The Memorial Wall

Robert Lewis Smith died peacefully in Murfreesboro, TN on September 23, 2020. His wife of 60 years, Mary "Sue" Crisp Smith, also died peacefully in Murfreesboro, TN on November 19, 2020.

Robert was born on June 22nd, 1938 in Ranger, TX. He grew up in nearby Abilene as the 4th child of the late Lewis Smith and Eunice Turner Smith. He was preceded in death by his brother Ned Smith of Houston, TX and his sister Marilyn Owens of Abilene, TX. His sister Bonnie Baker of Dallas, TX passed away on May 3, 2021.

Sue was born in Victoria, TX on December 11, 1938, the firstborn to her parents, the late Noah and Elizabeth Crisp. She is survived by her brothers Don Crisp and Jerry Crisp, both of Dallas, TX.

Robert and Sue are survived by their children Sara Smith of Shreveport, LA, Timothy Smith and his wife Jocelyn of Olympia, WA, Marcie Smith Castleberry and her husband John of Murfreesboro, TN, and Andrew Smith and his wife Erin of Seattle, WA. They have five grandchildren: Will Smith, Nathan Smith, Erin Smith, Elliot Smith, and Ben Smith.

Robert and Sue both graduated from Abilene Christian College in 1961. Robert received a doctoral degree from The University of Tennessee, Memphis. They moved to Shreveport in 1968 where Robert joined the faculty of LSU Health Sciences Center. He was a researcher and professor of Biochemistry there until he retired in 2006.

Sue worked as an advocate for people with disabilities. She was president of the PTO at Sara's school, and she worked for many years with the Caddo-Bossier Association for Retarded Citizens, including serving as its president. In 1979 Sue created ACCESS, a state-funded agency designed to help disabled people access resources to enable them to overcome limitations.

Sue and Robert were both longtime members of Southern Hills Church of Christ and then Clearview Church of Shreveport. Robert served first as deacon then as elder at Southern Hills. Sue was a gifted teacher and leader. She taught Bible classes and led home Bible studies. Robert and Sue opened their home to many "small groups," furloughed missionaries, and other friends over the years. In 2010 they helped establish Clearview Church of Shreveport with the goal of reaching more young people with Christ's message of hope.

Robert was deeply interested in the interface between science and faith. Well after retirement he continued to read scientific books and journals, compelled by his love for nature and respect for the scientific process. This wonder also compelled him to hike, fish, and garden for as long as his Parkinson's Disease would allow.

Sue had a quick and inquisitive mind. She loved to learn and was interested in new ideas. When home computers came on the scene, Sue was an early adopter and she loved helping others with her skills. Even in old age, she could help her middle-aged children with their software woes.

Both Robert and Sue especially loved visits from their children and grandchildren. During those times, their home was full of the family cooking and eating together, playing games and working puzzles, laughing, talking, and watching football, with grandkids running joyfully through the house. Their family will always cherish memories of those times together.

The Rev. Robert Graetz, the only white minister to support the Montgomery bus boycott and who became the target of scorn and bombings for doing so, died Sunday at his home in Alabama. He was 92.

Graetz died from complications of Parkinson’s disease, said Kenneth Mullinax, a friend, and family spokesman.

Graetz was the minister of the majority-Black Trinity Lutheran Evangelical Church in Montgomery, Ala. He was the only local white clergyman to support the boycott. He and his wife, Jeannie, faced harassment, threats, and bombings as a result.

Sparked by the December 1955 arrest of Rosa Parks, the planned one-day boycott of Montgomery City Lines became a 381-day protest of the segregated bus system that ended with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that segregated public buses were unconstitutional.

The parsonage where the Graetzes lived was twice hit by bombs, once when they were away and again in 1957, not long after the boycott ended, in a wave of attacks by white supremacists on civil rights leaders and churches. Four Black churches and the home of the Rev. Ralph Abernathy were also bombed on Jan. 10, 1957. The Graetzes were at home with their children at the time, including their then-9-day-old baby.

One bomb blew out the windows of the home. A second bomb, a package of 11 sticks of dynamite wrapped around a small box of TNT, was at the parsonage earlier that night but failed to explode.

In his book, “A White Preacher’s Message on Race and Reconciliation,” Graetz described how during those years of danger he played a game with his children in which he encouraged them to duck behind the sofa if they were told to hide because of a strange noise outside.  

Despite the scorn, violence and threats he and his wife faced, Graetz wrote they would not change a thing if they were given the opportunity.

“The privilege of standing up for righteousness and justice and love is greater than any other reward we might have received,” Graetz wrote.

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said Graetz “lived what he preached.”

