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Larry George Ruth
PLYMOUTH — Larry George Ruth, 63, of Plymouth, passed away at 12: 07 a.m. Friday, Sept.
26, 2008 in Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend. He was born Nov. 9, 1944 in
Galion, Ohio to the late George and Rebecca (Bowman) Ruth.
Mr. Ruth is survived by daughter, Lori Zumbro of Galion, Ohio; son, Sean (T.J. Patterson) Ruth
of Williamsport, Ohio; two step daughters: Shelly (Chad) Locke of Stockport, Ohio and Kelly
(Matt) Boyd of McConnelsville, Ohio; 13 grandchildren: Taylor, Evan, Austin, and Ian Zumbro,
Cody Schmitzer, Laney Patterson, Kelsie, Jimmy, Carter and Gavin Locke and Amber, Ashley
and Austin Boyd; and brother, Dennis (Tish) Ruth of Galion, Ohio.
Mr. Ruth moved to Indiana in 1989. He served honorably in the United States Army. Mr. Ruth
was currently doing millwork at Lowe’s in Plymouth. He was a purchasing director for several
window companies including Rockwell Windows for many years.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008 in the Palmer Funeral Home,
314 S. Michigan St., Lakeville. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008 in
the Schneider Funeral Home, 303 Portland Way North, Galion, Ohio. Friends may visit with the
family from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday before the services.
Contributions may be made to the National Rifle Association, NRA Office of Advancement,
11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 or American Heart Association, 3816 Payshere
Circle, Chicago, IL 60674.
This is a man who puts his family first,
a man who lets his children
see his love and hear his pride…
This is a friend to count on
and believe in, to listen to
and learn from…
This is a Dad and Grandpa
to look up to and live
up to every day of your life…
This is a man…
This is a friend…
This is a Dad and Grandpa…
This is you.
Kim L. Cole
ARGOS – Kim L. Cole, 48, 326 Indiana Ave., Argos, died of natural causes in Saint Joseph
Regional Medical Center, Plymouth, at 3: 48 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008.
Kim was born in Midland, Mich., on Feb. 26, 1960, the son of Willard Sr. and Gracie Allen Cole.
On Nov. 28, 1981, in Bourbon, Kim and Beverly Helton were married
.
Kim worked at Topp Industries as a pipefitter and his wife owned K&B Antiques in Argos.
He was the type of person who always put others before himself and he had many friends. Kim
loved to play with his dog, Woody.
He enjoyed going to auctions and flea markets and was a devoted fisherman.
Kim is survived by his wife of almost 27 years and by their son: Kevin Cole of Bossier, City, La.,
and his step- son, Dennis Helton of Plymouth.
His mother, Gracie Cole and Gretta Anderson, a sister, both of Plymouth and a brother, Will
(Kim) Cole of White Hall, Mich., also survive, together with numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and
nephews.
Kim was preceded in death by his father, Willard and Tim, a brother.
Funeral services will be private.
The Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, is in charge of
arrangements.
Memorial donations in Kim’s memory may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Willard Jay “Bill” Jaarda
PLYMOUTH — Willard Jay “Bill” Jaarda, 80, died Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008 of natural causes.
Surviving with his wife, MaryBeth Granning Jaarda, is a son and family, Brian J. (Nelda) Jaarda
of South Bend and children Michael B. (Amber) Jaarda of Osceola and Nicole (Robert) Wright of
Mishawaka; and six great-grandchildren: Bethani, Samantha, Christopher, Caleb, Clarke and
Collins.
A sister, Lorriane Palmer of Holland survives with many nieces and nephews.
Visitation is Tuesday, Sept. 30 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100
N. Michigan St. Plymouth and after 7 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1 until time of services at 1 p.m. in
the funeral home.
Burial will follow in the Memorial Garden of New Oakhill cemetery, Plymouth.
Memorial gifts may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Everett R. Shirar
Everett R. Shirar, 89, died at Crockett Hospital in Lawrenceburg, Tenn. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008.
Survivors include his wife, Wilma (Duncan) of Lawrenceburg, Tenn.; son, George (Anita) Shirar
of Lexington, Ky.; daughters: Cynthia (Robert) Gerard of Ft. Wayne and Cathy (John) Videne, of
Leoma, Tenn.; and four grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008, at the New Oak Hill
cemetery Chapel, Plymouth, with calling one hour prior.
Interment will be in Oak Hill cemetery, Plymouth.
Memorials may be made to The Gideons International or Indiana Wesleyan University.
The Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, Plymouth, is in charge of arrangements.
Robert A. Skinner
ARGOS — Robert A. Skinner, 55, died Saturday at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Plymouth.
He is survived by his wife, Juanita Kuchel; his parents: George Hamlin of Calif. and Johanna
Coleman of Union Mills; two sons: Bill Robison of Tyner and Jason “Skinny” Skinner of
Frankfort, Ky.; two grandchildren; five sisters: Karen Ross of Colorado, Johanna Coleman of
Union Mills, Allison Coleman of Valparaiso, Robbie Coleman of LaPorte and Althea Tolman of
Union Mills.
