Bernice S. Carson, age 96 of Dayton, passed away March 28. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Pearl Rosensweet; husband, Bernard Carson; son, Robert Carson; sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Bill Semmelman. Mrs. Carson is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Charles Kardon, many nieces and nephews. Interment was at Riverview Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Temple Israel or the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton.

Herman Ehrlich, age 79, born in Dayton Dec. 31, 1935, passed away peacefully March 21 at his home, The Carlyle House. He was a long-time resident of Centerville, since 1976. Mr. Ehrlich was preceded in death by his parents, Max and Lottie, and sister Sylvia Ehrlich. He is survived by his three children, Marla (Brian) Katz, Allen (Kara Sandler) Ehrlich, Lois Michelle (Sid) Lane: grandchildren Daniel Katz, Ben Ehrlich and Sara and Jake Lane. Mr. Ehrlich was a Fairview High School and Ohio State University graduate. He joined the family grocery business, Ehrlich’s Market in Lebanon until the business was sold in 1986. His passion for selling cars led him to join Bob Ross Buick until he retired in 2009. His hobbies included his visits with his children, grandchildren, Ohio State Football (Go Bucks), action movies, friends at the YMCA, and his cars. His family wishes to extend their appreciation to The Carlyle House in Kettering and Hospice of Dayton for their care and support. Interment was at Beth Jacob Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice.

Dr. Robert Flagel passed away unexpectedly at his home on April 15 at the age of 75. Dr. Flagel was a lifelong resident of Middletown, practicing optometry in town for 50 years. Dr. Flagel is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Sharon, and his four children and 11 grandchildren — his pride and joy: Laurie (Greg Cameron) Flagel and children Colin, Jake, and Braden of Cincinnati; Todd (Jamie) Flagel and children Evan, Daniel, and Sam of Cincinnati; Eric (Dena) Flagel and children Alexandra, Adam, and Kate of Chicago; and Shelly (Jonathan Morrow) Flagel and children Elijah and Gabriel of Ann Arbor. He is also survived by his sister, Joyce (Steve) Kiourtsis, of Columbus, and was preceded in death by his mother, Judith Freeman Flagel and father, Louis Flagel. Dr. Flagel graduated from Middletown High School in 1957 and The Ohio State University College of Optometry in 1963. For decades, Dr. Flagel proudly served the Middletown community in a variety of roles, including as president of the Middletown Community Foundation, president of the Noon Optimist Club, president of Temple Beth Sholom, chairman of All American Weekend, and committee member of the Pigskin Roundball Spectacular. In recent years, Dr. Flagel enjoyed daily walks at Smith Park with his wife, Sharon, and dog, Wriglee, which replaced his 30-year routine of running after work. His greatest joy was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He will be greatly missed for his sense of humor, generosity, and positive spirit. Interment was at Woodside Cemetery, Middletown. Contributions may be made to Temple Beth Sholom, 610 Gladys Dr., Middletown, OH 45044 or the Middletown Community Foundation, 300 N. Main St., Suite 300, Middletown, OH 45042.

Nathaniel W. Goldwasser, age 85, of Union, passed away April 12. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan. Mr. Goldwasser is survived by two daughters, Andrea and Kim; three sons, Alan, Mark and Robert; special son-in-law Brett, 10 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, sister Hannah. Interment was at Beth Abraham Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton.

Gerald Simon Maybruck, age 76 of Columbus, passed away April 12. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elsie and David Maybruck, and brother, Martin Maybruck. He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Judith Maybruck; his children, Julie, Brian and Alison Maybruck; daughter-in-law Jill Maybruck; grandchildren, Grayson and Emma Maybruck; brothers, Alan, Eddie and Dan Maybruck. Interment was at Riverview Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.

Col. Richard (Rick) Charles Poch (USAF Ret.) of West Chester, Pa. died March 29. He was the husband of Honore (nee Levine); father of Eric (Sheri) Poch and Helena (Walter) Ciechanowski; brother of Joel Poch, Bettina Beresh-Poch and Diana Suslak-Spriggs; grandfather of Jordan, Alayna, Leianna, Stephen and Zoeanna Darcie. Col. Poch was born in the Bronx, N.Y., graduated from the Bronx High School of Science and is recognized as a notable alumnus. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from New York University in aeronautics and astronautics engineering. He served in the United States Air Force for 30 years, graduating from the USAF Test Pilot School Class 76B (1976). His assignments included but were not limited to serving as the chief flight test project engineer for the KC-10 air refueling boom at Edwards AFB and he received an outstanding airmanship award as result of his accomplishments, as a detailee for NASA’s Johnson Space Flight Center as a front room mission controller during the Space Shuttle’s Return to Flight mission and earned a NASA Group Achievement Award for his role, as space and missile evaluation manager and assistant chief test policy and procedure at Headquarters System Command at Andrews AFB, which contributed to the technology responsible for GPS, as deputy director of the Aero Propulsion and Power Directorate at Wright-Patterson AFB, and as director of Test and Evaluation Directorate at Hanscom AFB where he was awarded the Legion of Merit for Meritorious Service. Col. Poch was also a National Association of Flight Instructors’ Gold Seal Master Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) with almost 10,000 hours of flight instruction. Out of approximately 81,000 CFIs, fewer than 400 hold this distinction. He also loved to sing karaoke and sang for Temple Sholom’s choir with his wife, Honore, in Broomhall, Pa. He will be remembered as a loving grandfather, father, and husband. His intelligence, wit, love of teaching, loyalty to country, family, friends, and students will live on with those he positively impacted. Interment was at Haym Salomon Memorial Park, Frazer, Pa. Contributions in his memory may be made to Temple Sholom in Broomall, Pa.

Selma Schwartz, age 97 of Dayton, passed away March 26 peacefully at home. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack M. Schwartz; three sisters, Leah Slutzky, Celia Gershow and Lena Scharff; three brothers, Jake, Bill and George Zappin. Mrs. Schwartz was born in Columbus, in 1918 to Harry and Ida Zappin. When she was six months old, her mother died and she was then adopted by her mother’s brother and his wife, Paul and Sarah Cruce. In her 20s, she moved to Dayton where she was employed at WPAFB until she married. She was a loving wife and mother. Mrs. Schwartz is survived by her daughter, Paula Weiss of Cincinnati, and several nieces and nephews. Interment was at Riverview Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Temple Israel or the charity of your choice.

To read the complete May 2015 Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.