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Surnames: Pace, Thomas, DeVoe, Mazelin, Drayer, Schwarzkopf, Harris, Miller, Jones,
Kendall, Ruble, Sellers, Fisher, Sharp
Classification: Obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ui.2ADI/2953
Message Board Post:
Obituaries courtesy of News-Banner Publications. Posted with permission.
Sept. 23, 2003
James “Dwight” Pace, 80
James “Dwight” Pace, 80, of rural Liberty Center, died at 10:32 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 at
Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
Born April 14, 1923 in Liberty Center to Herman and Daisy Buckner Pace, his marriage Aug.
15, 1946 to Hallie Girod took place in Rockcreek Twp. She survives.
He was a farmer and a lifelong member of the Liberty Center Baptist Church, where he had
served as trustee, sang in the choir and was a Sunday School teacher.
He was a school bus driver for Liberty Center and Southern Wells Schools for 13 years and
served as a township trustee for four years. He was a 10-year member of the Liberty Center
Volunteer Fire Department, was an active pilot since 1945 and was a National Horseshoe
Champion. He also had played on several softball teams.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Dr. James Pace of Pensacola, Fla.;
Dr. Thomas Pace of Glendale, Ariz., and Bob Pace of Liberty Center; a sister, Mrs. Bonnie
Poff, Bluffton; a step-brother, Sherm Kumpf of Cortland, N.Y.; and four grandchildren.
Services will be held Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at Liberty Center Baptist Church with Rev.
Dan Sommers officiating. Burial will be in the Mossburg Cemetery.
Calling is from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home, and
at the church one hour Thursday prior to services.
Memorials may be made to the Liberty Center Baptist Church.
Clifford “Slim” Thomas, Sr., 55
A 37-year employee at Sterling Casting, Clifford “Slim” Thomas, Sr., 55, of Bluffton, died
at 10:08 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 at Bluffton Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Thomas worked in the core preparation department at Sterling Casting.
He was born Jan. 23, 1948 in Fonde, Ky., to Judy and Osie Mae Williams Thomas. The father
survives and resides in Milford, Ohio. His marriage on June 16, 1966 in Jellico, Tenn.,
was to Tommie Sue Frazier, who survives.
Other survivors include a son, Clifford Thomas Jr., and a daughter, Melissa S. Brinneman,
both of Bluffton.
Also surviving are a brother, Robert Thomas of Recosca, Ga.; three half-brothers, Mike
Rice, Robbie Thomas and Charlie Thomas; four half-sisters, Peggy Rector, Paula Rice, Joan
Thomas and Mary Ann Thomas, and three grandchildren.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Bluffton Church of God with Pastor Donald
R. Marlowe Sr. officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.
Calling will be Wednesday from 2 to 8 p.m. at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home
and on Thursday for one hour prior to services at the church.
Preferred memorials are to the Bluffton Church of God.
Martha DeVoe — Rites Pending
Martha DeVoe died this morning at her rural Chester Twp. residence. Services are pending
at Glancy Funeral Homes — Walker Chapel in Montpelier.
Raymond R. Mazelin, 79
Raymond R. Mazelin, 79, died Saturday, Sept. 20 at his residence in Kingman, Ariz.
Among his survivors are a daughter, Mrs. Ed (Linda) Herman of Ossian, and a sister,
Kathryn Disler of Bluffton.
He was born Nov. 16, 1923 in Berne to Jacob and Florence King Mazelin. He was a Berne High
School graduate in 1942 and served with the U.S. Navy in the Submarine Corps in the
Pacific Ocean during World War II.
He was employed for 16 years by the Pennsylvania Railroad and for 20 years by the Fort
Wayne Fire Department.
Mr. Mazelin married the former Mary Alyce Johnson in Fort Wayne in February of 1948. She
survives in Kingman, where the couple had resided since 1978.
Other survivors include another daughter, Mrs. Robert (Carla) Maggard of Salt Lake City,
Utah; and a sister, Rebecca Keegan of Jacksonville Beach, Fla. A brother and two sisters
are deceased.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Sept. 25 at the Nazarene Church in Kingman.