“Rev. Robert Graetz and his wife, Jeannie, stood against hate and put their lives in danger because the cause, of their all-Black congregation and the community itself, was just,” Reed said.

Tafeni English, the director of the Montgomery-based Southern Poverty Law Center, called Graetz a “remarkable civil rights and social justice leader.”

“Rev. Graetz was a kind and gentle soul, who along with his revered wife, Jeannie, dedicated his life to creating Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community,” English said.

Graetz is survived by his wife and several children.

Philip Dale Walsh, 83, of Sioux City, passed away Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, at his residence.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, with the Rev. David Hemann officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 5 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Online condolences may be given at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Dale was born on Feb. 20, 1937, on the family farm near Kimball, S.D., the son of Philip and Frances (Blasius) Walsh. Dale graduated from Kimball High School and the University of South Dakota. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and was discharged with an honorable discharge on Dec. 31, 1966.

Dale married Patricia Fillmer on Aug. 10, 1963 at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City. He worked as a salesman for Vita Craft, and then at MCI for a number of years before starting his own business, the Walsh Upholstery Shop. Dale worked up until Parkinson's made it too difficult.

He enjoyed camping, being with his family, and watching sports. Dale was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia Walsh of Sioux City; children, Renee Scholler of Sioux City, Jeff Walsh of Sergeant Bluff, Denise Berger of Sergeant Bluff, and Kelly Walsh of Sioux City; six grandchildren, Alexander Berger, Aaron Berger, Austin Walsh, Andrew Walsh, Katie Scholler, and Kandi Scholler; and two brothers, Robert (Janice) Walsh of Minden, Neb., and Thomas (Barb) Walsh of Sioux Falls, S.D.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Philip and Frances Walsh; a brother, Kenneth Walsh; and a sister, Vivian Geppert.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the medical professionals, including Hospice of Siouxland.

Constance Buchanan, a former director of the Women’s Studies in Religion Program at Harvard Divinity School who developed the program into a permanent part of the School and University, died September 16, 2020. She was 73. A faculty member and associate dean at HDS for 20 years, Buchanan is credited with leading the Women’s Studies in Religion Program (WSRP) into an internationally recognized center for research on faith, gender, race, and sexual orientation.

Buchanan became director of the WSRP in 1977, and had the foresight to reach outside academia to find philanthropic women with passions and interests that intersected with the WSRP's mission, even though many of them had no direct Harvard connections.

“She really invented the WSRP out of whole cloth. There was a nascent program before she came to HDS, but there was no precedent for what she created. That was the challenge: How do you create a new academic field where there was nothing?” said Ann Braude, who succeeded Buchanan as the second long-term director of the WSRP. “She had to be able to imagine what was possible, and she had to be able to inspire people to believe that women could have a voice where they had none. She was the catalyst who could both imagine and could bring it to fruition. That took intelligence, commitment, vision, and, more than anything, faith in other women.”

During her time at Harvard, Buchanan also spent six years as a special assistant to University President Derek Bok. She contributed to his University-wide project on improving the quality of teaching and learning.

"You had the utmost confidence in her sincerity of purpose and the extent of her dedication to the improvement of education," Bok said in a 2017 profile of Buchanan. "It was a pleasure to work with someone who shared the same values as I did. Intelligence and knowledge are important, but that inner commitment and dedication to the ultimate goal of education makes a decisive difference."

For Clarissa Atkinson, a former WSRP Research Associate who later became a faculty member and associate dean for academic affairs at HDS, Buchanan was both a close colleague and a close friend. The two had offices on the third floor of Swartz Hall (then Andover Hall) and not only worked together often on matters related to the WSRP, but also “laughed uproariously.”

“Connie had an extraordinary ability: when she listened to people talk about their work, she paid such close attention that she drew from them ideas about that work that they had not been aware of before Connie recognized them,” said Atkinson. “She perceived aspects and connections and links that we might never have found on our own. I'll remember her for that, and much more.”

Atkinson also described Buchanan as determined to include African American scholars as major figures in the WSRP initiative, and the African American experience as a major component of the program’s research and writing. Buchanan was “a stubborn and determined fighter for justice,” said Atkinson.

Buchanan’s scholarship included an examination of the link between motherhood and the welfare of American society to understand why fundamental social values are threatened. Her 1996 book, Choosing to Lead: Women and the Crisis of American Values, shows that while public debate often blames women for the nation’s “crisis of values,” women’s leadership actually has the potential to solve this crisis by redefining the American pattern of adult life and work.

