Obituaries

RODNEY WOTTON

Greater Media Newspapers prints obituaries as a free community service, at no charge to the families of the deceased or to the funeral homes that provide the information.

RODNEY JAMES WOTTON, 36, of Middletown has been missing since the collapse of World Trade Center Tower 2 Sept. 11, and is presumed deceased. After kissing his wife good-bye Sept. 11 at 6:30 a.m., he called her at 9:12 a.m. to say good-bye, knowing he would not see the birth of his child the following week. He grew up in the Lincroft section of Middletown, graduated from Middletown High School South, and attended Brookdale Community College, Lincroft. He was a member of Red Bank Presbyterian Church, and recently attended St. Catharine’s Roman Catholic Church, Holmdel, with his young family. An intensely dedicated person, he was senior vice president of Web site design for Citibank, N.Y. Prior to that, he worked in systems management at Fiduciary Trust, N.Y., where he worked in data center management specializing in disaster recovery. In his youth, he taught swimming to the physically challenged at the Camp Hope Park pool, Lincroft Acres. He enjoyed golf, going to the beach, softball, and Rollerblading. After reluctantly hanging up his running shoes because of knee problems, his passions became weight-lifting, vegetable gardening, and a 1988 Ford Mustang. He will be remembered for his joyfully optimistic outlook on life, quick willingness to help others, conscientious dedication to his job, and his tender affection for his wife and daughter. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and infant son, Pat Greene-Wotton, Dorothea and Rodney Patrick, all of Middletown; his parents, Stewart and Jean Wotton; two brothers and sisters-in-law Brian and Toni Wotton; and Dave and Marty Wotton; in-laws Brendan and Dorothy Greene; sisters-in-law Brenda Ross-Greene and Maureen Greene; brother-in-law Sean Fuerstenberger; three nieces; two nephews; his "Grandma" Hall; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. A memorial service will be held simultaneously with baby Rodney Patrick’s baptism, Oct. 27 at 11 a.m. at St. Catharine’s Church. Memorial donations may be sent to the Wotton Children’s Fund, c/o Pat Greene-Wotton, P.O. Box 90, Middletown, NJ 07748. His wife asks those who loved or worked with Rod to send a note about him to his 2-year-old daughter, Dorothea Jean, and son Rodney Patrick, born on Sept. 19.

CHARLES G. COSTELLO JR., 46, of Old Bridge died Sept. 11 in the collapse of the World Trade Center, New York City. He was a member of International Union of Elevators Constructors Local No. 1, New York City. Surviving are his wife, Mary Norton Costello; a son, Charles G. Costello III of Old Bridge; three daughters, Amanda, Mary Kate and Theresa, all of Old Bridge; his father, Charles G. Costello Sr. of Old Bridge; a brother, Raymond Costello of Hazlet; two sisters, Kathy Birch of Brick and Patricia Ann Costello of Virginia Beach, Va. A memorial Mass was offered at St. Ambrose Church, Old Bridge. A remembrance followed at the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh, Old Bridge. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross.

JOAN ULMER, 67, of Cliffwood Beach died Oct. 2 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Queens, N.Y., she lived in Union City before moving to Cliffwood Beach 28 years ago. She was a line operator for Blonder & Tongue Labs, Old Bridge, the past seven years. She was a parishioner of St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church, Laurence Harbor section of Old Bridge. Her hobbies included dancing, camping, and trips to Atlantic City. She was a member of the Junior Senior Citizens, Old Bridge. She was predeceased by her husband, Richard Ulmer in 1995. She is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Judy Ulmer of Wilson, N.C., Gary and Edith Ulmer of Cliffwood Beach, Keith Ulmer of Cliffwood Beach and Karen Ulmer of Keyport; her daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Michael Fraind of Cliffwood Beach; two brothers, Lawrence Wallbank of Hazlet, and James J. Wallbank of Lanexa, Va.; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A memorial service was at St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church, Laurence Harbor, followed by interment at Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arnytown section of Hanover. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702.

