Culver
Passings
Harry B. MacCallum ’49 (Troop) died July 25, 2011, in Clermont, Fla. Mr. MacCallum spent 50-plus years in the insurance business in Michigan, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and later in Orlando, Fla. He was graduated from the University of Michigan. Surviving are his wife, Jean; two sons, two daughters, a brother, sister, two granddaughters, and two step-grandchildren. Harrison A. Smitson Jr. NB’49 died Aug. 12, 2011, in Carmel, Ind. Mr. Smitson was a former Culver Summer staffer, member of the CEF Board of Trustees, and past president and board member of the Culver Summer Schools Alumni Association. He also was president of the Maxinkuckee Country Club and maintained a home on the lake. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy. After obtaining a master’s degree from Purdue in industrial management, Mr. Smitson began a career with Cummins Engine Company in Columbus, Ind., retiring in 1997 as president of Cummins Mid-States Power, Inc. in Indianapolis. His civic involvements in Columbus and Indianapolis were extensive. Mr. Smitson is survived by three sons, R. David W’70, N’73 of Zionsville, Ind., Harrison III “Chip” W’73, N’76 of Carmel, and John R. W’79, ’83 of Zionsville; a brother, Robert NB’52 of Muncie, Ind.; and 10 grandchildren, six of whom have attended Culver Summer Schools & Camps. Elon A. Abernethy H’49, ’50 (Co. D) of Raleigh, N.C., died Dec. 3, 2010. R. Donald Harvey Jr. ’50 (Co. A) of Rome, Ga., died March 23, 2011. Mr. Harvey’s career was spent in the textile industry ending with a long tenure with Burlington Industries in Rome, Asheboro, N.C., and Tralee, Ireland. He received a bachelor’s degree in textile engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and was an Army veteran of the Korean War. Mr. Harvey is survived by his wife, Patricia; a daughter, son, and three grandsons.
42
winter 2011 / 2012
Robert W. Howard N’50 of New Castle, Ind., died June 23, 2011. Mr. Howard served as director of Boys Flat at the Youngstown, Ohio, YMCA’s Camp Fitch for eight years where he hand-built the Chapel in the Woods. He also served as executive director of the YMCAs in Piqua and Lima, Ohio, and in New Castle, where he started the preschool program. He retired from the organization in 1999. While serving the YMCA and New Castle community he was honored with the Citizen of the Year award. Mr. Howard was a U.S. Army veteran and graduated from the University of Toledo. He was a founder of what is now Life Stream Services in Yorktown. Surviving are his wife, Sally; a son, daughter, and four grandchildren. William J. Nelson ’51 (Artillery) of Buchanan, Mich., died Aug. 9, 2011. Mr. Nelson was active in transportation, serving as a partner in the former Nelson Transfer, which operated in Buchanan for over 60 years until 1984. Thereafter, he operated in South Bend, Ind., providing transportation services by rail for the Hummer and Postal Jeeps. He attended Western Michigan University. Surviving are his longtime companion, Irene Hay; a daughter, Bobett Kelley ’79 of Fort Wayne, Ind.; two sons, two brothers, and four grandchildren. Richard K. Phillips ’52 (Co. B) of Souderton, Pa., died July 27, 2011. Mr. Phillips was a district sales manager for PPG Industries for 27 years, retiring in 1988. He was recognized as an expert on the junior Packards of the 1930s. A published author, he wrote several chapters of the Packard book edited by Beverly Raye Kimes. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in business, Mr. Phillips served in the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring as a captain. Surviving are his wife, Margaret; three daughters, a son, and seven grandchildren. Mr. Phillips was predeceased by a brother, Thomas ’47. Donald E. Roembke H’52 of Angola, Ind., died June 11, 2011. A Marine Corps veteran, Mr. Roembke was a firefighter in Fort Wayne, Ind., and retired as a captain
with 21 years of service. He retired as building superintendent of the Grand Wayne Center with 16 years of service. Mr. Roembke is the past president of the Kekionga Long Rifle Association and the founder of the Miami Alliance, a French and Indian War re-enactment group. He is survived by his wife, Anna Marie; three sons, a daughter, a sister, a stepson, two stepdaughters, 20 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. William A. Sampson II ’53 (Troop) of Sherman Oaks, Calif., died July 28, 2011. John A. Sbarbaro N’53 of Lakewood, Colo., died Aug. 30, 2011. Dr. Sbarbaro was a world renowned expert in the field of tuberculosis. During his career he worked with the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, the Institute of Medicine, the U.S. Institute of Allergy/Infectious Disease and the Institute of Heart/Lung, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Food and Drug Administration. He authored 18 book chapters and more than 160 journal articles. He obtained his undergraduate degree from St. Mary’s College, a medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and a master’s degree in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health. From 1965 to 1986, Dr. Sbarbaro served in several capacities at the Denver Department of Health and Hospitals, but primarily as the director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Since 1969, he served in many capacities at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, where he held professorships in the Departments of Medicine and Preventive Medicine and finished his career there as the Medical Director of University Physicians, Inc. Since 2008 he had been the medical director at the Leprino Foods Company. He retired in 2000 as a colonel in the Army Reserve/Medical Corps. Survivors include his wife, Marlene; two sons, John W’76, N’80 of Lakewood, Colo., and Anthony W’78, H’82, ’78 of Sherman, Texas; a daughter, Anne Steputis W’83, SS’87 of Arvada, Colo.; a brother, Phillip W’59, N’63 of Vienna, Va.; sister, and