The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • B5

The Charlotte Observer charlotteobserver.com Saturday, June 20, 2009 5BLOCAL John Joseph Houghtaling, inventor MIAMI The inventor of the Fingers Vibrating a coin- operated fixture in American motel rooms in the 1960s and has died in Florida. John Joseph Houghtaling was 92. His son Paul says the in- ventor died Wednesday at his home in Fort Pierce, Fla. Tinkering in the basement of his New Jersey home, Houghtaling invented the machine in 1958. It caused beds to vibrate when a quarter was dropped into the device.

He moved the company to Miami in 1968 and remained its president until he retired in the 1980s. The kitschy devices found their way into pop culture, celebrated in movies and music. Jimmy Buffett honored it in the song Hotel in a quarter, turn out the light, Magic Fingers makes ya feel all ASSOCIATED PRESS Jackie Ronne, 1st U.S. woman in Antarctica BETHESDA, Md. Edith Ronne, who became the first U.S.

woman to set foot on Antarctica when she ac- companied her explorer hus- band there in 1947, has died. She was 89. Ronne died Sunday of can- cer and disease at a Bethesda nursing home, said her daughter, Karen Ronne Tupek. The Baltimore native was married to Finn Ronne, who persuaded her to accompany him on the expedition. Finn Ronne, a Norwegian- born former U.S.

Navy cap- tain who died in 1980, insisted he have the language skills to write dispatches for the North American Newspa- per Alliance, one of the sponsors. His wife wrote the dispatches for him. She later lectured on cruises to the South Pole and wrote the book First in 2004. In it, she hailed the natural beauty. ASSOCIATED PRESS Tomoji Tanabe, oldest man TOKYO Tomoji Tanabe, the oldest man, died in his sleep Friday at his home in southern Japan, a city official said.

He was 113. died peacefully. His family members were with said Junko Nakao, a city official in Miyakonojo on southern island of Kyushu. Tanabe, who was born Sept. 18, 1895, had eight children five sons and three daughters.

The former city land surveyor also had 25 grandchildren, 53 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren, according to a statement from the Miyakonojo city. He was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest man when he was 111. Tanabe lived with his fifth son and daughter-in-law. His favorite meals were fried shrimp and Japanese miso soup with clams, the statement said. Tanabe drank milk every morning and read the newspaper.

He also avoid- ed alcohol and did not smoke, the statement said. ASSOCIATED PRESS Deaths Elsewhere BRITISH WWI VET NOW OLDEST MAN Guinness World Records says 113-year-old Henry Allingham holds title. 2A Houghtaling Spivock was shocked to dis- cover that in this issue, the Caped female counterpart Batgirl had ditched her clothes, her cape, everything but her mask. The comic book, published last August, contains 10 pages depicting an unusual confron- tation between Batgirl and Cat- woman. The crafty criminal has stolen an important note- book that Batgirl needs.

To get away, Catwoman ducks into a meeting of the Gotham Hedonist Society. Batgirl follows donning only her mask (Holy Hedonist, Batman!) to blend in with the naked pleasure-seekers inside. While obvious the char- acters are naked, readers privy to all the details. The private parts are covered just barely with roses, arms and legs, even a bowl of fruit. The opening page shows Batgirl self-consciously clutch- ing her cape to cover her bare body, although her curves are well-defined.

Another page shows her walking through the Hedo- gathering as naked men ogle her. The most eye-popping scene is a two-page spread showing body-to-bo- dy tussle with Catwoman for the important notebook. But it look like a struggle, and contains none of those exclamations from the TV show: POW! BOOM! WHAM! Spivock and her husband, Bill, were not amused. The two mad at the li- brary, but they did touch base to let officials know what brought home from the fundraising sale. The library sells a variety of donated materials but makes an effort to screen items before offering them to the public.