Sept. 24, 2003
Marie L. Drayer, 82
Marie L. Drayer, 82, of Tocsin, died at 5:28 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Lutheran Hospital
in Fort Wayne.
A native of Wells County, she was born Oct. 20, 1920 to John J. and Lydia Gerber Fiechter.
She married Herman C. Drayer in Bluffton on May 14, 1944; he survives. She was a housewife
and a member of the Apostolic Christian Church.
She is also survived by four sons, Jerry L. Drayer of Bluffton, Herman D. and Dennis E.
Drayer, both of Tocsin, and Rocky A. Drayer of Ossian; a daughter, Mrs. Lemuel (Donna)
Vega of Bluffton; three brothers, Gerald and John Fiechter, both of Tocsin, and Dale
Fiechter of Bluffton; five sisters, Mrs. Alice Aschliman , Mrs. Walter (Lillian) Bertsch,
Mrs. Charles (Doris) Neuenschwander, Mrs. William (Mildred) Neuenschwander, and Mrs. Irene
Reinhard, all of Bluffton; 16 grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. She was preceded
in death by a brother, Ervin Fiechter, and a sister, Velma Kipfer.
Services will be held Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the Apostolic Christian Church East; burial
will be in the church cemetery. Calling will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. and Thursday from
noon until 9 p.m. at the Goodwin Memorial Chapel in Bluffton, and one hour prior to the
service at the church. Memorials to the donor’s choice.
Martha M. DeVoe, 76
A lifelong Wells County resident who was secretary for years of the Chester Township
Alumni Association and active through her life in the Montpelier First Baptist Church,
church associations and service roles, Martha M. DeVoe, 76, of 11861S 600W, Montpelier in
Chester Township of Wells County, died at 7:47 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2003, at her home.
She was a member of the Baptist Ladies Missionary Society, American Baptist Salamonie
Association, American Baptist Women’s Ministries, the Busy Bees Home Economics Club, Wells
County Farm Bureau, Beta Sigma Phi of Hartford City, and the Friends of Five Points School
House of Chester Township in Wells County.
She was a lifelong member and a deaconess, Sunday School teacher, organist for over 50
years and custodian amid her services for years to the First Baptist Church in
Montpelier.
Mrs. DeVoe had worked for a time for Montgomery Ward in Hartford City, and she was a
homemaker.
Born Nov. 27, 1926, in Wells County, she was the daughter of Floyd Curtis and Mary
Catherine Sills Beeks.
A 1944 graduate of Chester Center High School, she was married on Oct. 5, 1947, at
Montpelier to Charles D. DeVoe, who survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Dean A. DeVoe of Goshen and David A. DeVoe of Bluffton; a
brother, Daniel C. Beeks of Montpelier; five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Calling will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Montpelier First Baptist Church, where
services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, with Pastor Paul Myers and Rev. Frank Rodgers
officiating. Burial will be in Asbury Cemetery in Wells County.
Glancy Funeral Home, Walker Chapel at Montpelier, is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials to the Montpelier First Baptist Church.
Ann Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, 85
Funeral services for Ann Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, 85, of Port Saint Lucie, Fla., will be
held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 at Glancy Funeral Homes — Walker Chapel in
Montpelier.
Mrs. Schwarzkopf died Sunday, Sept. 21 in Port Saint Lucie. She was a homemaker and had
worked for Blackford Hospital as a nurse’s aid. She attended Hartford City High School and
was a member of Grace Community Church in Montpelier. She also was a member of the Millard
Brown American Legion Post 156 Auxiliary in Montpelier.
Born Oct. 7, 1917 in Mt. Vernon, Ohio to David Arlo and Edith Pooler Yount, her marriage
on Dec. 24, 1936 in Hartford City was to Robert J. Schwarzkopf, who died April 20, 1985.
Surviving are two daughters, Sharon Elliott of Port Saint Lucie and Marilyn Valentine of
Muncie; a son, John Schwarzkopf of Muncie; seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren
and four great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers.
