IN MEMORIAM

Bro. Herman Paul Willenborg

Daylight Lodge No. 760 mourns the loss of Brother Herman Paul Willenborg, who died Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at the age of 78. Brother Willenborg received his Masonic degrees in the spring of 1973 at Indiana Lodge No 651 and affiliated with Daylight Lodge in April of 2005. He currently lies in state at the Kraft Funeral Home at 708 E. Spring Street, New Albany, IN. Visitation is scheduled from noon until 8:00PM Monday August 4, and funeral services will be conducted at 2:00PM on Tuesday, August 5.

NEW ALBANY WILLENBORG, HERMAN PAUL, 78, died Tuesday, July 29, 2008. Funeral: 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Kraft Chapel, 708 E. Spring Street. Visitation: noon - 8 p.m. Monday.

Published in the Courier-Journal on 8/2/2008

Bro. Edsel Walter Johnson

A note received in late December 2007 announced the death of Brother Edsel Walter Johnson in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania on October 17, 2007. No information regarding his death was available and his widow, Stella Johnson, has been unreachable by telephone. Brother Edsel was initiated into Daylight Lodge November 26, 1949, passed to Fellow Craft January 14, 1950, and raised to the Master Mason degree on February 11, 1950. He had been a Mason for 58 years. He was born in Saline County, Kansas on February 18,1923 and was 83 years old at the time of his death.

EDSEL W. JOHNSON, 84, of Richland Twp. on Oct. 17, 2007. Husband of Stella (Young) Johnson; father of Linda (Lewis) Murphy Esq., Cpt. Steven (Karen) Johnson and Rev. Peggy Tobin; brother of Frances Day. Survived by 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Visitation Saturday 2-4 and 7-9 pm at KING FUNERAL HOME, INC., Rt. 8 at 2841 Woodland Circle, Allison Park, PA 15101 where services will be on Sunday at 1:00pm. www.kingfuneralhome.com. Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb

Published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from 10/19/2007 - 10/20/2007

Edsel W. Johnson, 84, of Richland Township, Pa. passed away on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at his home. Edsel was born February 18, 1923 in Saline County, Kansas.

Edsel was the quintessential quiet American man working as part of our “Greatest Generation” for the good of his family, his friends, his business colleagues and the nation. Edsel grew up working on a farm during the Great Depression in an area pioneered by Scandinavians. Having been taught primarily in a one room schoolhouse between chores, Edsel worked his way through college earning an aeronautical engineering degree by first attending McPherson College and finishing his degree at the University of Kansas in 1947. When World War II started, he volunteered and joined the Naval Reserve while still a student. He was later commissioned as a LT JG in the United States Navy. He served during World War II leading teams of aircraft maintenance technicians repairing and servicing naval fighter aircraft and bombers staging out of Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Upon being ordered to return to California at the end of the War, Edsel went AWOL to travel nonstop by jitney car back to Lawrence, Kansas to marry the love of his life, his wife of 67 years, Stella Young Johnson. They returned to California to complete his term of naval service.

After the Navy, Edsel joined Alcoa as an aeronautical engineer and made his career with that company. He retired in 1984. Edsel, Stella and their family moved to western PA in 1959 and became a part of our community. As a deeply religious man, Edsel was a member of the North Hills Community Baptist Church for many years. He also contributed to the community as a Shriner and a 32nd degree Mason. After retirement from Alcoa, he served as an officer and President of his local VFW Post. Edsel’s passing creates a deep hole in many hearts for a good honorable man the likes of which is seldom seen. Edsel is survived by his loving wife Stella, his best friend and companion who nursed him unswervingly through his final illness, their daughter Linda J. Murphy of Balmville, New York and Coconut Grove, Florida, their son Capt. Steven W. Johnson of Brookeville, Maryland, their daughter Peggy J. Tobin of Goshen, New York, their son-in-law, Lewis F. Murphy and daughter-in-law Karen Johnson, his sister Frances Day of Hutchinson, Kansas and her husband Bill, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren: Brandy M. Keenan and her son Phineas E. Keenan and her daughter Eowyn M. Keenan, Logan I. Murphy, Devon N. Murphy, Cheryl J. Machi, Erin Johnson, Matthew Johnson, Katie T. Lane and Alex Tobin. A viewing will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2007 at the Herbert R. King, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. 2841 Woodland Circle, Allison Park PA 15101 from 2:00 till 4:00pm and 7:00 till 9:00 pm where the funeral service will be held on Sunday, October 21, 2007. Interment with military honors will be privately attended at Allegheny County Memorial Park.

