The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia (2024)

Sunday, July 9, 2000 OBITUARIES The Atlanta Journal-Constitution MORROW Howard Hurd, 89, made pit tools for NASCAR teams By Erin Behan NASCAR racing fans may not know the name Howard Hurd, but NASCAR drivers are intimately familiar with Mr. Hurd and his 41-year-old business, Hurd Pit Tools Equipment. "He has furnished the pit tools for every championship team since 1961," his son Raymond Hurd of Washington, said. "In the inner workings of NASCAR, everyone knows In the early 1960s, Mr. Hurd developed a special high-speed air impact gun, the tool crews use to change tires during pit stops it usually takes 20 seconds to change all four tires.

His gun, in bright yellow and black, was first used by Glen Wood's Wood Brothers racing team at the Atlanta International Raceway, and its success put the gun and other of Mr. Hurd's products in high demand, his son said. The funeral for Howard M. Hurd, 89, of Morrow is 1:00 p.m. Monday at Pope Dickson Son, Morrow Chapel.

He died Saturday at Piedmont Hospital from complications of a stroke. A native of the Capitol View community in Atlanta, Mr. Hurd graduated from Boys High and had lived in Morrow for 25 years. He was a self-taught engineer and worked for the Atlanta Fire Department during World War II rebuilding firetrucks, his son said. Mr.

Hurd's keen interest in auto racing was mechanical in nature, but he was always on the sidelines, traveling across the country to attend NASCAR races, A self-taught engineer, Howard Hurd was honored for his contributions to stock car racing. his son said. Although quiet and reserved, he never hesitated to answer anyone's questions about mechanics, he said. Along with NASCAR official Bill Gazaway, Mr. Hurd developed a template to help measure a stock car body's style and height, which is still used at NASCAR Winston Cup events to ensure a level playing field.

In 1982 he received the Buddy Shuman Memorial Trophy, given in recognition of outstanding contributions and loyalty to auto 1 racing, at the NASCAR Winston Cup Awards Banquet in New York. Mr. Hurd turned over Hurd Pit Tools Equipment, which has offices in Morrow and Charlotte, to his grandson James Hurd in 1996, although he stayed on as consultant. Survivors other than his son include a daughter, Joyce Mize of McDonough; four brothers, Jack Hurd of Austell, Robert Hurd of Smyrna, Gibbs Hurd of Augusta and Willis Hurd of Arlington, a sister, Barbara Mickle of Cumming; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. NEWNAN Ronnie Watkins, 68, Atlanta, Fulton lawman By Erin Behan Ronnie Watkins got a law degree Ronnie Watkins retired from after retiring the Atlanta Police Department from the city and attended law school, but even police force, after graduating with a degree he then became could not stay away from his first a sheriff's love, law enforcement.

deputy. "It was in his blood," said his son, Ronnie Watkins Jr. of Roswell. After getting his degree, Mr. Mr.

Watkins enjoyed telling the Watkins returned to work with story of how, while in the auto the Fulton Sheriff's Department theft division of the Police for 14 years, retiring in 1997. Department, he and his partner "He liked helping people and found the Mustang James Earl making a contribution to the comRay dumped at Capitol Homes, munity," his son said. and they started a preliminary Since his retirement, Mr. Watinvestigation on the car before the kins had been following NASCAR FBI took over as it probed the in Atlanta, Charlotte and Daytona slaying of the Rev. Martin Luther Beach, and traveling the King his son said.

West in his RV. The funeral for Joseph Ronald In the 1950s and early 1960s, "Ronnie" Watkins 68, is 2 Mr. Watkins worked as a volunp.m. Monday at Carmichael- teer pit crew member at many Hemperly Funeral Home. He automobile races, once refueling died Wednesday at his Newnan Bobby Unser's car, his son said.

residence of a heart attack. Survivors other than his son A Boston native, Mr. Watkins include his wife, Glenda S. Watspent most of his life in the kins of Newnan; four daughters, Atlanta area, graduating from Sandra Denise Kelly of Roswell, Marist High School before spend- Cindy Watkins of Australia, Gail ing 30 years with the Army Ratcliff of Roswell and Michelle National Guard as a military Kennedy of Houston; a brother, police officer and 20 years with Robert H. Watkins of Newnan; the Atlanta Police Department.

and nine grandchildren. After retiring with the Atlanta In lieu of flowers, the family department as a lieutenant in the asks that contributions be made 1970s, Mr. Watkins went to John to Shriners Children's Hospital, Marshall Law School in Atlanta to 950 W. Faris Road, Greenville, SC earn his law degree. 29605.

