RISSA SYLVIA HIERONYMUS ARTERBERRY

Rissa Sylvia Hieronymus Arterberry, 94, formerly of Richmond, KY, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Ralph E. Wesley, in Nashville, TN, on Feb 3, 2008 after a brief illness. She had enjoyed excellent health until a few weeks before her death. A native of St. Helens, KY, Mrs. Arterberry was the daughter of the late Gardner De- Coursey and Mary Belle Adams Hieronymus.

Along with her husband and parents, she was also preceded in death by her siblings, Nancy Margaret (Mrs. Charles) Beach, Sr, William Shelton, Bonnie Jane, Mark Benjamin, Clifton Burrows, John DeCoursey, and Joe Charles Hieronymus.

Mrs. Arterberry graduated from Sayre School, Lexington, KY, in the class of 1931. She received her B.A. degree from the University of Kentucky in 1935, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. After graduating from U.K., she returned to Lee County where she taught music and Latin, until marrying T.L. Arterberry. Soon after their marriage, the couple moved to Kilgore, TX, where Mr. Arterberry was named Dean of Kilgore Junior College. Their three children were born while they were residents of Texas. While living in Kilgore, Mrs. Arterberry and Rildia Bee Cliburn, the mother of renowned pianist, Van Cliburn, were active in the Kilgore Music Club, for whom Van often performed. Mrs. Arterberry served as organist at the Kilgore Christian Church during their ten years in Kilgore. Upon moving back to Kentucky from Kilgore, the Arterberrys initially lived at St. Helens, where the Hieronymus family owned agricultural, gas and timber properties. From St. Helens, the family moved to Richmond, KY, where Mr. Arterberry, a long-time Professor at Eastern Kentucky University, died on April 23, 1971. Mrs. Arterberry continued her teaching profession with the Richmond Independent School system, from which she retired after 29 years in the classroom.

Mrs. Arterberry is survived by her three children, John DeCoursey Arterberry, and wife, Lisa Wagner Arterberry, of Washington, D.C.; Dr. Joe Franklin Arterberry and wife, Kathryn Ross Arterberry, of Louisville, KY; and Julia Ann Wesley, wife of Dr. Ralph Edwards Wesley, of Nashville, TN. She was the proud grandmother of John Randolph Wesley and wife, Simona Capece, of NY; Timothy Edwards Wesley and Thomas Adams Wesley of Nashville, TN; Susan Elizabeth Wesley of Atlanta, GA; U.S. Navy Lieutenant John Wagner Arterberry and U.S. Navy Ensign Thomas Clifton Arterberry, both stationed in San Diego, CA; James De- Coursey Arterberry, a student at Vanderbilt University; and Elizabeth Ross Arterberry of Louisville, KY. Mrs. Arterberry had the pleasure of seeing her first great-grandchild, Francesca Julia Wesley, of New York, NY. Mrs. Arterberry, also, is survived, by three nephews, Major General Charles Beach, Jr, of Beattyville, KY; Gardner De- Coursey Beach and wife Bettie of Frankfort, KY; and William Shelton Hieronymus, Jr, formerly of Winchester, KY and presently a resident of Brazil; and a niece, Mrs. John H. (Sarabel Hieronymus) Thomas, of Bangor, ME.

Devoted to her family and friends, Mrs. Arterberry, known as "Oma" to her grandchildren, will long be remembered for her generous nature, love and devotion to family and friends, and her youthful spirit. She instilled in her grandchildren the love of music, especially the "Big Band" music of the 1940's, and nurtured their interest in piano and all her family and friends looked forward to hearing her rendition of "On, On U of K" on her piano.

Services were held Fri, Feb 8 at 11am at the First Christian Church, Richmond, KY. All arrangements have been entrusted to the Turpin Funeral Home, Richmond, KY. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made to Sayre School (Thomas A. Grunwald Scholarship Fund), University of Kentucky, First Christian Church (Richmond), or to the charitable organization of your choice.