This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Bruner, Sharpe, Glessner, Williams, Collins, Hiatt, Koger, Erb, McCashen, Luker,
Houtz, Erb, Crago, Shadle
Classification: Obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ui.2ADI/3066
Message Board Post:
Obituaries courtesy of News-Banner Publications. Posted with permission.
September 25, 2004
Carolyn Sue Bruner, 64
Following an extended illness in a long battle with cancer, Carolyn Sue Bruner, 64, of
1658 South Wayne St., Bluffton, died Friday morning, September 24, 2004, at the Indiana
University Medical Center in Indianapolis.
She was a former resident of Fort Wayne and Portland and a member of the Asbury United
Methodist Church in Portland.
Born September 30,1939, in Celina, Ohio, she was the daughter of Robert Denney and Mary
Romine (Denney ) Russell. The mother survives at Swiss Village in Berne
A 1957 graduate of Portland High School and also a graduate of International Business
College in Fort Wayne, Mrs. Bruner worked as a supervisor for Indiana & Michigan
Electric Company from 1962 to1996. Her marriage to Fred Bruner, who survives in Bluffton,
was on Oct.12, 1985. She and her husband owned and operated their own business selling
guns and antiques.
Surviving in addition to her husband and mother, are two step-daughters, Kathy Tibbs and
Karen Bruner Stroup, both of Indianapolis, and a brother, Andy Russell of Bedford,
Indiana.
Preceding her in death were her father, Robert Denney; a brother, Jerry Russell, and her
stepfather, Clarence R. Russell.
A memorial service celebrating her life is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at the Williamson &
Spencer Funeral Home in Portland. Preferred memorials are to the Riley Children’s Hospital
Memorial Fund.
September 27, 2004
Rollie L. Sharpe, 67
Rollie L. Sharpe, 67, Poneto, died at 3 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25 at his home.
A native and lifelong resident of Wells County, he was born Oct. 9, 1936 to Nile A. and
Erma Roberts Sharpe, Sr.
Mr. Sharpe was a graduate of Chester Center High School in 1954 and retired from Dana
Corp. in Marion in 1989 after 32 years of service. After retiring, he traveled
extensively. He attended the Warren First Baptist Church.
Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Jeff (Alice) Coratti, Mrs. James (Teresa) Coratti
and Mrs. Rick (April) Watson, all of Bluffton; two sons, Rick L. Sharpe of Markle and
Larry V. Sharpe of Warren; two brothers, Nile Sharpe, Jr. of Keystone and Jack Sharpe of
Poneto; and 11 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by twin daughters, Cammie and
Tammie Sharpe, and a sister, Donna Lautzenheiser.
Calling hours are Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral
Home. A private family service will be held at a later time with Pastor Bob Bothast
officiating. Preferred memorials to the American Cancer Society.
Clint A. Glessner, 36
Clint Alan Glessner, 36, Warren, died at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25 from injuries received
in an ultra-lite plane accident in Huntington County.
Born April 3, 1968 in Blackford County to Bob and Linda Furniss Glessner, he married Julia
Lamb on Aug. 4, 1990 in Mexico, Ind.; she survives.
Mr. Glessner graduated from Huntington North High School in 1986 and earned a degree in
retail management from Purdue University in 1990. While at Purdue he was a member of the
Purdue Glee Club. He was the owner of Warren Furniture Works, past master of Huntington
Masonic Lodge Amity 483, a member of the Shrine Mizpah and the Fort Wayne Valley Scottish
Rite. He was a past president of the Warren Chamber of Commerce and served on the board of
directors of the Scottish Rite Learning Center in Fort Wayne. He was also an education
instructor and had his private pilot’s license.
In addition to his wife and parents, he is also survived by a daughter, Stephanie Glessner
at home; two sisters, Trish Guillaume and Cherri Glessner, both of Fort Wayne; his
maternal grandmother, Arlene Furniss of Warren; and his step mother, Patty Glessner of
Huntington.
