Citadel Alumni Deaths

T. Phillip Collins, 87, of Swansboro, N.C., died Saturday, June 27,
2009, at his home. Mr. Collins was born Dec. 14, 1921, in Florence a son
of the late Frank and Ruth Bailey Collins. He was a graduate of Florence
High School in 1937 and graduated from The Citadel in Charleston. He had
attained the rank of captain in the U.S. Marine Corps and served as a
dive-bomber in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. He was a branch
manager with IBM and retired after 30 years of employment. He was
preceded in death by his parents; brother, John Howell Collins; and a
sister, Ruby Collins Rivers. Surviving are his wife, Helen Savanich
Collins; two daughters; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 3, at All Saints
Anglican Church, 296 McCabe Road, Newport, N.C., with the rector, the
Rev. John H. Grayson, officiating. The committal service with military
honors will be in the church columbarium. The family will receive
friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 2, at Brooks Funeral Home in
Morehead City, N.C.

Tags: 1943

Thomas J. “Tom” Keyser, age 52, of Lawrenceville, GA., passed away
Saturday, June 27, 2009. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, July 2, 2009, at Westminister Presbyterian Church with Dr.
Mike Garrett officiating. Interment in Eternal Hills Memory Gardens. Mr.
Keyser was an Elder, Deacon, and Sunday School teacher at Westminister
Presbyterian Church in Snellville, GA, a graduate of Patrick Henry High
School in Ashland Virginia, a graduate of The Citadel in 1978 and a
retired commander from the U.S. Navy. Mr. Keyser worked for
International Paper, formerly known as Union Camp Corp, then Parxcel
Consulting before going to I.B.M. He was preceded in death by Father:
Carroll R. Keyser, and is survived by wife of 30 years: Susan Dasher
Keyser, Lawrenceville; twin sons: Christopher and Jonathan Keyser,
Lawrenceville; mother: LaVerne W. Keyser, Ashland, Virginia,
sister-in-law: Amy and Hart Hubbard, Blythewood, South Carolina; and
father-in-law: Gordon E. Dasher, Greensboro, GA. In lieu of flowers,
memorials may be made to Westminister Presbyterian Church, 2208 E. Main
Street, Snellville, GA 30078 or Gwinnett County Animal Shelter. Family
will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2009, at Tim
Stewart Funeral Home, 2246 Wisteria Drive, Snellville, GA 30078.
770-979-5010. Please sign online registry at www.stewartfh.com.

Tags: 1978

Henry Carl Heins, Jr., of Charleston, SC, died Thursday, June 25, 2009
at Bishop Gadsden. He was the only child of Henry Carl Heins of
Charleston, SC and his wife Helen Smith of Dothan, AL. Dr. Heins was
born June 23, 1922 in Charleston, SC and was married to the former Lucia
Fishburne Cogswell. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his
funeral service in The Chapel at Bishop Gadsden Sunday, June 28, 2009 at
three o’clock. Burial will be in the French Huguenot Churchyard. He was
a graduate of the Citadel (Class of 1943) and of the Medical College of
South Carolina (MUSC) and received a Masters in Public Health from the
University of North Carolina. Dr. Heins was also a member of Green
College, Oxford, England. He served as a Captain in the Medical Corps
during World War II. Dr. Heins was a member of the South Atlantic
Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Medical
Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,
the Southern Medical Association, and the SC Perinatal Association. He
was also a member of the Carolina Yacht Club, the St. Andrew’s Society,
and the Charleston Ancient Artillery Battalion. He served on the Board
of the Huguenot Church of Charleston and as President of the Society for
the Relief of Families of Deceased and Disabled Indigent Members of the
Medical Profession of the State of SC. Dr. Heins also served as
President of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Association for two
years, and as President of the Albemarle Supper Club. Dr. Heins received
the Order of the Palmetto in 1987 for his work with mothers and
perinatal care. He was the Director of the Robert Wood Johnson Rural
Case Project from 1980 to 1985, which developed the Resource Mother
Project which is now a model for similar programs in other states. He
received the Perinatal Achievement Award and the Sidney Chapman Award
for Excellence in Maternal and Child Health from the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC in 1987. He received the Ross Award for
Outstanding Service to Mothers and Infants in 13 Southern States, the
Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Medical University of SC and the
Leadership Award from the PeeDee Area Health Education Center. The SC
Medical Association recognized Dr. Heins for his “outstanding
contribution and dedicated service to the mothers, infants and children
of SC”. Dr. Heins published numerous articles on perinatal health care,
nutrition and mortality, as well as two books, Musings of a Charleston
Doctor and the novel, Dr. Thomas Chalmers’ Secret Diary. Dr. Heins is
survived by his wife and two daughters: Susan Heins McLendon, wife of
Baxter McLendon, MD and their children, Lucia Cogswell McLendon, Hedda
Morrall McLendon, and Cordes McLendon Marshall and her husband Davis
Benton Marshall, and Barbara Heins Simmons and her husband Edward
McIlhenny Simmons, Jr. and their children Lanier Simmons Prescott and
her husband Benjamin Tyler Prescott, Chesnee Simmons Klein and her
husband Matthew Charles Klein, Caroline Walker Simmons and Edward
McIlhenny Simmons, III, and three great grandchildren, Tyler Moses
Prescott, Lucia Tilman Prescott, and Susanna Gail Prescott. Dr. Heins is
predeceased by one son, Henry Carl Heins, III and one grandchild,
Susanna Heins Simmons. Gifts and memorials may be made to the charity of
one’s choice or to the French Huguenot Church of Charleston, 141 Church
Street, P.O. Drawer 917, Charleston, SC 29402. Arrangements by J. HENRY
STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL. Visit our guestbook at
www.postandcourier.com/deaths.