Visitation will take place Wednesday, Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. until the memorial service at 2 p.m.
(CT) at Rannells Funeral Home, Hamlet Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the family.
Robert L. Denton
KEWANNA — Robert L. Denton, 82, of Kewanna, died at 2: 26 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008 at
Woodlawn Hospital, Rochester.
He is survived by sisters: Virginia “Sis” Heady of Rochester, Julia Wagner of Green Bay, Wis.
and June Anne Carson of Everett, Wash.
Private family services were held at the Good Family Funeral Home, Rochester.
Polly Berniece Miller
WAKARUSA — Polly Berniece Miller, 98, of Miller’s Merry Manor, Wakarusa, formerly of
Nappanee, died Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008 at 10: 04 p.m. at Elkhart General Hospital.
She is survived by daughters: Mildred (Lester) Bollenbacher of Bremen, Betty (Robert) Whitmer
of Nappanee, Thelma (Jerry) Neff of Nappanee, Carolyn (Roy) Weldy of Nappanee, and Irene
(Dick) Carrick of Goshen; sons: David Miller of Nappanee, Larry Miller of Nappanee, Jerry
(Nancy) Miller of Bremen and Steven Miller of Nappanee; son-in-law, David Bone; 31
grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; 17 great-great-grandchildren; and sister, Carrie Seiss of
Muncie.
Visitation is Wednesday, Oct. 1 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral
Home, Nappanee, and one hour prior to services Thursday at the church. Funeral services are
Thursday, Oct. 2 at 10: 30 a.m. at the Nappanee Church of the Brethren. Burial will be at the
Bremen cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Nappanee Church of the Brethren or the donor’s choice.
Pat Shriver
AKRON — Pat Shriver, 78, of Rochester, died at 9: 14 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008 at Life Care
Center of Rochester.
She is survived by her husband, Glenn D. Shriver; three grandchildren; and son-in-law, Ron
Shinn of Phoenix, Ariz.
Visitation is Thursday, Oct. 2 from 4 to 8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service Friday at the
Good Family Funeral Home, Rochester. Funeral services are Friday, Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. at the
funeral home. Burial will be at the Rochester IOOF cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation, Fulton County Cancer Society or to Hope
Hospice of Fulton County.
Jeanette Baker
WINONA LAKE — Jeanette Baker, 88, of Grace Village Retirement Community, Winona Lake,
formerly of Bourbon, went home to be with her Lord Jesus Christ Monday, Sept. 29, 2008 at
11: 27 p.m. She was born Dec. 28, 1919 in Mentone to Peter and Mary Lena (Busenburg) Blue.
In October 1938 at the First Baptist Church, Mentone, she married
W. Ralph Baker. He
preceded her in death Dec. 6, 1988.
She graduated from Mentone High School in 1938. She had lived in the Bourbon community
most all of her life and had lived at the Grace Retirement Community, Winona Lake for nearly
five years.
She was a homemaker. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Mentone. She loved
gardening and fishing especially the fishing in Minnesota and Wisconsin. She was a known
vocalist.
She is survived by a daughter, Sally Ridgeway Baker of Sacramento, Calif.; sons: Larry R.
(Yvonne) Baker of DeForest, Wis. And W. John (Julia) Baker of Warsaw; sister, Jeannine
(Dean) Nellans of Mentone; brother, Royal (Linda) Blue of Redding, Calif.; 11 grandchildren; 24
great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by a son, Don Allen Baker in 1947; two grandsons; brother, Donald
Blue; and sister, Phyllis Secrist.
Visitation is Thursday, Oct. 2 from 5 to 8 p.m. at King Memorial Home, Mentone. Funeral
services are Friday, Oct. 3 at 10: 30 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Michael White
officiating. Burial will be at Parks cemetery, Bourbon.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund, Mentone.
John B. Benedict
WARSAW — John B. Benedict, 88 a resident of Mason Health Care of Warsaw, died Monday,
Sept. 29 at 7: 25 a.m.
He is survived by his three children: Danny (Carolyn) Benedict, Benny Benedict, and Susan
(Devon) Craig, all of Bourbon; one grandchild; three great-grandchildren; and one step-grandson
There will be no visitation.
Graveside services will be held Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 10: 30 a.m. at Pleasant Hill cemetery.
Burial will follow in Pleasant Hill cemetery at Bourbon with military graveside honors.
Deaton-Clemens Funeral Home, Bourbon, is in charge of local arrangements.
Harvey Junior “Mike” Hatfield
PLYMOUTH – Harvey Junior “Mike” Hatfield, 91, of 805 Baker Street, Plymouth, died at 3: 47 p.m. on Monday, Sept.29, 2008, in Miller’s Merry Manor, Plymouth.
“Mike” Hatfield was born in Bourbon on Feb. 23, 1917, the son of Harvey Johnson and Barbara Ellen Wolf Hatfield. He was a 1935 graduate of Plymouth High School.