In 1997, Buchanan left HDS to join the Ford Foundation, where she served as a senior program officer working in various fields, including religion, education, and media. Her contributions have had such an influence on HDS that members of the School community have recognized her multiple times. In 2005, as the School celebrated the 50th anniversary of women being admitted to HDS, Buchanan was fêted with a portrait displayed in the Braun Room of Swartz Hall.

Later, in 2017, HDS alumni honored Buchanan’s impact on WSRP, on the School, and on the study of religion by naming her one of that year’s Peter J. Gomes, STB '68 Honorees. “She made us understand that religion matters, that gender matters, and they matter in public and they matter in our world, and that we can use them to make the world better,” said Braude.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our husband, father, grandfather, mentor and friend Ronald Alan Zacky. He battled Parkinson's for many years, putting up a galant fight. We thank his caregivers, who also became friends, for their extreme devotion to his care; Albert, Mario, and Nana – we thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Born on July 26, 1937, at Cedars of Lebanon to Bertha and Harry Zacky, Ron was truly a native of Los Angeles.  After being raised on a chicken ranch on Sherman Way in Van Nuys, Ron decided to spread his wings, and fly the coop, joining the United States Army. While stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, he learned he was much more proficient with a pencil, than a rifle.  After being honorably discharged from the Army, Ron served in the Air Force reserves, from which he was also honorably discharged, before becoming a Certified Public Accountant, and started a thriving practice in Sherman Oaks, which he managed for over 40 years.  He married the love of his life, Sandra in 1962, and started a family, having three sons, Hayden, Mathew and Brent.  Even though Ron had only sons himself, he has 9 grandchildren, including 8 girls, and 1 boy.  He was a mentor to many, and counseled them on business, investments, and life.  Ron leaves behind his loving wife of 58 years, Sandra, and his sons Hayden (Michelle), Mathew, and Brent (Amy), and his wonderful grandchildren who he loved so much: Daniella, Sofia, Gabrielle, Grayson, Connor, Sara, Camille, Elizabeth, and Rachel.  We are going to miss you!  We hope you enjoy a "nemu" in heaven, while you are taking a "boodi" and then you can have a nice, long "foofi"  You deserve it!  We love you so much Pop! You will be sorely missed! 

Dr. Toru Iura, 97, passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles on September 7, after 15 years with Parkinson's disease.

He was born on August 2, 1923, to Ekizo and Yaeko Iura -- immigrant farmers from Fukuoka, Japan -- who ran a family laundry business in San Francisco. During the Depression, the family moved to Los Angeles, eventually opening the L.A. Center Nursery on Western Avenue. In the wake of Executive Order 9066, along with other Japanese-Americans, the family was forced to leave California in 1942 and spent the years during WWII in Fort Lupton, CO.

Dr. Iura attended Los Angeles High School and served in the Army from 1944 to 1946. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his M.S. and Ph.D degrees from CalTech.

During the 50s and 60s, Dr. Iura worked on space and missile development while employed at Rocketdyne, Propulsion Research, and The Aerospace Corporation. In 1975, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he developed civil and military programs in environment and energy conservation and risk management. After retiring from Aerospace in 1985, he continued to work as a consultant for 20 more years.

Toru's sense of humor and love of singing will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Judy; his sister, Joanne Creissen; and his five daughters, Lesley, Caroline, Dena (and Ed Harte), Aimee, and Kelly (and Jason Hughes). He also leaves behind four grandchildren, Jake Watters, William Harte, and Julien and Maia Hughes, and many nieces and nephews.

My father leaves behind his wife Maria Gracia Gonzalez and his daughter Jessica Gonzalez.  My father was a Master electrician and he enjoyed teaching math to his coworkers and myself to get my bachelor's degree from UH.  He will be deeply missed, he was a great role model and he will no longer suffer from the deteriorating disease known as Parkinson's. He is now resting in peace and rejoicing with the angels.  God bless his soul, he was an honorable father.

Service: Wednesday, September 9, 2020

J Leal Funeral Home
11123 Katy Fwy
Houston, TX 77079

Time: 9 am to 12 pm

Mass: St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church 09/09/20

Time: 2 pm

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Parkinson's Resource Organization.

Eugene E. Loya, age 83, resident of Lake Shore, passed away on Thursday, September 3, 2020 at Good Samaritan Society – Bethany. Gene was born on June 6, 1937 in Brainerd to Ernest and Elsie (Kruger) Loya.

Gene graduated from Brainerd High School and was on the basketball state championship team of 1954. After graduation, he attended the University of Minnesota where he earned his Doctorate in Dental Medicine. After school, he joined the Air Force and was stationed in Tinker Air Force base in Del City, Oklahoma. Eventually, Gene opened his own dental practice in Minneapolis which was later relocated to Nisswa. He was an avid fisherman until he found his true passion in golf. Him and his wife, Patricia, were longtime golf members at Madden’s. His children will miss him and remember him as a fun, yet always a practical father.

