Obituaries
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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.
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Ronald Royce Geibert, 71, Professor, Art and Art History
Ron was a photography professor at Wright State University for 27 years and retired in 2008. His photographs can be found in places such as New York City’s Museum of Modern Art, the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. He died on Feb. 5, 2024.
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Thomas James von der Embse, 88, Professor and Chair of Management
Tom enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a college professor and administrator. He was chair of the Management Department at Wright State, worked in the industry at the National Management Association and ultimately retired as dean of the Business College at Indiana University-Kokomo. He died on Dec. 17, 2023.
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Lowell Oscar Batten, 91, Motor Pool
Lowell retired from Wright State Motor Pool Department in 1995. He enjoyed watching OSU football, camping and spending time with his family. He died on Jan. 28, 2024.
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Detrice Green Barry, 58, Associate Professor of Nursing
Detrice was heavily involved in the hemophilia community, an active member of the Ohio Nurses Association and a devoted member of the AKA Sorority. She died on Jan. 15, 2024.
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Deborah Jennings-Ryan, 72, Scanning & Microfilm Specialist, University Libraries
Deb enjoyed quilting, crafting, kayaking, going to the beach, photography and caring for her dogs. She had a big heart and loved to contribute to many different causes and organizations. she died on Jan. 2, 2024.
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Stephen C. Drake, 68, Maintenance & Repair Worker, Physical Plant
Stephen C. Drake, 68, of Trotwood, Ohio, passed away on Nov. 26, 2023. A funeral service was held on Dec.12, 2023, at Thomas Funeral Home & Crematory, 4520 Salem Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45416. View the online obituary
Upcoming Events
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Wright State Retirees Picnic
Wright State University retirees and friends are invited to a picnic on Saturday, Sept. 19, 1:30–4:30 p.m., in Rotary Park, 2260 Dayton-Xenia Rd., Beavercreek, OH 45432.
See what’s coming up in our Events Calendar