RAFINO
TAPS


Listed below are the names of members of the Finance Family, whether members of RAFINO or not, whose death has been reported to us since the last reunion.  We regret to announce the passing of these good friends and pray that they may rest in peace.

THE STORY BEHIND "TAPS"

It all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia.  The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.

During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moan of a soldier who lay mortally wounded on the field.  Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention.  Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment.  When the captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.

The captain lit a lantern.  Suddenly, he caught his breath and went numb with shock.  In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier.  It was his own son.  The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out.  Without telling his father, he enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy status.

His request was partially granted.  The captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for the son at the funeral. That request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.  Out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician.

The captain chose a bugler.  He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of his dead son's uniform.

This wish was granted.  This music was the haunting melody we now know as "Taps" that is used at all military funerals.

**********************************************
These are the words to "TAPS":
Day is done,
Gone the sun,
From the lakes,
From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well.
Safely rest.
God is nigh.

Deceased and we were
notified:
(Between 2008 and 2010 Reunions)		  

              Rank

  

    Date Died
ANDREWS, WILLIAM BG 09
BETKA, Robert D. LTC 26 SEP 09
BROOME, Dennis R. CPT 16 MAR 07
BROOME, Dorothy Garner (Widow of CPT Dennis) 24 MAY 07
BROWN, Virginia (Widow of COL Latham) 29 MAR 09
BUNDICK, Ed MAJ 17 FEB 10
BUSTER, Robert W. LTC 13 MAR 09
CARLSTROM, Roy E. SGM 23 APR 08
CURRIER, Elizabeth (Wife of BG John) 17 MAR 09
CZYZYK, Joseph F. SGM 19 JUL 05
DANBY, James III SFC 26 JUL 08
DAVIS, Brian C. COL 12 JUN 08
DRIGGS, Richard E. SGM 1 JUN 06
EBERSBERGER, Joan (Wife of COL Carl) 26 APR 09
FAGAN, Arthur G. MSG 11 JUN 07
FAZAKERLEY, Terry (Wife of MG Richard G.) 13 JUL 09
GOAD, Mary Lou (Widow of SFC Sidney) 14 DEC 08
GUNN, James W. BG 29 APR 09
GUY, Robert (Bob) SGM 28 JUL 09
HALL, Bruce BG 2 MAR 10
HEFFELFINGER, Elizabeth P. (Tib) (Wife of BG Ed) 5 JAN 10
HICKS, Norman A. COL 26 MAR 09
HOLDER, Jane (Wife of LTC Neville) 3 JAN 10
INGLES, Jack MAJ 2 APR 09
KRAMER, George R. COL 14 MAY 09
LAW, George J. SGM 1 FEB 10
LEDFORD, William (Bill) COL 18 JAN 10
LEONARD, James J. GS18 22 NOV 09
MCCRACKEN, Cary E. (Buddy) Mr. 6 NOV 08
MCKINNEY, David C. SFC 20 OCT 08
MENDERIOS, William MSG 22 AUG 08
MOYER, Wayne SFC 12 Mar 10
PERRINE, Timothy SFC 30 MAY 09
PROSSER, Gerald T. MAJ 7 JUL 09
RADOMSKI, Robert LTC 7 JAN 10
RHULE, Walter MAJ 21 FEB 08
SCHRADER, Barbara (Wife of COL Fred) 3 JAN 10
SERBERT, Jackie (Wife of LTC Alan) 13 FEB 10
STAM, Charles W. (Bill) LTC 27 MAR 09
VAN HOOK, Jerry Elizabeth (Wife of LTC Jackie) 5 OCT 09
WINGATE, Lucius R. LTC 9 MAY 09
WORDEN, Russell J. SGM 1 APR 09

Deceased and we were
notified:
(Between 2006 and 2008 Reunions)		  

Rank

  