Bro. Edsel Walter Johnson

Bro. Edward Lee Thrasher, Sr.

Daylight Lodge also mourns the loss of Brother Edward Lee Thrasher Sr., 72, who died on Wednesday, January 30, at his home. His wife, Marjorie Thrasher, who passed away in late December 2007, preceded him in death. Five children, ten grandchildren, two great grandchildren, his mother and a sister survive him. He was a former truck driver for Johnson Controls, a Navy veteran, and a member of St. Stephen United Church of Christ. He was initiated July 23, 1960, passed to Fellow Craft September 10, 1960, and raised to Master Mason March 24, 1962.

EDWARD LEE THRASHER, SR., 71, of Louisville, passed away Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at his home. He had been a truck driver for Johnson Controls and Walker Recycling. He was a Navy veteran of the Korean War, a member of St. Stephen United Church of Christ, Masonic Lodge #760. He was also a Teamster and a Kentucky Colonel. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie Thrasher. He is survived by his children, Rebecca Thrasher, Edward L. Thrasher Jr. and James Thrasher; stepchildren, Donald L. Buckler and Connie L. Buckler Gill; grandchildren, Chanse, Taylor, Saundra Gail, Nina, Sabrina, James and Ben Thrasher; mother, Margaret Thrasher; stepgrandchildren, Rachel and Alexander Buckler; sister, Betty Simms; and two great-grandchildren. His service will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Owen Funeral Home, 5317 Dixie Highway, with burial in Beth Haven Cemetery. Visitation is 1-7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Published in The Courier-Journal from 1/31/2008 - 2/1/2008

Bro. Grant E. "Eli" Martin

Daylight Lodge #760 F&AM mourns the passing of Brother Grant Martin who died early this Saturday morning, March 31, 2007. He will lie in repose at the Highland Funeral Home, 2331 Taylorsville Road. Visitation will be from 3:00 until 8:00PM on Sunday and a Masonic funeral service will be conducted at 7:00PM. Burial will be on Monday, April 2 at Memorial Gardens West at 1:00PM and there will be a military graveside service. His wife Kathleen, daughter Judy, and granddaughter Amanda survive him. Brother Martin was a highly decorated WWII Army Ranger veteran and a dedicated Mason. He was initiated as an Entered Apprentice 4/3/73, passed to Fellow Craft 6/23/73, raised to Master Mason 7/28/73 and was Master of Daylight Lodge in 1976 and 1988. He was 86 years old at his death. He will be greatly missed by all of the fraternity.

GRANT E. "ELI," MARTIN, 85, of Mt. Washington, passed away Saturday, March 31, 2007 at his residence. Born in Louisville, he was retired from the Louisville Housing Authority and a World War II Army veteran. He was past Master of Daylight Masonic Lodge # 760, and a member of Scottish Rite. He was Baptist by faith. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Clara, Violet Mae, Anna Lillian, Jess and Arthur. He is survived by his wife, the former Kathleen Perry; daughter, Judy Walters (Jim); stepson, Larry Perry of Virginia; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. His funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Monday, April 2, 2007 at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Rd., with burial in Louisville Memorial Gardens West. Visitation will be from 3-8 p.m. Sunday at Highlands. Expressions of sympathy will be made to Hospice of Shelbyville. Published in The Courier-Journal on 04/01/2007

Special Article from the Courier-Journal - 04/05/2007

From Bob Hill, Courier-Journal Columnist - Published on Thursday, April 5, 2007 The April 1 newspaper obituary was brief, factual and impersonal -- one of the many we scan every day before moving on to news, sports or features. It said Grant E. "Eli" Martin, 85, Mount Washington, a Baptist by faith, was retired from the Louisville Housing Authority, had been Master of Daylight Masonic Lodge No. 760 and was a World War II Army veteran. Survivors included his wife, Kathleen, and a daughter, Judy Walters. It was not enough. More needed to be said in that obituary, and in so many others in which lives flash before our eyes in a gray blur of names, vital statistics and funeral details. Grant Elias "Eli" Martin was born on June 29, 1921, on Lytle Street in Portland. His mother worked for the Salvation Army; his father drove a horse-drawn ice wagon for the Artic Ice Co. He graduated from Shawnee High School, enlisted in the Army in 1939. He was sent to England at the onset of World War II, where he volunteered for the newly formed 1st Ranger Battalion modeled after -- and aided by -- British commandos. The Rangers trained with the commandos under live fire at a remote camp in rugged, rainy Achnacarry, Scotland. The group would later be known as "Darby's Rangers" in honor of their commander, Capt. William Darby.
	Brother Grant E. "Eli" Martin
	Decorated Veteran of
	WWII and Past Master
	of Daylight Lodge #760
	F&AM in 1976 and 1988

