retired funeral director and former owner, Southwick-Good & Fortkamp Funeral Chapel, Columbus, Ohio, died February 11, 2025, at age 79.

Good was the husband of funeral director Becky Good and father of Barbara Good Fortkamp, both of whom worked at the former Southwick-Good & Fortkamp Funeral Chapel. He was, respectively, brother and brother-in-law of Donald and Beverly Good, funeral directors, Spring Grove Funeral Homes.

Good graduated from the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. After graduating from mortuary science school, where they met, Good and his wife moved to Columbus, Ohio, and ran Southwick-Good & Fortkamp Funeral Chapel.

Good was a member of the Ohio and Central Ohio funeral directors associations. He served as vice president of Phi Sigma Eta National Morticians Fraternity, vice president of the past Master Councilor of the E.T. Carson Chapter of the Order of DeMolay, and past president of the Civitan Club of North Columbus. He was a committee member and regular emcee for the Park of Roses Sunday Concert Series and also served on the board of advisors for Kinder Key of Columbus’ Nationwide Children’s Hospital. He was a former member of University Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Valley of Columbus, Aladdin Temple Shrine and Northern Shrine Club.

He is survived by wife Becky, daughters Barbara and Elizabeth, and four grandchildren.

funeral director, L.H. Woodward Funeral Home, Brooklyn, New York, died January 7, 2025, at age 63. Thompson is survived by sister Linda.

funeral director and owner, Sims Funeral Home, Douglas, Georgia, died January 22, 2025, at age 90. After graduating from high school, Sims was accepted to The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina in Charleston. He earned numerous honors and upon graduation was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery. He later joined the Georgia National Guard and fulfilled his commitment at the rank of captain.

Sims graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and returned to Douglas, where he joined Sims Funeral Home and began his 65-year career in funeral service. He also served Douglas and the Coffee County community as coroner for 35 years and on Farmers Bank Board of Directors. Sims was president of the Douglas Lions club, where he was a member for more than 50 years and a Melvin Jones Fellow.

He is survived by children Mary Lou and Charles Jr., brother David, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

funeral director, Warren-McElwain Mortuary Chapel, Lawrence, Kansas, died January 12, 2025, at age 74. Larkin attended mortuary science school in Chicago and did his apprenticeship at Dunn’s Funeral Home in Des Moines. He owned and operated 36 different funeral homes in five states, 10 of which he began. He operated 13 Casey’s General Stores and through the years owned and operated (with various degrees of success and failure) a car wash, a clothing store, a monument company, an internationally famous nightclub in Costa Rica and several hotels.

Larkin was a member of Crest City Masonic Lodge, Elks Lodge and Rotary Club. He served the community on the Senior Housing Board and on the Southwestern Community College Board of Directors. He was a founding member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.; founding member of the Smithsonian Museum of African-American History and a member of NAACP.

After his divorce, he moved daughter Emily to Costa Rica to secure better care and climate for her. It was during this time that he met Victor, and after 18 years together, they were married on January 9, 2015, in Riverside, California. Emily predeceased her father in 2000.

Larkin is survived by spouse Vika, foster son Joe Herrera, three grandchildren and five sisters.

retired funeral director and former co-owner, Harvey Funeral Home, Ardmore, Oklahoma, died February 5, 2025, at age 94. Harvey and her husband owned and operated Harvey Funeral Home until 1988, when they retired.

She was a member of the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, NFDA, Order of the Golden Rule and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Harvey also served on several boards, including Ardmore Day Nursery and YWCA, and was a past president and board member of Cross Timbers Hospice.

She is survived by daughters ­Merla Jean, Barbara Lou and Lisa Lynn; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

funeral director, former owner and CEO, Fernald Funeral Home, Mount Desert, Maine, died January 20, 2025, at age 85. Fernald graduated from New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences to obtain his funeral practitioner diploma. He also served as a past president of the Maine Funeral Directors Association.

He was a member of Mount Desert Lodge 140 AF&AM, a 32nd degree Master Mason, president of Hancock County Shrine Club, active member of Royal Order of Jesters and member of Mount Desert Lions Club. Fernald volunteered as a board member for Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce, serving as president, and served as a board member of First National Bank. In his later years, he was the owner and operator of Maine Seaside Cottages.

He is survived by wife Ruth; children Katherine, Rebecca, Amy and Michelle; stepchildren Paul Brunetti and Sally Brunetti; eight grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He is father of the late James Fernald, also a Maine Funeral Directors Association past president.

retired funeral director, Anamosa, Iowa, died November 30, 2020, at age 89. McBride attended Loras College in Dubuque and Indiana College of Mortuary Science and Management in Indianapolis. He was a licensed funeral director for more than 60 years, working throughout the state of Iowa; an active member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association; and a longtime NFDA member.

McBride served in the U.S. Army Arctic Services Group from 1953-56, with two tours of duty stationed at Thule Air Base near the North Pole. He received the Cold War Service Medal and was a member of the Farley American Legion; he was also a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by children Michael, Lynne, Margaret and Patricia.

retired funeral director and owner, Daniels Funeral Home, Burlington, Wisconsin, died May 29, 2020, at age 92. Daniels was a former member of National Guard Battery A, 126th Field Artillery Battalion, 32nd Division. He began working with John Schuette at both Schuette Funeral Home and Schuette Furniture Store. Daniels graduated in 1952 from Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science, receiving his Wisconsin funeral director and embalmer licenses. He became a partner in 1954 with Schuette, Werth and Daniels Funeral Home, and in 1975, with his wife, purchased the business. In 1991, a new funeral home was built. In 1996, McCarthy-Koenig Funeral Home was purchased and later consolidated into the Schuette-Daniels location in 1997. In 1994, Polnasek Funeral home in Union Grove was purchased by Daniels and his wife and became Polnasek-Daniels Funeral Home. He retired in January 2008.

Daniels served four terms on the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors and served as secretary and treasurer for one term each. He was a member of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce since 1954, serving twice as president, and active in many other community services, including Rotary Club since 1954; Burlington Rescue Squad for 25 years, where he earned Gold Badge membership; Burlington Savings and Loan board member; Knights of Columbus; and former treasurer of Cub Scout Packs 134 and 334.

He is survived by wife Doris; children Marjorie, Michael, Mark, Matthew (also a funeral director), Marian, Marlene, Madalyn, Marilee, Marvin, Mitchell, Marcel, Marti and Monte; foster children Greg and Michael Pieters; 45 grandchildren; and 63 great-grandchildren.

former owner, Kennedy Funeral Home, Marietta, Oklahoma, died February 27, 2016, at age 70. As a funeral home manager and owner, Kennedy had more than 35 years of experience. He attended East Central University in Ada and graduated from Dallas Institute Gupton-Jones College in September 1966. Throughout his career, Kennedy managed funeral homes in Ada and Hugo and owned funeral homes in Okmulgee, Bristow, Wetumka, Ardmore and Marietta; he retired in October 2000. He served eight years on the Oklahoma State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, with three terms as president; four years on the Bank of Love County Board of Directors; and on the Love County Chamber of Commerce Board of directors for four years. Kennedy served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant in the 1st Infantry Division, also known as the "Big Red One," from 1967-69, with one year of Graves Registration in Vietnam, for which he was awarded three Army Commendation Medals, three Bronze Stars, two Vietnam Service Medals, one Vietnam Air Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He is survived by wife Sue; children Tara, Amber and Travis; and seven grandchildren.