Calling at the funeral home will be Friday from 2 to 8 p.m.
Dennis Clouse will officiate at funeral services and burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery
in Montpelier.
Sept. 25, 2003
Florence B. Harris, 87
Florence B. Harris, 87, Bluffton, died at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003 at Bluffton
Regional Medical Center.
She was born Aug. 10, 1915 to Charles and Constance Thompson Harris in Griggs County, N.D.
A member of the First Church of Christ in Bluffton, she worked as a housekeeper and
cleaned the Thoma Furniture Store and Funeral Home for many years. She was a 1936 graduate
of Bluffton High School. She had been a resident of Meadowvale Health and Rehabilitation
since 1971.
She is survived by two brothers, Clyde Harris and William “Bill” Harris, both of Bluffton;
an uncle, James O. Harris, of Bluffton; and 14 nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Claude Harris.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral
Home with Pastor Larry Sprinkle officiating. Burial will be in Elm Grove Cemetery.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Friday and one hour prior to services Saturday at the funeral
home.
Memorials may be made to the First Church of Christ.
Ada Marea Miller, 94
Services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Goodwin Memorial Chapel for Ada Marea Miller,
94, formerly of Bluffton, who died at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003, at Martin
Memorial Hospital, Stuart, Fla.
Born Feb. 19, 1909 to Albert and Ethel Hauk Steiner in Wells County, she was married to
Robert F. Gelow Sr., who preceded her in death. She married Clarence Miller in Bluffton
Sept. 11, 1954. He also preceded her in death Aug. 30, 1990.
A graduate of Bluffton High School she retired after 20 years with Franklin Electric and
was a member of the First Church of Christ. She was a resident of Stuart, Fla. for the
past 13 years.
She is survived by one son, Robert F. Gelow Jr., who has residences at Pine Hill, N.J. and
Jensen Beach, Fla.; four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
One son, Kenneth Gelow, preceded her in death.
Calling at the funeral home will be two hours prior to services Tuesday, from 9-11 a.m.
Rev. Neil Wilson will officiate the services and burial will be in Six Mile Cemetery.
Ronald W. Jones, 45
Ronald W. Jones, 45, of Elwood, died at 5:18 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 as a result of an
automobile accident. He was the nephew of Mrs. and Mrs. Robert (Babette) Myers of
Keystone.
He was born in Grant County to William and Joan Boswell Jones; they survive. He is also
survived by three children and two sisters. He was preceded in death by a brother.
Services were held Wednesday at the Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral Home in Gas City.
Memorials may be made to the Jones Children Education Fund.
Sept. 26, 2003
Florence B. Harris, 87
Florence B. Harris, 87, Bluffton, died at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003 at Bluffton
Regional Medical Center.
She was born Oct. 8, 1915 to Charles and Constance Thompson Harris in Griggs County, N.D.
A member of the First Church of Christ in Bluffton, she worked as a housekeeper and
cleaned the Thoma Furniture Store and Funeral Home for many years. She was a 1936 graduate
of Bluffton High School. She had been a resident of Meadowvale Health and Rehabilitation
since 1971.
She is survived by two brothers, Clyde Harris and William “Bill” Harris, both of Bluffton;
an uncle, James O. Harris, of Bluffton; and 14 nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Claude Harris.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral
Home with Pastor Larry Sprinkle officiating. Burial will be in Elm Grove Cemetery.
Calling hours are from 2 to 8 p.m. today and one hour prior to services Saturday at the
funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the First Church of Christ.
(The above obituary is being re-published to provide corrected information)
Sept. 27, 2003 - None
Sept. 29, 2003
Harriett J. Kendall, 79
Harriett J. Kendall, 79, of Liberty Center, died at 11:33 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 at
Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
Born in Bluffton on March 25, 1924 to William G. and Carrie M. Sturgis Robbins, she
married George Nevin Kendall on March 19, 1955 in Angola; he survives. She was a 1942
graduate of Bluffton High School and was a homemaker.