Martin was one of 49 Rangers who took part in the poorly planned and ultimately disastrous raid on Dieppe, France, in August 1942, in which 4,384 of the 6,086 men who made it ashore were killed, wounded or captured. The 49 Americans were the first to see action against the Germans in the war. Martin was wounded near Tunisia in 1943. He returned to combat, was captured, taken to Sicily -- and escaped. He was with Darby's Rangers during their invasion of Sicily and Italy. Near Cisterna, Italy, the relatively lightly armed Rangers became trapped behind enemy lines on open ground, facing brutal German fire and Panzer tanks. The Germans placed captured Rangers in front of the tanks and demanded the others surrender. Of the 767 Rangers in the battle, all but six were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. Martin was taken to a POW camp in Germany. He escaped and was recaptured; the Germans smashed his hands with a shovel as punishment. He escaped again, made his way back to American lines and finished the war fighting with the rugged 10th Mountain Division. He was awarded two Bronze Stars for valor and two Purple Hearts. After the war he returned to Louisville, where he was active in the Masons and worked in security for the Louisville Housing Authority. He rarely talked to anyone about his war experiences. About five years ago he did speak with a man named Mike Murphy, an Indiana state representative from Marion County. Murphy, a military historian, had been related to Martin by marriage. Murphy would name his son -- Kevin Grant Murphy -- in Martin's honor. Murphy said Martin would talk about the war, then choke up and begin crying. Martin's hobbies were building model airplanes, painting by number and collecting Jim Beam bottles -- the latter with his wife. His fun was telling great Irish stories. He was very proud of his Rangers. He kept many rolls of film taken of buddies during the war -- but never developed them. He died last Saturday of esophageal cancer. All he ever told his wife and daughter about the war was that he was wounded a couple of times -- and had been a POW. Kathleen Martin never pushed for more information. She said her husband had been a good and caring man who enjoyed being around people.

Bro. Mel Golde

Daylight Lodge #760 F&AM mourns the passing of Brother Mel Golde, who entered eternal life on November 24, 2005. Mel was a fifty-four year Daylight Lodge Mason, being initiated in October of 1951, Passed to Fellow Craft in May of 1952, and raised to Master Mason in February of 1953. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite and the Shrine Temple. He was the owner of Mel Golde’s Men’s Shoes in downtown Louisville for forty-five years and was age seventy-five at his death. His wife JoAnne, a niece, nephew, and sister in law survive him. May he rest in peace.

MEL GOLDE, 75, died Thursday, November 24, 2005. He was the owner of Mel Golde's Mens Shoes for 45 years. He was member of Anshei Sfard Congregation, Daylight Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite and Kosair Shrine Temple. He is survived by his wife, JoAnne Golde; his sister–in-law, Mona Cohn; his nephew, Jeffrey Cohn; and his niece, Cindy Levine. His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Anshei Sfard Cemetery. Donations may be made to donor's favorite charity. Herman Meyer & Son in charge of arrangements. Published in The Courier-Journal on 11/26/2005

Bro. Chester Hair

Daylight Lodge #760 F&AM mourns the passing of Brother Chester Hair. While Chester had received his degrees in May, June and July of 1973 at Shawnee Lodge, he had joined Daylight approximately a year ago, after a long absence from the fraternity. He had established himself as a quiet and gentle man whom everyone admired, and was a faithful attendee of our lodge. He was seventy-nine years old and died after a brief illness. He was a native of Breckenridge County and retired from the old P. Lorillard Tobacco Company a number of years ago. His wife Mary; daughters Denise Hines and Carol Ward; sons Joe and Richard Bradley, who are members of Daylight, and Charles Bradley, a recent petitioner, survive him. He also leaves a sister, Louise Barnes and nine grandchildren.

CHESTER HAIR, 79, of Louisville, died Saturday at Jewish Hospital. He was a native of Breckenridge County, KY, a retired employee with P. Lorillard Tobacco Company, a Baptist by faith and a member of Masonic Lodge #760, Daylight Lodge. He is survived by his wife, the former Mary Cook; children, Denise Carol Hines, Sue Ward, Joe, Richard and Charles Bradley; a sister, Louise Barnes; and nine grandchildren. Cremation was chosen. There will be no funeral or visitation. Schoppenhorst & Underwood Funeral Home, 1832 W. Market St., in charge of arrangements. Memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society. Published in The Courier-Journal on 6/13/2005

Bro. Richard W. Polsgrove

Daylight Lodge #760 F&AM mourns the passing of Brother Richard W. Polsgrove. Bro Polsgrove was born on February 8th, 1924, and he was a Fifty-Year Member of Daylight Lodge #760 FA&M. His Masonic Record is as follows: Initiated on 1/26/1946, Passed on 2/23/1946, and Raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason on 3/23/1946. Bro Polsgrove's full obituary from the Courier Journal is listed below.

