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Dennis Collins, 54
Dennis Lee Collins, 54, rural Bluffton, died at Bluffton Regional Medical Center at 2:53 p.m. Thursday, June 24 from injuries suffered in an accident at his home.
Born in Tram, Ky. on Aug. 21, 1949 to Lige and Victoria Jarrells Collins, he married
Jean Gerhard on July 3, 1971 in West Virginia; she survives.
He was a disabled veteran, serving in Vietnam., and was a life member of the D.A.V. He had been a resident of Wells County since 1976.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Eugene J. Collins of Bluffton; a daughter, Christina L. Collins of Salyersville, Ky.; three sisters, Pauline McGue of Norwalk, Ohio, Lovia McDowell of Inez, Ky. and Gracie Kenny of Salyersville, Ky.; two brothers, Chester and Clay Collins, both of Norwalk, Ohio; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by both parents and a brother, Paul Collins.
Calling hours are Saturday from 2 to 8 p.m. and Sunday for one hour prior to the 1 p.m. service at the Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home in Bluffton. Rev. Joseph Haney will officiate services and military graveside rites will be performed by the American Legion Post 111. Burial in Fairview cemetery. Preferred memorials to the Bluffton V.F.W. Post.
(Notice dated June 25, 2004)
Dwight Booher, 78
Dwight L. Booher, 78, a native and lifetime resident of Jackson Township, died at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 23 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
Born Nov. 23, 1925 to Carl and Electra Rose Ballinger Booher, he married
June Brown on Dec. 27, 1974 in Wells County; she survives.
A 1943 graduate of Jackson Center High School, he was a retired farmer. He and his wife also maintained a home at Waldron Lake the past 16 years, where he sold used cars. He attended Asbury United Methodist Church.
Other survivors include two daughters, Brenda Howard of Cleves, Ohio and Sheila Moseley of Flower Mound, Texas; a son, Dennis Booher of Piketon, Ohio; three step sons, Gary Stoffer of Van Buren, Larrie Stoffer of Warren and Steven Stoffer of Hartford City; two stepdaughters, Cathy Shaffer of Marion and Lorrie Arnold of Bluffton; two sisters, Bonnie Avery of Plainfield and LaVonne Brown of Montpelier; a step brother, Harold Stinson of Florida; three step sisters, Hildred Foust of Montpelier, Virginia Leas of Hartford City and Doris Cline of Warren; 20 grandchildren; and 17 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Ralph Booher; two step brothers, Forrest and Roger Stinson; and a step sister, Esther Mann.
Services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Asbury United Methodist Church with Rev. Eric Dubach and Pastor Steve Gray officiating. Calling hours are Saturday from 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Glancy Funeral Home, Walker Chapel in Montpelier, and from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the service Sunday at the church. Burial will be in the Asbury cemetery.
(Notice dated June 25, 2004)
Hope Colbert, 89
Hope M. Colbert, 89, a native and life long resident of Keystone, died at 5:10 p.m. Wednesday, June 23 at the Bluffton Regional Medical Center. She had been a resident at Meadowvale Care Center the past year.
Born April 30, 1915 to Luther and Cora McCullick Tuttle, she married
Merl Colbert on May 1, 1969; he died July 3, 1979.
A graduate of Chester Center High School, she worked for Kitco and Franklin Electric in Bluffton, as well as the tomato factories in Bluffton and Hartford City. She was a member of the Keystone United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Phyllis Briles and Donna Lugar, both of Keystone; two sons, Rex Ramseyer of Cathedral City, Calif. and Dexter Falk of Bluffton; a brother, Jim Tuttle of Battle Creek, Mich.; and several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Charlotte Herring; four sisters, Lenora Thompson, Alpha McClelland, Mary Wagner and Ruby Sanford; and two brothers, Bud Tuttle and George Tuttle.
Calling hours are this evening from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Glancy Funeral Home, Walker Chapel in Montpelier, with services there Saturday at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Historic Woodlawn cemetery in Montpelier.
(Notice dated June 25, 2004)
Arvilla Strahm, 85
A native of Bluffton, Arvilla V. Strahm, 85, died Wednesday, June 23 at Canterbury Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Fort Wayne.
She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS and the American Legion Post 47. She was an inspector with Magnavox Corp.
Survivors include a son, Terry Dorman of Indianapolis; four grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and one great great grandson. She was preceded in death by her husband, Reuben Strahm in 1983; a daughter, Sandra Houser; and a granddaughter.
