Obituaries

Wendy Payne, 70, passed away peacefully at her home in Middletown on November 20, 2016.  Wendy spent most of her life in Montgomery, NJ raising her family and teaching in the Edison school district for 30 years.  She had recently moved to Middletown to be near family and was thriving in her reconnection with tennis, the arts, traveling, meeting new friends and teaching her grandchildren at every opportunity.

Wendy was an avid student, receiving her Bachelors from Skidmore and Masters from Rutgers in early childhood education. She applied her education into a passion for teaching, touching both her public school students and more profoundly her own children.  She brought an energy and creativity to her work, recognizing each child as an individual and challenging herself to bring out their best. Many of her students went on to accomplish great things and shared with her how appreciative they were of Wendy’s early inspiration.

Walter F. Grampp Jr., 84, formerly of Lincroft, passed away Sunday, October 30, 2016, on Drayton Island, Florida.  Walter is survived by his children, Peter Grampp of Lakewood, CO and his wife Julianne, James Grampp of Red Bank, and Barbara Moore of Red Bank and her husband Greg; his grandchildren, Britta Grampp, Cathryn, Gunnar, Anna and Stephen Moore; his sister Marie Cornell of South Plainfield; many nieces and nephews; and his granddog Emma. He was predeceased by his parents, Walter and Mary Grampp, his wife, Joan Grampp, his son, Walter Frederick Grampp III and his sister Elizabeth O’Brien.

Walter was born in Elizabeth, NJ in 1932. He attended St. Benedict’s Preparatory High School in Newark, and graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1956. He served in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Army (1956 to 1958), and then spent his career in the horticultural/nursery business, growing plants and flowers, founding the Shadow Lake Nursery.

Charlotte Elizabeth Dubuss, 78, of Red Bank passed away peacefully on November 16, 2016. Charlotte was born in Brooklyn, NY to Christen Charles and Elsie Marie (Froede) Frank.  She graduated from Butler High in NJ and worked as a stenographer and Dictaphone typist before finding her true passion of being a wife and stay at home Mom to her four grateful children.

Charlotte went on to explore her passion for the arts as the owner of Amour Florist in Middletown and Riverview Florist in Red Bank for many years.  She will be remembered for the gifts the Lord gave her which touched so many lives through her works of art, sewing, cooking, playing piano and many other passions. She will always be remembered for her open loving heart and spirit and her love of God that has led her journey full circle back into his arms to the eternal kingdom of undying peace, joy & love forever.

Betty Louise Spiridon Meyer, Age 94 of Shrewsbury, passed away on November 15, 2016.  Betty was born in Marysville, OH to Dana Evans and Jenette Hubert.  She served in the Wave Army Corps during World War II in Panama.  She was a realtor for Heartland Realty in Whiting for 12 years.

Betty is predeceased by first husband George Spiridon in May 2009 and her second husband Charles Meyer in April 2008.  She is survived by her daughters Danna Ruth and her husband Dr. Herbert Ruth of Oceanport, Colyn Gingola of Brick, and Valen Frey and her husband Ronald Frey of Shrewsbury; her grandchildren Adrianna, Adam, Dianna and Ciana; and her great-grandchildren Kane and Diem.

Edward G. DeFabio, previously of Short Hills and Sanibel Fla, died peacefully in his sleep while at home in Silver Beach, NJ on November 13, 2016. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio he was graduated from Case Western Reserve and served in World War II in the Air Force as navigator and bombardier. He owned Olympic Jr., a garment factory in Newark, NJ for 39 years and manufactured ladies sportswear. As an active member of the community he was a charter member of the Circus Saints and Sinners service club, a member of the Normandy Beach Yacht Club for over 40 years, serving on various committees, a parishioner of St Rose of Lima in Short Hills, Saint Isabel in Sanibel, FL and St. Pio in Lavallette.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Carmel, and three sons, Edward and Patricia of Rumson, Joel of Miami, Fla and Donald and Jill of Millington, NJ along with his nine grandchildren Erica Lipani, Monica Komery, Lauren Flanagan, Amanda Occhipinti, Philip, Diana, CJ, Claudia and Glenda DeFabio  and 2 great-grandchildren Angelina and Anthony Lipani. He was predeceased by his son George ten years ago.

Trevor John McConnell, Age 24, passed away at his home in Colorado on November 4, 2016.  Trevor was born to David and Janet (Sexton) McConnell in Ridgewood, NJ.  He grew up in Rumson, graduated from Rumson-Fair Haven High School in 2010, earned an AS degree from Brookdale Community College and was attending the University of Colorado where he found his true happiness.

Trevor is predeceased by his father David.  He is survived by his mother Janet McConnell and his sister Lauren Maxted and her husband Michael.  

Robert Emmet McDonnell III passed away peacefully on November 9th with family by his side.  Son of Robert E. McDonnell Jr. and Margaret Anderson McDonnell, Bob was born in New York City and grew up in Fair Haven, New Jersey.  He attended Red Bank Catholic High School and is a proud graduate of Villanova University.  Upon graduation from Villanova University in 1956, Bob enlisted in the Navy as an Officer.

Bob had a 35-year career on Wall Street.  When the family securities firm, McDonnell & Co. closed in 1970, Bob continued his career at Freeman Securities, R. W. Pressprich and Co. Inc., Oppenheimer & Co., and Dougherty & Co.  He retired from Wall Street in 1993, but continued to work, first in sales at Horizon Foods, then as a school bus driver.  He loved kids; especially driving them to weekend games.

Bob raised his family in Rumson and was actively involved in local clubs and activities.  He served five years on the Rumson Board of Education, including serving as its President.  In 1995, Bob married Gail O’Brien and they lived in Navesink.  He enjoyed landscaping, summer trips to Maine and passionately followed Villanova Basketball and Yankees Baseball.

Mark David Kentos, Age 46 of Howell, passed away suddenly on November 6, 2016, at his home.  Mark was born in Morristown to John and Mary Alice (Irwin) Kentos.  He attended Clemson University, where he played football.  He graduated from the University of Scranton.  He is a graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law.  Mark is a partner of the law firm of Schibell, Mennie & Kentos in Ocean and Howell Twp.   

Mark was a Coach for Howell Township AYF Football.  He enjoyed fishing, boating and snow skiing.  His greatest joy in life was the time he spent with his children and family.  He was a member of the Tower Hill Presbyterian Church in Red Bank.

Mark was predeceased by his father John.  He is survived by his mother Mary Alice Kentos; his children Matthew and Kaitlyn and their mother Kelly Valentine Kentos and his daughter Emma and her mother Erin Kelly Kentos; sisters Deborah Bradford and her husband Ross and their children Ryan, William and Katherine of Suwanee, GA, and Pamela Graham and her husband Julius and their children Aniyah and Solomon of Valencia, CA.

Trevor McConnell, Age 24, passed away in Boulder, CO.

Allison Taylor French, 84, died peacefully on Saturday, November 5th at Meridian Nursing & Rehabilitation in Shrewsbury, NJ, surrounded by his loving family.

Al was preceded in death by his son Allison “Ty” (1991) and his wife of 57 years Beverly Wunderley French (2011).

Al is survived by his sons Randall and his wife Carol of Eatontown, NJ, and Kendall and his wife Kathy of Gainsville, FL, and his daughter Lucinda and her husband Sean Murphy, and his grandchildren Taylor, Renny and Rorey all of East Hampton, NY.

Al was born in Orlando, FL, and later moved and grew up in West Palm Beach, FL, and attended Tulane University in New Orleans.