Obituaries
Edward Mathews Spokane
memorial service for Edward Ross “Ed” Mathews, 55, was held Monday at the Gonzaga University Chapel. Cremation preceded the service.
Mr. Mathews, who was born in Jefferson, Iowa, died Thursday.
He had worked as a security guard for Western Security and for American Building Maintenance.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Linda Mathews; two sons, Michael Mathews, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Christopher Mathews of Spokane; two daughters, Beatrice Mantell of Chewelah, Wash., and Jennifer Mathews of Spokane; a sister, Dorothy Mae, of Minneapolis; four grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Gladys Claflin Spokane
Service for Gladys Leona Claflin, 86, is set for 3 p.m. today at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home. Burial will be at Pines Cemetery.
Mrs. Claflin, who was born in Warden, Wash., died Saturday. She was a homemaker. Her husband, Walter, died in 1978.
She is survived by three daughters, Emma Tarbox of Sun City, Ariz., and Wilma Smith and Carol Spelevoy, both of Newman Lake; one son, George Claflin of Spokane; two brothers, Raymond Bennett of Spokane and Victor Bennett of Yakima; and 17 grandchildren.
Nicholas Verbillis Coeur d’Alene
Family graveside service for Nicholas J. Verbillis, 79, will be later at St. Thomas Cemetery. Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Verbillis, who was born in Greece, died Saturday.
He came to the United States in 1939 and worked in the food service industry in New York. He moved to Washington, D.C., and became the head waiter at the Statler Hotel during the 1950s. He traveled extensively throughout North America and continued his career at restaurants in large metropolitan areas.
He retired in 1984 and moved to Coeur d’Alene, where he enjoyed fishing, reading and sports.
Survivors include one son, Michael Verbillis of Coeur d’Alene; one sister, Evtokia Vallas of Panama City, Fla.; three grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Lewis Emerson Spokane
No service will be held for Lewis J. Emerson, 83, at his request.
Mr. Emerson, who was born in Ritzville, Wash., died Saturday.
He graduated from Ritzville High School and also Washington State University.
Mr. Emerson had lived in Lind, Wash., where he operated a pharmacy for more than 40 years.
He is survived by his wife, Annette Hille Emerson; one daughter, Jenness Edwards; one brother, Lloyd Emerson of Bethesda, Md.; and two grandchildren.
Elena Honma Coeur d’Alene
Mass for Elena Honma, 67, was held Monday. English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d’Alene handled arrangements.
Mrs. Honma, who was born in the Philippines, died Friday.
She moved to the area in 1973 from Los Angeles and was a homemaker. She was a member of the Mary Immaculate Queen Church near Post Falls.
Her husband, Gregory, died in 1975. Survivors include two daughters, Julie Mossier of Bayview, Idaho, and Sister Maria Inviolata of Spokane; one sister and two brothers.
Jack Ledgerwood Spokane
Private cremation for Jack H. Ledgerwood, 78, will be held. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Ledgerwood, who was born in Daisy, Wash., died Thursday.
He graduated from Otis Orchards High School.
He worked for Boeing in Seattle, prior to joining the Navy in the early 1940s. He was discharged in December 1945 and returned to Spokane and worked as an upholsterer for the state of Washington Weigh Station. He sold real estate and then returned to work for the state as a collector of delinquent sales taxes.
A 47-year resident of Spokane, Mr. Ledgerwood had been active in the Orchard Masonic Lodge 200 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. A World War II Navy veteran, he served on the USS Santee in the Pacific Theater.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Clara, in 1968.
He is survived by two daughters, Lois Schull of Spokane and Linda McIntosh of Vancouver, Wash.; one son, Joe Ledgerwood of Boise; one brother, Bob Ledgerwood of Olympia; and five grandchildren.
Anne Smith Spokane
Service for Anne E. Smith, 69, will be at 2 p.m. today at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mrs. Smith, who was born in Germany, died Friday.
She had been a resident of Spokane for 40 years.
She was a partner of the Camelot Restaurant/Imperial Lanes Bowling Center.
She had been a member of Messiah Lutheran Church and The Spokane Club.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert D. Smith.
Survivors include two sons, Mark and Gerald Smith, both of Spokane; two daughters, Kristine Marshall of Spokane and Karin Kovach of Seattle; and six grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or Hospice of Spokane.
Larry Cramer Ritzville, Wash.