If screeners find something off- color, they send the items to Goodwill or the Salvation Ar- my. Library officials sure what happened in the Spi- case, but they guess a screener might have glanced over a stack of comic books and chosen not to scour every page. The library planning to change its screening process, said library spokeswoman An- gela Haigler. Still, officials apologized to the Spivocks for the role in the caper, and offered a refund. books just happen to be an item that seem not a serious said Rhonda Pinkney, manager of South County Regional Library.

know how that eased DC Comics, which publish- es Batman Confidential, said the series is designed for peo- ple age 16 and above and intended for young children. The company often places a star on the cover of kid-friend- ly comics. A spokesperson said the company sometimes gets com- plaints about content, but ha- heard them about the No. 18 issue. But the Spivocks say DC should do more to warn par- ents of potentially offensive material.

trap you with the Bat- man name, and I know what their underlying mission Yvette Spivock said. was Bill Spivock said: not religious people or anything rather liberal but this goes beyond all Their timing coincides with the comic book convention that opened in Charlotte Fri- day. An artist for the Batman Confidential series is expected to appear, and issues will likely be available. The Spivocks say like- ly keep their peculiar Batman comic book. said Bill Spi- vock, the end they might actually be worth BATMAN from 1B Baby Girl Maleah Angel Rush, of Charlotte, died June 18, 2009.

A.E. Grier Sons Funeral Cere- mony of Choice is assisting the family. Charles F. Helderman, Jr. Retired Col.

Charles F. Helder- man, 96, a Charlotte native, of Newport News, VA passed away Friday, June 12, 2009 at Warwick Forest Retirement Community in Newport News. He was a resident of Newport News for the past three years. A veteran of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, he retired from the Army in 1968 as a Colonel, after 32 years of service. The oldest of six children, he was preceded in death by his parents, Charles F.

and Sue Menius Helderman; two wives, Ruth Myrtle Helderman and Minnie Raby Helderman; and his three brothers. Survivors include two sons, Charles F. Helderman III of Williamsburg, VA and Lynn Pat- rick Helderman of Kalamath Falls, OR; one sister, Ivey Gul- ledge, and one brother, Swink Helderman, both of Charlotte; seven grandchildren, Michael, Steven, Christie, Gregory, Kurt, Charles, and Sandor Helderman; and two great-grandchildren, Trevor and Daniel Helderman. A memorial service will be held at Warwick Forest, Burton Hall, at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 26, with Chaplain David Efimetz officiating.

Burial will be in Ar- lington National Cemetery at 3 p.m. on Thursday, August 13, with full military honors. Memorial contributions may be made to the Virginia Living Museum, 524 J. Clyde Morris Newport News, VA 23601. Peninsula Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Wilma Gains, of Charlotte, died June 19, 2009. Noble Kelsey Funeral Home is assisting the family. Mrs. Jevondalyn Blackmon, 38, of Charlotte, died June 17, 2009. Memorial Service 1pm Saturday, St.

Paul Baptist Church. Grier Funeral Service in charge of arrangements. G. Glenn Biggs Mr. Biggs, 84 of Charlotte, NC passed away on Friday June 19, 2009.

Glenn was born in Mont- vale, VA on July 29, 1924. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara. Glenn is survived by his chil- dren, Philip Biggs of Barbours- ville, VA, Kim Dickinson and husband Mark of Alpharetta, GA and Stanley Biggs of Charlotte, NC as well as his beloved grand children Ethan, Jonathan, Pey- ton, and Micah Biggs and Logan and Luke Dickinson. Final arrangements are being entrusted to McEwen Funeral Home 704 545-4864. Private graveside services will be held in Spring Valley, VA.

Scott Andrew Best Mr. Best, age 51, of Huntersville, NC died Monday June 15, 2009 at his residence. Born May 9, 1958 in Alden, NY, he was a son of Roberta Story Best of Alden NY and the late Warren Best. Memorial services will be con- ducted 1:00 p.m. Sunday, June 21, in the Chapel of Raymer Funeral Home, Huntersville, NC.

In addition to his mother he is survived by his wife, Patricia Best; sons, Ryan Best of Huntersville, and Tyler Best, US Army 82nd Airborne, Iraq; and siblings Chris, John, Michael and Lara. In lieu of flowers the family request memorials be made to the American Cancer Society, 6000 Fairview Road, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28210. Mecklenburg Roy Swanson Mr. Swanson, 88, of Charlotte passed away at Sardis Oaks Nursing Home on June 18, 2009. Roy was born on October 29, 1920, in Minneapolis, MN, the son of the late Joe Swanson and Erica Gustafson.

