Search Archived Marriage Records
Lois T. Johnson
Died: Monday, July 28, 2003
Age: 90
Lois T. Johnson, 90, of rural Van Wert died Monday morning, July 28, 2003, at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Arrangements are pending at Cowan & Son Funeral Home, Van Wert.
Ruth A. Barnes
Died: Sunday, July 27, 2003
Age: 74
Ruth A. Barnes, 74, of Van Wert died at 11:05 EDT Sunday, July 27, 2003, at St. Joe Medical Center, Fort Wayne, Ind.
She was born July 15, 1929, in Union Township, Van Wert County, the daughter of the late Clarence M. and Helen M. (Simons) Mathews. On Sept. 11, 1948, she married Charles O. Barnes, who survives in Van Wert.
Mrs. Barnes formerly worked at McCoy Flowers in Van Wert and retired from the Van Wert County Engineers office after 22 years of service. A graduate of Union Township High School in Van Wert and Warner’s Beauty School in Fort Wayne, Ind., she was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church in Van Wert, Ohio Public Employee Retiree’s, Inc. and an honorary member and past president of the County Commissioners Clerks & County Engineers Clerks Associations of Ohio.
Survivors include her children, Edward C. (Cathey) Barnes and Robert L. (Kay) Barnes, both of Van Wert; four grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; three great-grandchildren, and eight stepgreat-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Doyle W. Mathews.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home, Van Wert, the Rev. Richard Birk officiating, assisted by the Rev. Bill Hanlon. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Preferred memorial is Van Wert EMS.
Paul Arnold Commers
Died: Saturday, July 26, 2003
Age: 83
OAKWOOD — Paul Arnold Commers, 83, of Oakwood, died at 5:05 a.m. Saturday, July 26, 2003 at the Laurels of Defiance in Defiance.
He was born Aug. 27, 1919 in Crane Township, Paulding County, the son of the late Ben and Ruth (Tolene) Commers. In 1971, he married Maude (Fornety) Simpson, who preceded him in death in 1980. In 1990, he married Ruth (Simpson) Breedlove who preceded him in death in 1999.
Survivors include:
Daughter — Bonnie Weller of Oakwood
Sons — Jerry Simpson of California, Ronnie Breedlove of Paulding and Tommy Breedlove of Brookville, Fla.
Sister — Florence Carpenter of Adrian, Mich.
Grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews also survive.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Commers; a daughter, Dean Borg; and three sons, Gerald, William and John.
Mr. Commers was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corp. during World War II, where he was a tail gunner in a B-17 aircraft. He retired from Indiana - Michigan Electrical as an electrician where he worked for 36 years.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Den Herder Funeral Home in Paulding, with the Rev. Bob Parker officiating. Burial will be in Rochester Cemetery in Cecil with the Paulding V.F.W. Post #587 conducting 
military graveside services. Calling hours are 4-8 p.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. until time of services Wednesday at the funeral home.
Melvin J. Meyers
Died: Saturday, May 17, 2003
Age: 94
DELPHOS - Melvin J. Meyers, 94, died at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 17, 2003, at Vancrest Health Care of Delphos.
He was born Feb. 28, 1909, in Delphos, the son of the late Joseph and Mary (Best) Meyers. On Oct. 24, 1933, he married Helen Kerman, who preceded him in death on March 22, 1992.
Mr. Meyers retired from Norfork-Western Rail Road Company as a yard master after 48 years of service. After retirement, he worked at Myer IGA in Delphos. He played in various bands since he was 13. He played in Merle Hollar band until 1983 as a drummer. He liked painting ceramics and gardening. He attended St. John's School and was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, a life member of the Delphos Eagles and an honorary member of the Delphos Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Survivors include three sons, William (Diane) Meyers of Van Wert, Thomas Meyers (Deb Kinder) of Roanoke, Ind., and Daniel Meyers of Delphos; three daughters, Carole (Leonard) Herman of Columbus, Mary Banta (Richard) of Cocoa Beach, Fla., and Margaret (Anthony) Mesker of Delphos; 18 grandchildren, and 36 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Janice Richardson; two sons, James and Richard Meyers; one sister, Leona Krendl, and a brother, Eugene Meyers.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, the Rev. Thomas Gorman officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Tuesday at Harter and Son Memorial Chapel, Delphos, where a parish wake service is set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Preferred memorial is St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.
Kathryn M. Snyder
Died: Saturday, May 17, 2003
Age: 71
MIDDLE POINT - Kathryn M. Snyder, 71, of Middle Point died at 4:05 a.m. Saturday, May 17, 2003, at Vancrest Health Care Center, Van Wert.
She was born Dec. 1, 1931, in Van Wert County, the daughter of the late David and Thelma (Tabler) Stemen. On Nov. 25, 1949, she married Dewane E. Snyder, who preceded her in death on Feb. 28, 2001.