Vahe Oshagan, 78, Armenian poet NEW YORK TIMES French existentialists and had little time for those who dismissed Vahe Oshagan, 78, whom lead- modernity as a corruption of traing critics call the most important ditional values. Armenian-language poet in exile, Marc Nichanian, a professor of died June 30 in Philadelphia. Armenian studies at Columbia He died of complications after University, called Mr. Oshagan heart surgery, said his son Ara. "the most important poet of this Mr.

Oshagan, who also taught generation." and wrote short stories and liter- "For a long time his work was ary criticism, revolutionized not even accepted as poetry," Mr. Armenian poetry by rejecting its Nichanian said. imposed formality, which Mr. Nichanian described a shunned the concerns of daily life 1963 book by Mr. Oshagan, "The and themes of alienation and loss.

City," as "the most radical book He often wrote in colloquial Ian- of Armenian poetry in the 20th guage and was for many the voice century." of the Armenian diaspora. None of Mr. Oshagan's work He was heavily influenced by has been published in English. Our obituary policy The Atlanta Journal-Constitution strives to make this list a complete record of deaths in the metro area and of selected deaths from elsewhere. Please ask your funeral home or cremation society to call us at 404-526- 5342, or fax us at 404-526-7517.

These listings are free. For a FamilyPlaced Death Notice, for which there is a charge, please have your funeral home contact our advertising department at 404-526-5271. THE WEB: You can access news obituaries at www.ajc.com DEATHS AND FUNERALS ATLANTA THURMAN PIRKLE, 75, died Thursday. Funeral, 3 p.m. today, R.T.

Patterson Funeral Home, Norcross Chapel. CHARLES ROBERTSON, 74, died Saturday. No service is planned; H.M. Patterson Son, Spring Hill. DOROTHEA MABEL STILL, 89, died Thursday.

The body was cremated. Funeral plans will be announced by National Cremation Society. CARROLL COUNTY HATTIE MAE HILL, 93, of Temple died Friday. Funeral, 4 p.m. today, Hightower Funeral Home.

MARDELL IVEY, 52, of Carrollton died Friday. Funeral, 3 p.m. today, Martin Hightower Heritage Chapel. SANDRA SCALES LOVVORN, 55, of Carrollton died Friday. Funeral, 3 p.m.

today, Bremen Church of Christ; Rainwater-West Funeral Home. CHEROKEE COUNTY I RICHARD BRANDENBURG, 53, of Canton died Friday. Funeral, 4 p.m. Monday, Sosebee Funeral Home. JANET FOWLER, 80, of Canton died Saturday.

Funeral, 11 a.m. Monday, First Baptist Church of Calhoun; Thomas Funeral Home. IRA S. COBB, 69, of Athens died Saturday. Funeral plans will be announced by Bridges Funeral Home.

MARCUS BENJAMIN GODWIN, 17, of Royston died Friday. Funeral, 2 p.m. Tuesday, Crowell Brothers Peachtree Chapel Funeral Home. OTIS E. SKELTON, 75, of Bethlehem died Saturday.

Funeral, 2 p.m. Monday, Smith Funeral Home. JOE CALLOWAY WEBB 69, of Felton died Friday. Funeral, 4 p.m. Monday, Gammage Funeral Home.

