Dr. Carl Stephen Davis
January 17, 1945 — August 3, 2024
Durham
Dr. Carl Stephen Davis (Steve), age 79, of Durham, NC, died peacefully on August 3, 2024, after a long battle with an autoimmune disease.
Steve was truly one of a kind. He had a sense of humor and gregarious personality that lifted up all who knew him. He was a sports enthusiast, avid golfer, had a passion for reading, classical music and the arts, and a strong desire to continuously learn new things.
Steve was born on January 17, 1945, in Glendale, CA, to Hugh L. Davis and Evelyn Cooper Davis. He grew up in Burbank, CA, graduating in 1963 from John Burroughs High School where he enjoyed playing baseball and met the love of his life, Nancy Davis. He went on to study mathematics at Occidental College in Los Angeles and earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
Steve and Nancy married in 1968 and ultimately made Chapel Hill their home. Together, they shared many of the same passions and interests. They built a wonderful life together filled with so many accomplishments, joy and great memories.
Steve spent the majority of his career as an educator. He taught math at the University of Hawaii, Durham Academy, and the NC School of Science and Mathematics. He was passionate about education and his students and made a significant impact in the lives of so many he taught. He also spent seven years working at Digital Equipment Corporation as a software consultant.
Steve will be missed by his family and so many others that had the opportunity to know him.
Steve is survived by his wife of nearly 56 years, Nancy Davis, his brother Maynard Neil Davis, and his loving nieces and nephews and their families. He was predeceased by his parents, Hugh L. Davis and Evelyn Cooper Davis and by his brother, David Allen Davis.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to WCPE FM - the classical station of Raleigh, NC, Habitat for Humanity of Durham, or Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, all organizations that Steve felt strongly about. Include in memory of Steve Davis in your donation.
A memorial will be held on Saturday, September 28th, 2024, at 2pm in the chapel at Croasdaile Village, 2600 Croasdaile Farm Pkwy, Durham, NC 27705.
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John Alan Kolena Obituary
Originally published on the Clements Funeral Home website.
He was born on November 7, 1947 and raised in Lorain, Ohio, the eldest child of former Lorain Judge John Kolena and Eleanor Kolena. John was an early graduate from Lorain St. Mary’s High School. He received his college education at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio where he graduated with Bachelor’s degree in physics in 1968. John continued his education at Indiana University where he achieved a Master’s degree and a PhD degree.
From approximately 1980 until his retirement from teaching in 2013, he taught astronomy, astrophysics or physics at either Duke University and North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NSSM). John was a prolific writer. He wrote many articles and papers and maintained and produced content for web pages at NCSSM and Duke University on physics and astronomy topics. He made time to study and appreciate the beauty and wonder of lunar eclipses, constellations, and the cosmic system and occasionally conducted an impromptu group viewing on the roof of a Physics building.
Jacqueline Meadows Dusenbury Obituary
Originally published in the Tribute Archive website.
Jacqueline Florance Meadows Dusenbury, a native of Greensboro passed away peacefully on May 15 2019, at her daughter's home after a 2 year illness.
Surviving family members include her daughter Susan, her siblings Ann Huggins, Davetta Florance Bristow, David Florance III and Connye Madill, nieces and nephews, Edwin, Anita, Samantha, Emmanuel, Jamie, Nattale, Steffani, Derek and Darryl and several great nieces and nephews.
The daughter of David and Rosetta Florance and the eldest of their five children, Jacqueline earned her degree in Social Science and History from Bennett College and a Master’s in Educational Administration. A proud Bennett Belle, Jacqueline rarely missed class reunions and alumnae weekends. She cherished the friendships that began while a student at Bennett College.
She was an outstanding educator, recognized for her enthusiasm and creative teaching style. Jacqueline taught in Greensboro, N.C. School of Science and Math in Durham, Governor’s School, Bennett College, and also in Washington state. She enjoyed additional educational opportunities throughout her career including Harvard University, UNC Chapel Hill and Vanderbilt University.
Jacqueline grew up in a musically talented family and was an accomplished organist and lover of Opera. Her favorite Opera was Eugene Onegin and she was quite pleased during a visit to her daughter’s, that her son-in-law’s first and only Opera experience (to date) was Eugene Onegin.
Jacqueline lovingly referred to her only child as “her contribution to society”. She was a wonderful mother to her daughter Susan and they enjoyed traveling together, dining out, going to the Opera, watching Turner Classic Movies and engaging in much retail therapy (especially Nordstrom).
She was an amazing lady who possessed intellect, grace, wisdom, beauty and courage. She was perceptive, direct and very honest even if it wasn’t what you wanted to hear. She was also hilarious and in her final days still managed to make us laugh.
