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John E. Keefer
John E. Keefer, 79, Wabash, died at 6:35 a.m. Sunday (Oct. 28, 2001) at the Wabash County Hospital.
Mr. Keefer was a carpenter for 40 years with Strahm Inc., Fort Wayne, retiring in 1987. He was a member of the Dora Christian Church, rural Lagro; the Lagro American Legion; and Carpenters Union 232, Fort Wayne. He was a World War II Army veteran.
He was born Jan. 3, 1922, in Roanoke to Elmer and Gladys Pequignot Keefer. He married Ruth E. Haines Speicher in Andrews on June 29, 1951. His wife survives.
Also surviving are a son, Dennis K. Stanley, Ossian; two daughters, Mrs. Elden (Chrisann) Heckler, Celina, Ohio, and Mrs. John (Jennifer) Ott, Wabash; two stepsons, Stephen Speicher and Roger Speicher, both of Wabash; four half-brothers, Raymond Keefer, Summitville, Phil Keefer, Sevierville, Tenn., Lester Keefer, Roanoke, and Harold Keefer, Okeechobee, Fla.; a half-sister, Katherine Covey, Huntington; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers and a sister.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Grandstaff-Hentgen Manchester Avenue Chapel, 1241 Manchester Ave., Wabash. There will be no funeral services.
Preferred memorials are to the Dora Christian Church Building Fund, in care of Grandstaff-Hentgen Manchester Avenue Chapel, 1241 Manchester Ave., Wabash, IN 46992.
Dr. Stanton E. Cope Sr.
Dr. Stanton E. Cope Sr., 81, died Friday (Oct. 26, 2001) in Clearwater, Fla., where he had lived since retiring in 1993.
Dr. Cope had practiced medicine in Huntington for 44 years. He served as chief of medical staff for Huntington County Hospital in 1962, was Huntington County coroner for eight years, was the primary care provider for the Huntington County Nursing Home and the former staff physician for Miller’s Merry Manor in Huntington, was the team physician for Huntington high school sports teams, and was an instructor at Huntington College. He served as a Navy physician 1944-49 and served on Saipan in the Marianas Islands.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Huntington, where he served as a Family Life Education instructor and was a former superintendent and teacher of Sunday School. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, Shriners Club, Huntington County Medical Society, Elks Lodge, American Legion, and Citizens of Ball State University. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a 32nd Degree Mason, past president of the LaFontaine Country Club, and was co-founder and served four terms as president of the Huntington County Medical Memorial Foundation. He received the Golden Deeds Award from the Huntington Exchange Club in 1978. He was a Little League coach for Our Sunday Visitor, Huntington, for 10 years.
He graduated as valedictorian of Ridgeville, Ind., High School in 1938. He was a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame’s 1963 Silver Anniversary Team. He graduated from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, where he was an All-American in soccer in 1941 and a member of the All-Pennsylvania College basketball first team member in 1941-42. He graduated from the Indiana University School of Medicine.
He was born April 3, 1920, in White County, Tenn. His first marriage was Jan. 20, 1945, in Lafayette, to the former Mildred “Moonie” Kemmer. She died on July 29, 1991. His second marriage was to Margaret Cope in Indianapolis in July, 1992. She survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Dr. Taylor Cope, Chicago, and Stanton E. Cope Jr. Ph.D., Gurnee, Ill.; two daughters, Julia Cope Deemer, Indianapolis, and Elizabeth Cope Perkins, Madeira Beach, Fla.; a stepson, Douglas A. Cope, Brooksville, Fla.; a stepdaughter, Janilyn Cope-Kasten, Ripon, Wis.; two sisters, Chloe Collins, Indianapolis, and Neola Hannaford, Ripon, Wis.; 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Calling is from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Hart Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Russell Buzzard officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Preferred memorials are to the Cope Memorial Fund, in care of Hart Funeral Home, 715 N. Jefferson St., Huntington, IN 46750. A fund is being established for a children’s mini-park, to be called The Stanton E. Cope Memorial Playground, at a local site yet to be determined.
Katherine E. Kimmel
Katherine Elizabeth “Kate” Kimmel, 78, Columbia City, died at 8:45 a.m. Monday (Oct. 29, 2001) at her home.
Mrs. Kimmel was a homemaker and a member of the Columbia City American Legion Post 98 Auxiliary.
She was born April 23, 1923, in Whitley County, to Ferman Donald and Elva Fern Dinius Sheets. She grew up in Whitley County. She married Rolland “Duke” Kimmel in Anderson on Feb. 15, 1941. They first lived in Huntington following their marriage and moved to Columbia City in 1948. Mrs. Kimmel’s husband died on Feb. 16, 1979.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Stephen (Carol) Dimmick, Columbia City; a son, Craig Kimmel, Columbia City; a brother, Harold Sheets, Columbia City; plus eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by a son, James Rolland Kimmel, who died March 11, 1995, and a grandson.
Calling will be held after 1 p.m. Wednesday at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Dr., Columbia City, with graveside services following at 2 p.m. at Green Hill Cemetery, Columbia City. Pastor Dale Mosher will officiate.
Homer L. Miller
Homer LeRoy Miller, 84, Decatur, died Monday (Oct. 29, 2001) at Adams County Memorial Hospital in Decatur.