On June 8, 1940, in Plymouth, he and Julia Ann Wright were married
.
An electrician for United Telephone for years, he then became self-employed master electrician, retiring in 1994.
He was a member of IBEW, the First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth and the Lakeville Lions Club.
Mike was a man of faith whose family came first. He loved people and helping everyone. He will be dearly missed.
Mike is survived by his wife, Julia Ann, and by a son, Michael Allen and daughter-in-law, Susan Gay Hatfield, Whitefish Bay, Wis.
Two grandchildren, Michael (Karen) Hatfield Jr., Appleton, Wis., and Laura (Kenneth) Whitelaw, Johnston, Iowa, and four great-grandchildren: Michael Hatfield IV: Montgomery “Monty” Hatfield, both of Appleton, Wis.: Bryony Whitelaw and Ellery Whitelaw, both of Johnston, Iowa, also survive.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers: Virgil, Russell and Carl.
Friends will be welcomed to celebrate the life of Mike Hatfield on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, from 2 to 3 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church, 401 N. Walnut St., Plymouth.
Memorial services will follow visitation at 3 p.m. in the church. The Rev. Paul Nye will officiate.
The Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
Burial will be in the Chapel Hill cemetery, South Bend.
A special ”Thank-you” to the staff of Miller’s Merry Manor for the extraordinary care given to Harvey.
Memorial gifts in Mike’s name may be made to the Lakeville Lions Club, the American Cancer Society or the First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth.
Harold F. “Doggy” Hess
PLYMOUTH – Harold F. “Doggy” Hess, 81, died of natural causes at his residence on Pretty
Lake Trail, Plymouth, at 5: 51 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, 2008.
He was known and respected by all who knew him as a good husband, father, grandfather and
great-grandfather. He loved his fellowship at his church and gave support and help to his friends
when they were in times of need.
Born in Plymouth on Sept. 30, 1926, Harold was the son of Herman and Vera (Mills) Hess. He
lived in Plymouth all of his life.
He graduated from Plymouth’s Lincoln High School with the class of 1945, and joined the United
States Army. He was sent to Germany where he was a medic and grave registrar. When he
returned home, he trained as an apprentice plumber.
He went to work in the family business, Plymouth Plumbing and Heating.
Harold met Edith Ritenour, a LaPaz farm girl and fell in love. A year later, on Feb. 28, 1948, they
were married
at a neighbor’s home.
Harold and his family lived at Pretty Lake since 1950. He retired from Thermogas as a gas
cylinder delivery man in 1985.
He was a member of the Pretty Lake Trinity United Methodist Church and worked with the West
Township Boy Scouts as assistant Scout Leader.
Hard working, he loved being outdoors. He loved fishing, camping and most anything to do with
Mother Nature.
He had a great garden that was the envy of the neighborhood. He couldn’t stand to see produce
go to waste and enjoyed sharing with others. He also took the time to visit shut-ins.
Harold loved to talk and whistle. He whistled while he worked and enjoyed playing his harmonica
One of his great passions was the water. He boated or canoed on all area lakes and up in
Michigan too.
For 10 years, from 1976 to 1986, Harold, his sons and Edith, his wife, directed the officially
sanctioned nine-mile Blueberry Festival Paddle Canoe Race.
During the summer, with family and friends, they would clean the Yellow River to make it ready
for the canoeists.
Harold enjoyed walking along the water with his faithful companion – a black dog “Midnight” by
his side.
He and Edith loved to watch for the arrival of the snow geese at Pretty Lake every winter. There
are ducks, geese, heron and deer. A pair of swans show up every once in awhile.
He is survived by Edith, his devoted wife of over 60 years and by their three sons: Leonard
“Lenny: (Cathy) Hess: Rodney “Rod” (Sherry) Hess, all of Plymouth, and Gerald “Jerry” Hess
and his friend, John carpenter, Houghton, Mich.
Seven grandchildren: Rich & Shelly Kovacs, Todd Hess, Jeff Hess, Troy Hess & Heather, Kesha
Hess, Amber & Jade Buchanan and Donnie Adams along with 16 great-grandchildren also
survive, together with a sister, Carolyn Neff, Granger, and a step-sister, Pat Kuskye, of Plymouth
His in-laws would include; Mildred Ritenour, Kenneth & Marie Ritenour and Edna & Merl Swihart.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Sheryl Guyse and step-mother, Cora Hess.
Visitation with the family and the sharing of their memories of Harold will be Wednesday, Oct. 1,
2008, from 5 to 8 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008, after 7 a.m. at the Johnson-Danielson
Funeral Home.
Friends are invited to celebrate the life of Harold Hess at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008, in the
Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth. The Rev. Jim Irwin, pastor
of the Pretty Lake Trinity United Methodist Church, will officiate.
Military honors will be accorded Harold by members of the V.F.W. Post 1162 and American
Legion Post 27. Burial will follow in New Oakhill cemetery, Plymouth.
Memorial gifts in Harold’s memory may be made to the Pretty Lake Trinity United Methodist Church.
