We honor here members, friends and supporters of the American Council of the Blind who have impacted our lives in many wonderful ways. If you would like to submit a notice for this column, please include as much of the following information as possible.
Name (first, last, maiden if appropriate)
City of residence (upon passing)
State/province of residence (upon passing)
Other cities/states/countries of residence (places where other blind people may have known this person)
Occupation
Date of death (day if known, month, year)
Age
ACB affiliation (local/state/special-interest affiliates or national committees)
Deaths that occurred more than six months ago cannot be reported in this column.
Vivian F. Carstens
Feb. 5, 1920 – Dec. 24, 2014
Vivian Carstens, 94, of Gainesville, Ga., died Dec. 24, 2014.
Vivian was born in Spokane, Wash. She was raised in Pullman, Wash. She married Marion Robert “Bob” Carstens of Spokane. Vivian was a homemaker and the mother of three sons, Tom, Jeffrey and Chris. Over the course of time, Vivian lived in San Francisco, Calif.; Pullman, Wash.; Iowa City, Iowa; and Atlanta, Ga.
Vivian and Bob were among the “pioneer” residents of Lanier Village Estates who founded the community in 2001. Vivian enjoyed walking the common areas for exercise. She was always pleasant and conversant with an uplifting word to share with people. She had such a positive attitude about life. She liked community life at the village and was a member of Westminster Church (PCA) in Gainesville.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 73 years, Bob Carstens; her three sons, Tom and his wife Cathy in Oregon; Jeffrey and his wife Cici in Gainesville, Ga.; and Chris and his wife Andrea in Atlanta. Bob and Vivian have seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Her memorial service was held Dec. 30, 2014, in the chapel at Lanier Village Estates in Gainesville.
Richard “Dick” Jehu
Richard “Dick” Jehu of Gainesville, Ga., died Jan. 3, 2015 with his family by his side. He was 87.
Dick is survived by his wife of 25 years, Phyllis Jehu of Gainesville, Ga. and five children, Yvonne Hollingsworth of Gainesville, Joe Dietlin of Corbin, Ky.; Lorraine Fradle of Frasier, Mich.; Hugo and wife Kim Dietlin of Gainesville; and Mitzi and husband Rod Goldsmith of Ohio. He is also survived by his daughter-in-law Barbara Jehu of Richmond, Va., and 21 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Richard was preceded in death by his wife of 39 years, Arbutus Jehu; daughter Laura Ann Smith; and son Richard Lawrence Jehu.
Dick was a native of Michigan. He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Detroit Institute of Technology and was a registered professional engineer in the state of Michigan. His engineering career culminated after 26 years with Dow Chemical Company where he designed Styrofoam manufacturing plants both in the United States and abroad. Dick worked with his son designing Wahoo Boat docks for 18 years.
During World War II, Dick served in the United States Air Force, as a right waist gunner in a B-29 bomber, based on Tinian Island in the South Pacific.
Dick spent many years serving others in his church, as well as assisting with Meals on Wheels and the Hall County Chapter of the Visually Impaired. He was a fire warden and sang in the LVE Chorus. He even played Santa for local nursing homes. His hobbies included fishing, square dancing, and performing in various choirs.
Dick will be missed by many, and he will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Hall County Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 2496, Gainesville, GA 30501, and First Presbyterian Church, 800 S. Enota Dr., Gainesville, GA 30501. Condolences may be sent to Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Dr., Gainesville, GA 30501; phone (770) 297-6200; or online at www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.
Frances “Fran” Stokes
June 20, 1924-Nov. 4, 2014
Frances “Fran” Stokes of Gainesville, Ga., died Nov. 4, 2014. She was 90. Fran was born to the late Phifer Berry and Claudia Williams Berry on June 20, 1924, in Drexel, N.C. She subsequently lived in Pulaski, Va. and Hickory, N.C. before moving with her family to Miami, Fla. in 1940. She graduated from Miami High School in 1941.
Fran was a dedicated and enthusiastic volunteer throughout her adult life and cared greatly about the communities in which she lived. Prior to her move from Miami she was a member of the University of Miami Women's Guild, a 31-year member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and a devoted member of the Coral Gables Garden Club for 35 years. She was a long-time member of Plymouth Congregational Church in Coconut Grove and had recently become a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville, Ga.
Fran married Thomas J. Stokes on March 2, 1946, in Miami. They remained residents of Coconut Grove and Coral Gables until moving to Lanier Village Estates in February 2013. Fran is survived by her husband of 68 years, Thomas J. Stokes, and beloved children, Dr. Thomas J. Stokes Jr. and his wife Dr. D. Byron Stokes of Auburn, Ala.; John M. Stokes and his wife Carolyn C. Stokes of Nebo, N.C.; and Claudia C. Stokes of O’Brien, Fla. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Anne Gray (Craig), David Stokes, Christopher Stokes (Ashley), and Jessica B. Stokes, and one great-grandson, Craig Gray III. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Her funeral service was held Nov. 22, 2014, at the Van Orsdel Coral Gables Chapel; burial at Woodlawn Park Cemetery.
Grace Christine Wilson
Sept. 15, 1951- Dec. 4, 2014
Grace Christine Wilson, age 63, of Cedartown, Ga., passed away Dec. 4, 2014.
Grace was born Sept. 15, 1951 in Cedartown to the late Frank C. Wilson and Mary Brown Wilson. She was a 1969 graduate of Cedartown High School.
In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her aunts, Jimmie Brown and Herstine “Dee” Maron. She is survived by her sister, Mary “Tina” Williams; her stepson, Lee Watson; godson Shad Ayers; daughter Marcelle Robinson; goddaughter Shannon Anderson; special friends Vera Ramey, Rose Bell, Susan Flores, Marsha Huffsteller and Patricia Smith; and grandchildren Joe Hulsey, Cynthia Hulsey, Benjamin Watson, Jack Watson, Zach Robinson, Noah Robinson, Nikki Anderson, Paige Anderson, Tia Anderson, Kandice Flores, Bobby Ayers and Alexis Ayers. A number of cousins also survive.
Grace had worked for the Lester C. Litesey Funeral Home for a number of years, doing insurance and working in the office. She also had been employed by the Georgia Department of Corrections. She was a 1996 graduate of the Georgia Police Academy. She was a proud member of the Bold & Beautiful Red Hatters and a member of the Disabled American Vets. She was a dedicated member of Friendly Baptist Church for many years, where she was also a member of the WMU.
Grace’s funeral service was held Dec. 7, 2014, at the chapel of the Lester C. Litesey Funeral Home, with Rev. Jerome Smith officiating. Interment was held in the Buchanan City Cemetery, with Rev. Floyd Huffsteller officiating.
Those wishing to make memorial contributions may send them to the Friendly Baptist Church, 67 Friendly Baptist Church Rd., Cedartown, GA 30125. To send condolences to the family, visit www.liteseyfh.com and sign the online guest book.