Calling hours are today from 4 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday from 1 to 8 p.m. at Glancy Funeral
Homes, H. Brown & Son Chapel in Warren. A Masonic Service will take place Tuesday at
7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Services will also be held there on Wednesday at 10:30
a.m.,with Pastor Charles Dye, Jr. officiating.
Burial will be in the Masonic Cemetery in Warren. Preferred memorials to the Stephanie
Glessner Education Fund.
September 28, 2004
Walter E. Williams Jr., 53
A resident of Fort Wayne and manager of Food Market for over 20 years, Walter E. Williams
Jr., 53, died at 6:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 26 at Parkview Hospital.
Born Aug. 12, 1951 in Lubbock, Tex., to Walter E. and Francis Williams Sr., he was a
veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
Surviving are a daughter, Amber Williams of Bluffton; two sons, Christopher E. Williams of
Bluffton and Kenneth J. Williams of Dallas Tex., a brother, Greg Williams, and a sister,
Loujana Williams, both of Lubbock, Tex.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Goodwin Memorial Chapel with Jerry Frees
officiating and burial in Stahl Cemetery. Calling at the funeral home will be Thursday
from 3 to 8 p.m.
Robert M. Collins, 78
Robert M. Collins, 78, of Ossian, died at Ossian Health & Rehabilitation Monday, Sept.
27.
Born in Marion Aug. 30, 1926 to Martin and Bertha Holmes Collins, his marriage in Miami,
Okla., to the former Maxine L. Hawn took place in March of 1967. She survives.
Mr. Collins had a 30-year career in the United States Navy Seabees and was a veteran of
World War II, Korea and the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was retired after 22 years as a
mechanic at Kroger warehouse.
He was a member of the Church of the Nazarene and of the Bluffton VFW.
Additional survivors include two sons, Larry Cardin of Pawnee, Okla., and Ronald Cardin of
Huntington; and a daughter, Mrs. Robert (Linda) Cochran of Fort Wayne.
He was preceded in death by two sisters.
Services at 1 p.m. Thursday will be at Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Funeral Home, Ossian, under
the direction of Rev. Walter Graeflin. Burial will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Ossian.
There will be a graveside color guard with military rites.
Calling will be Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society and the Diabetes Association.
Thomas Lee Hiatt, 79
A native of Bluffton, Thomas Lee Hiatt, 79, died at his residence in Vista, Calif.,
Thursday, Sept. 23.
Born in Bluffton Dec. 22, 1924, he was married 55 years to Jane Summers Hamilton Hiatt.
She survives.
A graduate of the University of Michigan, he lived in California for the past 48 years—16
in Vista and 32 in Arcadia. He was a World War II veteran who was awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with two Golden Stars. He was retired after
30 years as a civil engineer for C.F. Braun Co., a petro-chemical company in California.
Survivors include a brother, Dr. William R. Hiatt of Germantown, Wis.; and two sisters,
June Keisler, of Bloomington and Rebecca Powell, Goodhue, Minn, as well as numerous nieces
and nephews.
Graveside services at Fairview Cemetery in Bluffton will be announced at a later date.
Local arrangements are in charge of Goodwin Memorial Chapel.
Margaret B. Koger, 76
Mother of Ralph D. Koger of Montpelier, Margaret B. Koger, 76, rural Hartford City, died
at 7:22 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27, at Blackford Community Hospital in Hartford City.
Born in Delaware County March 3, 1928 to John Estel and Margaret Ann Parker Welch, her
marriage April 29, 1950 in Dunkirk was to Ralph M. Koger, who survives.
She retired in 1978 from Kerr Glass in Dunkirk after 20 years and was a member of the
Pleasantdale United Methodist Church.
Additional survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Bill (Betty jean) Cronkhite, Hartford
City, and Mrs. Gene (Karen Ann) Lewis of Upland; a brother, Earl Welch of Warren, nine
grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a daughter Nancy Marie Koger, brothers John, Ney and Jess
Welch and sister Viola M. McCreery.
Services at 11 a.m. Thursday will be held at Pleasantdale United Methodist Church under
the direction of Pastor Darren Williams. Burial will follow in the Hartford City
Cemetery.