RICHARD W. POLSGROVE, 80, of Fullerton, CA, died Monday, November 1, 2004. Richard was a native of Louisville and an electronic aerospace engineer. Survivors include his wife, Betty Alexander Polsgrove, and a brother, John M. Polsgrove. His funeral will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church in Fullerton. Arrangements by Memory Garden Memorial Park and Mortuary in Brea, CA. Published in The Courier-Journal on 11/7/2004

Bro. Nicholas Bradley Hull, Sr.

Daylight Lodge #760 F&AM mourns the loss of Brother Nicholas Bradley Hull, Sr.. Bro. Hull was long time member as well as a Past Master of Daylight Lodge, having served in that capacity in 1957. He will be sorely missed by those of us who knew him. There will be a Rose Croix Service for Bro. Hull tonight at 7:30 p.m., at Highlands Family-Owned Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Rd. his full obituary from the Courier Journal is listed below.

NICHOLAS BRADLEY HULL SR., 93, of Louisville, died Tuesday, July 13, 2004, at Baptist Hospital East. He was a retired safety coordinator for American Standard, where he worked for 40 years, a past master of Daylight Lodge #760 and a former member of Kosair Shrine and York Rite. He was a member of St. Matthews Baptist Church, Scottish Rite and several other civic and Masonic organizations. He was preceded in death by a son, Nicholas B. Hull Jr. He is survived by his wife, the former Bernice Gilbert; a son, David G. Hull; five grandchildren, including Cliff and Alex Hull and Cathy Emonz; and two great-grandchildren, Rachel and Grace Emonz. His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Highlands Family-Owned Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Rd., with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Thursday at Highlands. Memorial gifts may be made to a charity of the donor's choice. Published in The Courier-Journal on 7/15/2004.

Bro. Joe G. Hyams

Daylight Lodge #760 F&AM mourns the passing of Brother Joe Hyams, 72, who died Sunday, May 2nd, at his home after a long illness. He was initiated, passed, and raised at Morrison Lodge No.76, in Elkhorn, Kentucky in 1960. He transferred his membership to Excelsior Lodge in 1976, and demitted to Daylight in 1989. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite, and very active in the Kosair Shrine while he was in good health, and an Army veteran of the Korean War. His wife Betty, and his brothers Robert and Ray Hyams survive him. While no Masonic service is planned, visitation at the Resthaven Funeral Home on Bardstown Road will be from 10:00AM until 2:00PM on Wednesday, May 5th. May he rest in peace.

JOE G. HYAMS, 72, of Louisville, died Sunday at his residence. He was a retired salesman for Courtesy Cadillac and a member of Kosair Shrine, where he was very active with numerous committees. He was also an Army veteran of the Korean War. Survivors include his wife, Bettye Hyams, and his brothers, Robert Allen and Ray Hyams. His funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Resthaven Funeral Home, with entombment at Resthaven Mausoleum. Visitation at the funeral home will be from 10 a.m. Wednesday until the time of the service. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Kosair Charities. Published in The Courier-Journal on 5/4/2004

Bro. James F. Hawkins

Daylight Lodge #760 F&AM mourns the passing of Bro. James F. Hawkins, who was called by the Grand Architect of the Universe from Labor to Eternal Rest on Friday, March 7th, 2003. Bro. Hawkins had been a member of Daylight Lodge since 1965. He was also an Honorary Past Master and served as Treasurer for many years. Details of his arrangements are listed below, and while no Masonic services are planned, all Masons are encouraged to attend visitation and/or funeral services to pay their final respects.

JAMES F. HAWKINS, 75, of Fern Creek, died Friday, March 7, 2003. He was retired from American Standard. He is survived by his wife, the former Lois M. House; children, Karen Hudson, Michael, Ronnie, Bobby, Kevin and Bruce Hawkins, LaDonna Coffey and DeOnna Meeks; 21 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; brothers, Daniel, Marion, Albert and Edgar Hawkins; and a sister, Charlotte Bailey. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Fern Creek Funeral Home, 5406 Bardstown Rd., with burial to follow in Rest-haven Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 12-8 p.m. Monday. Published in The Courier-Journal on 3/9/2003