He is survived by his children, Kristi (Don) Nelson, Greg (Denise), Brad (Heather); grandchildren, Tyler and Brett Nelson, Kelly (Derek) Jackson, Blake Loya, and Caitlyn and Makenna Loya; great-grandson, Owen Jackson; sister, Darlene Bolme; sister-in-law, Karen (Roger) Johnson; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 61 years, Patricia (Marttila) Loya; brothers-in-law, Robert Marttila and Jeff Bolme; and sister-in-law, Jackie Marttila.

Eugene Loya lived with Parkinson's disease 

Daniels was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a product of his years as a boxer, in the early ’90s.

An undated archive promo photo of Terry Daniels vs Joe Frazier fight.

Terry Daniels, an SMU student who took up boxing on the side, ultimately fighting Joe Frazier for the world heavyweight title in New Orleans the night before the Cowboys won their first Super Bowl at Tulane Stadium in 1972, died last week at 74 after a long illness.

Daniels was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a product of his years as a boxer, in the early ’90s. He’d lived in Willoughby, Ohio, since 2004, when one of his brothers moved him from Houston back to his hometown.

Daniels, an honor student in high school who played football and baseball at SMU before a knee injury ended those athletic pursuits, started boxing at Dallas' Pike Park Gym to stay in shape. He won three city championships and a state title before turning pro in 1969.

He’d compiled a modest record of 28-4-1 and was ranked ninth in the world when his promoter, Doug Lord of Dallas, finagled a shot at the title. Lord sold Frazier’s management team on a couple of marketing concepts.


“I told them I’ve got a white kid from Dallas,” Lord told The Dallas Morning News in 2004, "and he’s friends with the Dallas Cowboys, and everybody knows they’re going to the Super Bowl.

“And they bought it.”

Muhammad Ali, who’d lost the heavyweight title to Frazier 10 months earlier, did his best to help the hype.

“Outside of me,” the former champ said, motioning toward Daniels, “he’s the prettiest boxer around.”

More than 20 pounds lighter than Frazier, Daniels was also the biggest underdog in a heavyweight fight in 15 years. Frazier knocked him down three times before the referee stopped the fight in the fourth.

Daniels later said he felt like shaking the referee’s hand. He’d never faced anyone as imposing as Frazier.

“I hit him a couple times,” Daniels told The News in 2004. "Hit him pretty good, and he just stood there, lookin' at me like nothin' happened.

“It was pretty scary.”

Just the same, Daniels was smitten with his newfound fame. The day after the big fight, he sat at midfield to watch the Cowboys beat the Dolphins, 24-3. He lost four more fights that year before graduating from SMU in December with a degree in political science.

Lord advised him to quit, telling him he’d never get another big payday. He was smart and came from a wealthy family. But Daniels liked boxing, even when he lost. He retired in 1981 with a record of 35-30-1.

He subsequently became partners with his former trainer in a court-reporting business and moved to Houston. He married and divorced twice before the Parkinson’s diagnosis.

He outlived the prognosis of one doctor who told him he’d be dead before he was 60, but he knew it was only a matter of time. Not that it seemed to bother him much. Daniels, who leaves three sons and eight grandchildren, had no regrets.

“I’d do it again,” he said in 2004. "You can find lots of boxers that didn’t get hurt. I’m glad I did it.

“It was a wild ride.”

Tom Seaver was the legendary Hall of Fame pitcher who won 3 Cy Young Awards and led the 1969 “Miracle Mets” to a World Series championship win.  Died at the age of 75 from Lewy body dementia and complications of Covid-19. “Terrific” Tom Seaver made the Mets as a starting pitcher in 1967 and won 16 games and the National League Rookie of the Year award. In 1969, he helped lead the underdog “Miracle Mets” to a World Series win over the Baltimore Orioles. Seaver pitched a 10-inning complete-game win in game 4 of the series. After a dispute in contract negotiations before the 1977 season, Seaver was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in a trade called the “Midnight Massacre.” He returned to the Mets in a trade for the 1983 season and then pitched for the White Sox from 1984 until the middle of 1986, finishing the season and his career that year with the Red Sox. Seaver won three Cy Young Awards, won 311 games, and had 3,640 strikeouts. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992 with almost a 100 percent yes vote.  

On finally pitching a no-hitter in 1978 while with the Reds; “A no-hitter is momentary,” he said afterward. “You enjoy the moment. But nothing can ever compare to winning a World Series.” – New York Daily News