Service for Larry T. Cramer, 57, will be at 11 a.m. today at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Ritzville. Burial will follow at Ritzville Memorial Cemetery. Danekas Funeral Home, Ritzville, is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Cramer, owner of Jake’s Restaurant-Exxon & MiniMart, died Thursday.
He was the Democratic Party chairman for Adams County and served in 1993-94 as a member of the Washington State Democratic Executive Council Finance Committee. He also was a member of the Washington Thoroughbred Association, the Washington State Restaurant Association and the National Federation of Independent Businessmen. He was a lobbyist in Olympia from 1988 to 1994.
Mr. Cramer was an honorary member of the Ritzville High School Future Farmers of America.
He owned and raised racehorses.
Survivors include his wife of 27 years, Karolyn Cramer; one son, Paul Cramer, and one daughter, Rebecca Cramer, both of Ritzville; five brothers, William Cramer of Kennewick, Gail Cramer of Fayetteville, Ala., Joel Cramer of Othello, Wash., Roger Cramer of Marysville, Wash., and Gary Cramer of Richland; and four sisters, Virginia St. John and Judy Fetch, both of Federal Way, Wash., Barbara Cook of Bothell, Wash., and Patty Allchin of Baton Rouge, La.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ritzville Chapter of Future Farmers of America or the Ritzville Ministerial Association.
Connie Beck Spokane
Graveside service for Connie A. Beck, 82, will be at 11 a.m. today at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Beck, who was born in Great Falls, Mont., died Saturday.
She graduated from North Central High School and had lived in Spokane for more than 65 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 34 years, Otto Beck.
She is survived by one daughter, Randi Berg of Olympia; one son, Darrell Cafaro of Spokane; three grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.
Barbara Pearce Milford, Conn.
Service for Barbara W. Pearce, 79, is set for 10 a.m. today at the Cody-White Funeral Home in Milford, Conn. Mass will follow at 11 a.m. in the Church of Good Shepard in Orange, Conn. Burial will be at Orange Center Cemetery.
Mrs. Pearce, who was born in Rye, N.Y., died Saturday.
She had lived in Spokane for 10 years and owned Kid’s Stuff Children’s Clothing Store before retiring in 1993. She then moved to Milford.
She is survived by three sons, Clyde Taylor of Milford, Douglas Pearce of Rochester, N.Y., and John Pearce of Orange, Conn.; six grandchildren and and one great-granddaughter.
Lila Goodman Wilbur, Wash.
Service for Lila Goodman, 87, will be at 11 a.m. today at the Wilbur Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow at Wilbur Cemetery. Strate Funeral Home of Wilbur is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Goodman, a lifetime resident of Wilbur, died Wednesday.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd, in 1959.
Mrs. Goodman was a member of Wilbur Presbyterian Church and Neighbors of Woodcraft.
She is survived by four sons, Ray Goodman of Wilbur, Russ Goodman of Long Lake, Wash., Garry Goodman of Federal Way, Wash., and Terry Goodman of Davenport, Wash.; one daughter, Lorraine Shafer of Spokane; 12 grandchildren, 13 greatgrandchildren and three stepgreatgrandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wilbur Presbyterian Church or the Wilbur Cemetery Association.
Beulah Wilhelm-Delaney Spokane
Private graveside service for Beulah Wilhelm-Delaney, 76, is set for today at Bethel Cemetery in Steptoe, Wash. Burial will follow.
Mrs. Delaney, who was born in St. John, Wash., died Sunday.
She had operated the Merit Cafe in Spokane and also had worked at Deaconess Medical Center as a cook.
She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge, the Wheatland Grange, the Little Valley Club at St. John and the Steptoe Community Church.
She is survived by two daughters, Joan Willson and Karen Johnson, both of Colfax, Wash.; one son, Max Wilhelm of Spokane; one sister, Hilda Hynes of Spokane; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be given to Bethel Cemetery of Steptoe.
Donald Williams Greenacres
Private family service will be held for Donald R. Williams, 66.
Mr. Williams, who was born in Libby, Mont., died Thursday.
He had worked at Gonzaga University in maintenance for more than 10 years. He also worked for the federal government in Coeur d’Alene with the General Service Administration.
He was a 20-year resident of Spokane.
His wife, Lorene, died in 1973.
He is survived by two sons, Roger and Richard Williams of Greenacres; one daughter, Mary Jane Williams of Spokane; two sisters, Juanita Santchi, Spokane and Julia Midyette of Missoula; and two granddaughters.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane.
, DataTimes