Tags: 1943

Richard A. Weidel Sr. passed away peacefully at their Harbourton, NJ,
home, ‘Boxwood Farm,’ surrounded by his beloved family on Thursday, June
11, 2009. He was 82 years of age. Richard was born on May 25, 1927, in
Trenton, NJ, and attended Trenton Catholic, Valley Forge Military
Academy, Trenton High School, The Citadel, and Temple University. He
served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II and received an
honorable discharge in 1949. He obtained his real estate license in 1949
and in 1952 became a licensed broker and was a partner in his family’s
business, Karl Weidel, Inc., Trenton, NJ. In 1959 he opened the
company’s first branch office and continued to grow the company with
offices serving New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He actively continued his
real estate career in various capacities as owner/broker and chairman.
Upon his death, he held the title of chairman of Richard A. Weidel
Corporation and affiliate companies and broker of R.A. Weidel
Corporation, Pennsylvania. Throughout his career he was a proud
supporter of the REALTOR Association and served as vice president of New
Jersey Association of Real Estate Boards, president of Trenton and
Mercer County Board of Realtors, and president of the Trenton and Mercer
County Multiple Listing System, Inc. He was the first realtor in Mercer
County to be honored as REALTOR(r) Emeritus by the National Association
of REALTOR(r)s for over 50 years of service. His professionalism,
ethics, and passion as a realtor helped evolve the industry to better
serve homebuyers and sellers. Richard and Pamela enjoyed spending
winters on North Hutchison Island, FL, and Ocala, FL. Richard was an
avid sports enthusiast. He was a licensed pilot, and loved skiing,
boating, hunting, tennis, horse racing, and golf. He was an active
member of St. George’s R.C. Church. He was predeceased by his parents,
Karl and Elizabeth (Toman) Weidel, Jr.; a brother, Karl Weidel, III, and
sister, Elizabeth Fitzgeorge. He is survived by his wife, Pamela Arena
Weidel; his children and their spouses and significant others, Deborah
E. Weidel of Hopewell Township, NJ, Victoria L. Weidel of Jupiter, FL,
and Richard A. and Abigail Weidel Jr. of Harbourton, NJ. He is also
survived by two stepdaughters, Anita and Thomas Rivella Jr. of East
Amwell, NJ, and Denise and Michael Ackerson of Hopewell, NJ; 10
grandchildren, Robert J. Cooper, Corrina L. Cooper, Richard A. Weidel,
III, Elizabeth A. Weidel, Katherine M. Weidel, Stephan T. Sansone,
Thomas Rivella, III, Fallon Rivella, Michael B. Ackerson, and Myles C.
Ackerson, and eight nieces. There will be no calling hours and funeral
services will be private. Arrangements are by the Wilson-Apple Funeral
Home, 2560 Pennington Rd., Pennington. To send a condolence, visit
www.wilsonapple.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St.
George’s R.C. Church, 137 River Rd., Titusville, NJ 08560.

