Phi Delta Theta - Butler University

Page 7 Φ Δ Θ Frank V. Marsella '55 entered Chapter Frand at the age of 84 on August 22. He was born to the late Jack P. and Ida Fusaro Marsella in Indianapolis, Ind. Frank attended Cathedral and Shortridge High School. He was an executive in the trucking industry and an active U.S. Air Force Reserve as a Lt. Colonel. When his children were young, he volunteered as a coach for the Nora Little League and "Y Guys" Basketball. His memberships included Quiet Birdmen and the American Legion Kennington Post. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sandra Adams Marsella; son, Scot T. Marsella; daughter, Jennifer (Tim) Eckert; and brother, Jack N. Marsella. Ronald A. DeFur '55 entered Chapter Grand February 2 at the age 84. He was born September 14, 1930, in Mt. Vernon, Ind. He has been a registered pharmacist since 1955 and worked at several independent pharmacies before beginning his career with Hook Drug Company, which later became Revco and then CVS. He was a practicing pharmacist for 55 years. He is a member of the Grand Avenue United Methodist, Warren Lodge #15 F and AM, Connersville York Rite, Maxwell Chapter Royal Arch Masons, and Connersville Chapter #346 Order of the Eastern Star. He was married on June 19, 1954, to Betty May Gish DeFur. He is survived his wife; daughter, Paula Dale DeFur; and a son, David Eric DeFur, and his wife, Robin, and two grandchildren James Howard Ringer Jr. M.D. '60 entered Chapter Grand on July 10 at St. Mary's Hospital. He earned a Ph.D. in Medicine from Butler University and Indiana University School of Medicine. While attending Butler, he was a member of the Butler football team, played on the 1959 squad that went undefeated and untied as a starting center and team captain, was named to the Butler University Athletic Hall of Fame, and was a NCAA Football Little All-American at Butler University. James served 30 years in the U.S. Navy, earning the rank of captain; was active in the Maranatha Assembly of God Choir; and was the medical director at Caterpillar Inc. in Decatur, Ill., for 22 years. Upon his retirement from Caterpillar, he joined the Safety Health and Rehabilitation for Employees team in Decatur, was a Fellow of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and Fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine. James is survived by his wife of 37 years, Virginia; three children, Daniel, Bernard, and Sabrina; his brother, Stuart Ringer; his sister, Christine Benham; and three grandchildren, Beth Ford, Meghan Ringer, and Jim Lynch. James "Jim" Edward Ellis Jr. '65 was born on February 24, 1943 in New Castle, Ind. After auditioning for the U.S. Army Field Band, he was accepted in June 1966. He traveled the U.S. playing for dignitaries, including President Johnson, President Nixon, and at Arlington National Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. He received an honorable discharge on June 13, 1969. Jim married Sharon Bennett. Jim's career began as a buyer for L.S. Ayres Department Store in 1970, then he changed jobs to apparel sales and traveled Indiana and Kentucky, representing such lines as Tinkerbell, Buster Brown, and Dearfoam Slippers, and worked for Stedman Mills apparel. After five years, Jim took on a new challenge with Oneita Industries and Tultex. Jim held accounts with exciting companies such as Ron Jons, Hard Rock Cafe, Panama Jack, and Sea World. He will be remembered for his hard work, long lasting friendships, knowledge of all things fast and flying, and his deep commitment to his family: siblings, Carole Ann Marsh and Steve Ellis; children, Emily and Craig Hoffman, and Meridith Ellis; niece and nephews, Mardina Marsh, Scot Marsh and Family, and Steven Ellis; and granddaughter, Katy Hoffman. Stephen Kent Harpold '67 entered Chapter Grand on August 5, 2014. Steve was born December 5, 1944, to Mary Kay and Donald D. Harpold in Kokomo, Indiana. Later the family relocated to North Muskegon, Mich. He attended college at Butler University on a football scholarship and graduated with a degree in business administration. Steve completed his first year at Indiana University School of Law before enlisting in the Army. Following basic and advanced infantry training, he was accepted to Artillery Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Okla. In Vietnam, he was assigned as artillery forward observer with the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment and received the Purple Heart Medal. Stephen then continued with law school and opened his own firm in South King County. In 2012, he retired with his wife, Joan, to their home on Vashon Island. He is survived by his wife; his brother, David L. Harpold; and a large extended family. Irving "Butch" Imoberstag' 70 entered Chapter Grand March 3, 2011. He was born in Dearborn, Mich., to the late Irving Francis and Frances Bryant Imoberstag. He was an aqua culture tech on a trout farm in Centerville, Tenn. He is survived by his wife, Vicki Grieves Imoberstag; and sons, Paul, Isaac, Peter, and Luke; daughters, Miriam, Isee, and Naomi; three grandchildren; and his sisters, Sally Snyder, Mary Biddinger, Peggy Campbell, and Ann Knopp. Steven Arthur Hughes' 72 joined Chapter Grand on April 4 at the age of 65. Born on June 7, 1949, in Stamford, Conn., Steve spent his childhood in Darien, then attended Butler University, where he received his bachelors, masters, and Ph.D. He worked as a psychologist in Indiana until he moved to Boston in 1983; and it was there that he continued to receive his accreditation at the Boston Institute for Psychotherapies, the Neuropsychology program at Cambridge Hospital, and certification as a Massachusetts School Psychologist. Steve was a brilliant teacher and therapist who taught at Northeastern University, worked in multiple settings for the Massachusetts Health and Human Services, and recently retired as the school psychologist for the Rockland Public School District. He is survived by his sister, Christina Tugeau; his brother, John Hughes; five nieces and nephews and their children; and many close and dear friends.

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