This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Stech, Sellers, Butler, Mertz, Edwards, Prible, Price, Callow, Ringger, Harris,
Kiess, Arnold, Roush, Miller
Classification: Obituary
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http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ui.2ADI/2954
Message Board Post:
Obituaries courtesy of News-Banner Publications. Posted with permission.
Oct. 1, 2003
John L. Stech, 52
Retired longtime Markle Town Marshal and police officer for the town for 20 years, John L.
Stech, 52, of Markle, died at 9:50 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, at his home.
In addition to his long police service and years of loyal assistance to and association
with Wells County, Huntington County and state police in many episodes including major
investigations prior to his police retirement in February of this year, he also served for
several years with the Markle Volunteer Fire Department.
Born July 7, 1951, in Huntington County, he was a son of Kenneth H. and Deloris C. Hart
Stech. He was a 1969 graduate of Huntington North High School.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1972 to 1975 with much of his service time in Panama.
Mr. Stech attended the Indiana Academy of Law Enforcement.
He was a member of the Markle Church of Christ and was a volunteer for the annual Vacation
Bible School program.
Surviving are two sons, Eric Stech of Strawberry, Arkansas, and Jonathon Stech of Markle;
one daughter, Victoria Stech of Markle; one brother, David Stech of Wakarusa, and a
significant other, Aline Shriner of Markle. He was preceded in death by the parents, his
step-mother, Ruth A. Stech, and two infant sisters.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Myers Funeral Home, Markle
Chapel. Services will be at the Markle Church of Christ at 10:30 a.m. Friday with Gerald
Moreland officiating. There will be a one-hour visitation at the church prior to the
service. Burial will be in the Lancaster Cemetery in Huntington County.
Preferred memorials to The Trust Fund for the Children of John Stech in care of
MarkleBank, or to the Markle Church of Christ.
Ruth R. Sellers, 81
A school teacher for more than 43 years, Miss Ruth Rosella Sellers, 81, died at 1:20 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2003 at Meadowvale Health & Rehab Center. Death was from
complications of Parkinson’s Disease. She had been in ill health the past 2 1/2 years.
Miss Sellers retired in 1986 after 43 years of teaching in Wells County to a total of
1,185 students. She began teaching at the elementary level in 1943 at the Rockcreek School
and spent 13 years there before becoming a first grade teacher in the Bluffton-Harrison
school system in 1957.
Miss Sellers graduated from Petroleum High School in 1940 as class valedictorian and
earned her bachelor of science degree in elementary education in 1943 at Manchester
College. She received her master’s degree in 1965 at Ball State University. She was listed
in the 1970 edition of “Outstanding Educators of America.”
Born near Poneto on May 18, 1922 to Emory Bing and Nora L. Doyle Sellers, she is survived
by two sisters, M. Margaret Sellers and Dorotha D. Sellers, both of Poneto. She was
preceded in death by a brother, Leroy Thomas Sellers.
Miss Sellers was a member of the Baptist Church of Poneto. She was a past president of the
Psi Iota XI Sorority, a member of Business and Professional Women’s Club, Wells Community
Hospital Auxiliary, and the Retired Teachers and Indiana State Teachers Retirement
Organization. She is a past officer of Alpha Phi chapter, Delta Kappa Gamma Society
International for Key Women Teachers, as well as a charter member and officer of the local
International Reading Association Chapter.
Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Van Buren Cemetery with Rev. Roy
Nevil and Cliff Rush presiding. There will be no calling hours.Thoma/Rich, Hewitt &
Chaney Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Preferred memorials are to Parkinson’s Disease Research or the Wells County Foundation
Scholarship Fund.
Charles T. ‘Pete’ Butler, 81
Father of Mrs. John (Belva J.) Patterson of Ossian, Charles T. “Pete” Butler, 81, of Fort
Wayne, died Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2003, at Heritage Park Nursing Home in Fort Wayne.
He was a retired electronic technician after 36 years with Magnavox.
Mr. Butler was born Aug. 25, 1922, in Kentucky to Roy and Lena Austin Butler. His marriage
was on July 14, 1957, in Fort Wayne to Peggy Winkle, who survives.
He was a Navy veteran of World War II.
