, 1962 at the Rosary Hospital in Corning, Iowa.  She died at St Joseph's Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska on Friday, May 27, 1983 at the age of twenty years, eight months and 21 days.

Judy graduated from Prescott High School with the Class of 1980.  She was a senior at Iowa State University in Ames, majoring in fashion design.  She was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority, and was active in many of the sorority functions.  Miss Rychonovsky was employed by Paul Harris Stores in Ames.

She will be remembered for her zest for life, her devotion to her family and friends and the activity that filled each waking moment of her days.  Judy's thought of life was "To love and be loved is the greatest happiness of existence."

She will be greatly missed by her parents, James and Marilyn Rychonovsky, three sisters, Jayne, Joni and Jacquie, all of the home, a brother, Dr. Wayne Rychonvsky, his wife, Jane and their children, Michelle and Andrews of Clearfield, Iowa, her grandparents, Mr and Mrs Vernon McKee of Lenox and Mr and Mrs Andrew Rychonovsky of Prescott as well as many other relatives and friends.

Services were held Monday, May 30 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Lenox at 1:30 p.m.  Father Mike Sims, Father Michael O'Meara and Father Gerald Deere officiated.

Altar servers were Gary Longfellow and Wayne Riley.  Music was by Jeri Hanzlik, organist and Mary Halligan, cantor.

Casket bearers were Mike Cline, Alan Stalcup, Jeff Luther, Dennis Foster, Wm. Chappell and Nick Keefe.

Honorary bearers were Dave Rogers, Don Johnson, Jim Brandon, Tom Austin, Steve Austin, Reldon Cline and Darwin Shires.

A private family interment was held at the Summit Cemetery east of Prescott.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday June 1, 1983

 

Teply, Frank Leo -

Frank Leo Teply, the son of Frank J. and Anna Rompottle Teply, was born June 25, 1907 at Primrose, Nebraska, He died

at the Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday, May 3, 1983 at the age of seventy-five years, ten months

and eight days.

Frank grew to manhood in the Boone County area, moving to a farm south of Lenox with his parents in 1930.

On March 4, 1935, he was united in marriage with Dessa Hayes. She preceded him in death on January 12, 1971.

Frank farmed in the Diagonal, Maloy and Mt. Ayr communities in Ringgold County and had also lived in Lineville and Des

Moines. He had skill with his hands and worked as a carpenter. He also operated restaurants in Lenox and Diagonal for several years.

Mr. Teply served his country during World War II in the European Theatre. He was a member of Parkinson Post #250

of the American Legion in Lenox.

He was united in marriage with Martha Sprague at Lake Tahoe, Nevada on October 20, 1971. She preceded him in

death April 9, 1979.

His family will remember his understanding of the concerns and viewpoints of others, his acceptance of other ideas and

religions and his tremendous capacity to forgive. His friends will remember Frank's love of good conversation and the many

times they enjoyed together. Lenox was really "home" to Frank.

Others preceding him in death were his parents, two brothers, Bud and Adolph, and a granddaughter.

Survivors include a daughter, Kathryn Helton and husband, Lanny of Jackson, Mississippi; a son, William J. Teply and wife,

Margaret of Des Moines; eight grandchildren; three greatgrandchildren; a brother, Stan Teply and wife, Maxine of

Creston; a special friend, Mary Terry of Lenox; and other relatives.

Services were held Friday, May 6 at the Larkin-Bender Funeral Home in Lenox at 1:30 p.m. Father, Mike Sims,

co-pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Lenox officiated.

Music was by Jeri Hanzlik, organist, and Florence Robinson, cantor. The selections were "Red River Valley" and

"The Old Rugged Cross".

Casket bearers were Lance Helton, Lanny Helton, Alan Helton, Gregory Teply, Michael Teply, and Dick Teply.

Honorary bearers were H. Norton, Roy Martin, Bob Brown, Pete Andersen, and Myrle Henderson.

Interment was in the East Fairview Cemetery at Lenox.

Military rites were conducted by Parkinson Post #250 of the Lenox American Legion.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday May 11, 1983

 

Timmons, Delma Clayton -

Graveside services for Delma Clayton Timmons of Seal Beach, California were held at the Westminster Memorial Park Cemetery in California on May 3, 1983 at 2 p.m. Mrs. Timmons was born in Lenox, Iowa on February 4, 1908. She died at her home May 1 of a heart

ailment.

Delma spent her childhood and school days in Lenox, graduating from Lenox High School as valedictorian of her class. Soon after graduation, she moved to Southern California, living for many years at Long Beach and then at Leisure World in Seal Beach until the

time of her death.

Mrs. Timmons was a certified Brailiest. She volunteered her services of transcribing Braille for the blind and completed two

volumes for the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Harry and Mae Clayton; and a brother, Wilbur Clayton of Brea, California.

