Gene Durst's widow dies

Arleen Louise Durst, 88, widow of former Beacon Journal printer Gene Durst, died Sunday. Her obituary in the BJ:

Arleen Louise Durst, 88, of Crestmont North Nursing of Lakewood, passed away Sunday, September 26 at Fairview Hospital in Cleveland.

She was born August 5, 1922 in Chippewa Lake to Russell and Gertrude Freidt and married Eugene Durst in 1947. She had been employed as a legal secretary and enjoyed music, flea markets, and spending time with family.

Arleen will be deeply missed by her son, Terry Durst of Cleveland and his partner Dan Tranberg; niece, Pat Crawford of Cleveland and great-niece, Jodie Crawford; and many friends in Wadsworth. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Durst in 1997 and other family members.

Memorial contributions may be made to Lucky Paws Animal Rescue, 1937 Columbus Road, Cleveland, OH 44113 due to Arleen's love of animals.
[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Thursday, September 30, 2010, page B5, col. 1]

Click on the headline to offer your condolences to the Durst family.

Retired printer Calvin Deshong offers this additional information:

Eugene Durst worked in the composing room starting 7-23-1956. Looks like he retired in 1986. He was born 11-4-1923 and lived in Wadsworth.

Other obituaries for widows of BJ retirees this year:

Nettie Evans Skeens, 75, retired printer Bob Skeens' widow, died June 12.
Ann Deskovich, 88, maintenance department retiree John Deskovich's widow, died Feb. 19.
Joan Morris, 73, retired chief artist Bud Morris' widow, died Jan. 22.

Steven Spragg, 38, of Middleburg, Virginia, retired printer Sid Sprague's son, died May 4. Sid lives in Loveland, Colorado, where he moved from Pawleys Island, South Carolina, after Sid's wife died.

BJ Circulation truck driver retiree Raife Woodall, 69, died Sept. 12.
Ruth Kenny, 85, in the BJ accounting department in the 1970s and 1980s, died March 31.
Mary Ohlinger, 90, retail ad retiree and sister of the late Jerry VanSickle, retired printer, died in March.
Charles "Chick" G. Lipford, husband of accounting retiree Martha, died March 26.
William "Bill" James Carney, father of BJ staffer Jim Carney, died Sept. 7.
Carol F. Guregian, mother of former BJ staffer Elaine Guregian, died Sept. 2.

Those who died in 2009:
Cleveland Phillips, maintenance, Jan. 20.
WAKR’s Jerry Healey, Feb 8.
Barbara Patterson, wife of sports retiree Jack, March 17.
Robert Kamenar, freelance photographer, March 22.
Ernest Infield, Wooster Record columnist, March 28.
Watson Blanton, printer, March 25.
Robert Cull, father of reporter Mike, April 4.
Nancy (Lile) Wise, May 27.
Paul Haney, voice of NASA, May 28.
Bill Kennedy, July 20.
Armand Lear, printer, June 5.
Virginia Berger, wife of promotion's Bill, Aug. 5.
Kevin Jackson, son of Gary, Aug. 6.
Olga O'Neil, Aug. 22.
Stephen Schleis, father of reporter Paula, Oct. 11.
Terry Dray, printer, Oct. 25.
Trammel Hogg, printer, Nov. 15.
Kevin Vest, sports statistician, Nov. 18.
Bob Nold, sports writer, Dec. 20.