Services will be held at 1p.m. Saturday at D.O. McComb & Sons Maplewood Park Funeral Home, with calling there today from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Burial will be in Six Mile cemetery in Bluffton.
(Notice dated June 25, 2004)
Melvin Randen, 73
The father of a rural Ossian woman, Melvin Randen, 73, Decatur, died unexpectedly Tuesday, June 22 in the emergency room at the Adams County Memorial Hospital.
A veteran of the Korean War, he retired from Sprint Telephone Co. in 1991 following 20 years of service.
He was a veteran of the Korean War with the U.S. Air Force and a past commander of American Legion Post 43 in Decatur.
Survivors include a daughter, Kathy Short of rural Ossian; a son, Melvin, Jr. of Fort Wayne; two brothers; two sisters and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean, a daughter, and six brothers and sisters.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Zion Lutheran Church in Decatur. Calling hours are Monday from 2 to 4 and 5 to 8 p.m. at the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur, and for one hour prior to the service at the church. The American Legion will lead a graveside service at the Decatur cemetery. Preferred memorials to the Grandchildren’s Education Fund or Adams Post 43 Color Guard.
(Notice dated June 25, 2004)
Beverly Oliver, 63
Beverly A. Oliver, 63, Bluffton, died unexpectedly at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 27, at her home.
Born in Liberty Center on May 3, 1941 to Emmett D. and Edna Wilson Liberatore Hupp, she was formerly married
to Ronald L. Oliver, who died July 7, 1991.
A life long resident of Wells County and a 1959 graduate of Liberty Center High School, she worked at Franklin Electric for 36 years and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Survivors include three daughters, Valerie Terhune of Ossian, Beth King and Tamara Oliver, both of Bluffton; three sons, Kevin L., and Brian Oliver, of Bluffton and Robert Oliver of Keystone; three brothers, Donald “Butch” Hupp of Nashville, Ark., Pat Hupp of Decatur and John Hupp of Cut-n-Shoot, Texas; three sisters, Sue Ann Hupp of Ossian, Sharon DeRoo of Decatur, and Kathy Coffield of Fort Wayne; 12 grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.
Calling hours are Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m. and for one hour prior to the service, which will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home. Rev. Walter Graeflin will officiate at services and burial will be in the Elm Grove cemetery. Preferred memorials to the American Lung Association.
(Notice dated June 28, 2004)
Edward G. Betz, 72
Edward G. Betz, 72, of Fort Wayne, died Saturday, June 26 at his home.
Born in Niles, Mich., to George and Annabelle Betz and a former Bluffton resident, he was a truck driver for Super Valu Foods for 35 years, retiring in 1995. A 1951 graduate of Bluffton High School, he was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the U.S. Army, and was a member of the American Legion Post 111 in Bluffton.
Survivors include his wife, Doretta; two sons, Steve and Jerry, both of Fort Wayne, two step daughters, Debbie McMullin and Dawn Parker, both of Nashville, Tenn.; four step sons, Doug and David Garrison of Nashville, Tenn., and Dan and Damon Garrison, both of Huntington; five brothers, Fred “Pete” Betz of Bluffton, James R. Betz of Poneto, Robert E. Betz of Bluffton, Homer T. Betz of Frankton and Joseph L. Betz of Decatur; seven sisters, Blanche Willette, Carolyn Johnson and Linda Stinson, all of Bluffton; Helen Gentis of Fort Wayne; Esther Clements and Laura Zent, both of Huntington, and Wilma O’Hern of Hartford City; three grandchildren; and 14 step grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Martha Rose Betz, and a sister, Mary Ann Betz.
Calling hours are today from 1 to 8 p.m. at D.O. McComb & Sons Pine Valley Park Funeral Home, with services set for Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Grace Point Church of the Nazarene. Preferred memorials to the church or to the Parkview Hospital Home Health & Hospice.
(Notice dated June 29, 2004)
Tim B. Baller, 50
A resident of Bluffton, Tim B. Baller, 50, died at 4:23 p.m. Tuesday, June 29 at Lutheran Hospital.
Born June 14, 1954, in Bluffton to Charles “Jake” Jr. and Rosalie Wolfe Baller, he was a 1972 graduate of Bluffton High School and was formally employed for four years at Almco Steel.
Surviving in addition to the father are a brother, Charles “Chad” Baller III, and a companion, Cheryl Barnes, both of Bluffton.
Calling will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Goodwin Memorial Chapel, where services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Burial will be in Six Mile cemetery.
