Obituaries

By MARTHA ANDRUS • communitynews@murrayledger.com

Mr. Willis J. Deitz, 82, of Kirksey, Kentucky, died Sunday, July 16, 2017, at Baptist Health in Paducah, Kentucky.

He was born May 14, 1935, in Sligo, Pennsylvania, to Willis Deitz and Marie Hummel Deitz, who preceded him in death.

He graduated fromBradford Area High School in 1954 and attended the University of Pittsburg at the Bradford campus. He was a tool and die maker and worked for Speer Resistor Motorola, Fisher Price and retired from Mattel in 1997. He attended the Murray and Paducah Seventh Day Adventist churches.

Mr. Deitz is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ella Deitz; three sons, John Deitz and wife Rose of Discovery Bay, California, Willis Deitz and wife Cathy of Madisonville, Bobby Deitz and wife Pam of Kirksey; three daughters, Lori Mitchum and husband Brian of South Fulton, Tennessee, Kristina Jackson and husband Lee of Hazel, Deborah Welsh and husband Kerry of Kevil; a brother, David Deitz and wife Beth of Allegany, New York; a sister, Bernice Keister of Chili, New York; 14 grandchildren, Jenny Long, Aimee Dial, Joshua Deitz, Willie Deitz, Jessica Free, David Deitz, Rebekah Willis, Brittnee Deitz, Logan Jackson, Lindsey Welsh, Lorynn Deitz, Cody Jackson, John Welsh, Nathan Deitz and nine great-grandchildren, Madison Byassee, Tyler Long, Hayden Free, Paisley Long, Keegan Free, Eden Deitz, Christian Free, Carter Willis and Isaiah Willis.

The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 21, 2017, at Imes Funeral Home & Crematory, Heritage Chapel, with Dennis Attrogge officiating. Burial will follow in Murray City Cemetery. His grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 20, 2017, at the funeral home.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Online condolences may be left at www.imesfh.com .

Imes Funeral Home & Crematory, Heritage Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

Lt. Col. Delbert Honchul, 98, of Murray, Kentucky, died Friday, July 14, 2017, at the Spring Creek Health Care in Murray.

He was born May 26, 1919, in Caney, Morgan County, Kentucky, to Green Berry and Delia Madden Honchul.

He served three years in the Civilian Conservation Corps including duty as the company’s senior leader (top enrollee position); 25 plus years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, and 20 years teaching at Murray State University, retiring as associate professor emeritus. He was the valedictorian of his graduating class at Cannel City High School in Kentucky, received a bachelor of science degree from Maryland State University and a MBA from Ohio State University with significant additional graduate work from Ohio State University and George Washington University. His biography has appeared in Marquis’ Who’s Who in the South and Southwest. Military awards received include the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the usual location and service ribbons. He was a Kentucky Colonel.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a wife, Daris Williams Honchul; a brother, Robert B. Honchul; four siblings in early childhood; and one great-grandson.

Lt. Honchul is survived by his wife, Quava Clark Smith Honchul; six children, Lt. Col. Delbert Dean (Ret.) and wife Rosalind, Diana Lee Lossner and husband Stephen, Donna Eugenia O’Neal (Bill Johns), Delaine Beth Cook and husband Timothy, Delores Kay Woods Baker and husband Rodney and Col. David Wallace Honchul and wife Tamra; three stepsons, Philip Kim Smith, Eugene Ray Smith and Roger Frank Smith and wife Linda; a sister, Garnett Elizabeth Mills (widow of Victor Gordon Mills); 18 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 20, 2017, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home with Jim Stahler officiating. Entombment willl follow in Murray Memorial Gardens with full military honors. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at the funeral home.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 15120, Chicago, IL 60693.

The J.H. Churchill Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Geraldine Darnall Thomas Cunningham

Geraldine Darnall Thomas Cunningham, 90, of Murray, Kentucky, died at 7:15 a.m. Sunday, July 16, 2017, at the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House.

She was born Dec. 31, 1926, in Kirksey, Kentucky, to Eugene Gardner Darnall and Onie May Grubbs Darnall Cleaver.

She retired from Fisher Price, was an expert seamstress and an excellent cook. She always had a batch of her special recipe chocolate brownies ready to enjoy with her family and friends. She was a member of Glendale Road Church of Christ.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 48 years, Edward Peyton Thomas; her husband of 20 years, Erie Dale Cunningham; five brothers; three sisters; a stepson, Gerald R. Dallas; one grandson, Sean Michael Thomas; and one great-grandson, Hubert Lanny Thomas.

Mrs. Cunningham is survived by one daughter, Sherri Thomas Austin of Chesapeake, Virginia; three sons, Edward Thomas and wife Anita of Greensboro, North Carolina, Kenneth Thomas and wife Dianne of Summerville, South Carolina, and Michael Thomas and wife Phyllis of Rolling Hills Estates, California; one stepdaughter Linda Cunningham Erhart and husband Bill of DeBary, Florida; two sisters, Reba Crouse of Murray and Josephine Cleaver of Clarksville, Tennessee; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

The funeral service will be at noon on Thursday, July 20, 2017, at Blalock-Coleman & York Funeral Home with John Dale officiating. Burial will follow in Murray Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, July 20, 2017, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, KY 42071.

Online condolences may be left at www.yorkfuneralhome.com .

Blalock-Coleman & York Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Farley Joe Adams, 79 of Cocoa, Florida, died Sunday, July 2, 2017, at Wuesthoff Hospice House in Rockledge, Florida.

He was born April 5, 1938, in Farmington, Kentucky. He grew up in the small town of Farmington to graduate with the class of 1956 from Kirksey High School. After graduation, he married his high school sweetheart, Threna Gray, and moved to Cocoa, Florida. Soon after moving to Florida, he began his professional career with General Dynamics, where he enjoyed a successful profession as a missile technician and then a supervisor for 43 years, retiring from Lockheed Martin in 2000. He faithfully served the Lord for 50 years as a minister for the Church of Christ in Titusville, St. Cloud and Merritt Island, Florida. During his retirement years, Farley enjoyed giving back to the community, gardening and tinkering in his workshop. He took this love of gardening and shared it with the students at McNair Magnet School as an avid volunteer and was recognized by Brevard Public Schools as Volunteer of the Year in 2013 and 2014. A special person, he was caring and considerate of all those around him. He will be greatly missed.

Farley is survived by his wife, Threna Adams; his three sons, Darrell Adams, Monte Adams and Barry Adams; five grandchildren, Chanda DiPerna, Shereen Luchten, Nicole Adams, Jason Adams and Brooke Adams; three great-grandchildren, Emoree Luchten, Evan DiPerna and Rylee DiPerna; and his brother, Richard Adams.

A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at West Fork Baptist Church Cemetery.

The J.H. Churchill Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.

Ruby Juanita Harris

Ruby Juanita Harris, 77, of Murray, Kentucky, died at 11:30 p.m. Monday, July 17, 2017, at the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House.

Arrangements are incomplete at Blalock-Coleman & York Funeral Home.