Surviving, in addition to his wife and the Ossian daughter, are one brother, James Butler
of Apple Creek, Ohio; one sister, Dorsie Smith of Morgan Town, Ky.; two grandchildren, and
four great-grandchildren.
There will be no calling and no services. Burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery at Ossian.
Arrangements by Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Funeral Homes, Ossian.
Roger D. Mertz, Sr., 69 — Rites Pending
A former Bluffton resident, Roger D. Mertz Sr., 69, of Sutherlin, Oreg., died at 9:45 p.m.
PST Monday, Sept. 29 at Rose Haven Nursing Center in Roseburg, Oreg. Rites are pending at
Goodwin Memorial Chapel in Bluffton.
George Jonathan Edwards, 80
Father of George M. Edwards of Ossian, George Jonathan Edwards, 80, of Fort Wayne, died
Monday, Sept. 29, 2003, at his Fort Wayne home.
A native of Fort Wayne, born Feb. 14, 1923, he was retired since 1985 from Zollner Corp.
after 32 years with the company, and he was a World War II Army veteran.
Surviving, in addition to the Ossian son, are the wife, Charlotte A. Edwards; another son,
Steven M. Edwards of Fort Wayne; four daughters, Mrs. Albert (Nancy) Deininger of Garrett,
and Mrs. Jerry (Sharon) Smith), Mrs. Gene (Denise) Keller and Amy Edwards, all three of
Fort Wayne; one brother, Carl Edwards of Fort Wayne; 11 grandchildren, and four
great-grandchildren. A sister, Lucille Keller, is deceased.
Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hockemeyer & Miller Funeral
Home in Fort Wayne, where services will be at 1 p.m. Friday. A military graveside service
will be conducted by American Legion Post 241 at Highland Park Cemetery. Preferred
memorials to Visiting Nurse Service and Hospice and Cancer Services of Allen County.
Oct. 2, 2003
Roger D. Mertz Sr., 69
Former Bluffton resident Roger D. Mertz Sr., 69, died at 9:45 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, at
Rose Haven Nursing Home in Roseburg, Ore.
A resident of Sutherlin, Ore, he was retired from Franklin Electric after a 30-year
career.
Born in Wells County June 19, 1934 to John H. and Mary Klopfenstein Mertz, he married the
former Evelyn Warmouth June 5, 1981 in Geneva.
Surviving in addition to his wife are one son, Roger D. Mertz Jr., Montpelier; three
daughters, Mrs. Scott (Lana) Zoll, Liberty Center; Mrs. Brenda S. Barkdull, Bluffton, and
Mrs. Keith (Jenina) Penrod of Broken Arrow, Okla.; three step-daughters, Rhonda Moser,
Geneva, Wanda VanBuren, Sutherlin, Ore., and Lillian Lane, Indianapolis; a brother, Rev.
Donald K. Mertz, Wilmington, Ohio; a sister, Mrs. Max (Betty) Nicholas, Bluffton; 22
grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one grandchild.
Services Saturday at 10:30 a.m. will be held at Goodwin Memorial Chapel. Officiating will
be Rev. Donald K. Mertz and burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.
Calling hours are from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Crystal M. Prible, 89
A former Bluffton resident, Crystal M. Prible, 89, died at 10:10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1 at
Westminster Village North, Indianapolis.
Born Oct. 20, 1913 to Robert and Maude Johnson Edington, her marriage Aug. 10, 1941 was to
Edwin E. Prible. He preceded her in death Dec. 30, 2002.
Mrs. Prible and her husband, who was a former superintendent of Bluffton-Harrison schools,
moved to Westminster Village in Indianapolis eight years ago. She played piano in several
area churches when she was first married, volunteered with the Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts
Tri-Kappa and the First United Methodist Church in Bluffton, where she served as church
secretary. she is a past president of Tri-Kappa. Prior to her marriage she was employed by
the Warren Exchange Bank.
Survivors include one son, Larry Prible, Carmel; one daughter, Mrs. Stephen (Jane) Givens
of Greenwood; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, a nephew and a niece.
She was preceded in death by two brothers.
Calling at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt and Chaney Funeral Home will be from noon Sunday until the
time of the service at 2 p.m. Rev. Gary Lewis will officiate and burial will be in the
Fairview Cemetery.
Winifred Price, 94
Winifred Price, 94, died at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Swiss Village in Berne.
Born June 28, 1909 to Emil and Ina Eley Aeschliman, her marriage June 18, 1932 was to
Lester Price. He preceded her in death in 1978.
She was a member of the First Missionary Church and a former employee of the Berne Public
Library. She was also a member of the Cardinal Chapter of the Indiana Audubon Society.
Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Kenneth (Sheila) Lambert, of Berne; one sister,
Gwendolyn Aeschliman of Bristol, Tenn.; one grandchild and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Frances Schamerloh and Florence Hilty and a
brother, Eugene Aeschliman.
Services at 3 p.m. Friday will be at Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home. Rev. Max Haines and
Rev. Gareth Wiederkehr will officiate and burial will be in MRE Cemetery.
Calling today from 4 to 8 p.m. and one hour prior to services Friday will be at the
funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the First Missionary Church.
Oct. 3, 2003
William D. Callow, 72
The brother of Nancy Keller of Bluffton, William D. Callow, 72, of Decatur, died at 2:15
p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2 at his residence.
Born in Adams County on July 24, 1931 to Stanley and Edna Drum Callow, he served in the
U.S. Marine Corp and retired in 1986 from International Harvester with 30 years of
service.
Other survivors include his wife Freddie of Decatur; three daughters, Nora Verrone and
Billy Jo Springer, both of Decatur, and Lynn Robinson of Defiance, Mo.; a son, Phillip
Callow of Decatur; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two
step-grandchildren.
There will be no calling or services. Preferred memorials to the American Lung Association
or the Family Hospice of Northeast Indiana. Arrangements are being handled by Zwick &
Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur.
Oct. 4, 2003 - None
Oct. 6, 2003
Raymond R. Ringger, 90
Raymond R. Ringger, 90, of rural Bluffton, died at 7 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 5 at his
residence.
Born in Adams County on Aug. 29, 1913 to George and Leah Steffen Ringger, he married Viola
Gerber in Bluffton on April 12, 1936; she survives.
The founder of the Ringger Soft Water business in 1961, he was a member of the Apostolic
Christian Church East.
Other survivors include four sons, David, Tim and Alan Ringger, all of Bluffton, and Gary
Ringger of Decatur; two daughters, Mrs. Robert (Jan) Sutter of Berne and Mrs. Hubert
(Judy) Isch of Bluffton; five brothers, Orville Ringger of Monroe, Sylvan “Sib”, William,
George, Jr., and Alvin Ringger, all of Bluffton; three sisters, Mrs. Mary Frauhiger, Mrs.
Richard (Lillian) Yergler and Mrs. Robert (Ida) Aschliman, all of Bluffton; 25
grandchildren; 73 great grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in
death by two brothers, Reuben and Arthur.
Services will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Apostolic Christian Church East.
Visitation will be held today from 6 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday from noon until 8 p.m. at the
Goodwin Memorial Chapel in Bluffton, as well as for one hour prior to the service at the
church. Burial in the church cemetery.
Lillie L. Harris, 83
Lillie L. Harris, 83, of Keystone, died at 7:50 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 5 at Adams County
Memorial Hospital in Decatur.
Born in Bluffton on July 22, 1920 to William M. and Flossie G. Carter Alberson, she
married Roy M. Harris on May 18, 1940; he died Feb. 10, 1994. A 1938 graduate of Petroleum
High School, she was a homemaker and a member of the Daughters of the Revolution, the
Daughters of the Union Veterans and the Blackford-Wells Genealogy Society.
She is survived by a daughter, Ann Wheeler of Keystone, two grandchildren; and a
sister-in-law, Norma Alberson of Keystone. She was preceded in death by four brothers,
Clyde, Milo, Raleigh and Kenneth Alberson.
Visitation will be held Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker
Chapel in Montpelier. Services are scheduled for Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral
home with Rev. Gene Betts officiating. Burial will be in Stahl Cemetery in Bluffton.