Mr. Miller worked as a welder with Fruehauf Trailer, retiring in 1982, and was a member of Union Chapel United Methodist Church in Decatur. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was born Aug. 23, 1917, in Huntington, to Clarence Miller and Ethel Reiger Miller. He married Betty J. Miller on March 1, 1957; his wife survives.
Additional survivors include two foster daughters, Carolyn Leiter and Marilyn Leiter, both of Decatur; a brother, Hayden Miller, Huntington; and three sisters, Freida Nichols, Columbia City, Martha Bridgewater, Churubusco, and Mrs. Edward (Mary Kathryn) Boyd, Huntington.
He was preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters.
Calling is 6-8 p.m. Wednesday and 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the Haggard & Sefton Funeral Home, 225 W. Adams St., Decatur. Additional calling will be held from 1-2 p.m. Friday at Union Chapel United Methodist Church, Decatur, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday. Burial will be at the Decatur Cemetery
with military rites conducted by American Legion Post 43.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Union Chapel United Methodist Church in Decatur.
Vera L. Stahl
Vera L. Stahl, 94, a resident of the Norwood Nursing Center, died there at 10:05 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 30, 2001).
Mrs. Stahl, a former resident of Olinger Street, was a 1925 graduate of Huntington High School and a member of Central Christian Church. She retired from Huntington Laboratories and had also worked at the Merit Shoe Store in Huntington.
She was born June 23, 1907, in Huntington County, to Edward Zent and Nora Wolf Zent. She married Kenneth O. Stahl Sept. 24, 1929, in Huntington; her husband died March 21, 1973.
She is survived by six great-nephews and great-nieces, including Huntington residents Don Schoeff and Janell Guffey, and their mother, Betty Schoeff of Huntington.
There are no calling hours. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Mt. Hope Cemetery
with Rev. Teal Younce officiating.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Central Christian Church in care of the Deal-Robbins & Van Gilder Funeral Home, 338 E. Washington St., Huntington IN 46750.
Clifford E. Mix
Clifford E. Mix, 89, a resident of Miller’s Merry Manor, died there at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday (Oct. 31, 2001). He was a former resident of Kocher Street.
Mr. Mix had worked as a machine operator at General Electric in Fort Wayne, retiring in 1975. He was a member of the Fathers’ Auxiliary to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2689, Huntington.
He was born June 25, 1912, in Carroll County, Ky., to George Ernest Mix and Jessie F. Leland Mix.
He is survived by a son, Larry Mix, and a stepson, Gordon Huston, both of Wolcottville; a sister, Mary F. Mix, Huntington; and two grandchildren, three stepgrandchildren, and five great-stepgrandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Ann Hickey and Laura Mix, and four brothers, Lawrence Mix, Richard Mix, Burford Mix, and Roger Mix.
Calling is 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Deal-Robbins & Van Gilder Funeral Home, Huntington Chapel, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday. Rev. Richard Frederick will officiate. Burial will be at the Pilgrims Rest Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Faye E. Huffman
Faye E. Huffman, 84, a resident of the United Methodist Memorial Home in Warren, died there at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 30, 2001).
Mrs. Huffman had worked at the United Methodist Memorial Home as a nurse’s aide and had also worked in the kitchen. She was a member of the Warren United Methodist Church and the Rebekah Lodge. She lived at 6643S Warren Rd. in Salamonie Township before moving to the United Methodist Memorial Home in 1994.
She was born June 13, 1917, in Owen County, to Bert and Mamie Etta Hawkins Walden. She married Harry Franklin Huffman in Peru on Sept. 19, 1937. Her husband died July 14, 1988.
Survivors include a son, David H. Huffman, Bluffton; two daughters, Mrs. Dennis (Joyce) Stahl, Huntington, and Mrs. Walter (Judy) Yoder, Markle, and eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Scotty F. Huffman and George W. Huffman; two brothers, Harold Walden and Winfred Walden; and a sister, Marie Walden.
Calling is 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Glancy Funeral Homes, H. Brown & Son Chapel, 203 N. Matilda St., Warren, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday. Pastor Herbert Edwards will officiate.
Burial will be at the Woodlawn Cemetery, Warren.
Preferred memorials are to the United Methodist Memorial Home, 801 Huntington Ave., Warren, IN 46792.
Joyce E. Wills
Joyce E. Wills, 66, Elkhart, died at 9:43 a.m. Friday (Nov. 2, 2001) at her home.
Mrs. Wills was an 1954 graduate of Elkhart High School who worked at the Elkhart Water Works for more than 23 years before retiring in 1995. She was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ, Elkhart.
She was born Nov. 21, 1934, in Huntington, to Walter M. and Mary Margaret Zinsmeister Rice.
Survivors include a son, Robert W. Wills, Elkhart; two daughters, Mrs. Jeff (Teresa) Smith, Mishawaka, and Mrs. Doug (Kathy) Long, Elkhart; six grandchildren; and a brother, Jay D. Rice, Elkhart.
Calling is from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
The body will be cremated. Burial will take place at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Elkhart, at a later date.
Preferred memorials are to a children’s charity of the donor’s choice.
