Piqua Daily Call

Monday, January 5, 1959

 G. Frank Yenney, 87, Oldest Active Piqua Grocer, Dies  

G. Frank Yenney, 87, of 605 Spring, who was the oldest Piquad actively engaged in the grocery business here and a partner in G. F. Yenney and Co., oldest local grocery, died at 7 p.m. Saturday at Dettmer Hospital. He was admitted to the hospital when he became ill Nov. 23, six days after the death of his wife, Nov. 17, 1958. Mr. Yenney entered the grocery business as a young man when the store, still located at 210 N. Main was known as Vallery and Yenney.  The store was opened some time in the 1880’s.  In 1902, he became a partner of John Vallery and John Yenney. In 1903, the business became known as G. F. Yenney and Co., and in 1912, he, with his nephew, Arthur Yenney, bought out the interests of the other two partners and have operated the store since with the Arthur Yenney’s son, Donald Yenney.  Mr. Yenney remained active in the store until shortly before his last illness.      Born in Piqua May 27, 1872, he was the son of John Jacob and Elizabeth Wolfe Yenney.  He attended school in this area and had lived here all his life.  His marriage to Mary Zerbe Smith took place May 18, 1899.  He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. Surviving are a son, Marion f. Yenney of Sandusky; two grand-daughters, Mrs. Todd A. Stoeri (Nancy) of Sandusky and Mrs. Mark D. Barnhill (Barbara) of Tacoma, Wash., and one great-granddaughter, Chandra L. Barnhill of Tacoma.  Last of a family of six children, he was preceded in death by two brothers, John and Fred O. Yenney, and three sisters, Mrs. William Kopf (Anna), Mrs. Jacob Kohler (Emma), and Mrs. August Schrader (Hattie), all of Piqua. The Rev. Homer Rickel will conduct services at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the J. C. Cron and Sons Chapel with burial in Forest Hill Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home tonight, Tuesday and Wednesday; Expressions of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the First Presbyterian Church or the Central Ohio Heart Association.

Provided by Roger A. Hopkins