RICHARD P. "LUCKY" GOUGH, 76, of the Port Monmouth section of Middletown, died Oct. 2 at home. Born in Newark, he resided there until moving to Port Monmouth in 1954. He was retired from his family’s trucking business, Gough & Sons, Newark. He was a communicant of St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic Church, East Keansburg section of Middletown. Prior to that, he was a communicant at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, New Monmouth section of Middletown. He served with the U.S. Army in Company A 254th/107th Engineers C Battalion during World War II, where he was an engineer from D-Day on Omaha Beach through the Battle of the Bulge. He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 14000, and served as treasurer of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, Fort Monmouth Chapter No. 56. His hobbies included league bowling, waterskiing, hunting, and skiing. He was predeceased by his wife of 40 years, Dorothy Wood Ruth; his brother, James Gough; and brothers-in-law, Joseph and Robert Wood. He is survived by his son, Robert Patrick Gough of Rosebud Sioux Reservation, S.D.; his daughter and son-in-law, Linda Susan and Alan Antol of Atlantic Highlands; his brother, John J. Gough Jr.; three sisters-in-law Rita Gough, and Peggy and Wanda Wood; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic Church, followed by interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, Attn.: Communications Department.

BRIGID McLAVISH, 55, of Holmdel died Oct. 6 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she moved to Holmdel in 1958. She was a receptionist for Commonwealth Mortgage, Freehold, the past three years. She was a communicant of St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church, Keansburg. She was very active in the Great Dane Dog Club of America. She was predeceased by her parents, Warren DePhillips and Antoinette Desarno McLavish. She is survived by her husband of 41 years, Charles McLavish of Holmdel; two sons, Kevin McLavish of Holmdel, and Dominick McLavish of Howell; her daughter, Brigid Wiggins of Jackson; her sister, Carmela Brendel of Virginia; and two grandchildren. Visitation will be Oct. 11 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. A funeral service will be Oct. 12 at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by burial at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to the ASPCA, Service Center, P.O. Box 2041, Toms River, NJ 08754-9926.

NICHOLAS O’KELLY, 47, formerly of the Parlin section of Sayreville, died Sept. 18 at his home in Denver. Surviving are his wife, Linda Corrigan O’Kelly; two daughters, Melissa and Meagan; two sons, Nicholas and Ryan; his father, James O’Kelly of Old Bridge; three brothers, James of Sayreville, Bernard of Palm Desert, Calif., and Daniel of Keyport; and two sisters, Ann Rindt of Aberdeen and Nora Kulakowski of Jackson. A memorial Mass was offered at Our Lady of Victories Church, Sayreville. Memorial contributions may be made to the local chapter of the Salvation Army.

JOSEPH M. "MICKEY" STAVOLA, 58, of Middletown died Oct. 1. Born in Middletown, he was a lifelong resident. He was the president, CEO, and co-owner with his brother of Trap Rock Industries Inc., Kingston section of Franklin Township. He was also co-owner with his brother and sisters of Dixie Lime & Stone, Florida. He operated M.J. Stavola Farms, Middletown, a thoroughbred breeding and cattle producing entity; and co-owned Driftwood Cabana Club, Sea Bright. An avid hunter, he was a member of the National Rifle Association and his other memberships included the N.J. Federation of Sportsmen’s Club, and the United Bowhunters of New Jersey. He was the recipient of several awards, including the Garden State Deer Classic, and co-owned with his brother, a NASCAR Winston Cup race team that won the Daytona 500 in 1988. He is survived by his wife, Carol Hilbert Stavola of Middletown; five sons and three daughters-in-law, Michael J. and Andrea R. Stavola, Robert J. Stavola, William F. and Jennifer L. Stavola, Jesse D. and Jennifer A. Stavola, and Joseph M. Stavola Jr.; his daughter, Sharone M. Stavola; his brother and sister-in-law William H. and Maureen F. Stavola; two sisters, Lorraine M. and George Conway Jr., and Cynthia B. and Victor Cappetta; three grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial was at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, Red Bank, followed by interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to the Mary Stavola Children’s Pavilion, Monmouth Medical Center, 300 Second Ave., Long Branch 07740.

RUTH E. ARDALE, 79, of the Belford section of Middletown, died Oct. 6 at Meridian Health Rehabilitation, Red Bank. Born in Elizabeth, she resided in Keansburg prior to moving to Belford. She was predeceased by her daughter, Lynn Ardale in 1996. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Clifford Ardale of Belford; her daughter, Suzanne Reimer of Middletown; her son, Charles Ardale of N.Y.; nine grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Oct. 11 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. A funeral service will be Oct. 12 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by burial at Shoreland Memorial Park, Hazlet.