Survivors include his son, Tom and his wife, Linda of Charlotte; and daughter, Cor- reen Katz and her husband, Jerry of Sweeney, TX; six grandchil- dren, Wendi McDaniel of Port Arthur, TX, Traci Flannigan of St. Paul, MN, Erick Swanson of Cary, NC, Aubrey Swanson of Charlotte, LeAnn Swanson and her husband, John Michael of Raleigh, and Michael Swanson and his wife, Nicole of Charlotte; and four great grandchildren. Roy was preceded in death by one brother and three sisters, Marvin, Elvira, Muriel, and Bev- erly. Roy was a retired professional engineer for the South Washing- ton County School District in Maplewood, MN. He served honorably in the U.S.

Navy as a Higgins Boat coxswain during the World War II Pacific The- ater island-hopping campaigns including the invasions of Sai- pan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Roy was a member of St. Lutheran Church in Charlotte. A memorial service will be held at St. today, Satur- day, at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Lu- theran Church, 1001 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28207 for the Discretionary The family expresses special appreciation to the staffs of Sar- dis Oaks Nursing Home and the pastoral care ministry of St. Joseph Franklin Parry, Jr. Mr. Parry, 63, of Belmont, for- merly of Charlotte, died Wednesday, June 17th at Wayne T.

Patrick Hospice House in Rock Hill, SC. He was born in Orlando, FL and was the son of the late Joseph F. Parry, Sr. and Melba Burkhalter. He was a graduate of Garringer High School and at- tended UNC-Charlotte.

He was a veteran of the US Army during the Viet Nam War. Following his military duty, he began work in sales at Industrial Textile for 10 years and then became a Purchasing Agent for Crane Supply Company until his retire- ment in 2000. He is survived by one son, Brian Parry and wife Jessica, brother, Bob Parry and wife, Donna, grandchildren, Michael and Christopher Parry, neph- ews, Kevin and Brad Parry and niece, Katy Parry, all of Char- lotte. A Memorial Service to Cele- brate Mr. life will be held at 7:00 p.m.

Monday, June 22, 2009 at the Forest Lawn West Chapel with Reverend Diane Donald with Hickory Grove United Methodist Church pre- siding. The family will receive friends following the service. Memorials may be made to Wayne Patrick Hospice House, PO Box 993, Rock Hill, SC 29731 or to The Humane Society of Charlotte, 2700 Toomey Ave- nue, Charlotte, NC 28203. Arrangements are in the care of Forest Lawn West Funeral and Cremation Service. Online condolences may be placed at www.forestlawnwest.com.

Evelyn Price Yarbrough Mrs. Yarbrough, 92, of Gaffney, SC, formerly of Charlotte, NC, passed away on June 17, 2009. Born July 8, 1916, she was a daughter of the late William R. and Emma Killian Price. Mrs.

Yarbrough is survived by her husband of 71 years, John W. Yarbrough and numerous nieces and nephews. Evelyn was a member of Lime- stone Presbyterian Church in Gaffney, SC. She was the first female Teller with American Trust Bank in Charlotte and a long time member of the Charity League of Charlotte. She lov- ingly kept in touch with family and friends through the years, enjoyed singing in choirs and was a prize winning artist of many media, especially water- color painting.

Mrs. family will receive friends beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 21st at Forest Lawn West Funeral Ser- vice followed by a graveside service at 3:00 p.m. Pallbearers are her six nieces, Jane Mahaley, Frances Knox, Pat Byrum, Becky Wilson, Judy Price and Vickie Oldham. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyte- rian Church of Charlotte, 200 W.

Trade Street, Charlotte, NC 28202, or Hospice Care of Gaff- ney, 1612 N. Limestone Gaff- ney, SC 29314. Arrangements by Forest Lawn West Funeral Service. LEXINGTON William Odell Craver, 87, died June 18, 2009. Funeral 11am Monday, Second Reformed United Church of Christ; visitation Sunday, 6-8pm, Davidson Funeral Home.

LEXINGTON Mrs. Michelle Goodman Craver, 36, died June 18, 2009. Funeral 10am Monday, Meadowview Reformed Presby- terian Church; visitation Sunday, 6-8pm, Davidson Funeral Home. KANNAPOLIS Mrs. Carrie Weaver Compton, 83, died June 18, 2009.

Funeral 4pm, visitation Sunday, Franklin Heights Baptist Church. Funeral Home is assisting the family. HICKORY Dallas Greene, 79, died June 19, 2009. Funeral 3pm, visitation 2pm, Sunday, Sandy Ridge Wesleyan Church; burial, Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. Bass-Smith Funeral Home in charge.

