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Joyce Marie Patton
WAKARUSA — Joyce Marie Patton, 78, of Bremen passed away on December 26, 2009 at
Miller’s Merry Manor in Wakarusa.
She was born Nov. 16, 1931 in Plymouth and was the daughter of the late Rufus and Floy
(Berkey) Jones. She graduated with honors in 1949 from Lincoln High School, Plymouth. She
married
Russell Patton in November 1983. He preceded her in death in 1988.
She was an employee of Bremen Community Hospital for several years and volunteered at
various community services in Bremen.
Joyce was loved by all who knew her. She was an avid crocheter and enjoyed giving her craft
pieces to friends and family. A very talented musician, she could play the piano and organ for
hours without reading written notes. She was always ready to give a helping hand to anyone
when needed.
She is survived by her children Mike Collmer of Argos, Tony Collmer of Niles, Mich., Debbie
(Rich) Finney of Palm Bay, Fla., Russ Affhalter of Mishawaka, Cindy Williams of Bremen,
Timothy Affhalter of Kalamazoo, Mich., Phillip (Robin) Affhalter of Portage, Mich., six
grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by two sisters: Wanda Clark of Warsaw, Mary (Don) Walter of Franklin,
Ohio; one brother John Thomas of Plymouth and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 at the Mishler Funeral Home
in Bremen. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the organization of your choice.
The Mishler Funeral Home in Bremen is assisting the family with arrangements.
Dorothy Marie Roach
BREMEN — Dorothy Marie Roach, 81, of Bremen, died Saturday, Dec, 26, 2009 at Community
Hospital of Bremen.
She is survived by one son: James (Vickie) Hinesley of Angleton, Texas; one daughter: Jennifer
(Alex) Bryant of Bremen; grandchildren: Todd, Jamie and Phillip Hinesley of Angleton, Texas
and Derek Cheek of Fishers, Melissa Cheek of Bremen and Alex Bryant, Jr. of Bremen; one
brother: Joe (Emma) Plowman of Lamark, Texas; and two sisters: Alice Balzer of Cape
Elizabeth, Maine and Betty (Lawrence) Sevin of Frisco, Texas.
Services will be private.
Entombment will be in Galveston Memorial Park, Hitchcock, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the organization of donor’s choice.
The Mishler Funeral Home in Bremen is assisting the family with arrangements.
Michael L. Bonham
TIFFIN, Ohio — Michael L. Bonham, 64, of Tiffin, died Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009, at Arlington Care
& Rehabilitation Center, Columbus.
He is survived by his sister, Susan Kendall; and brother-in-law, Robert Bright of Columbus; a
niece; and a grand-niece and nephew.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial Mass was held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30 at St.
Mary Catholic Church, Tiffin, Ohio.
A Rosary was prayed 20 minutes prior to the Mass. The family invited guests to join them for a
time of food and fellowship following the Mass at St. Mary Catholic School Rec Room.
Memorial contributions can be made to Community Hospice Care, 181 E. Perry St., Tiffin, OH, 44883.
Paul E., Sr. McBride
PLYMOUTH – Paul E. McBride, Sr., A minister of the Church of the Brethren, passed away at
5:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 27, 2009. He was 82 years-old.
Paul was born on September 23, 1927, to George and Mary Sheneman McBride in Lakeville,
Indiana. He graduated from Lakeville High School in 1945, where he was a member of the
varsity basketball team.
On August 22, 1948, in the Pine Creek Church of the Brethren, Paul and Carol Karn were
married
. They lived in Tyner and Plymouth during their married
life.
In 1963, Paul was licensed to the ministry in the Church of the Brethren and received his
ordination in 1972. He served the Camp Creek, Blissville, Wakarusa and Union congregations.
He also served the North Winona, Nappanee, Camp Creek and Plymouth congregations as an
interim pastor.
Paul served eight years as a Volunteer Chaplin at the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in
Plymouth. He attended Manchester College, Bethany Theological Seminary and Ivy Tech, and
taught at Ivy Tech (South Bend) for several years.
In 1983, after 32 years, Paul retired from Bendix as a maintenance electrician.