Tags: 1950

Marcia McCarty O’Brien, 53, of Summerville, SC, wife of Thomas “Tom”
O’Brien, ‘78, died Sunday, June 21, 2009. Funeral services will be
Thursday afternoon, June 25, 2009 at Old Fort Baptist Church at 2
o’clock. Burial will be in Summerville Cemetery. Friends may call at
PARKS FUNERAL HOME Wednesday evening from 6 - 8 o’clock. In lieu of
flowers memorials may be made to Citadel Brigadier Foundation, 171
Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409. Mrs. O’Brien was born December
30, 1955 in Newberry, SC, a daughter of Major Van McCarty and Farris
Bush McCarty. She graduated from Irmo High School, Winthrop College and
received her Masters from The Citadel. She was employed by Summerville
Elementary School where she was a teacher and guidance counselor for
thirty-one years. Survivors include her husband, Tom O’Brien of
Summerville; one son, Daniel P. O’Brien of Summerville; one brother, Roy
Van McCarty and wife Susan of Lexington; one sister, Jane Montei and
husband Mike of Summerville; her parents, Major and Farris McCarty of
Saluda; nieces and nephews, Matthew, Micah, Mackenzie, Madelynn, and
Major McCarty, Allison and Sarah Montei, Jacqueline Franz, Patrick,
Jonathan, Meghan, Colin, William, Sean and Mary Elizabeth O’Brien.
Marcia will also be greatly missed by her in-laws, Thomas and Ann
O’Brien, Billy and Ashley O’Brien, Sarah and Mario Franz, Alice O’Brien,
John and Marguerite O’Brien, Patrick and Tanya O’Brien. Arrangements by
PARKS FUNERAL HOME, INC., 130 West First North Street, Summerville, SC
29438. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/deaths.

Tags: CGC 1983

Laurens Chisolm Nicholson of Greenville and Fripp Island died Monday,
June 22, 2009. Born December 24, 1915, in Charleston, South Carolina, he
was the son of the late Faust and Susan Chisolm Nicholson. Nick was
predeceased by his wife, Dortha Strobehn Nicholson; and his brother,
Faust Nicholson. A 1937 graduate of The Citadel, Nick joined the Coastal
Artillery and served as commanding officer of Fort Moultrie and Fort
Sumter. During World War II, he served on General Douglas McArthur’s
staff and was responsible for the repatriation of foreign nationals in
Japan. After leaving the service, he returned to Greenville and owned
the Nehi RC Cola and Schweppes Bottling Company. As “the father of Diet
Rite Cola,” Nick bottled, marketed and distributed the first diet soft
drink. Nick was a member of St. Helena’s Episcopal in Beaufort and a
member of Christ Church Episcopal in Greenville for over 80 years. He
was a member of the St. Andrew’s Society, the Poinsett Club, and the
Cotillion Club. He is survived by his sister, Mrs. Lauriston Hardin
Blythe (Susan) of Greenville; and his daughters, Mrs. Forrest Mahlon
Edwards (Carolyn) of Mt. Pleasant, Sarah North Nicholson (Sally) and
Mrs. William Nelson Poe (Cindy) of Greenville. Nick cherished his
grandchildren, Lauren Nicholson Edwards, Jamie Clark Edwards, Forrest
Mahlon Edwards Jr., Hugh Smith Thompson Jr., Mrs. Samuel Hollis Coker
(Harriet) and Frances Cureton Poe; and great-grandson, Reaves Nelson
Coker. The funeral service will be held at Christ Church Episcopal in
Greenville on Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at 2 p.m. The family will
receive guests Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at 117 Chisolm Trail. In lieu of
flowers, memorials may be made to The Citadel Foundation, Laurens
Chisolm Nicholson Scholarship, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409
or The Christ Church Memorial Reserve, 10 N. Church Street, Greenville,
SC 29601. Nick was well loved and loved well. The Mackey Mortuary.
Obituaries and online registry at www.mackeymortuary.com. Published in
The Greenville News: 06-23-2009.

Tags: 1937

Vallo Truumees, 71, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who later became
an official with the Defense Technology Security Administration, died
May 18 while vacationing in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. He had
diabetes and congestive heart failure. Col. Truumees was born in
Kurresaare, Estonia, and spent seven years as a child in a displaced
persons’ camp in Germany. He came to the United States in 1951 and grew
up in Seabrook, N.J. He graduated from the Citadel in Charleston, S.C.,
and served 22 years as an Army officer, including two tours in Vietnam
and two tours in Germany. He received a master’s degree in international
relations from Boston University in the early 1970s. After retiring from
the Army in 1983, he spent 18 years with the Defense Technology Security
Administration, retiring in 2001 as deputy director of trade security
policy. Col. Truumees lived in Fairfax Station and was a member of
veterans’ groups and the Citadel alumni organization. Survivors include
his wife of 46 years, Sigrid Truumees of Fairfax Station; two sons, Marc
Truumees of Huntsville, Ala., and Eeric Truumees of Royal Oak, Mich.;
and four grandchildren.