Other survivors include two sons, David W. Kendall of Liberty Center and Steven K. Kendall
of Orlando, Fla.; a daughter, Mrs. Michael (Jodi Ann) Pinkerton of Bluffton; a
step-daughter. Mrs. David (Lissa) Kitchen of Marshfield, Mass.; a sister, Margaret Lusk of
Angola; one grandchild; three step-grandchildren; and three step-great grandchildren. She
was preceded in death by a brother, William Robbins.
Visitation will be held today from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Goodwin Memorial Chapel in Bluffton.
Services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the funeral home, with Rev. Daniel Sommer
officiating. Burial in Mossburg Cemetery in Liberty Center. Preferred memorials to the
Wells County chapter of the American Cancer Society.
Marcus W. Ruble, 77
Marcus W. Ruble, 77, Warren, died at 6:18 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 28 at the United Methodist
Memorial Home in Warren, where he had been a resident the past five years.
Born in Huntington County on Jan. 26, 1926 to Arthur and Ada Jones Ruble, he graduated
from Salamonie Twp. High School in 1944. He retired from Dana Corp. in Marion in 1985
after 30 years. He was a World War II veteran in the U.S. Army and a member of the Church
of Christ in Warren. He married Jackqueline Bischoff on Aug. 27, 1949 in Huntington.
Survivors include a daughter, Jennifer Ruble of Hoagland; two sons, Jeffery Ruble of
Andrews and Gregory Ruble of Huntington; two step-grandchildren and three step-great
grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife and a sister, Martha Morrison.
Visitation will be Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Glancy Funeral Home, H.
Brown & Son Chapel in Warren. Services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Church
of Christ in Warren. Burial in Gardens of Memory in Marion. Preferred memorials to the
church.
Sept. 30, 2003
Ruth R. Sellers, 81 — Rites Pending
Ruth R. Sellers, 81, died this morning at Meadowvale Health & Rehabilitation Center.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home.
Lela Marie Fisher, 84
A former Bluffton resident, Lela Marie Fisher, 84, died at 11:30 p.m. Sunday at Miller’s
Merry Manor in LaGrange.
Born in Fort Wayne March 1, 1919 to Harry and Cecile High Hinton, she married Paul F.
Fisher Aug. 28, 1937 in Bluffton. He preceded her in death Feb. 14, 1992.
She worked for 23 years as a lab technician at Caylor-Nickel Medical Center. A member of
the Wolcottville United Methodist Church, she served as a volunteer for the LaGrange
County Red Cross and the LaGrange Clothing and Food Basket.
Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Kenneth (Carol) Beckley of Albion and Mrs. Joseph
(Patty) Spallone of Tavaras, Fla; two brothers, Harry Hinton of Fort Wayne, and Richard
Dale Hinton of North Webster; three grandsons, two step grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren.
A granddaughter preceded her in death.
Calling hours are from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hutchins Funeral Home,
Wolcottville.
Services at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home will be under the direction of Rev. Jack
Thomas and burial will be in the Woodland Cemetery, Wolcottville.
Margaret E. Sharp, 86
A former nurse’s aide at Caylor-Nickel Clinic, Margaret E. Sharp, 86, of Lafayette, died
at 5:25 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 28 at Rose Walk Village in Lafayette.
Born April 10, 1917 in Sheridan to Richard and Ruth Watts, she had been a resident of
Lafayette since 1963. Her marriage on Aug. 31, 1940 was to Louis B. Sharp, who preceded
her in death on Sept. 12, 1987.
She was a member of the Linwood Church of Christ. She also had been employed as a nurse’s
aide at Saint Elizabeth Hospital.
Survivors include a son, Bill Sharp of Lafayette, two daughters, Mrs. Bill (Marcia)
Wintrode of Monticello and Mrs. Vance (Pat) Kiser of Largo, Fla.; two brothers, Leo Watts
of Cocoa Beach, Fla., and Morris Watts of Lebanon; six grandchildren and six
great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother and a sister.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Hippensteel Funeral Home in Lafayette. Pastor
Guy Brown will officiate and burial will take place at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens.