George B. Lybarger
Died: Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Age: 48
SPENCERVILLE - George B. Lybarger, 48, of rural Spencerville, died at 7:05 a.m. Wednesday, April 16, 2003, at St. Rita's Medical Center, Lima, following a sudden illness at his home.
He was born Dec. 30, 1954, in Lima, the son of the late Roger O. and Grace Marie Alspaugh Dorsten Lybarger. On April 20, 1974, he married Sandra Lee "Sandy" Parsons, who survives.
Mr. Lybarger was employed by the Spencerville Elementary School as a custodian and formerly worked at the Fruehauf Corp. in Delphos for 12 years and the Re-Lom Division of Flexible Foam Products in Spencerville for four years. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving from 1972-75.
Other survivors include:
Stepfather - Olan O. "Bill" Wilkerson of Spencerville
Daughter - Melissa Lynn Lybarger of Spencerville
Son - Roger E. Lybarger of Spencerville
Brothers - Wilson J. "Joe" (Treda) Dorsten of Spencerville and Eugene S. (Diana) Wilkerson of Ada
He was preceded in death by a brother, William Lee "Bill" Wilkerson.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Bethlehem Christian Union Church, north of Buckland, the Revs. Carl W. Miller and Timothy R. Bruns officiating. Burial will follow in Buckland Cemetery, where military rites will be conducted by the American Legion Post 191 and Bowersock Bros. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6772, both of Spencerville.
Calling hours are 5-8 p.m. Saturday and 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Thomas E. Bayliff Funeral Home, Spencerville, and after 10 a.m. Monday at the church. An Eagle's memorial service will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Fay P. Scarbrough
Died: Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Age: 100
GROVER HILL - Fay P. Scarbrough, 100, of Grover Hill died at 11:10 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, 2003, at Vancrest Health Care Center, Van Wert.
He was born Dec. 11, 1902, in North Star, Mich., the son of the late Ed and Myrtle (Burkett) Scarbrough. On Oct. 2, 1924, in Hillsdale, Mich., he married Gladys L. Wistner, who preceded him in death on Dec. 1, 1995.
Mr. Scarbrough was a farmer, worked in several factories and for the State of Ohio Highway Dept. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, sports enthusiast, avid ballplayer and loved bowling and horse racing.
Survivors include four sons, Gene (Nova) Scarbrough, John Scarbrough, Jerry (Linda) Scarbrough and Gail (Krista) Scarbrough, all of Grover Hill; three daughters, Pat (Dan) Ward of Midland, Mich., Carol Bryant of Lima and Marge (Don) Stahl of Grover Hill; 25 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren, and 24 great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by five brothers, Lawrence, Rex, Ralph, John D. and Glenn Scarbrough, one grandchild, and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home, the Rev. Paul Miller officiating. Burial will be in Middle Creek Cemetery, Grover Hill.
Calling hours are 4-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Preferred memorial is Grover Hill EMS.
Kenneth E. Fisher
Died: Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Age: 83
ST. MARYS - Kenneth E. Fisher, 83, died Wednesday morning, April 16, 2003, in his home near Kossuth following an extended illness.
He was born April 24, 1919, in York Township, Van Wert County, the son of the late Emery and Lola Heist Fisher. On Sept. 15, 1945, he married Ada H. Tewell, who survives.
Mr. Fisher was a long time farmer and worked as a welder at Gramm Trailer/Fruehauf Corp. in Delphos. He retired from New Idea Corp. in Coldwater. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II who served in the European Theater, he received the Bronze Star and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a graduate of York High School and a member of Kossuth-Zion United Methodist Church in Kossuth.
Other survivors include three sons, Nelson (Diana) Fisher and Norman (Martha) Fisher, both of Wapakoneta, and Nolan (Christine) Fisher of St. Paris; three daughters, Phyllis (Edward) Goodson of Lima, Alexa Tippie of St. Marys and Joyce Fisher of Spencerville; six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Kossuth-Zion Church, the Rev. Raymond S. Daniel Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in Ridge Cemetery, near Van Wert, where graveside military rites will be conducted by Bowersock Bros. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6772 and Harry J. Reynolds American Legion Post 191, both of Spencerville.
Calling hours are 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. today at Thomas E. Bayliff Funeral Home, Spencerville, and after 9:30 a.m. Friday at the church.
Memorials are to the church.
John W. Wilkin
Died: Tuesday, April 15, 2003
Age: 79
MIDDLE POINT - John W. Wilkin, 79, of rural Middle Point died at 10:06 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, 2003, at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, Ind.
He was born Aug. 9, 1923, in York Township, Van Wert County, the son of the late William Henry and Ernestine "Tena" BeVard Wilkin. On June 6, 1942, he married Ruth J. Swartz, who survives.
