Obituaries
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Ronald Wukeson, 68, Senior Editor, Office of Marketing
A lifelong lover of the English language, Ron was a tremendously talented editor and proofreader. Ron’s friends and colleagues remember him as endlessly kind—a gentle soul with nothing but love to give to the world. He will be greatly missed by all who were blessed to know him. He died on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
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Lois (Boehm) Gladchild, 81, Associate Director, Budget and Regents Reporting
Lois found kindred spirits when she became a part of the Miniss Kitigan Drum, or MKD, Lodge. Known as Biizh Aanji, she became — with extensive study — an Oshkibewis, or Helper in the Medicine Lineage of the late Keewaydinoquay, an Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) Mashkikikwe (herbal medicine woman). She died on May 14, 2024.
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Gary C. Barlow, 88, Professor of Art Therapy, Department of Teacher Education
When formative plans were underway by the Miami and Ohio State Universities to begin a new campus in Dayton, Gary was hired in 1964 as the first faculty member from Miami to serve in these early development stages of Wright State University. He died on April 25, 2024.
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Henry Arnold Wilson, 96, Mediator, Office of Affirmative Action
A patron of the arts and advocate for cultural preservation, Henry supported the Dayton Foundation’s African American Community Fund, a Dayton Foundation Endowment benefiting Central State University, and was a life member of the NAACP and a charter member of the Museum of African American History and Culture. He died on April 16, 2024.
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Kay P. Lillich, 71, Academic Advisor
She was a certified Yoga instructor, Reiki Master and Reflexologist.One of her favorite places to vacation was the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Massachusetts. She died on APril 15, 2024.
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Jeanne E. Cornor, 76, Programs Coordinator, Management
Jeanne loved summertime with her family on Middle Bass Island where she was able to share her love of water sports and being outdoors with family and friends. She died on April 9, 2024.
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Clifford Thomas “Kip” McPeak, 82, Professor, Physical Education
Kip was a man of family, of strong convictions, and a teacher at heart. He was a man with a ready grin and a twinkle in his eye. He will be much missed by all. He died on April 5, 2024.
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Eugene "Gene" P. Hern, 82, Associate Director of Research and Sponsored Programs
Gene will be remembered for his kind, generous heart, his outgoing and friendly personality, witty sense of humor, and love for animals and his family. “He is a great man who will be greatly missed.” He died on March 30, 2024.
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Laurel Paster, 99, Assistant Director, Expanding Horizons
Laurel was known for her welcoming home, her political and social activism and her humor. She passed away peacefully in January, just two months shy of her 100th birthday.
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Phillip Combs, 65, Computing and Technical Support, Center for Teaching and Learning
In his free time, he enjoyed working with computers and loved his fur babies. Phil had a very skewed sense of humor but loved to make others laugh. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
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John Preston Blair, 76, Professor of Economics
John had a passion for teaching and made his career as an economics professor at Wright State University, teaching from 1981 up to when he retired in 2015. He was very passionate about urban economics, writing several books and articles on the subject.
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J. Robert Suriano, 93, Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs, School of Medicine
Bob was the first Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs at the WSU School of Medicine. He died on Feb. 13, 2024.
Upcoming Events
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Midterms 2026: What just happened?
Join us to discuss the election results with Lee Hannah, Ph.D., on Thursday, Nov. 19, 1 p.m. in Room 157 of the Student Union.
See what’s coming up in our Events Calendar