Date Died
ADAMS, John E. LTC 14 APR 08
ASHWORTH, Jean (Widow of COL Talmadge 8 NOV 07
BARNHILL, Maxine (Widow of LTC Paul) 23 AUG 06
BENTE, James A. COL 14 AUG 08
BOWMAN, Joseph C. COL 4 NOV 07
BOWYER, Marguerite (Widow of COL Oscar) 31 JUL 06
BRECHTEL, Isabel M. (Widow of MAJ David) 5 JAN 06
BURNS, Paul MG 29 SEP 08
CHAMBLIN, Francis A. COL 25 APR 08
CHAPIN, Russ COL 30 DEC 06
COSTIGAN, John C. COL APR 06
COX, James C. MAJ 22 JAN 07
DAVIS, Brian COL 12 JUL 08
DAVIS, William E. LTC 28 NOV 05
DeBOER, Arlen MAJ 28 MAY 07
DUFFY, Lee (Wife of LTC William) 24 APR 04
DURKIN, Ciara M. SPC 28 SEP 07
EICHEN, Harris LTC 11 FEB 07
ELIAS, Michael LTC 12 JAN 05
GERHARDS, Genevie (Wife of LTC Peter) 9 OCT 06
GIBSON, Chris (Widow of SGM Jerry Steel) 27 SEP 08
GINIKOWRE, Lula M. (Widow of COL George J) 31 MAR 08
GOETTE, Marge (Widow of MAJ Joseph) 1 DEC 05
GOETZINGER, James E. LTC 15 JUN 07
GREN, Morley H. LTC 2 JUN 04
GRESICK, Bernard A. (Ben) COL 19 FEB 07
GRONINGER, Dwight LTC 29 JAN 07
HERSHEY, Ada (Widow of COL Lyle) 7 APR 06
IKEDA, Jane (Wife of LTC Ken) 3 MAR 07
INGLES, Jacquelyn (Wife of MAJ Jack) 20 JUL 08
KJELLSTROM, Dorothy (Wife of LTG John) 28 OCT 06
KURRUS, Bud COL 28 SEP 07
LABARBERA, Nancy (Wife of COL Albert) 11 AUG 07
LARSEN, M. Jack MAJ 17 JUN 07
LASSITER, Ruby (Wife of LTC George) DEC 05
LEUDEKE, James A. COL SEP 07
LIPPINCOTT, Richard R. MSG 12 JUN 07
LITTLE, William J. MAJ 14 NOV 06
MIDGETT, Garland H. LTC 2005
MOHR, Ruth (Wife of LTC Harley) 18 APR 07
MOONEY, George P. COL 13 OCT 07
MORAN, Theodore R. CSM 2 MAR 06
MOREFIELD, William J. LTC 19 JUL 05
MORT, Argent (Wife of LTC Robert T.) MAR 06
MOTLEY, LaJuana R. (Wife of MAJ Henry L.) 25 APR 08
OFECIAR, Henry MAJ 27 AUG 07
OLSON, Joan (Wife of LTC John) 15 JAN 07
PARNELL, Kenneth M. MSG 2 OCT 06
PEARSON, Samuel SPC 11 OCT 07
PURINTON, Daniel SSG 19 DEC 06
RAICHLEN, Richard COL 12 SEP 07
RAPHAEL, Desmond LTC 29 AUG 07
REPISCHAK, Mary (Wife of Leroy "Rep") 3 OCT 08
RHODES, Helen B. (Widow of CW4 W. Schmidt) JAN 08
ROUTON, Marvin Mr 30 DEC 07
SEMPLE, Dorothy (Widow of LTC Charles C.) DEC 04
SKEATH, Elbur J. LTC 6 JAN 08
SMOTHERMON, Jimmy MAJ 25 DEC 07
SORENSON, Scott LTC 1 MAY 08
SPILLERS, William C. SFC 17 FEB 07
STURGILL, Art MSG 6 OCT 06
SWENSON, Gustave P. MAJ 1 DEC 06
SWENSON, Josephine (Wife of MAJ Gus) 2002
WUNDERLICH, Don CSM 6 AUG 2007
YODER, Quentin LTC 31 JUL 05

     

Deceased and we were
notified:
(Between 2004 and 2006 Reunions)		  

Rank

  