When her days were difficult, she found comfort in scriptures such as Isaiah 41:10 and John 5:28. Jacqueline appreciated all of the support from family and friends, especially during her illness. She also treasured those who helped her daughter care for her.
She received many prayers, visits, cards, flowers and gifts. She was unable, due to her illness, to respond personally to all of these expressions of love, but deeply appreciated them all.
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Randolph Mitchell Foy
April 14, 1950 – May 23, 2018
Originally published in the Dignity Memorial website.
Dr. Randolph Foy (Randy) was teaching professor of music and conductor of the orchestras of North Carolina State University (NCSU) - The Raleigh Civic Symphony and the Raleigh Civic Chamber Orchestra. He held degrees from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the University of Iowa in organ and keyboards, and a doctorate in conducting from Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
His teachers have included David Boe and Fenner Douglass in organ; Frederick Prausnitz in conducting; and John Spitzer in musicology. The title of Foy’s dissertation is “Textural Transformations: The Instrumental Music of Krzysztof Penderecki, 1960-73.”
Foy conducted in the Baltimore/Washington area, and has taught at the University of Richmond; the North Carolina School of the Arts; and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, where he was a founding faculty member. For 29 summers, Foy taught and conducted at the North Carolina Governor’s School (NCGS) in Winston-Salem, a summer program for gifted high school students. The recipient of several awards from the school, the NC Department of Public Instruction Division of Exceptional Children, and the NCGS Alumni Association, in 2012 he worked to insure private and continued public funding for the important program.
Foy was awarded the City of Raleigh Medal of Arts for presenting a wide variety of concerts of unusual repertoire that enhance the cultural life of the community. He was inducted into the NCSU Academy of Outstanding Faculty Engaged in Extension (AOFEE).
Randy asked that in lieu of sending flowers, donations be made to: 1) The Governor’s School of North Carolina Alumni Foundation (http://www.ncgsfoundation.org/); 2) The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Alumni Foundation, Aldrich Music Endowment (https://www.ncssm.edu/support/ways-to-give/endowments#); or 3) The Raleigh Civic Symphony Association (www.raleighcivicsymphony.org).
He is survived by his wife, Dr. May Louise Bellamy; and his brother, John Maxwell Foy.
Rufus Dalton Owens
November 24, 1943 – February 2, 2018
Originally published in the Dignity Memorial website
Rufus was a high school chemistry teacher throughout his life. He taught at North Carolina School of Science and Math, Sanderson High School and at both Ligon and Broughton High Schools in addition to chemistry, he was the wrestling coach. As a young adult he developed an interest in woodworking and became very adept at crafting furniture. Rufus loved music and was a self-taught musician who mastered a keyboard instrument, the harmonica, and for several years enjoyed singing in the choir at The Church of the Good Shepherd of which he was a member.
Upon his retirement from teaching he volunteered at Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen and Meals on Wheels. Always a raconteur, Rufus enjoyed people and getting to know new people, especially new friends when Rufus and Carolyn moved from their long-time home to Springmoor in 2013.
Survivors include his wife Carolyn and their son Timothy Allen Owens (Patricia) of Fayetteville; sister, Grace Wilem of Knightdale and brother Wilbur Owens of Swansboro.
The funeral will be held on Sunday February 11th at 2 pm at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 121 Hillsborough Street.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Church of the Good Shepherd 125 Hillsborough Street Raleigh, NC 27603; Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen 125 Hillsborough Street Raleigh, NC 27603; Springmoor Endowment Fund 1500 Sawmill Drive Raleigh, NC 27615.
Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, St. Mary's Street, Raleigh.
Jon Charles Miller
Originally published on the Hall Wynne website
d. Oct. 8, 2017
Jon Charles Miller died quietly of leukemia at his Durham home on Sunday. He was seventy-three.
A scholar and a teacher, he was a man of books, language, poetry, and music. He was gentle, patient, and kind. His courtesy was old-fashioned and came to him easily.
Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Miller of Durham, Jon was born in Toledo, Iowa, while his father was in service overseas during World War II. Jon attended Durham public schools and graduated from Durham High School in 1961. He earned his bachelor's degree from Davidson College.
After college, he served as an officer in the U. S. Army in Korea and at the Armor School at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After leaving the service, he earned a doctoral degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Jon wanted nothing other than to be a teacher. It was his career for forty-six years. For more than eene years he taught in Durham schools. Later, he was part of the founding faculty at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics where he taught English for thirty-five years until his retirement in 2015. His annual reading of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas became a school tradition.
His office door was always open. He delighted in his students' success at school and in their lives afterward. He maintained a voluminous correspondence with former students until very nearly the day he died.
Jon possessed an unlimited curiosity and was an omnivorous reader; he loved books and readers. He worked for almost thirty years as a volunteer with the Friends of the Durham Library and twice was president of that organization.