I ELSEWHERE WILLIAM JOHN McGOWAN, 76, of New York, a founder of a fraternal organization Irish-American police officers in New York, died of heart failure July in Tarrytown, N.Y. VIRGINIA MOFFAT NICKERSON, 73, a leader in many philanthropic and cultural organizations in New York, died June 18 at her home in Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. Ruth Werner, 93, spied for Soviet Union ASSOCIATED PRESS Berlin Ruth Werner, a lifelong communist who channeled atomic bomb secrets to the Soviets during World War II and worked with some of Moscow's most notorious spies, died Friday in her native Berlin. She was 93. Her death was announced by the former East German communist party, which she served as an adviser on a council of prominent personalities.

No cause of death was given. As a Soviet spy in Britain in the 1940s, Ms. Werner was a contact for Klaus Fuchs, the German-born British physicist who passed secrets of the first atomic bomb to Stalin from Britain and later from the U.S. laboratory at Los Alamos. Mr.

Fuchs was caught and served years in a British prison before going to East Germany, where he died in 1988. Trained as a bookseller, Werner joined the German Com- FAMILY- PLACED BIRD DEATH NOTICES Russell "Andy" Andrews, age 75, of Marietta, died Friday, July 7, 2000. Services, 11AM Monday, Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home, Marietta. Rev. Dean Hunter officiating.

Interment, Mountian View Park Cemetery, Marietta. Survivors include two daughters, Jane Andrews, Marietta and Trish Prince, Vernon, TX; one brother, Dorsey Andrews, Marietta; five grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Visitation, 2 to 4PM and 6 to 8PM Sunday. Mayes WardDobbins Funeral Home. APPELROUTH ANDREWS Robert B.

Applerouth, 63, of Vienna, VA, died June 22, 2000 after a short illness. The son of Jennie Weintraub Appelrouth, of Miami, and the late Isadore Appelrouth. Mr. Appelrouth was born in Key West and grew up in Key West and Miami Beach. A 1959 graduate of the University of Florida, he also served as an officer in the U.S.

Navy and spent three years aboard the SS Independence, where he was in the combat information center, and enjoyed traveling around the world. Mr. Appelrouth went to work for Telephone in Newport News, VA, in 1963, and remained with that company in various locations until he retired in December 1991. He was assigned to AmericanBell International for consulting work in Tehran, Iran, during the Iranian revolution. In addition to his mother, Jennie Appelrouth, he is survived by his wife Connie, whom he met on a skiing trip in Montreal.

They were married in Washington, D.C. in 1982. Bob is also survived by brothers, Mitchell Appelrouth, of Richmond, and Dr. Daniel Appelrouth, of Atlanta. Other survivors include nieces and nephews, Michelle Appelrouth, Jed Appelrouth and David Appelrouth, all of Atlanta, Ivan Appelrouth of Richmond, Scott Appelrouth of New York, Lisa Appelrouth of Virginia, Stewart Appelrouth of Miami, and Eileen Farr of Miami.

Mr. Appelrouth was preceded in death by his father, Isadore Appelrouth and brother, William "Billy" Appelrouth. Also surviving are sisters-in-law, Rachel Appelrouth of Key West, Eileen Appelrouth of Richmond, and Arlene Appelrouth of Atlanta. He was a member of Olam Tikvah Congregation, Fairfax, Va. Graveside services were held at King David Memorial Gardens in Falls Church, VA.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Northern Virginia, 6565 Arlington Blvd, Suite 500, Falls Church, VA 22042 or the charity of one's choice. Barbara Christian, 56, modern literary feminism leader NEW YORK TIMES Barbara T. Christian, a professor of African-American studies at the University of California at Berkeley and a pioneer of contemporary American literary feminism, died June 25 at her home in Berkeley. She was 56. The cause was complications from lung cancer, said Patricia McBroom, a university spokeswoman.

The author and editor of several books and 100 articles and reviews, Ms. Christian was best known for her landmark study "Black Women Novelists: The Development of a Tradition." It appeared in 1980 amid a general rediscovery of the work of writers like Zora Neale Hurston and Nella Larsen and the rise to prominence of several younger authors, including Toni Morrison and Alice Walker. Ms. Christian was a leading critical presence in the growing debates over the relationship among race, class and gender. Her widely cited article "The Race for Theory" challenged the increasing domination of AfricanAmerican literary study by those who were primarily interested in theory rather than in writers and their work.