HICKORY Margaret N. Free- man, 94, died June 18, 2009. Memorial service 11am Saturday, St. Episcopal Church. Bass-Smith Funeral Home is as- sisting the family.

HICKORY Ricky Lynn Boyd, 53, died June 18, 2009. Memorial service will be private, Saturday, First United Methodist Church. Bass-Smith Funeral Home is as- sisting the family. HAMLET Mr. Wilbert Grant, 74, died June 19, 2009.

Funeral 11am Monday, Calvary Baptist Church; burial, Richmond Me- morial Park. Visitation Sunday, 6-9pm, at the church. Harrington Funeral Home entrusted. GASTONIA Margie Evelee Jenkins Lunsford, 92, died June 18, 2009. Funeral 2pm, Monday, Gospel Light Holiness Church; visitation Sunday, 1pm, until at the Greene Funeral Ser- vice, South Chapel in charge.

GASTONIA Mrs. Leslie Bum- gardner, 42, died June 16, 2009. Memorial service 5pm, visitation 3pm, Saturday, Greene Funeral Service, South Chapel. Burial will be private. CONOVER Max Doulgas Burns, 66, died June 18, 2009.

Visitation Saturday, 5-6pm, Hickory Funeral Home. CONCORD Frances Elizabeth Faggart Sanders, 82, died June 19, 2009. Funeral 4pm, visitation 3pm Sunday, Center United Methodist Church; burial, Caro- lina Memorial Park. Hartsell Fu- neral Home, Concord, in charge. CLAREMONT Catherine Hyde Wrenn Teague, 85, died June 18, 2009.

Funeral 3pm, visitation Sunday, Burke Mor- tuary; burial, Catawba Memorial Park. CHERRYVILLE Pearl Mae Neal Mason, 94, died June 18, 2009. Funeral 3pm, visitation 2pm, Sunday, Sisk-Butler Fu- neral Home, Bessemer City; burial, Westview Gardens. CHERRYVILLE Mrs. Marie Tallent Smith Beam, 84, died June 18, 2009.

Funeral 3pm, visi- tation Saturday, Bess Chapel UMC; burial, church cemetery. Stamey-Cher- ryville Funeral Home in charge. CHINA GROVE Doris Marie Wilson Beaver, 74, died June 19, 2009. Funeral 4pm, visitation 3pm Monday, Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home; entombment, West Law Memorial Park. BOONE Mary Ann Coffey, 57, died June 18, 2009.

Funeral Sunday, Bethany Lu- theran Church; visitation Satur- day, 6-8pm, Hampton Funeral Service in Boone. BANNER ELK Mrs. Ruth Mi- chael Shook, 107, died June 18, 2009. Funeral 2pm Saturday, White Rock Baptist Church. Hampton Funeral Service is as- sisting the family.

ALBEMARLE John Birch Lambert, 86, died June 18, 2009. Funeral 11am, visitation 10am, Monday, Stanly Funeral Home; burial, Fairview Memorial Park. North Carolina Gregory McCown Mr. McCown, 48, of 4418 Rolling Hill Drive, Charlotte, died June 14, 2009. A memorial service will be held from 2 to 3 p.m.

on Sunday, June 21, 2009 at A.E. Grier Sons Funeral Ceremony of Choice. The family will re- ceive friends on Sunday from 1 to 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Mr.

McCown was born in Lewisville, AR, and is survived by his wife, Velma Brown McCown of Charlotte; sons, Gregory McCown and Emmitt McCown, both of Charlotte; daughters, Alex McCown of Charlotte, Kayla McCown, Tex- arkana, AR; mother, Lucille McCown of Charlotte; father, Rosevelt McCown of Texar- kana, TX; and 2 sisters and 2 brothers, all of Charlotte. A.E. Grier Sons Funeral Ceremony of Choice, www.Ae- griersonsfcc.com, is assisting the McCown Family. OLD FORT Mrs. Virginia Vess Davis Sword, 78, died June 19, 2009.

Funeral 11am Stone Mountain Missionary Baptist Church; burial, church cemetery. Visitation 3-5pm, West- moreland Funeral Home. MORGANTON Worth Sherrill Whisnant, 74, died June 18, 2009. Funeral 4pm, visitation Saturday, Oak Hill United Methodist Church; burial, church cemetery. Sosso- man Funeral Home in charge.

