Obituaries

Deborah Russell Ellwood passed over into eternal life on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 peacefully in her own home in Highlands, New Jersey. Deb was a graduate of The Rumson Country Day School, Middletown South High School and Barnard College.

In her early career, Deb was a Real Estate Appraiser in San Francisco and in New Jersey and later on ran her own appraisal company called Ellwood Residential Appraisals. For many years, she volunteered throughout Monmouth County, starting as a teen in the Candy Striper Program at Riverview Hospital, Red Bank and in recent years in the oncology ward at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch.  She was very active at Christ Church Middletown, the Twin Lights gift shop in Highlands, the Garden State Young People’s Conference (GSYP), and Shore House where she contributed her artwork for their fundraisers.  She was a long time participant in the Community Connections Program in Long Branch and also studied at EFM (Education for Ministry).

Judith J. Woodward (Judy), 83, formerly from Red Bank, passed away peacefully Thursday, April 12, 2018.  Born in 1935, in Red Bank, she was a resident of the borough most of her life.

Mrs. Woodward was a graduate of Red Bank High School Class of 1952.  She met and married her high school sweetheart, Charles (Charlie) in 1953.  While in high school, Mrs. Woodward worked in her mother’s hat shop, The Bonnet Shop, in Red Bank, and helped design ladies hats.  A loving full-time mom and wife, Mrs. Woodward decided to return to the work force when their children were in high school.  She became her husband’s secretary at Woodward Construction Company, where she ran a tight ship for over 20 years.

It is with great sadness that the family and friends of Brian Bradley Bowers announce his passing on April 19, 2018, at the age of 37 after suffering a heart attack. Brian will be lovingly remembered by his daughter Cameron Bowers, and her mother, Colleen Davis; his parents, William and Angela Bowers; his sisters, Kim Kiely and Dawn Morgan; his brothers, Michael Ryan, John Beattie, Bill Beattie, as well as his brother for life, George Roxby; and his partner Karen Burr and her daughters, Mia and Ava Burr. The joy of his life was spending time with friends, family, including his many nephews, nieces, cousins, and his many best friends – too many to list, but always in his heart.

Red Bank – Carmen Rice, Age 74, passed away on April 18, 2018.  Carmen was a resident of the Atrium at Navesink Harbor.  She was active in the Salvation Army.  Carmen worked as a Clerk at Foodtown until her retirement.

Carmen is predeceased by her parents Newton Rice Sr. and Carmen Kahn Rice.  She is survived by her brothers Jerry Rice and Newton Rice of Fair Haven;  her sister Joan Rice of Little Silver and six nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Sunday, April 22^nd from 2 to 4 pm, with a service at 3:30, at the Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St, Red Bank.  Burial services are private.  In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial donation to the Salvation Army, 180 Newman Springs Rd, Red Bank, NJ 07701.

Lawrence Frank Curchin, 59, of Fair Haven and Hilton Head, SC died on April 10th, 2018 after a brief and valiant fight against lung cancer.

Born in Long Branch, NJ, he was the beloved son of Kenneth and Thelma ( Long) Curchin. Larry attended schools in Fair Haven and Rumson, NJ.

As an adult, he and Marie Malone relocated to the warmth of Hilton Head, SC where they later married and divorced. They were able to reconnect as friends in the final months of his life which brought him great peace.

Jack Donovan Fowler, age 97, passed away Thursday, April 12, 2018 in Red Bank, NJ.  He was born on a farm outside of Lincoln, Nebraska, rode a horse to a one-room schoolhouse and  hitchhiked to the University of Nebraska, graduating in May, 1942 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.  He immediately enlisted in the Army as WWII was raging in Europe.  After becoming an officer, Jack was sent by troop train to Little Silver, NJ.  The troops were marched double time, in the middle of the night, down the road to Ft. Monmouth.  In May of ’43, having never seen the ocean, he ventured to the Asbury Park boardwalk where he fortuitously met and fell in love with Grace Valentine.  They married later that year and enjoyed 70 years of marriage.

Frederick “Fred” G. Colmorgen, Jr. died Friday, April 13th, at the age of 81, after a 20 year battle with Parkinson’s Disease.  Fred worked as the Assistant Superintendent of Shorelands Water Company, retiring in 2001.  Before Shorelands Water Company, he worked at Keansburg Middletown National Bank.  Fred was a volunteer firefighter for Red Bank Relief Engine Company for over 50 years.  He was a member of the Middletown Reformed Church and a lifelong member of the Reformed Church of America.

Dorris Timothy Butner, 77, of Hazlet, passed away peacefully on April 12, 2018.  Tim was born in Merfreesboro, TN.  He served in the US Navy on the USS Shangralia as a Gunner’s Mate for four years. 

Tim was a driver for FedEx for 35 years.  He worked for the Monmouth County Park Service as a Seasonal and Park Ranger for five years.

Tim is predeceased by his parents James and Eddie Lee; his wife of 42 years Virginia Helen and his sister and three brothers.  He is survived by his fiancée Cathy Barfield; his daughter MaryLynn Wilson and her husband Kenneth of Washington Twp; his son Edward Butner and his wife Beth and their daughters Tealia Butner and Jewelia Butner, all of Millstone Twp;  and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Sunday, April 15^th from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St, Red Bank.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, April 16^th at 10 a.m.  at St. James RC Church, 94 Broad St, Red Bank.  Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Middletown.

Richard Rizzo, Sr., of Freehold, NJ, passed peacefully in his sleep on April 6, 2018.  Born in Brooklyn, NY, he is survived by his children Richard Rizzo, Jr. and Dana Catapano; his two grandchildren Christian and Tyler; his daughter-in-law Danielle and his sister, Marie Mehl.  He is also survived by his long-time partner, Debby Hemschoot, and her five adoring grandchildren.

Richard worked at MSC for 30 years and was Manager of Customer Service for MSC in Port Newark, NJ.

Roger W. LeValley, 83, passed away peacefully on April 6, 2018.  He was born in Long Branch to Lawrence and Ruth (Thompson) LeValley.  Before and into his teen years, he was an accomplished roller skater and performed ballroom dancing on roller skates at the Singing Wheels Arena in Shrewsbury (now the World Market).  He graduated from Shrewsbury Borough School in 1949 and Red Bank High School in 1953.  He was a Shrewsbury resident all of his life.

Roger started his business career with Progressive Life Insurance Company, Red Bank, during his senior year in high school.  After thirty-six years of service with Progressive, he retired in 1989 as Senior Vice President and Secretary of the company.  He then pursued his hobby of floral designing on a full-time basis; having done so on a part-time basis for over fifty years.  For the last ten of his active retirement years, he was a crossing guard for the Borough of Little Silver.