Tags: 1960

Robert Gregg Sanders Sr., of Charlotte, NC, died June 12, 2009, at his
home. Born in Hart County, GA on March 9, 1923, the only child of Mack
and Lucille Sanders, Robert and his parents moved to Charlotte while he
was quite young. He attended public schools, graduating from Central
High School in 1941. He attended the Citadel and the University of
Florida, obtaining his Juris Doctor from the Law School of the
University of Florida in 1948. Prior to entering law school, he served
in the Army. Published in: Charlotte Observer

Tags: 1945

Edward Welsh Groves Jr., 79, a retired officer with the Central
Intelligence Agency, died May 28 at his home in Burke of lung cancer.
Mr. Groves was born in Atlanta and graduated from the Citadel in 1950.
He joined the CIA shortly after graduation and served in Taiwan,
Vietnam, Japan and Thailand. He retired as a senior officer in the
science and technology division in 1983 but continued working for 10
years as a military and government consultant, primarily at Fort
Belvoir. Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Patricia O’Day Groves
of Burke; four children, Jeanne Crowther and Tricia Wilson, both of
Rochester, N.Y., Kathleen Jonasson of Conway, S.C., and James Groves of
Jersey City; and seven grandchildren.

Tags: 1950

Hugh W. “”Poordad”" Curfman, Sr., of Lafayette, LA. Funeral services
will be held on Monday, June 15, 2009 at a 11 a.m. Service in Episcopal
Church of the Ascension for , 86, who passed away peacefully on Friday,
June 12, 2009 at his residence in Lafayette surrounded by his family.
Interment will be in Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery. The Reverend
Joseph Daly, Rector of Episcopal Church of the Ascension, will officiate
the services. Survivors include one daughter, Donna Curfman deVay and
her husband, John of Mandeville, LA.; four sons, Dr. W. Corbet “”Corky”"
Curfman and his wife, Cindi of Knoxville, TN., Hugh W. Curfman, Jr. and
his wife, Sara of San Diego, CA., Perry “”Pete”" G. Curfman and his
wife, Carita of Houston, TX. and Locke O. Curfman and his wife, Kara of
Longview, TX.; eleven grandchildren, Corbet C. Curfman and his wife,
Anna Katherine, Colin L. Curfman, Mary Catherine E. Curfman, Clarke A.
Curfman, Perry G. Curfman II, Connor T. Curfman, Robert H. deVay, Philip
deVay, Caleb L. Curfman, Caroline E. Curfman and Colin J. Curfman; and
three great grandchildren, Locke Heathley Curfman, Brearley Jayne
Curfman and McCrea Hugh Curfman. He was preceded in death by his beloved
wife, Jayne L. Curfman; his parents, Wayne W. Curfman and Ina Kistler
Curfman; and one sister, Phyllis Curfman. A native of Lincoln, Nebraska
and resident of Lafayette, Louisiana for over 57 years, Mr. Curfman was
a loving father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to all who
knew him. He enlisted in the United States Army in December 1942 and
served as a Sergeant in the American Theater of Operations where he
earned a Ribbon and Victory Medal for his services. Mr. Curfman was a
member of the Citadel Class of 1944 and proudly served his country until
February 1946. He attended the University of Texas and graduated in 1948
with a degree in Geology. Mr. Curfman was a self-employed Geologist for
many years during which time he was a member of AAPG for over 59 years,
a Founding Member of the Lafayette Geological Society since 1952 and a
lifelong member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. He was also President of
Oakbourne Country Club in 1963 and served as Vice President of the
Lafayette Parish Bayou Vermilion District from 1991 to 1995. Mr. Curfman
lived Mardi Gras and was a lifelong founding member of Les Brigands De
LaFitte, Commodore of the Crew of Gabriel King LI, and a member of the
Lafayette Mardi Gras Association. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed
all sports including, boating, fishing, golfing, shrimping, cycling and
jogging. Mr. Curfman was a faithful member of Episcopal Church of the
Ascension in Lafayette where he was a lifelong member of the church
choir. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and will be
dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. Special thanks go out to
his caregivers, Paula Fields and Dimitria Carrier, his oncologist, Dr.
John Rainey and his PA, Felicia Case and Morris Hoffpauir. Pallbearers
will be Perry George Curfman II, Connor Thomas Curfman, Clarke A.
Curfman, Corbet Clarke Curfman, Robert Hugh deVay, Colin Locke Curfman,
Philip Locke Curfman, William A. Frazelle and Eugene Lipps. Honorary
pallbearers will be Allen LeBlanc, Dr. Jim Odom, Bill Dyer, Dr. Lee
Leonard and Herbert Abdalla. The family requests that visitation be
observed on Sunday, June 14, 2009 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Monday, June
15, 2009 from 9 a.m. until time of services at Martin & Castille Funeral
Home in Lafayette. Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Curfman’s
name to Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 1030 Johnston Street,
Lafayette, Louisiana 70501, or to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston
Street, Suite 200, Lafayette, Louisiana 70503.

Tags: 1944