Born in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Ms. Christian entered Marquette University in Wisconsin at age 15. After she graduated cum laude in 1963, her family urged her to study medicine, but she instead chose graduate study at Columbia University, from which she received a doctorate in contemporary British and American literature in 1970.

During her graduate studies, she also taught at the City College of the City University of New York. In 1971, she was appointed assistant professor at Berkeley. A year later, she was instrumental in the establishment of the department of African-American studies, where she taught until her death. She was chairwoman of the department from 1978 until 1983. She led Berkeley's new doctoral program in ethnic studies from 1986 to 1989.

In 1978, she became the first African-American woman to be granted tenure at Berkeley. In 1986, she became the first to be promoted to full professor. In 1991, she won the university's Distinguished Teaching Award, the first African-American to do sO. This year, she received the Berkeley Citation "for distinguished achievement and for notable service to the university." Ms. Christian's marriage to David Henderson, a poet and a biographer of Jimi Hendrix, ended in divorce.

BIRD FRANK COLLINS BIRD, JR. Collins Bird was destined for the hotel business. His grandfather built the Henry Grady Hotel that stood on the spot now occupied by the Westin Peachtree Plaza; his uncle owned the King Prince Hotel in St. Simons, the Partridge Inn in Augusta, and his father managed the John C. Coleman hotel in Swainsboro.

After graduating from GMC and serving in the Navy during World War I1, Bird returned to Atlanta. He began his hotel career in the laundry at Henry Grady. By the late '50s, Bird had moved to the executive offices as manager of the 550-room establishment. The hotel was the gathering place for politicians across the state. Former governors established campaign headquarters there.

The Paradise Room, the leading supper club in Atlanta at that time, and brought in many top entertainers. 1962 Bird moved from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. to open the Georgetown Inn, a luxury hotel. As co-owner and general manager, he watched the hotel grow into one of the most popular hotels in the area. Astronauts, sports stars, entertainers, and politicians could often be seen in the elegant Four Georges restaurant.

He was very popular on the Washington Scene. The Washington Dossier magazine, listed him as one of "Washington's 10 Perfect In 1980 the Inn was sold and Bird retired. He devoted his time to hotel consulting until his full retirement in 1985. Bird, 73, died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. At his memorial service, Marriott Corporation President Bill Teifel described his long-time friend as "a fierce He added, "'He was as pleasant a competitor as I've ever had." Survivors include his wife, Mary of Washington; daughters, Linda Bird Wright of Destin, Fla; Martha Bird Mays of Charleston, S.C., and Patti Bird Wood of Bradenton, sister, Martha Bird Knighton of Atlanta; brother, David G.

Bird of Lawrenceville and seven grandchildren. BUFFINGTON Mr. J. Cecil Buffington, of East Point, died July 8, 2000. He was a foreman for Southern Bell Telephone Company for 47 years.

A resident of East Point for over 60 years, Mr. Buffington was a charter member of Westside Christian Church where he served as Elder and Chairman of Board and was a member of East Point Christian Church. Survived by his wife of 65 years, Kate Buffington; daughter, Anne Buffington Eidson, College Park; grandsons, Dwain Eidson, College Park and John (Shelby) Eidson, Fayetteville; sisters, Dorothy Royal, East Point and Sylvia Hayden, Lancaster, VA; brothers, Ned Buffington, Union City and Robert (Martha) Buffington, Stone Mountain. Funeral services Tuesday, July 11 East Point Christian Church, 1 p.m., In state, 12 noon, Ministers Wendell Baggett and Bob Tyler officiating. Interment, Holly Hill.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to East Point Christian Church, 1706 Washington East Point, 30344. Family will receive friends TODAY, 2-5 p.m. and Monday, 6-8 p.m. at Carmichael-Hemperley Funeral Home, East Point, 404-761-1138 404-761-2141, BYRD Mrs. Donnie Mae Byrd of 3415 Spring Lake Decatur, died Saturday, July 8, 2000.