He enjoyed doing electrical and HVAC work where he was able to continue a personal ministry
with his fellow man.
Paul is survived by Carol, his loving wife of 61 years, his daughter Linda (H.C.) Colwell of South
Bend, his son, Paul Jr. ( Marcia) of South Bend, and four granddaughters: Tina (Robert) Gruber
of Mishawaka, Sherry (Mark) Bickel of Goshen, Tonya Colwell at Manchester College and
Melissa (Brent) Cooksey of Noblesville.
Paul is also survived by five great-grandchildren: Madeline Gruber, Ethan and Logan Bickel and
Mathew and Morgan Cooksey.
Paul’s brother James (Nancy) McBride of South Bend also survives.
A grandson, Peter McBride, preceded him in death.
Friends are invited to visit with Paul’s family from 4 to 8 pm on Wednesday, December 30, 2009,
at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth. Funeral services for
Paul will be at 11:00 am, Thursday, December 31, 2009, in the Plymouth Church of the Brethren
on the corner of Baker and Michigan Streets, next to the funeral home.
Burial will be in Oakhill cemetery in Plymouth.
Memorial gifts in Paul’s memory may be made to the Plymouth Church of the Brethren, 1130
North Michigan Street Plymouth, Indiana 46563 or to a charity of one’s choice.
Lucile Marie Overmyer
CULVER — Lucile Marie Overmyer died at her home in Culver, at 10:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28,
2009, surrounded by her loving family. Lucile was 90 years old.
She was born 100 miles from Marshall County in Raub, Ind. Aug. 25, 1919, the daughter of
Orville H. and Anna Matkin Perkins.
Lucile graduated from Raub High School with the class of 1938 and from the Memorial Hospital
Nurses’ Training program shortly thereafter. She won her nurses’ cap and the heart of Glenn
Overmyer after meeting him through his sister Mildred, a classmate at Memorial.
On March 28, 1942, she and Glenn were married
in Plymouth. Glenn died June 2, 2004.
During World War II, Lucile worked at the Kingsbury Ammunition Plant as a nurse, she later
worked as a nurse at Parkview Hospital in Plymouth. She also did private duty care as a nurse
all over Marshall County; her door was always open to anyone and everyone, students, family,
and friends.
Her helping hand was always available to anyone that needed it. Lucile last practiced nursing at
the Culver Academy for 30 years, retiring in 1995.
She was a very active person all of her life. She helped in the garden, worked in the Hospital
Auxiliary and loved to play any kind of cards — especially Pinochle. She enjoyed working
puzzles and working in the thrift shop of the Wesley United Methodist Church, Culver.
She is survived by a large and loving family. She leaves two sons, both in Culver: Michael and
Connie Overmyer and Kevin and Melodie Overmyer. Two daughters also survive; they are
Patricia and James Watson, Decatur, Ill. and Nancy Overmyer, Indianapolis.
Seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren also survive. They are: Sean and Sherry
Overmyer with their children Hannah and Olivia; JB and Jean E. Overmyer and their children Ali,
Brianna and Luci; Heather Overmyer; Garth Overmyer; Matthew and Liz Watson and their
daughter Erica; Adam Watson and Suzanne and Dan Barth and their children Hannah and
Grace. Extended family member Carolyn Saft survives as well.
Lucile was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Glenn and by a son, Gary Overmyer.
Three brothers: Kenneth, Marvin and Donald Perkins and a sister, Winifred Perkins, also
preceded her in death.
Visitation with the family will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010, at the Wesley
United Methodist Church, 511 School St., Culver.
A memorial service will be held in the church following visitation at 1 p.m. Pastor Larry Saunders
will officiate. Interment will be held at a later date in the Burr Oak cemetery, Culver.
The Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers memorial gifts in Lucile’s memory may be made to the Glenn and Lucile
Overmyer Scholarship Fund c/o The Marshall County Community Foundation, The Center for
Hospice and Palliative Care or The Wesley United Methodist Church Music Fund.
Kenneth Dean Bryant
ROCHESTER — Kenneth Dean Bryant, 88, of Rochester, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, Rochester.
