James Harold Bunton, ’49, ’50, on March 26, 2013. A “lover of all things Kentucky,” he served in the U.S. Army as a medic, earned his master’s from Eastern and worked as an education specialist for FEMA. He is survived by his wife, Helen. Charles Roland Perry, ’49, on February 28, 2013. He lived in Jupiter, Fla., and was a proud member of the Eastern family. Roman D. Todoran, ’51, of Canton, Ohio, on March 19, 2012. A sports enthusiast, he played football at Eastern and coached in a Kentucky state championship baseball game. In 1989 he retired from Canton city schools, where he was a proud member of the teachers union. He would ask that, in his memory, friends take a loved one to a ball game. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Billie. Joseph F. Mattingly, ’57, on January 5, 2013. He was an Air Force veteran of the Korean War and retired manager for Kroger who lived in Lexington, Ky. He was predeceased by his wife, Dr. Joan Kitson Mattingly. Nancy Norfleet Barker, ’58, of Pulaski County, Ky., on May 29, 2012. Survivors include her son, Merial L. Barker, and grandaughter, Julia Wise, both of whom attended Eastern. Born in 1915, Nancy Barker began her teaching career in a one-room school and retired 41 years later from Nancy Elementary School. Ernest Holmes, ’58, on July 25, 2012, at his family farm in Bracken County, Ky. He served in the U.S. Army for 21 years, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel and earning the Master Aviator Wings, Imperial Iranian Army Aviator Wings, the Bronze Star and other honors for valor and service. He later flew for Continental Express. He is survived by his wife, Clara, three children and a large extended family.
Virginia Patrick Yeager, ’58, on August 8, 2012, at the age of 98. She was born in Estill County, Ky., and lived there all her life, retiring as a teacher. Her grandson, Lance Yeager, ’97, and his wife, Kathleen, live in Louisville, Ky. Dr. Fred Allen Engle Jr., ’51, on March 8, 2012. An iconic figure in what is now Eastern’s college of business & technology and among local historians, Engle graduated from Model Laboratory School and taught commerce and economics at Eastern from 1959 until his retirement in 1998, when he was named faculty emeritus. He was active on campus, chairing the faculty senate and advising student groups. Devoted to his community, Engle served on the board of Central Baptist Hospital, was a member of the Richmond Historical Society and the Madison County Library Board. In 1969, he and Dr. Robert Grise began writing “Madison’s Heritage,” a weekly local history column for The Richmond Register. Engle’s father, Dr. Fred A. Engle Sr., also taught at Eastern, and his son, Dr. Allen D. Engle, ’78, ’80, has taught in the college of business & technology since 1989. George E. Proctor, ’64, ’67, on April 20, 2010. He was a co-founder of Sigma Chi Delta fraternity in 1963 (which later became the Theta Theta chapter of Sigma Nu). He was president of the EKU Alumni Association from 1985-86 and served as executive director of the Indiana Masonic Home Foundation. After teaching English and speech in Kentucky and at Bloomington (Ind.) South High School, he directed human resources at Farm Fans, Inc. At the time of his death, Proctor was vice chairman emeritus of the Lexington Shriners Hospital for Children, where he had served 11 years on the board of directors. He was named a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason in Boston in 1993 and was active in other masonic organizations. Survivors include his wife, Debra, and two sons.
Dr. Hugh N. Burkett, ’66, on January 11, 2013 at his home in Lexington, Ky. He was a former associate professor in the restorative dentistry department at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Known as an outstanding clinician, he authored many manuals and mentored generations of young dentists. At Eastern, he was student council president in 1966 and a loyal member of Sigma Chi Delta. He is survived by his wife, Alice. Thomas Shea, ’66, on July 10, 2012. He lived in Dayton, Ohio, but loved boating and owned a home on Lake Cumberland. He passed often through Richmond and enjoyed touring the campus with his grandsons, both of whom proudly wear Eastern t-shirts. Maggie Kash Porter, ’67, on January 29, 2013. She taught in Trenton City (Ohio) schools for 30 years, retiring in 1987, and was active in her church and in tutoring after retirement. She lived in Middletown, Ohio. Larry Denney, ’69, on May 3, 2012, after a long illness. He was a proud member of McCreary County (Ky.) High School’s 1964 basketball team that went to the state championships. After studying English and philosophy at Eastern, he had a fulfilling career in the insurance business, working for St. Paul, AIG, Crabtree-Wilson, SmithSternau, Home Builders of America, and Kentucky Association of Counties. In 2006, Denney opened his own business, Kentucky County Insurance Services, Inc. An avid golfer, he was briefly pro manager of McCreary County Golf Club. He was a Kentucky Colonel, a member of the BMW Club of America and enjoyed car racing at Putnam Park. With a habit of generosity, he gave yearly to Eastern and loved to surprise people at restaurants–couples on their anniversaries, military personnel or senior citizens
might discover that Denney had paid for their meals. He lived in Louisville and is survived by his wife of 12 years, Cynthia Freeman Denney, ’69, and a large extended family. Daniel Watt, ’69, on February 27, 2005. After teaching 10 years in Wilmington, Del., he became a travel agent, which enabled him to fulfill his dream of seeing all 50 states. He lived in Drexel Hill, Pa. Richard Burns, ’72, on October 10, 2012, following a long illness. While at Eastern, he was active in Sigma Chi Delta and met his future wife, Connie Shotwell Burns, ’72. He taught industrial arts at Campbell County High School (Alexandria, Ky.) and Lloyd High School (Erlanger, Ky.), and then worked as a designer and draftsman at Interlake Steel and Litton Unit Handling. After earning an associate degree at Cincinnati Technical College, he worked as a design engineer for Newport Steel. He leaves his wife, Connie, and three children, Brandy, Casey, and Corey. Craig Bryan Schleigh, ’73, on October 12, 2012. He lived in Fredericksburg, Va., with his wife, Kathleen, and was in his 40th and final year of teaching for King George County Schools, planning to retire in June 2013. Jerry Kirk, ’76, on June 1, 2012, after a brief illness. He had owned and operated The Kirk Co., a newspaper circulation business, for more than 30 years. He was a proud member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Kirk lived in Andersonville, Tenn., and is survived by his wife, son and two daughters. Jerry W. Lovitt, ’76, ’84, ’92, on May 29, 2012, of cancer. He served 35 years in the military, including U.S. Army, National Guard and Coast Guard, retiring as commander of the
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