Person Page 4,658

Obituary -- (Findagrave.com):

Lana (Lawver) Groombridge passed away September 9, 2019 after an eight-year battle with cancer. Lana was born August 29, 1945 in Huntington, Indiana. She is survived by her husband, Graham; her children Erin (Matt) Eberly of Fishers and Greg (Brooke Smith fiancé) Groombridge of Fort Wayne; her grandchildren, Kaine and Tatum Eberly; and her sister, Ann Lawver of Coralville, IA. She was preceded in death by her father and her mother, Henry and Margie Lawver of Huntington.

Raised on a dairy farm in Lancaster Township, Lana was a 10-year member of 4-H and was very active in the Salamonie Church of the Brethren youth group. She was a camp counselor for many summers at Camp Alexander Mack in Milford, IN and at Camp Dick Runyan in N. Webster, IN. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Manchester College (now University) in physical education prior to teaching one year at Lane Junior High in Ft. Wayne. She was very service oriented and joined the Peace Corps in 1967 teaching and coaching for three years in Western Samoa while assisting in curriculum development. While serving her third year she met her future husband, Graham, who was a Volunteer Service Abroad accountant from New Zealand. They corresponded for two years while Lana completed her Master’s Degree from Indiana University in recreation. They married in 1972 and returned to live in New Zealand for four years where she taught and coached at Avondale College in Auckland. In 1976 they returned to the U.S. where Lana began a teaching and coaching career at Manchester University. As Women’s Athletic Director she transitioned the women’s extramural sports program to an intercollegiate program and expanded the number of sports offered for women. She served on state athletic committees to begin a collegiate women’s athletic conference. She began her coaching career in volleyball and basketball but later became an assistant in track and field. Lana was inducted into the Manchester University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013. She retired from Manchester College in 2008.

After receiving her doctorate from Ball State University, she became a full professor and chair of the Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences where she focused on teacher preparation, mentoring new staff to be better teachers, and guiding students to get involved in professional organizations. She was proud to have had five of her staff members complete their doctorates before moving to other universities. Lana was very involved in her state physical education association where she served in many positions, included students in her yearly state presentations, and received numerous awards including the Leadership Award in 2002; the Honor Award in 2004; and the Legacy Award in 2009, which is the highest honor awarded by the State Association.

Her passions included music (she sang in the Manchester Church of the Brethren choir), gardening, tennis, cooking and quilting. Lana liked to stay busy so she started a retirement business, Dr. Lana’s Wellness for the Home, in which she cleaned houses, prepped them for sale, painted, and gardened for many clients. Some would call her a workaholic but she was most happy doing odd jobs for other people who needed assistance.

As busy as she was with these activities, her family was a major joy and priority. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and extended family in both the US and New Zealand.

The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee; Friday, 30 AUG 1901, p.8 (Newspapers.com):

Starlin (sic)-Soyars

Special Dispatch to The American

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky., Aug. 29. -- Edmund Starling, oldest son of Circuit Court Clerk J. M. Starling, and Miss Mary T. Soyars surprised their friends last evening by slipping away to Springfield, Tenn. where they were married in the courthouse by a Methodist minister. The marriage was not an elopement.

Obituary -- (Findagrave.com):

TOM STARLING'S RITES THURSDAY

Suffers Heart Attack

At Home During Night

James Thomas (Tom) Starling, 42-year-old New Era reporter and rewrite man, was found dead in his apartment at 10 East 18th Street today, obviously the victim of a heart attack suffered sometime during the night...

Mr. Starling was born in Huntsville, Ala., on Nov. 6, 1910, but was reared in Hopkinsville and attended school here. He was living in the city and working for the New Era when he went into the army in 1942. He spent three years in the service in World War II, most of it in the Middle East command.

Upon his discharge from the service, Mr. Starling remained in the New York area, being engaged in Episcopal Church work for about five or six years. Then he went to California to become secretary to his uncle, Lynn Starling, a playwright at Hollywood.

Because he "preferred Hopkinsville to any place I have ever lived," Mr. Starling returned to the city in the fall of 1951 and went back to work for the New Era in November of that year.

He was a member of Grace Episcopal Church here and had been active in choir work at the church.

Mr. Starling's mother, Mrs. Mary Starling, died during the war. Only close relatives are a sister, Mrs. Katherine Mayfield of Oklahoma City, Okla., and the two uncles.

Funeral services will be held at 4 o'clock Thursday afternoon at Grace Church.

--Kentucky New Era, 22 Jul 1953, page 1.

Obituary -- (Findagrave.com):

Kentucky: A History of the State. Perrin, Battle & Kniffin, 2nd edition, 1885, Webster Co.:

Dr. James T. Soyars, of Webster County, was born January 11, 1838, in Christian County, KY, removed in 1847 with his father to Hopkins Co., where he was reared & in 1861 enlisted in Company A, 1st Kentucky Cavalry, & after serving on Gen. Helm's staff & in the secret service, was captured & released in 1864. His father, Col. John Soyars, a native of Pittsylvania County, VA, was born in 1805; removed to Kentucky in 1832 & died in 1871. He was the son of James Soyars of Pittslyvania Co, VA, who entered the Revolutionary army at the age of 16 & served 4 years; was at Valley Forge with Washington; marched 3 days barefoot on ice with frozen feet; was wounded, captured & paroled near the close of the war & returned to his home, where he died in 1845, aged 80 years. He was twice married & the father of 9 sons & 7 daughters, all of whom reared families. He was magistrate, high sheriff & representative 16 years in his county. Having served under Gen. Lafayette, he was one of the committee of reception during that gentleman's last visit to America. James' father, an Englishman, a civil engineer, was lost with a surveying party in the West. John married Elizabeth, daughter of Enoch & Elizabeth Cannon, of Halifax Co, VA (born in 1805 & died in 1844) & from their union sprang Edward C. (deceased), subject, Mary F. (Orton) & 2 infants.

Dr. James T. Soyars was married December 12, 1871 to Miss Medora, daughter of William A. & Catherine (Harding) Oglesby (born July 20, 1850), of Daviess Co, & to them have been born 6 children, 4 of whom died in infancy, while Mary I. & Ione M. are now living. In 1858 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. D.A. DeForest, of Ashbysburgh, KY, & in 1869 attended lectures at Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, where he graduated in 1861. In 1864 he located at Slaughterville, where he has since enjoyed a lucrative practice. He has been advanced ten degrees in the order of A.F & A.M. & is now High Priest of the chapter. In politics his is a Democrat.