Morton L. Epstein, age 80 of Dayton, passed away peacefully Feb. 2 at Hospice of Dayton. Mr. Epstein joined the Air Force after high school to pursue his passion for meteorology. He spent most of his working years as the building manager at Front Street. He was a lifelong fan of baseball and enjoyed working on his stamp collection. Mr. Epstein was preceded in death by his loving wife, Patricia; parents, Joseph and Sarah; and brother, Larry. He is survived by his daughter, Amy; son, Joseph; grandchildren, Sarah and James; great-grandchildren, Abel and Wyatt; and many nieces and nephews. Interment was in Cincinnati. Memorial contributions may be made to your favorite charity in his memory.

Florence Heller (nee Maybruck), age 98 (born March 16, 1922), of Beachwood (formerly of Dayton), passed away Jan. 29 at Maltz Hospice. Mrs. Heller was a longtime resident of Dayton and a member of Beth Abraham Synagogue. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 66 years, Larry, in 2010 and son Elliott in 2014. Mrs. Heller is survived by her son, Mark Heller of St. Louis; son and daughter-in-law Brian and Renee Heller of Pepper Pike; grandchildren Michelle (Mark) Rothbaum of Shaker Heights, Scott (Jaclyn) Heller and Jeffrey (Rachel) Heller, both of Solon; great-grandchildren, Esther and Oliver Rothbaum, Aiden, Danielle, and Sloane Heller, and Jacob and Ryan Heller; other relatives and friends. Interment was at Beth Abraham Cemetery. Contributions in Mrs. Heller’s memory may be made to B’nai Jeshurun Synagogue, 27501 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44124 or the charity of your choice.

Col. Frank M. Mugford USAF Ret. 1930 – 2020. Col. Frank M. Mugford (USAF Ret.) passed away Dec. 7 at Traditions of Beavercreek. He was born Dec. 14, 1930 in Houston to Jeannie L. and Frank M. Mugford, who preceded him in death. Col. Mugford is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 39 years, Roberta S. (Bobbi) Mugford of Fairborn; sisters, Louise (Ted) Hager of Dallas; Myrna (Charles) Baldwin of Lubbock, Texas; children, Murray F. (Darlene) Mugford of Spring, Texas; Samuel A. Mugford of EI Paso; Andrea B. (Craig) Self of Johns Island, Charleston, S.C., Jeffrey L. (Diana) Robins of Springfield, Ohio; and Col. Benjamin S. (Jennifer) Robins, MacDill AFB, Tampa; mother of his sons, Lucy S. Mugford, Waco; grandchildren, Tara (Bobby) Moretine of Tonganoxie, Kan., Skye and Angus Mugford of Lakeway, Texas, Danielle (Ian) Nelsen, of Spring, Texas, Nicole (Jason) Stoner, Pine Hurst, Texas, Joshua A. Self and Anna Kate Self, Centerville, Ohio, Kristin A. Robins, Shannon (Shane) Shafer and Rickey Fuller all of Springfield, Ohio, Noah, Sadie and Stella Robins, MacDill AFB,Tampa; 11 great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers and sisters in-law. Col. Mugford graduated from Schreiner Military Institute, Kerrville, Texas in 1951 and was an ROTC graduate of Baylor University enlisting in the USAF in 1955 where he spent 30 years active duty in the Medical Service Corp as a hospital administrator. He also held a master’s degree from Ball State University. Tours of duty were in Okinawa, Vietnam, Europe, and the U.S. He retired in 1985 from Warner Robins AFB, Ga. and was instrumental in developing the Houston County Hospice in Warner Robins. He also volunteered at Hunt Elementary School in Macon, Ga. and gave many hours to Boy Scouting there. Returning to Fairborn he was again pulled by his desire to give back to the community and became a volunteer for the internal medicine clinics of the 88th Medical Group; the Retiree Activities Office; active board member of Dayton Chapter of MOAA; leadership roles in Boy Scout Troop 72 of Fairborn and the Tecumseh Council. Col. Mugford was a life member of the Medical Service Corps Association of the Air Force, life member of National MOAA, life member of the American Legion, VFW, Medical Service Corps Association of the Air Force, Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, 65-year member of the George M. Denton #24 Blue Lodge, Waco. He was a member of Jewish War Veterans Post 587, Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, and an active member of Temple Sholom, Springfield, Ohio. Col. Mugford spent his Air Force career in health care and chose to donate his body to the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine Anatomical Gift Program. Internment will be at the Dayton VA cemetery with full military honors.

Marilyn E. Serelson, age 91 of Lake Worth, Fla., formerly of Dayton, passed away Feb. 4. Mrs. Serelson was the membership director for the Jewish Community Center in Dayton. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Irving. Mrs. Serelson is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Linda Weisenberg and Bobby Goldberg of Cleveland, Judith and Charles Miller of Israel, and Joni and Ed McDonald of Florida; sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Amy of Florida, and David and Ruth of Wyoming; sister, Sylvia Lewis of Akron; brother, Don Davidson of Las Vegas; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. Mrs. Serelson devoted her life to her family, friends, and community. She never missed a single grandchild’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah, always the belle of the ball at every family event. Mrs. Serelson was a giving and caring member of the Jewish community. She gave her time and her faith to those who needed it. The family traditions she valued so highly and never once missed out on were always full of love, light, and laughter and will continue to live on for generations to come. Interment was at Beth Abraham Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Chabad of West Boynton Beach in Mrs. Serelson’s memory.

To read the complete March 2021 Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.