Obituary: Charles Wyckoff Totto - Class of 1930

MADISON - Charles Wycoff Totto, age 62, of 1658 Norman Way, died on Wednesday, October 2, 1974, at a Madison hospital after a brief illness. He was a lifelong resident of Madison, and was married to the former Katherine Luse. He was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School and was a member of the State Bar Association. He entered partnership with Timothy Brown, now a retired Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Mr. Totto was a member of the Dane County Board, and Deputy Dane County District attorney. He served as a first officer in the Royal Air Force for two years. He served as executive council to Gov. Rennebohm and Gov. Kohler. Later he was Council and Secretary of American Scientific Laboratories. He practiced with the law firm of Orr, Isaksen, Werner, Lathrop and Heaney. Private funeral services will be held. There will be no visitation. The FRAUTSCHI FUNERAL HOME is in charge of arrangements. Please omit flowers. Memorials may be made to Madison General Medical and Surgical Foundation.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on October 3, 1974

Notes: Charles Wyckoff Totto's class year is based on information in the 1930 Tychoberahn, which shows him as a February 1930 graduate.

According to a recent Historic Madison article published in The Capital Times on November 13, 2006, Charles Wyckoff Totto was a cousin of artist Georgia O'Keeffe, who attended Madison [Central] High School from 1902-1903.

Obituary: Ruth (Meyers) Harris - Class of 1934

MADISON - Ruth M. Harris , age 71, died on Saturday, January 2, 1988, after a long illness, in the home in which she had resided for the past forty years. She was born Ruth Mildred Meyers on October 3, 1916 in Madison, Wisconsin. She was a graduate of Central High School. She married Robert R. (Boomer) Harris on September 29, 1942, in the First Methodist Church in Madison. She played an integral role in his long coaching and teaching career of some forty years throughout the Madison Public Schools. Many, including herself, referred to her as "Mrs. Coach". She is survived by her dedicated husband, Bob in Madison; three devoted children; a son, Bob Harris of Mill Valley, California; a daughter, Ruth Garner of Wheaton, Maryland, and a daughter, Betty Custer of Madison; a son-in-law, Mark Gillingham of Wheaton, Maryland; and a son-in-law, James Corkey Custer of Madison; and a soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Debbie Kelly of Mill Valley, California. She is also survived by four sisters, Dorothy (Les) Emerson of Madison, Welcome (Howard) Wagner of Madison, Helen Guzman of Madison, and Mary (Ray) Waterworth of Waterloo; and also by numerous nieces and nephews. She has also countless friends and neighbors who will miss her greatly. Among them is her dear friend Carol Argue, who was like another sister to her. She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Ruth Meyers; two brothers, Robert Meyers and David Meyers; and three sisters, Margaret Neesvig, Grace Wodke and Vera Day. Her life will be remembered by all who knew her for her honesty, thoughtfulness, and love. Funeral Services are scheduled for Wednesday, January 6, 1988 at 2:00 p.m. at the MADISON CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY, 7118 Old Sauk Road, near the intersections of Old Sauk and Gammon Roads, with Rev. T. Thomas Nustad and Rev. Jann Weaver officiating. Friends and relatives may call at the CRESS RUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5, 1988. In Lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the HospiceCare, for their support these past weeks, or the United Cerbral Palsy of Greater Dane County, with whom her family members have long been volunteers.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on January 1, 1988.