Obituaries

FRANCIS P. BOWLES, 87, professor emeritus of English at the University of Northern Colorado, died Oct. 20, 2008. A member of Chi Psi, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II and later earned a master’s degree at Columbia University. He owned Bowles Books in Greeley, Colo., for a number of years and then received a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of New Mexico, after which he returned to Greeley to teach at the university. Active in civic organizations, he also had held several national and world records in Masters’ Track decathlons. His wife, Barbara Vehling Bowles, predeceased him by four months. Among those who survive are two children and five grandchildren.

RICHARD H. BENGSTON, a chemist and chemical engineer, died Oct. 30, 2009, at age 87. A member of Sigma Nu, he received a master’s degree from Wesleyan and served in the U.S. Army during World War II and again during the Korean War. He is survived by his wife, Olga Essenhofer Bengston, a daughter, and three stepchildren.

JOSEPH M. BARSKY JR., M.D., a retired physician and past president of the Delaware Academy of Family Physicians, died Jan. 25, 2009. He was 86. A member of Eclectic, he received his degree with honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and practiced general and forensic medicine for more than 45 years. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. He is survived by his wife, Freida Kreshtool Barsky, two children, and two grandchildren.

CLINTON B. YEOMANS, who retired as a trust officer with the New Britain Bank and Trust Company, died Jan. 15, 2011, at age 90. A member of Beta Theta Pi, he served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific during World War II. He began his career with the Fiduciary Trust Company in New York and later moved to Connecticut where, following a one-year teaching position at Suffield Academy, he resumed his career as a trust officer in the Hartford area until he retired in 1980. His wife of 54 years, Joan Barrows Yeomans, died in 2007. Survivors include three daughters, five grandchildren, and a nephew, Benjamin C. Terry ’68.

WILLIAM A. WINTTER, who retired as co-owner of the Wintter and North Insurance Agency and who was class secretary for many years, died Sept. 22, 2005. He was 84. The son of Wilhelm A. Wintter of the class of 1909, he was a member of Psi Upsilon. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. Among those who survive are his wife, Nancy Corwin Wintter, two children, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

ROBERT A. WARREN JR., 89, president of the Fisher-Churchill Oil Company in Dedham, Mass., died Mar. 26, 2010. He was a member of Alpha Chi Rho and served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He is survived by his wife, Deborah Newton Warren, four sons, nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a sister, and many nieces and nephews.

LIVINGSTON VAN DE WATER JR., 85, a retired sales manager of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, died Aug. 2, 2006. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi and served in the U.S. Navy as an aviator during World War II. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Chamberlain Van De Water, three children, seven grandchildren, and a sister.

ALBERT W. THEURER, D.D.S., died Oct. 16, 2003. He was 81. After receiving a dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II and later practiced dentistry in Roselle, N.J. He also served several terms as mayor of Scotch Plains, N.J. He is survived by his wife, Vivian, two children, and two sisters.

CHARLES B. SULLIVAN, the co–founder of the law firm of Cheever & Sullivan in Wilton, N.H., died Feb. 19, 2010, at age 88. A member of Sigma Chi, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II, after which he received his bachelor’s and law degrees from Yale University. In addition to his law practice, he was the judge of the Municipal District Court for many decades, the chairman of the New Hampshire State Republican Party, and served on the boards of several banks. He established the Luther Gregg Sullivan Post–doctoral Fellowship at Wesleyan in memory of his late son, who graduated in 1973. He is survived by his wife, Jean Wilson Sullivan; three sons, including David B. Sullivan ’69; five grandchildren, including Danforth B. Sullivan ’06; and two great–grandchildren.

MERWIN B. SMITH, 84, the retired owner of the Smith and Chester Insurance Agency, Inc., died Sept. 25, 2005. A member of Psi Upsilon, he served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. He was involved in civic and professional organizations and was a past president of the Wesleyan Alumni Association of Cleveland. Survivors include his wife, Shirley Cass Smith, two daughters, and three grandchildren.