Calling hours are 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at Glancy Funeral Homes-Walker Chapel, Montpelier and
one hour prior to services at the church.
Memorials may be made to the church or to the American Cancer Society.
Deone E. Erb, 85—Rites Pending
A resident of the United Methodist memorial Home in Warren, Deone E. Erb, 85, died at 2:18
p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, at the home. Services are pending at Glancy Funeral Homes-H. Brown
& Son Chapel, Warren.
September 29, 2004
Marian McCashen, 98
A Bluffton resident from 1956 to 1998, Marian McCashen,98, died Sept. 4, 2004.
Born April 14, 1906, in Wapakoneta,Ohio, she married Merle McCashen in 1932. He preceded
her in death on Aug. 7,1986.
Mrs.McCashen was a member of the Bluffton First Presbyterian Church and is remembered for
her interests in baking and in her award-winning violets.
Surviving are one son, John McCashen, of 1311 Beamer Rd., Blissfield, Mich.; one brother,
Robert Koch of St, Mary’s, Ohio; three grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. McCashen donated her body to the University of Michigan.
Norma E. Luker, 73
A former member of the Women’s Professional Baseball League, playing for the Fort Wayne
Daisies team, Norma E. Luker, 73, of Huntington died at 1:21 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, 2004,
at Parkview Hospital in Huntington.
She was known as the “Cookie Baker” for Huntington College, where she had baked for 13
years. She was a member of the Markle Church of the Brethren and Red Cross and active with
the Pioneer Settlement making apple butter.
Born on March 30, 1931, in Huntington County, she was the daughter of Norman and Elton
Platt Taylor. Her first marriage was to Frank M.Hart in 1953. He died on Jan. 2, 1969. She
married Larry J. Luker, who also preceded her in death.
Surviving are one daughter, Diana S. Hethcote of Huntington; one brother, John R. Taylor
of Huntington; three sisters, Mary E. Brooks of Huntington and Mrs. Paul (Charlotte)
Pettigrew and Alberta Thomas, both of Fort Wayne; four grandsons and three
great-grandchildren.
Visitation is from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Bailey-Love Mortuary in Huntington, where funeral
services will be at 10 a.m.Thursday with Pastor Glen Robinson officiating. Burial will be
in Lancaster Cemetery, Huntington County. Memorials to the Norma E. Luker Huntington
College Memorial Sports Fund in care of the funeral home.
Sept. 30, 2004
Mary M. Houtz, 93
A resident of the Warren United Methodist Memorial Home, Mary M. Houtz, 93, died at 2:10
a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29 at the home.
Born Sept. 19, 1911 in Wells County to John and Laura Jackson HunNicutt, her marriage in
Muncie to John J. Houtz took place Jan. 17, 1934. He preceded her in death Jan. 11, 1997.
A member of the Boehmer United Methodist Church, Mrs. Houtz had been a resident of rural
Warren for 67 years. She was a member of the Willing Workers Circle, the W.C.S., and a
59-year member of the Rural Friendship Extension Homemakers Club of Huntington County.
A homemaker, she had worked at one time or another for Buckeye Grocery, Myers Department
Store, Mrs. Bonifeld’s Gift Shop, McCord’s Five & Dime and Coolman’s Drugs.
Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Carlton K. (Joyce) Dahlquist, and Mrs. Harold
(Betty) Parker, both of Warren, and Carol Watkins of Columbia City; nine grandchildren, 20
great-grandchildren, several step grandchildren, step great-grandchildren, and step
great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by brothers Everett, Charles and Carl Hunnicutt; by sisters
Nettie Hunnicutt, Rosa Ruble, and Ida Collins and A great-granddaughter.
Calling hours will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the home.
Services at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the home will be under the direction of Pastor Barry
Humble with burial to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, Warren.
Memorials may be made to Boehmer United Methodist Church.
Glancy Funeral Homes-H. Brown & Son Chapel, Warren, is in charge of arrangements.