Her funeral arrangements will be announced by Kelly Leak Funeral Home, 2321 Candler Road, Decatur. 404-284-9100. CHAMBERS Funeral services for Mrs. Pauline Chambers of Riverdale will be held Monday, July 10, 2000 at at Tara Garden Chapel. Interment, College Park Cemetery.

Family will receive friends Sunday from 2-8PM. Mrs. Chambers is survived by her husband, Maurice Chambers; daughters, Diane Morilla, Sarasota, FL, Brenda Mask, Peachtree City; sons, Jimmy Heard, Riverdale, Greg Heard, Jacksonville, FL; five grandchildren. Thomas L. Scroggs Tara Garden Chapel, Jonesboro, 770-471-7171 DEEGAN Frances Bremer Deegan, 82, wife of the late Anthony F.

Deegan died in Buford, Georgia, July 3, 2000. She is survived by her daughter, Nan Deegan, Putnam, a local attorney, and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Deegan was born in 1917 in Savannah, Georgia. She and her hus- munist Party at 19.

She went to China with her husband in the 1920s and was recruited for espionage as a friend of German communist Richard Sorge, a Soviet master spy in the Far East who was executed by the Japanese in 1944. Returning from her selfimposed exile during the Nazi era, Ms. Werner became a celebrated author in East Germany after the war. Her 1976 autobiography "Sonya's Report" Sonya was her code name was a huge success in East Germany, and was translated into English and Chinese. A similar novel about her earlier years, "An Unusual Girl," was published in 1957.

She also wrote a book about Olga Benario, an anti-Nazi resistance fighter who died in a concentration camp. Since the Berlin Wall fell and Germany united in 1990, Werner had lived reclusively in East Berlin. band moved to the Decatur area in 1962. Mrs. Deegan was an avid bridge player and a regular member of the HM Seniors Bridge Group and the Atlanta Club until her health worsened.

She was a member of the North Dekalb Republican Women's Club and the Clayton County Republican Women's Club. Mrs. Deegan founded the first Kindergarden on the Isle of Hope in Savannah following World War and continued to teach until her husband left to manage Southern States Iron Roofing Company in Memphis, Tennessee. The Deegan's lived in Fort Smith, Arkansas until they moved to Decatur where Mr. Deegan was employed by Conklin Metal Products Company.

Mrs. Deegan served as a Brownie Leader and assistant Camp fire girl leader for many years and was active in various church circles. In the 1970's and 80's Mrs. Deegan sold furniture at Davison's Department Store at North Lake Mall until she retired. Until her last illness Mrs.

Deegan lived off Henderson Mill Road in NE Atlanta. A memorial service will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church on Briarcliff Road at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 12, 2000. Cremation Society of the South. 770-941-5352.

DINGLE Mrs. Declair France Dingle of 2875 Carnegie, Way, passed July 8, 2000. HanleyMarietta, 770-428-6333 ENGLISH Mr. Edgar B. English, of Atlanta died July 5, 2000.

A native of Richmond, Mr. English attended various schools in the state of Virginia and was a former member of the Country Club of Virginia. He served in World War rising from Private to Captain. Mr. English participated in the "D' Day landing on Omaha Beach during the invasion of Normandy.

After the war Mr. English was transferred to Atlanta and was a sales representative for the International Paper and later for the Gilman Paper covering the Southeast part of the United States. Upon his retirement in 1991, he worked as a Manufacturing Representative, selling heavy plastic bulk bags. Mr. English was an active tennis player and a football fan of "The The University of Virginia Football Team and was also a volunteer at St.

Joseph's Hospital. He is survived by his wife, lone Miller English, daughter, lone Farrar, Chattanooga, Signal sons, E.B. English, Ill, Roswell; Albert Allen English, Cobb County; five grandchildren, sister, Mrs. Paul Madelene Murphy, Richmond, several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St.

Joseph Hospital or charity of choice. Memorial Services will be held Tuesday, July 11, 2000 at 2 P.M. at Sandy Springs Chapel. Rev. Steve Yander will officiate.

Sandy Springs Chapel Funeral Direc- tors, 136 Mt. Vernon 404-255-8511 Obits continued on C11.

The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia (2024)

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