Date Died
ADAMS, Harry CW4 30 JUL 06
ASHENFELDER, William F. COL 1 OCT 04
BARNHILL, Paul P. LTC 12 OCT 05
BOARDMAN, Edward J. LTC 2 JUN 05
BOYETTE, Mary (Wife of LTC George) 19 DEC 05
BOYETTE, George LTC 16 AUG 06
BROWN, Sharon (Wife of SGM Jim) 14 JAN 06
BURKE, Bryon E. SGM 17 APR 05
CAMACHO, Vince SGM 4 DEC 05
CARDWELL, Ruth (Widow of MAJ Cecil L.) 1 JAN 06
CARLSON, Gus LTC 6 DEC 04
DANIELS, Betsy (Wife of COL Earl) 17 JUL 06
DILLARD, Annette (Wife of LTC Jim) 6 OCT 04
DIXON, Edie (Wife of COL Ralph) 9 JUL 06
DYSON, William E. COL 28 AUG 06
FELTS, Ken D. LTC 20 NOV 04
GERTZ,Virgil R. (Russ) MSG 17 MAR 06
GRISSOM, Dottie (Wife of COL Tom) 9 OCT 04
HICKS, Michael B. SGM 15 DEC 05
HOLMES, Allen E., Sr. LTC 19 MAY 06
HUTCHISON, Warren H. LTC 7 JUL 05
JACKSON, Agnes (Wife of MAJ Joe) 4 MAR 06
KASSERMAN, Harold W. COL 1 FEB 06
KLEMENS, Dorothea (Widow of LTC Thaddeus) FEB 05
LAMAR, Joseph R. COL 10 MAR 06
LOUREY, Matthew, CWO4 (Spouse of CPT Lisa) May 05
MARINO, Vivian (Wife of CW4 Ray) Spring 03
MCINTOSH, Virginia (Widow of COL Charles) 24 AUG 05
METZGER, Ralph A. LTC 31 MAR 05
MOYA, Geraldine B. (Wife of LTC Ernie) 4 FEB 06
OLVER, Thomas M. LTC 15 FEB 05
PICKLE, Owen B. MAJ 28 JUL 05
POCHE, Dave COL 5 OCT 05
RAY, Charlotte (Wife of LTC John) 13 AUG 05
SCOTT, John SGM 8 AUG 06
SCHMITZ, Martin MR 23 DEC 05
SEAGLE, Vic MAJ 31 DEC 04
STONE, Warren C. COL 25 FEB 05
STUBBLEFIELD, Joel “Richard” LTC 19 OCT 05
STUBBLEFIELD, Barbara Lynn (Wife of LTC Joel) 13 MAR 00
TAKAMORI, Terry MSG 24 SEP 05
TOULME, Florence (Widow of COL Vic) 22 May 05
YODER, Bernadette (Wife of LTC Quentin) 22 JUN 03

 
Deceased and we were
notified:
(Between 2002 and 2004 Reunions)		  

Rank

  

Date Died
ALDEN, Carolyn (Wife of MAJ Wes) 9 FEB 04
BARTO, Edward E. LTC 16 JUN 03
BEANE, Woodrow CWO 12 OCT 02
BEYER, David J. COL 18 OCT 03
BLANCHARD, Charles S. MSG AUG  01
BOLLING, Buddy MR 6 MAR 03
BRADLEY, Madhlun (Widow of COL M.T.) ???
BRADLEY, M. T. COL JUL 97
BRADSHAW, Virginia (Wife of LTC Arthur) 29 MAR 03
BRIGANDI, Joseph COL 25 MAR 04
BROWN, Latham COL 13 JULY 04
BRUCHHAUSER, Eleanor (Wife of CWO Edward) 11 AUG 00

CALHOUN, Connie

 (Widow of COL James) 21 OCT 02
CARROL JR, Walter D. LTC 29 AUG 01
CARROL, Pauline C. (Widow of LTC Walter) 29 DEC 01
CHAMBERS, James E. COL 14 MAR 03
CHRISTOPHERSON, Fred (Chris) LTC 4 FEB 03
COYNE, Floyd P. LTC 12 OCT 03
CLINE, Adrith (Brian) SFC 3 JAN 03
CULBRETH, Catherine (Widow of COL Oliver C.)  FEB 04
DELANEY, Steve LTC 3 MAR 03
DeLONG, Violet (Wife of COL Otis) 6 AUG 01
DONNELLY, Peggy (widow of LTC Andrew S.) 4 JUL 01
DUFFY, Robert E. SFC 9 MAR 04
DIENER, Jane (Wife of LTC Nick)