Deone Ethel Erb, 85
A resident of the Warren United Methodist Memorial Home, Deone Ethel Erb, 85, died at the
home Monday, Sept. 27, at 2:18 p.m.
Born in Van Wert, Ohio, March 27, 1919 to Ralph O. and Ethel S. Leiter McGinnis, her
marriage in Fort Wayne to Russell Edmund Erb took place Feb. 15, 1941. he survives.
A member of the Fort Wayne Women’s Club, she traveled widely around the world with her
husband on freighter trips from 1972-1994. She owned Deone E. Erb Realty in Fort Wayne and
was a resident of Fort Wayne from 1938-1987 before moving to Sun City, Ariz. She moved to
the United Methodist Home in 2000.
Survivors include a son, Thomas, of Lawrence, Kansas., and a daughter, Mrs. Mathew
(Marlene) Sopina of Huntersville, N.C.; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A brother, Doyt McGinnis, preceded her in death.
Viewing and services will be private.
Memorials may be made to the Greater Wayne St. United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne.
Arrangements are in charge of Glancy Funeral Homes-H. Brown & Son Chapel, Warren.
Patricia B. Crago, 73
Mother of Mrs. Jon (Teresa) Jennings of Warren, Patricia B. Crago, 73, died at the Hospice
Home of Northeast Indiana in Fort Wayne at 7:25 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29.
Born in Huntington Feb. 9, 1931 to Floyd and Nina Bell Pardue Braden, her marriage March
16, 1952 in Huntington was to Charles William Crago. He survives.
A 1949 graduate of Huntington High School, she was an Avon representative for 18 years.
She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Floral Chapter #75 and the Veterans of
Foreign Wars Post #2689 Women’s Auxiliary.
Also surviving are a son, Thomas L. Crago, of Huntington; a second daughter, Mrs. Chris
(Jean) Cain of Huntington; three step grandchildren and two step great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Floyd Braden Jr.
Services Saturday at 2 p.m. will be at Myers Funeral Home, Huntington Chapel, under the
direction of Bishop Elzie Spencer. Burial will follow at the Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery in
Huntington.
Calling at the funeral home will be from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Friday.
Memorials may be made to the Huntington Police Athletic League Club.
T. Mae Shadle
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday for T. Mae Shadle, Bluffton, who died
at 12:40 a.m. today, Sept. 30, at Bluffton Regional Medical Center.
Calling hours will be from 4-8 p.m. Friday at Glancy Funeral Homes-Walker Chapel in
Montpelier.
A full obituary is scheduled to appear in Friday’s edition of the News-Banner.
October 1, 2004
T. Mae Shadle, 81
T. Mae Shadle, 81, of Bluffton, died a 12:40 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 30 at the Bluffton
Regional Medical Center.
Born in Laclede County, Mo. on March 11, 1923 to Harrison H. and Bessie Ann Myers Price,
she married Philip E. Shadle on Feb. 21, 1956 in Angola; he died Oct. 26, 1980.
After moving to Indiana in 1940, she worked as a nurses aide, most recently at the Warren
United Methodist Home and at Caylor Nickel Clinic. She formerly lived in the rural Poneto
area before moving into the Meadowvale Care Center. She was a member of the First Baptist
Church in Montpelier.
Survivors include a son, Brady McCoy of Henderson, Ky.; a daughter, Mrs. Gary (Barbara)
Shadle of Berne; three step sons, Steve Shadle of Bluffton, William Shadle of Kokomo, and
Gary Shadle of Berne; four brothers, Otis Price of Springfield, Mo., Junior Price of
Falcon, Mo., Loren Price of Dunkirk, and Dale Price of Long Island, N.Y.; two sisters,
Sylvia Carvel Howard and Ruth Tupper, both of Lebanon, Mo.; eight grandchildren; and 11
great grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Johnny, Curtis
and Glenn Price; and a sister, Virgie Ogle.
Calling hours are this evening from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Glancy Funeral Home, Walker Chapel
in Montpelier. Services will be held there Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be in
Brookside Memorial Park in Montpelier.