Survivors include her husband, George M. Timmons; a daughter, Margaret Freepartner and husband, Jack of Okanogan, Washington;

two sisters, Dorothy Immel and husband, Ronald of Des Moines, Iowa and Lois Keller and husband, James of York Haven, Pennsylvania;

a brother, Carroll Clayton and wife, Audrey of La Mirado, California; two cousins, Robert Clayton of Houston, Texas and Eugene

Holben of Lenox; as well as a number of nieces and nephews.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday May 18, 1983

 

Veatch, Howard C -

Howard C. Veatch, Route 3, Creston, Iowa, died Friday, April 9 at the Greater Community Hospital in Creston

at sixty-four years of age. He was born at Orient, Iowa on September 9, 1918 to Charles A. and Florence L. Dows Veatch.

Mr. Veatch served in the United States Army during World War II from May, 1941 to January, 1946. At the time of

his discharge from the service, he was a Staff Sergeant with the 162nd Infantry.

He was united in marriage with Ione Davis at Manhattan, Kansas on September 15, 1944.

Howard was a farmer and had lived the last twenty-five years of his life in the rural Creston community.

He was a member of VFW Post #1797 of Creston, the Creston Eagles Lodge, Williamson American Legion, Canby

Lodge #354 A.F.&.A.M. of Cromwell and had served as the Master of Canby in 1979.

Preceding him in death were his parents and two brothers.

Survivors include his wife, Ione of Creston; a daughter, Carol Ann Reeve and husband, Richard of Creston; a son, Hal

Dean Veatch and wife, Debbie of Kent; nine grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Viola Sandstrom of Creston and Mrs. Arda

Brown and husband, LaVern of Tempe, Arizona; and three brothers, Olen of Fontanelle, Eugene of LaMar, Colorado and

Walter of Prescott.

Services were held Wednesday, April 13 at 1:30 p.m. at the Keating-Lindsay Funeral Home in Creston with Reverend

Russell Hart officiating.

Music was by Mrs. Marilyn Hulbert, organist. The selections were "In The Garden" and "How Great Thou Art".

Masonic services were conducted at the funeral home.

Casket bearers were Jack Antisdel, Steve Blazek, Paul Britten, Vern Eblen, Bud Herring, Joe Moore, David

Tripp, and Gary VanGelder.

Honorary bearers were Lawrence Antisdel, Cliff Blazek, Brad Boyer, William Chapman, Sr., Earl Eblen, Ernest Marckmann,

and Earl Recknor.

Interment was in the Witt Cemetery at Bridgewater, Iowa.

A memorial has been established to the family.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 13, 1983

 

Whipp, Lloyd Adam -

Lloyd Adam Whipp, the son of George H. and Nettie Jane Loudon Whipp, was born near College Springs, Iowa on

January 29, 1895. He died at the Lenox Care Center in Lenox, Iowa on Sunday, April 10, 1983 at the age of eighty-eight years,

two months and eleven days. Mr. Whipp had been a resident of the Care Center for three weeks.

He was united in marriage with Isabelle Farquhar at College Springs on April 19, 1917. The couple farmed in the College Springs

area for twenty years before moving to the Lenox community in 1940 where they continued farming and raised their family.

Lloyd and Isabelle celebrated their sixty fifth wedding anniversary in 1982 with all their grandchildren and greatgrandchildren

present.

Lloyd was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Lenox and served as a choir member, Sunday school superintendent,

trustee, and elder. He was a past-Master of the Nodaway Masonic Lodge in Clarinda. Lloyd continued his interest in Masonic work

for more than fifty years, serving as a district instructor for forty years. He was also a past-Worthy Patron of the O.E.S. in Lenox

and served as a Grand Chapter Committee Member of the Grand Chapter of Iowa, Order of the Eastern Star.

Lloyd loved music, animals, flowers, and all living things. His family and friends share in the loss of a loving family man.

The family suffered a heavy loss when the younger son, Lloyd Loudon Whipp, serving with the United States Marine

Corps, was killed in action on Iwo Jima in 1945.

Survivors include his wife, Isabelle of Lenox; two daughters, Ruth Sherwin and husband, Douglas F of Bettendorf and Betty Warner and Willis of Ft Dodge, a son Forrest Whipp and wife Margaret of Lenox, ten grandchildren, fifteen greatgrandchildren, a sister, Ruth [?] of College Springs, and a brother, Leland C Whipp of Omaha, Nebraska.

Services were held Tuesday April 12 at 2 p.m. at the United Presbyterian Church in Lenox.  Reverend Don Fisher, pastor, officiated.

Music was by Roberta Lockhart, organist.  The congregational hymns were "Joyful Joyful I Adore Thee" and "I Love To Tell The Story".

Casket bearers were Dan Sherwin, Robert Morris, Robert Duncan, Stephen Robinson, Julian Walter and Darrell Reynolds.

Honorary bearers were Erskin [?] Ralph Zane, Homer [?] and Alfred Adolphsen.

Masonic Rites were conducted by Tremont Lodge #343 A.M.&F.M. of Lenox.

Interment was in the Clearfield Cemetery, Clearfield, Iowa.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 20, 1983