Anna L. Kiess, 87
Anna L. Kiess, 87, of Decatur, died at 10:50 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 5 at the Adams County
Memorial Hospital in Decatur.
A native of Wells County, she was born on Aug. 23, 1916 to Otto and Sarah Hoffman Gilgen
and married Edgar Kiess on April 16, 1939; he died Feb. 28, 1997.
She is survived by two sons, Ronald Kiess of Decatur and Joseph Kiess of Indianapolis;
three daughters, Connie McKenzie of Bradenton, Fla., Janet Schwinn of Woodbridge, Va., and
Carol Cramer of Van Wert, Ohio; nine grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. She was
preceded in death by a brother, Marion Gilgen.
Visitation hours will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Haggard &
Sefton Funeral Home in Decatur, with services set for Thursday at 10 a.m. at the funeral
home. Burial will be in the Decatur Cemetery. Preferred memorials to the Decatur Baptist
Church
Janie Arnold, 109 - Rites Pending
Janie Arnold, 109, of Geneva, died at 11 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5 at Chalet Village in Geneva.
Arrangements are pending at Downing & Glancy Funeral Homes in Geneva.
Oct. 7, 2003
Janie Arnold, 106
A lifelong resident of Adams County, Janie Arnold, 106, died at 11 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5 at
Chalet Village Health Care Center in Berne.
A homemaker all of her life, she also was a member of the Hartford Township Home Ec club
in Adams County and attended the High Street United Methodist Church in Geneva. She had
been a resident of Chalet Village the past five years.
She attended Jefferson Township High School in Adams County.
Born Sept. 21, 1897 in Jefferson Twp. to Phillip and Lurena Pearl Dailey Irwin, her
marriage on June 26, 1915 was to Herbert E. Arnold, who died Jan 2, 1968.
Survivors include a son, Kenneth Arnold and a daughter, Thelma Fellers, both of Geneva; 12
grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, 37 great-great-grandchildren and three
great-great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two daughters, nine brothers and sisters, a grandson and a
great-grandson.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Downing & Glancy Funeral Home in Geneva
with calling today from 2 to 8 pm. Rev. Edwin L. Clark will officiate at services and
burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Geneva.
Preferred memorials to Family Hospice of Northeast Indiana.
Frances K. Roush, 98
A member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bluffton, Frances K. Roush, 98, died Saturday,
Oct. 4 at Peabody Healthcare Center in North Manchester.
Born Oct. 19, 1904 in Noble County to Alvin Roy and Orah Seymoure Roush, she taught school
in Noble County from 1922 to 1928. During World War II she served as a registered nurse
and was later employed with the Indiana State Board of Health, retiring after 38 years of
service.
She is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Delaughter-McKee Mortuary in North Manchester is in charge of arrangements. There will be
no services or calling and burial is in Salem Cemetery in Wilmot.
Mabel E. Miller, 82
Mabel E. Miller, 82, of Willshire, Ohio, died Monday at Lima Memorial Hospital following a
brief illness. She was the mother of Merrill J. “Bub” Miller, and sister of Mrs. Jim
(Velma) Penrod, both of Bluffton.
Born March 18, 1921 in Adams County to Chauncey and Mary Mae Julian Manley, she married
Harold J. Miller on Oct. 14, 1939 in Willshire; he died March 24, 1969.
Other survivors include three daughters, Sharon Agler of Lewisborg, Tenn., Rose Pierstorff
of Rockford, Ohio, and Mary C. Hill of Huntertown; two other sons, Rex Miller of
Willshire, Ohio and Donald Miller of Rockford, Ohio, four other sisters, Edna Manley of
Berne, Mildred Wolf of Pleasant Mills, Lois Kaufman of Lepsic, Ohio and Marcile King of
Decatur; three brothers, Glen and Kenneth Manley of Decatur and Lester Manley of Monroe;
15 grandchildren; and 11 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by three sisters, Violet Roe, Jean Cook and Esther Cook; a
brother, Richard “Sonny” Manley; and one great grandchild.
Visitation will be held Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m. at the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in
Decatur, with services scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be
in the Willshire Cemetery. Preferred memorials to the Van Wert Cancer Society or the
Willshire/Wren EMS.