Preferred memorials are to the American Heart Association.
(Notice dated June 30, 2004)
Lois E. Woods, 82
A former resident of Ossian, Lois E. Woods, 82, died Wednesday, June 30 at Meadowvale Health and Rehabilitation in Bluffton.
Born May 26, 1922 in Fort Wayne to James and Ethel Green Montgomery, she was a homemaker.
Surviving are two sons, John and Jerry Woods. She was preceded in death by a sister, Rudy Montgomery.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Funeral Home in Ossian, with calling for one hour prior to services.
Burial will be in Oak Lawn cemetery in Ossian.
(Notice dated July 1, 2004)
Walter Frederick, Jr. 58 — Rites Pending
Arrangements are pending at Myers Funeral Home, Markle Chapel for Walter E. Frederick, Jr., 58, Markle, who died at 3:04 p.m. Thursday, July 1 at the Markle Health Care Center.
(Notice dated July 2, 2004)
Janet J. Schoeff, 67
Funeral services for Janet J. Schoeff, 67, of Ossian, will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home.
Miss Schoeff, a native of South Bend, died at 4:54 a.m. Friday, July 2 at Dupont Hospital in Fort Wayne. Born July 19, 1936 to Wolford B. and Camilla Kriegbaum Schoeff, she graduated from South Side High School in Fort Wayne in 1955. She worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Fort Wayne in housekeeping for five years then worked for almost 30 years in housekeeping at Bluffton Regional Medical Center (Caylor-Nickel).
She was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene, where she sang in the choir, and was an avid Cubs fan.
She is survived by a brother, Kendall E. Schoeff and a cousin.
Calling at the funeral home will be from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday and for one hour prior to service on Monday. Rev. Walter Graeflin will officiate and burial will be in Covington Memorial Gardens in Fort Wayne.
Preferred memorials are to the Lydia Murray Fund at National City Bank in Bluffton.
(Notice dated July 3, 2004)
Michael A. McKinney, 60
A native of Bluffton, Michael Allen McKinney, 60, of Roann, died Thursday, July 1 at Wabash County Hospital in Wabash.
Born Feb. 2, 1944 in Bluffton to Willard L. and Sarah Dilley McKinney, he was a 1962 graduate of Bluffton High School and was married
in Bluffton on July 31, 1965, to Vickie Gutshall, who survives.
Mr. McKinney received an Associate Degree from Indiana University in Bloomington. He retired from IBM in 1998 after 30 years of service. He also worked as a purchasing agent for R-Vision in Warsaw. He was a member of the Roann United Methodist Church.
In addition to the wife in Roann, he is survived by his mother in Bluffton; two daughters, Deborah Shepherd of Mentone and Tina Blade of Columbia, Tenn.; a son, Eric McKinney of Roann; a sister, Mrs. William (Patricia) Jesse of Ossian and four grandchildren.
Services will be held Monday, July 5 at 2 p.m. at the Manchester Church of the Brethren with Pastor Karen Eberly officiating and burial in Oak Lawn cemetery in North Manchester.
Calling at the Grandstaff-Hentgen Bender Chapel in North Manchester will be today from 2 to 8 p.m.
Preferred memorials are to the American Diabetes Association.
(Notice dated July 3, 2004)
Earl E. Kummer, 88
A lifelong resident of Wells County, Earl E. Kummer, 88, of Bluffton died at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, July 4 at Bluffton Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Kummer was employed for 22 years by the Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District as a custodian and he also worked at Bluffton Rubber Works for 17 years. He served with the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1945 as an ambulance driver. He was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene.
Born May 6, 1916 in Wells County to Samuel and Clarissa Merritt Kummer, his marriage on June 14, 1941 in Fort Wayne was to Phyllis High, who survives.
Also surviving in addition to the wife are two sons, Richard Kummer of Bluffton and Terry Kummer of Fort Wayne; three brothers, Robert Kummer of Marion, Ia.; Donald Kummer of Muncie and Wayne Kummer of Dunkirk; three sisters, Edna Tschannen of Warren, Mrs. Bob (Maxine) Foltz of Muncie and Norma Collett of Noblesville; five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the First Church of the Nazarene with Rev. Walter Graeflin officiating and burial in Elm Grove cemetery.
Calling will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Goodwin Memorial Chapel and for one hour prior to the service at the church.
American Legion Post 111 will be in charge of the graveside service. Preferred memorials are to the Lydia Murray Fund.
(Notice dated July 5, 2004)