Jon loved back roads, small towns, and out-of-the-way places. He loved long road trips to Iowa and Maine, stopping at dusty bookshops and familiar dives and diners all along the way.
Jon literally married the girl next door. He was married to Patricia Wilson Miller for fifty-two years. Their marriage cemented the firm bond between the Wilson and Miller families that has continued for three generations.
Jon was pre-deceased by his daughter Amy and his sister Sue Harlow. He is survived by his wife Patricia, his brother Thomas R. Miller and wife Kimberly, his brother-in-law Walter G. Harlow, his sister-in-law Betty Dayton, his brother-in law Dr. Steve Wilson and wife Dianne, and also by nieces and nephews Doug Dayton, Chris Harlow, Robin Hulbert, William Harlow, Allison Wilson, and Charles Miller, and by a grand-niece Abbey Harlow and a grand-nephew Ryan Harlow.
Jon lived a life surrounded by a family who loved and encouraged him, by interesting and generous colleagues, by students who often challenged him to be better, and by friends whose company gave him great joy,
In lieu of flowers Jon's wish was that contributions be made to the donor's favorite charity.
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Rosemary Walsh Oates
Feb. 2, 1929 - Oct. 17, 2014
Originally published in the Cremation Society of the Carolinas website
Rosemary Walsh Oates passed away at Duke University Hospital on October 17, 2014, after a brief illness.
A graduate of Albertus Magnus College and Yale University, she was passionate about intellectual pursuits, education and social justice. A life-long educator and educational administrator, she resided in Durham for almost 50 years.
Rosemary was born February 2, 1929, in Danbury, Connecticut, to Gerald Augustus Walsh and Mary Gihuly Walsh. Living through the Great Depression and losing her father when she was young, she experienced the challenge of growing up in tough times and learned to cherish the importance of education. She remembered the whole family reading Shakespeare together in the evenings, which reflects her lifelong passion for reading. She also spoke of historical moments in her past, such as seeing President Franklin Roosevelt driven along the Post Road or watching the Hindenburg sail by overhead.
Due to her intelligence and hard work, Rosemary was able to attend Albertus Magnus in New Haven, Connecticut, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Latin in 1951. Following her college graduation, she embarked on a series of adventures, living and working in New York City for a time and crossing the continental United States by train.
She returned to New Haven to teach Latin at the Foote School. While earning her master's degree in Classics at Yale, she met John Francis Oates, who was also attending Yale (legend has it they met the Classics Library in Phelps Hall). John and Rosemary were married in Athens, Greece, in June of 1957, and the couple had four children between 1958 and 1963.
Rosemary, like so many of the best of her generation, was imbued with a passion for social justice and service to others. She returned to work in the mid 1960s as a teacher at one of the first high school programs for pregnant schoolgirls, who at the time were not allowed to attend regular schools. She continued this work when John and she moved to Durham in 1967 when John accepted a faculty position at Duke University. For many years she worked with pregnant youth at the Cooperative School in Durham, N.C.
Rosemary also was active in civil rights activities in the 1960s, working with the local Democratic Party and serving as Triangle area campaign manager for Wilbur Hobby when he ran for governor in 1972. She was active in many church activities and offices over the years at St Luke's Episcopal Church. Later in life, she volunteered for over 20 years at the One World Market on Ninth Street and was an active officer in the Duke Hospital Auxiliary.
Rosemary also continued to work until she was in her 80s. She left the Cooperative School, where she had taught history and English, to teach Latin part time at the fledgling North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and was one of the original faculty members there. Her talents were soon recognized and she began filling in a number of administrative roles and eventually became the registrar for the school. She delighted in the bright and inquisitive minds at the school, as well as its purpose in providing excellence in public education in the state.
For many years beginning in the 1980s and ending just a few years ago, she worked for the Duke admissions office as a reader.
Rosemary passed on her love of knowledge and respect for the benefits of education to her children and grandchildren. She was always thrilled when someone received a post-graduate degree, as eventually all of her children did.
She is survived by Elizabeth Woods Oates, MD and spouse John Shin, MD, Emily Oates Wingfield and spouse Alan Wingfield, John Francis Oates Jr. and spouse Mary Ruffin Hanbury, and Sarah Ann Oates and spouse David Cross. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Catherine and Alexandra Shin, Julia and Henry Wingfield, John Francis Oates III, and Laura and Emma Cross, as well as many cousins, nephews and nieces.
She was predeceased by her husband of 49 years, John Francis Oates, her sister Alice Walsh Zanzal and her brother Theodore Walsh.
A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, November 1, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 1737 Hillandale Road, Durham, NC 27705. A reception will follow at the home of John Oates Jr. in Raleigh.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.
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