26 FEB 03
EASON, Sidney LTC 3 NOV 03
FEENEY, Thomas Joe LTC 29 APR 03
FLEWELLING, Robert O. LTC 19 JUN 03
EDE, Frank MSG 28 MAY 03
GAMBLE, Robert R. SGM MAR 03
GINNETTI, Neil Mr 8 MAY 03
GINTER, Gary SGM 12 SEP 02
GOETTE, Joseph A. MAJ 16 APR 04
GOSS, Don COL 6 JUL 03
GRUNHAGE, Walter MSG 22 AUG 04
HUSSEY, Elwood MSG 14 FEB 02
JONES, ANNA (wife of SGM David) 28 May 04
KELCH, Audrie (widow of LTC Paul 2003
KENNEDY, Robert F. CW4 25 OCT 03
KOHLER, Robert A. LTC 23 OCT 00
LAWTON, Johnnie COL 3 MAY 04
LEE, Gwen (Wife of LTC Hon) 27 JUN 03
MANGANELLO, Arthur CPT NOV 01
MCANNALY, HEARL P. CW2 29 May 04
MCCORMICK, Harold J. LTC 23 DEC 99
McINTOSH, Charles A. COL 26 AUG 02
MENEGUS, Grace MAJ 7 JUL 02
MIDGETT, Shirley (Wife of LTC Garland) 5 Feb 03
MINNON, Albert LTC APR 03
NORSEN, Don SGM 6 SEP 03
PALSROK, Loni (Widow of COL John) 17 APR 02
RANDOW, Thomas E. LTC 8 JUL 02
SHEPPARD, Maggi (Widow of LTC Jerry)   3 OCT 02
SHROYER, James LTC 11 APR 03
TODD, Ruby (Wife of Maj Ronald) 24 OCT 02
TRACY, Robert L. COL 10 FEB 03
TRYON, Frank H. LTC 16 NOV 02
UNDERWOOD, Luthor R LTC 5 Jun 03
WALKER, Harvey SGM 22 APR 03
WALKER, Lana (Wife of SGM Harvey)

23 FEB 03
WEST, Richard L. LTG 22 JUL 03
WOHLFORD, Dorothy E (Widow of LTC Robert) 13 NOV 02

Deceased and we were notified:
(Between 2000 and
2002 Reunions)		  

Rank

  

Date Died
ARNDT, Martha (Wife of BG Terry) 27 APR 02
ASHENFELDER, Thirza (Wife of COL Frank) 29 OCT 01
BAER, John H. SSG 31 Dec 00
BLOMGREN, Eloise (Wife of Col. Holt) 20 May 02
BLOMGREN, Holt COL   16 JUL 02
BOUDRIA, Mary (Wife of SGM Felix) 8 MAY 02
BOWYER, Oscar Rawles "Mike" COL 24 SEP 00
BULDAIN, Louis P. COL 24 OCT 00
CALHOUN, Jim COL 11 FEB 01
CALLINAN, Donna M. (Widow of COL Patrick) 21 Nov 00
CHABICA, Joseph F. Jr. MSG 15 MAR 02
CHARLES, Robert MSG 25 AUG 01
CLANCY, John L. COL 19 MAR 02
CLARKIN, William L. LTC 12 MAR 02
CONRAD, Mary MAJ Date unk
COFFEY, William W. LTC 13 APR 02
COX, Rose (Wife of SFC William) 5 JAN 02
FARRELL, Barbara MAJ 22 DEC 99
FENDRICK, Ruth (Wife of Col. Donald) 25 MAR 02
FORD, Marion C. (Widow of LTC Clarence) 2 JUL 01
FORD, Mrs. Lillian (Wife of LTC Edward) 14 MAR 01
FORD, Fulvia (Widow of COL Harry) 23 JUL 02
GASSIE, Herbert COL 1 APR 01
GLOCK, Robert W. COL 12 NOV 00
GOAD, Sidney SFC 25 MAR 98

GUERRERO, George S.

 SGM 21 JUL 02
HANEKE, Marion (Widow of MG William) 27 JUN 02
HATHAWAY, Martha (Widow of LTC Charles) 7 OCT 01
HOPKINS, Woodard "Woody" LTC 16 SEP 00
KROMER, Elvin F LTC 6 JUL 01
LACKAS, Genevieve M. (Widow of COL John) FEB 01
McGUIRE, Geraldine (Jerry) (Widow of LTC Vernon) 29 July 02
McMAHON, Jodi A. (Widow of COL BILL) 17 OCT 00
METZGER, Hope LTC (Wife of COL Ralph) 28 AUG 00
MOHER, Jeremiah W. LTC 16 SEP 01
MOONEY, Teddye (Wife of COL George) 4 MAR 02
NITCHMAN, James J. Mr 24 FEB 02
NITCHMAN, Mary (Wife of Jim) 1 APR 01
PERRY, Betty (Widow of Art) 18 Dec 01
POPE, Thomas E. MSG 18 JAN 01
REDDY, Bernard E., Jr. LTC 7 SEP 00
ROGERS, Edward C.       LTC 26 AUG 00
RUSSELL, Robert SGM 11 SEP 01
SHUGART,Henry G. (Gerry) LTC 14 JAN 01
SMITH, Richard T. (RT) MSG 30 JUL 02
SOCKY, Frank J. COL 17 JUN 01
STALBAUM, Max R. MAJ OCT 97
STALBAUM, Maureen (Widow of MAJ Max) DEC 99
STEWART, Kenneth M. LTC 27 SEP 01
STIELAU, Walt LTC 5 JUL 02
SWENSON, Josephine (Wife of Maj Gus) 22 JUN 02
TEASDALE, Mary (Widow of LTC Bob) 26 OCT 01
TIEMAN, Wilbert A. (Doc) COL 1 JUL 02
VALENZUELA, William MSG 20 APR 01
VISER, Robert (Bob) H. CW4 25 May 02
WELSH, Michael SGM 26 JUL 02
WHITTLESEY, Max M. MAJ 19 OCT 01