Mrs. Snyder retired in 1997 after working 22 years in the business office at Van Wert County Hospital. A member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Middle Point, she was also a member of the Middle Point Fire Dept. Auxiliary.
Survivors include two sons, Stephen (Deborah) Snyder of Oxford, Ohio, and Douglas (Margaret) Snyder of Cincinnati; a daughter, Jody Snyder of Tiffin; one brother, Dean (Shirley) Stemen of Middle Point, and five grandchildren, Erica Morris, Lora Snyder, Sara Snyder, Amanda Snyder and Derek Snyder.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Phyllis Stemen.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home, Van Wert, the Rev. Thomas Cover officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery, Middle Point.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Preferred memorials are Middle Point Fire Dept. Auxiliary or Trinity Lutheran Church.
Carl L. Guyton
Died: Friday, May 16, 2003
Age: 80
PAULDING - Carl L. Guyton, 80, of Haines City, Fla., formerly of Paulding, died at 1:50 p.m. Friday, May 16, 2003, at Mariner Help of Winter Haven, Winter Haven, Fla., where he had been a patient for three days.
He was born Jan. 5, 1923, in Toledo, the son of the late Frank and Blanche (Wilson) Guyton. On March 15, 1946, he married Maxine Caldwell, who preceded him in death on July 26, 1997. On Aug. 29, 1998, he married Bernadette (McCullough) Deatrick, who survives in Haines City.
Mr. Guyton was a manager for 15 years for the Winthrop Apartments of Bowling Green, retiring in 1986. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He served with the 20th Air Corps Battalion (Flying Tigers) in the China - Burma - India theater of operations during World War II.
Other survivors include:
Daughters - Rita (Robert C.) Matthias of Van Wert, Bobbie (Paul) Schoen of Smithton, Ill., and J. Roseann (Rick) Eitniear of Las Vegas, Nev.
Son - Carl (Cathy) Guyton Jr. of Castalia
Stepdaughters - Pat Osborn of Defiance and Robin Deatrick of Fort Wayne, Ind.
Sisters - Helen Shong of Defiance, Ilean (Earl) McClain of Paulding, Esther (Arine) Bland of Melrose, Barbara (Larry) Procunier of Defiance and Shirley (Elton) Reneau of Findlay
Half sister - Marsha Gorman of Wallingford, Ky.
Stepsisters - Joyce Varner of Tucson, Ariz., Barbara Richards of Paulding and Carolyn Belden of Defiance
Nine grandchildren, several stepgrandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and several stepgreat-grandchildren also survive.
He was preceded in death by an infant brother, one brother, Robert Guyton, and a stepson, Terry Deatrick.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday at First Christian Church, Paulding, the Rev. Susan Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Paulding Memorial Cemetery, Paulding, with military graveside rites conducted by the Paulding Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 587.
Calling hours are 2-9 p.m. (EDT) Tuesday at Den Herder Funeral Home, Paulding, and an hour prior to service time Wednesday at the church.
Richard S. Welker
Died: Friday, May 16, 2003
Age: 90
VENEDOCIA - Richard S. Welker, 90, of rural Venedocia died at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 16, 2003, at Marjorie P. Lee Retirement Community, Cincinnati.
He was born July 1, 1912, in York Township, Van Wert County, the son of the late Eltie E. and Anna Jane (Hughes) Welker. On Nov. 27, 1935, he married Geraldine May "Judy" Welker, who preceded him in death on April 9, 1996.
Mr. Welker graduated from York High School in 1930 and earned his bachelor of theology degree from Huntington College in 1935. He served as pastor of a United Brethren Church in Portland, Ore., until 1942 then worked as a brakeman on the Erie Railroad. After World War II he began farming in York Township and later worked for Tuttle Construction in Lima for over 20 years and retired as a field superintendent in 1977. He was a longtime member of Elgin United Brethren Church and attended Kingsley United Methodist Church in Van Wert. He was a former member of the York Board of Education and president of the original school board for Lincolnview Local School.
Survivors include two sons, David Richard (Brenda Smitley) Welker of Marietta, Ga., and John B. (Suzanne Hitchcock) Welker of Circleville; two daughters, Kathy Joyce Welker of Cincinnati and Kristina May Welker of Syracuse, Ind.; one brother, Lowell (Eleanor Orick) Welker of Mendon; a sister-in-law, Helen (Clay) Welker of Van Wert; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Orren O. Welker and Delmar E. Welker, and a sister, Leona Reahm.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home, Van Wert, the Rev. Chuck Glover officiating. Burial will be in Goodwin Cemetery, York Township, Van Wert County.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Preferred memorial is Kingsley United Methodist Church.