Mr. Wilkin was employed for 33 years at General Motors Central Foundry, Defiance, retiring in 1981 and operated a grocery store with his wife in Wetzel for 15 years. A 1941 graduate of York High School, he owned and trained race horses for 40 years, was associated with Zion Christian Union Church, and was a member of United Auto Workers Local 211 in Defiance, Van Wert County Harness Horse Association, United States Trotting Association, Ohio Harness Horsemen Association and Indiana Standard Breed Association.
Survivors include three sons, John Wayne "Butch" (Trudy) Wilkin of Grover Hill, Larry G. (Carol) Wilkin of Van Wert and Roger Lynn Wilkin of Middle Point; two daughters, Lyla Kay (James) Caris and Joyce A. (Ron) Welk, both of Paulding; a sister, Anna E. Buettner of Van Wert; 13 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Sylvester Wilkin, and a sister, Ruby G. Rager.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home, Van Wert, the Rev. Joseph D. Harr officiating. Burial will be in King Cemetery, Washington Township.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Preferred memorial is the American Diabetes Association.
Dale F. Jones
Died: Monday, April 14, 2003
Age: 90
CONVOY - Dale F. "Jake" Jones, 90, of Convoy died at 4:14 a.m. Monday, April 14, 2003, at Convoy Care Center, Convoy.
He was born May 25, 1912, in Union Township, Van Wert County, the son of the late Horace H. and Nellie (Harber) Jones. On July 11, 1933, he married Pauline Josephine Slattery, who preceded him in death on Sept. 9, 1995.
Mr. Jones was employed for 37 years by Wayne Pump Mfg. in Fort Wayne, Ind., and retired from General Electric Co. in Fort Wayne. He was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert.
Survivors include five daughters, Darlene (Carl) Reid of Gilbert, Ariz., Diane (Ray) Tinnel of Convoy, Kathy (John) Greenup of Hemlock, Mich., Angie (Craig) Becher of Brentwood, Tenn., and Paula (Dave) Sinning of Convoy; three sons, Trevor (Mary) Jones of Lima, Greg (Sue) Jones of Willshire and Alan (Maggie) Jones of Van Wert; 29 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one son, Curtis; one granddaughter, Mary Darlene Reid; three brothers, Harry, Cliff and Bill Jones; five sisters, Lola Manis, Opal Clouse, LuVern Kennedy, Doris Steel and Florence Hickman.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, the Rev. Thomas Barrett officiating. Internment will be held at IOOF Cemetery, Convoy.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Wednesday at Brickner Funeral Home, where a parish vigil service will be held at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Memorial contributions are to charity of donor's choice.
Merl F. Emans
Died: Monday, April 14, 2003
Age: 71
Merl F. Emans, 71, of Van Wert died at 4:30 a.m. EDT Monday, April 14, 2003, at Lima Memorial Hospital, Lima.
He was born June 23, 1931, in Elgin, the son of the late Lee and Janice (Wilges) Emans. On Jan. 31, 1990, he married Delores "Pete" Redmon, who survives in Van Wert.
Mr. Emans retried from Tri Pallet Co., Morgan Hill, Calif. A U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, he was a member of Trinity Friends Church in Van Wert and Gideons International.
Other survivors include his children, Janice Emans of Lakewood, Calif., Shreena Fornear of Clifton, Colo., and Robert Coate of Celina; a special friend, Raquel (Brad) Schaadt; one brother, Edwin (Ana) Emans of Frankfurt, Ind.; two sisters, Wanda (Donald) Steele of Rotanda West, Fla., and Janet McHugh of Van Wert; six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Trinity Friends Church in Van Wert, the Rev. John Perkins officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert.
Calling hours are 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home and an hour prior to service Thursday at the church.
Preferred memorial is Gideons International.
T. Russell Book
Died: Sunday, April 13, 2003
Age: 86
ROCKFORD - T. Russell Book, 86, of Rockford died at 12:30 a.m. Sunday, April 13, 2003, at The Laurels of Shane Hill where he had been a patient.
He was born June 13, 1916, in Vinton County, the son of Asa L. and Martha L. "Lula" Raver Book. On March 3, 1946, he married Barbara Inez Kidd, who preceded him in death on July 5, 1997.
Mr. Book, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, retired from the former Continental Can Co. in Van Wert. He was also a farmer.
Survivors include:
Brothers - Rev. Rea (Fern) Book of Van Wert and William G. (Edna) Book from Ohio City
Sisters - Mrs. Mae Thomas, Helen (Bill) Hurless and Pauline (Carl) Sell, all of Rockford
Sister-in-law -- Edith Michael of Lima
Many nieces and nephews also survive.
He was preceded in death by a brother, John O. Book, one infant brother, and three sisters, Olive Leighner and two infant sisters.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home, Rockford, with the Rev. Robert Loar officiating and the Rev. John Richardson assisting. Burial will be in Greenbriar Cemetery, outside of Ohio City.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