MAIDEN Donald Franklin Hunt, 84, died June 19, 2009. Service 3pm, visitation 2pm, Sunday, McLean Funeral Direc- tors, Belmont; military rites burial, Greenwood Cemetery. LEXINGTON Curtis Edward Roten, 79, died June 19, 2009. Funeral 10am Tuesday, David- son Funeral Home; military rites burial, National Cemetery, Salis- bury. Visitation Monday, 6-8pm, at the funeral home.

LEXINGTON Mary Jane Garri- son Martin, 63, died June 18, 2009. Funeral 12noon, visitation 11am, Tuesday, Davidson Fu- neral Home; burial, National Cemetery. LEXINGTON Pauline Hogan, 81, died June 19, 2009. Funeral 2pm Sunday, Pilgrim Freewill Baptist Church; visitation Satur- day, 6-8pm, Piedmont Funeral Home. LEXINGTON Mr.

Gary Davis, 64, died June 18, 2009. Graveside service 2pm Sunday, Parklawn Memorial Park; visita- tion Saturday, 6-8pm, Piedmont Funeral Home. Robert Asher Finley DENVER Asher, 15 months and 16 days old, went home to Heaven to serve our Lord Jesus on June 16th, 2009, following a sudden and tragic brain aneu- rysm. His final days were spent surrounded by Angels, family, Godparents and close friends. We cherish so many memo- ries of our beautiful Asher.

Asher could spend hours playing in the tub with Mommy, helping Daddy at his desk by getting into everything, or playing games and reading books with Grandma and Nana. Asher loved Jesus as only an innocent, sinless and pure child of God could. Asher enjoyed his Loves book; Curious George TV show with his morn- ing breakfast while looking at the birds, rabbits and squirrels eating at the bird feeder; stroll- ing through the neighborhood waving at the cars; and he loved sweet watermelon saying after every piece went into his mouth. Asher de- lighted in playing with Mommy and Daddy on the floor in his toy room, being tickled and chased by his cousins, gazing at the ripples on the lake water with his Pop Pop and walking around the grassy field with his Papa. The name Asher means piness and in Hebrew.

With passing we remind others that every moment with a child is one to be celebrated and cherished. Although we will miss Asher every day, especially his chubby cheeks and sweet Angelic his life, we learned what it is to love one another as the Father loved His only son Jesus. We are thankful that Asher is now in embrace and helping our Lord in Heaven to prepare for His Glori- ous Second Coming. love lives on in his surviving parents, Leah and Shawn Finley of Denver, NC; paternal grandparents, Beverly Finley, Robert and Elizabeth Fin- ley; maternal grandparents, Mary and Gerald Hill, Ralph and Wyanne Moseley of Aiken, SC; paternal great grandmother, Mattie Hamrick; aunt, Kelly Fin- ley; uncle, Ron and Kathy Mose- ley of Aiken, SC; and cousins, Grace Finley Ulloa and Ryan and Noah Moseley. Asher was also blessed by the love of his great aunts and uncles, cousins, and their children.

Shannon Muckenfuss and Edwin Reid cherished the honor of being Godparents. Please gather with us on Satur- day, June 20 at Saint Cathedral where Asher was baptized and his parents were joined in marriage. Saint Pat- Cathedral is located at 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte, NC. There will be a viewing from 9 to 9:45 a.m., and the service will follow at 10:00 a.m. Asher will be laid to rest at Forest Lawn East Cemetery, 3700 Forest Lawn Drive, Wed- dington, NC.

Family and friends are invited to gather afterward for a reception at the Family Life Center of St. Cathedral. In lieu of flowers, life can be honored by donations to: Christian Fund In Memory Of: Robert Fin- ley, PO Box 26507, Richmond, VA 23261-6507. 1-800-776-6767. Family and friends may honor Asher by visiting his website www.robertasherfinley.com.

family wishes to send a special heartfelt thanks to Dr. Bobby Johnson, Nurses Angela Bila and Alyson Hemby, and all the staff at Presbyterian Hemby Hospital. Arrangements are in the care of Hankins Whittington Fu- neral Service. Best dog- gone deal! Packages Upload Photos and Graphics Print and Online Options FREE Merchandise for Sale Do-it-yourself classified New Online ads only for 7 days for merchandise $500 or less Go to Charlotteobserver.com, click on Classifieds and follow the steps to place your ad..