WILEY, C. Jeff

 LTC 15 JUL 02
WILSON, Eleanor (Wife of COL John) 20 SEP 00
WYNNE, Carolyne (Wife of LTC Tom 5 JUN 00

YOUNGBLOOD, Helyn B.

 (Widow of BG Norman) 11 JUL 02

 

Deceased and we were notified:
(Between 1998 and
2000 Reunions)

  

Rank

  

Date Died
ADAMS, George B. LTC 17 APR 99
ALDEN, Carolyn (Wife of MAJ Wes) 9 FEB 04
ANDERSON, Philip E. LTC 8 AUG 00
BANG, John D. COL 28 OCT 99
BEISEL, Clifford L. CW4 21 AUG 99
BENEDICT, Lillian (Widow of Dan) 14 MAR 00
CHAMBERS, Walter MSG 1 MAY 00
CULBRETH, Oliver C. COL 15 SEP 99
DOSS, William R. LTC 30 OCT 98
DRAEGER, Emery LTC Jun 99
DUFF, Alice K. . (Wife of COL Carl L) 17 NOV 99
DUFF, Carl L. COL 11 OCT 98
DYSON, Nannette (Wife of COL William E.) 26 APR 99
ELLERMAN, Margaret, "Maggie" LTC 2 MAR 00
EMERSON, Lucy (Wife of COL Lloyd "Bud") 21 APR 00
ERDMANN, Robert E. LTC 4 MAY 99
FISCHER, Wilbur H. LTC 3 JUL 99
GUSTAFSON, James SFC 1 NOV 98
HANEKE, William C. MG 31 OCT 99
HERSHEY, Lyle COL 4 DEC 98
HUFF, Donald SFC 5 AUG 99
HURLEY, James J. MSG 12 DEC 99
JARDON, Margaret J. Ms. 23 JUL 99
JETMORE, Clinton N. Jr. LTC 12 DEC 99
JONES, Gloria C. (Wife of MG Harry) 26 NOV 98
KAWAGUCHI, Katsumi T. MAJ 15 OCT 98
KELCH, Paul COL 25 JUN 00
LACEY, Barbara (Wife of COL Jack S.) date UNK
LARSON, Richard E. LTC 26 JUL 99
LOWE, Robert MSG 27 JUN 98
MAEZ, Santiago SGM 4 NOV 99
MARSHALL, Samuel P. MAJ 9 DEC 99
MAUGHN, William Jr. COL 20 MAR 99
MCKEOWN, Betty Lee (Wife of LTC Forest) 12 JAN 00
MILLER,  Arles H. (Hank) COL 29 JUL 00
NIX, Gary L. COL 6 JUN 00
OLIN, Fred SGM 8 NOV 99
PERRY, Harry E. COL date UNK
RICHMOND, Mary Roxanne (Wife of COL Gary) 20 SEP 98
RYE, Van MR. 4 APR 00
RYE, Betty Wife of Mr. Van Rye 4 APR 00
SCHOCK, George SGM 23 DEC 99
SCRUGGS, Jack H. COL 22 MAR 99
STEELE, Jerry SGM 9 NOV 99
STRIDER, Nicholas S. COL 7 DEC 99
SULLENBERGER, John W. SGM 11 AUG 00
THIEL, Donald SFC 7 NOV 99
TRACY, Thomas E. COL 6 FEB 99
TRAUB, David W LTG 16 AUG 00
TRUDELL, James SGM 1 OCT 99
THOMSON, John W. MAJ 26 AUG 99
WINBORNE, Roy SGM 29 NOV 99

The names of all these departed family members were read in the Amphitheater of Arlington Cemetery on 4 September 2000 after the wreath laying ceremony.

The names were read.