He is survived by his wife: Rowena G. Bryant, at home; two daughters: Janice Koch and
husband, Gene, of Rochester and Mary Sundine and husband, Steven, of Rochester; a son:
Ronald Bryant and wife, Shawn, of Rochester; five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of the life of Kenneth Bryant will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, at the Good Family
Funeral Home, 1200 W. 18th St. Rochester, with Chaplain Charles Azbell and Rev. Junior Bose
officiating.
Friends may visit with the family from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, and one hour prior to the
service in the funeral home.
The Rochester IOOF Lodge # 47 will conduct a service at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Interment will be
at the Rochester IOOF cemetery, where military graveside rites will be conducted by the LeRoy
Shelton American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Memorials may be made in his
name to Bethleham Baptist Church or to Hope Hospice of Fulton County.
Aleta F. Long
ETNA GREEN — Aleta F. Long, 91., of Etna Green, died Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009 at Miller’s
Merry Manor, Warsaw.
She is survived by daughters: Barbara (Robert) McQuinn of Forest, LuAnn Wiseman of
Marcellus, Mich., and Linda (Max) Flenar of Etna Green; sons, Larry (Mary Ellen) Long of
Warsaw and Robert (Judy) Long of Milford; 16 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; one greatgreat-grandchild;
and a sister, Hazel “Skip” Ewing of Etna Green.
Visitation will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29 at the King Memorial Home, 101 N.
Tucker St., Mentone, and one hour prior to services Wednesday.
Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30 at Etna Green Church of Christ.
Burial will follow at Etna Green cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Ralph J. Long Scholarship Fund at he Etna Green Church of Christ.
Geraldine “Jeri” (Elliott) Miller Traphagan
NILES — Geraldine “Jeri” (Elliott) Miller Traphagan, 78, of Niles, passed away unexpectedly
Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Plymouth.
Jeri was born Jan. 19, 1931 in Marion, Ind. to the late David and Estella D. (Lewis) Elliott.
Jeri always showed a hard work ethic and was an entrepreneur. She worked for several years at
Snelling Services before starting her own employment agency in Roseland and Elkhart. She also
worked for many years in credit management in local hospitals and nursing homes. Jeri was
currently employed by the Century Center where she greeted everyone with a smile as a hostess
or parking booth attendant.
In her spare time Jeri enjoyed traveling and camping. She traveled both nationally and
internationally. An avid fan of the Highlander Series, Jeri traveled to California where she met
and became acquainted with Adrian Paul as well as other movie stars. Jeri loved all movies and
always stayed current on movie stars and their lives. She also enjoyed European history and
archeology. Jeri was a very determined and carefree lady. Although she was always busy, her
grandchildren and great-grandchildren were always a priority and she always found time for them.
She is preceded in death by her parents, a son: Jay Gordon Miller in 1988, two brothers: Richard
and Wayne Elliott and a sister Yvonne Hanks.
Jeri is survived by three daughters: Kathryn Miller Denaut of Plymouth; Linda Miller of Niles; Ann
(Josh Payne) Traphagan of Niles; 10 grandchildren: Jeff G. Miller, Alycia and Danny Denaut, Ian
and Nicole Miller, Lacey, Jay and Chad Wiemuth, Cody Schilke and Jacob Sams; three great grandchildren:
Kila Stamper, Lily Sherwood and Connor Denaut and two nieces: Judith Dixon
Eldridge and Vicki Hanks Baker of Marion.
A time of visitation will be held at Brown Funeral Home Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010 from 4 until 7 p.m.
A funeral service will be on Sunday at 1 p.m., visitation one hour prior. A private interment will be
held Monday at Silverbrook cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in Jeri’s memory to her family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.
Florence A. Surface
NAPPANEE — Florence A. Surface, 93, of Nappanee, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009 at 10:25 a.m. at Anglemeyer Clinic, Nappanee, following a short illness.
She is survived by her husband, Harold Surface; daughters: Judy Barr of Nappanee, Joyce Churchill of Berger, Mo. and Jackie (Randle) Brock of Liberty, Texas; 11 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation is at the Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee, Saturday, Jan. 2 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.
There will be no services; cremation will follow.
Memorials may be given to Florence Surface Memorial Fund.
