This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Reynolds, Welches, Jennings, Menter, Flemming, McIlrath, Hirschy, Knox,
Luginbill, Freestone, Kehrn, Runyon
Classification: Obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ui.2ADI/3048
Message Board Post:
Obituaries courtesy of News-Banner Publications. Posted with permission.
August 7, 2004
Eva M. Reynolds, 97
A native of Wells County, Eva M. Reynolds, 97, died at 3:40 p.m. Friday at Laurels of
Shane Hill in Rockford, Ohio.
Born in Wells County Oct. 23, 1906 to Brent and Ida Captain Chalfont, she married Hugh D.
Reynolds Dec. 24, 1926 in Wells County. He preceded her in death Oct. 6, 1973.
She was a homemaker and worked part-time at K&S Frosty Zip. A member of the Willshire
United Methodist Church, she was also a member of United Methodist Women and the Eastern
Star Beth Chapter 25. She also served on the Willshire City Council for four years.
Survivors include one son, Leon, of Brunswick, Ohio; a daughter, Mrs. Larry “Dean”
(Kathleen) King of Willshire; five grandchildren; five step-grandchildren and nine
great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Wendell Chalfont, a sister, Lois Bauer, and twin
sons Jack and Gene Reynolds.
Services at 10 a.m. Tuesday will be at Zwick Sefton and Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur, with
Rev. Bill Simms officiating. Burial will follow in Six Mile Cemetery.
Calling hours are 1-4 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Preferred memorials are to the Willshire United Methodist Church or Willshire/Wren EMS.
August 9, 2004
Vernon (Garth) Welches, 78
Vernon (Garth) Welches, 78, rural Markle, died at 10:10 p.m. Friday, August 6 at home
after a short illness due to cancer.
A native and life long resident of Wells County, he was born on April 6, 1926 to Harry L.
and Alma Ellen Volmar Welches and married Phyllis Terhune in Redkey on June 22, 1952; she
survives.
A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army’s 136th Infantry in the Philippines
and Japan. He managed several Kroger stores for 27 years, including stores in Bluffton,
Montpelier and Decatur; he then worked for City Market in Ossian as a meat cutter for 15
years, retiring in 1992. He was a member of the Markle Barbershoppers, Promise Keepers,
and attended Faith Fellowship Church in Tocsin.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Eric (Susan) Springer of Uniondale; two sons, Joseph D.
of Zanesville and Steven D. of Garrett; three sisters, Juanita Walker of Columbia City,
Arlene Brown of Homer, Alaska, and Marcella Cunningham of Denning, N.M.; seven
grandchildren; and one great grandchild. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Cynthia
Welches in January of 1953; one brother, Kenneth Welches; and a sister, Wava Jockisch.
Calling hours are today from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral
Home in Bluffton. Services will be held there at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, with Rev. Michael
Wertenberger and Rev. Tom Datema officiating. Burial will be in Six Mile Cemetery.
Preferred memorials to the American Cancer Society.
Thelma C. Jennings, 97
Thelma C. Jennings, 97, Warren, died at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, August 7 at the Bluffton
Regional Medical Center.
Born in Wayne County on Dec. 23, 1906 to Harry G. and Inez Jorden Wright, she married Rev.
Don Jennings in Wayne County on July 25, 1925; he died Oct. 17, 1993.
A graduate of Whitewater High School, she was a homemaker. She and her husband moved to
the United Methodist Memorial Home in Warren from Angola in 1986. She was a member of the
United Methodist Church there.
Survivors include a son, Martel Jennings of Tippecanoe; a sister, Irene Jennings of
Warren; four grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild. She
was also preceded in death by a brother, Warren Wright.
Services will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the United Methodist Memorial Home in Warren
with Rev. John Wallace officiating. Visitation will be held there on Tuesday from 4 to 7
p.m. Burial will be in Spring Hill Cemetery in Warren.
Preferred memorials to the United Methodist Memorial Home. Arrangements are being handled
by the Glancy Funeral Homes, H. Brown & Son Chapel in Warren.
Gertrude Menter, 64
Gertrude Menter, 64, Preble, died Saturday at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. She was a
self-employed beautician and homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, Donald, four daughters, Shelly Meyer of Preble, Donna
Scheumann of Berne, Jennifer Piper of Decatur and Karla Hatcher of Fishers and 11
grandchildren.
Calling hours are Tuesday from 1 to 4 and 5 to 8 p.m. at the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home
in Decatur, and for one hour prior to the services, which will be held at St. Paul
Lutheran Church in Preble on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery
Preferred memorials are to Indiana Down Syndrome Foundation and St. Paul Lutheran Church
building fund.Vern
Marion F. Flemming, Jr., 61
Marion F. Flemming, Jr., 61, Zanesville, died a 1:35 p.m. Saturday, Aug. at the Bluffton
Regional Medical Center.
Born in Van Buren on June 30, 1943 to Marion F. and Vivian M. McDonald Flemming, Sr., he
married Virginia C. Bogan on June 3, 1967 in Speedway; she survives.
A 1961 graduate of West Rock Creek High School, he was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. A
farmer and truck driver, he also worked for several years at Jet Components in Bluffton
where he served as the president of the local union.
Additional survivors include a daughter, Janelle Harrison of Zanesville; three brothers,
Terry Flemming of Marion, Richard Flemming of Van Buren, and John Flemming of Warren;
eight sisters, Carlotta Tackett of Claypool, Linda Flemming of Muncie, Wanda Hinen of Fort
Wayne, Cornelia Johnson of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Vianna Johnson, Patty Whitney, Mary
Randall and Phyllis Herring, all of Huntington; and two grandsons.
Visitation hours are Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Myers Funeral Home in Huntington.
Services will also be held there at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Preferred memorials to the Wells
County Home Health Care or to the Disabled Veterans Association.
Jean McIlrath, 74
Services for Jean Ann McIlrath, 74, Huntington, will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at the
Myers Funeral Home in Huntington. She died Saturday, Aug. 7 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort
Wayne.
Survivors include her husband, James E.; three sons, James W. of Orlando, Fla., Michael L.
of Macy, and Kevin H. of Huntington; a brother, Thomas Raver of Albion; six grandchildren;
and three great grandchildren.
Calling hours are Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. Interment will be in the Mount Hope Cemetery
in Huntington.
Mary Ellen Hirschy, 80
Arrangements are pending at Haggard & Sefton Funeral Home in Decatur for Mary Ellen
Hirschy, 80, of Bluffton, who died Sunday at her residence.
Mary Alice Knox, 79
A resident of the University Nursing Center in Upland, Mary Alice Knox, 79, died at 2:45
a.m. Monday, Aug. 9, at the center.
Born in Blackford County March 14, 1925 to Ross and Blanche Shroyer Woods, her marriage to
Kenneth L. Knox took place Oct. 5, 1946 in Fowlerton. He survives.
A member of the Millgrove United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women, she and
her husband had been residents of Montpelier since 1977, moving there from Millgrove. She
had formerly worked as a cook at the Jackson School in Blackford County.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Peter, of Hartford City, three
grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday will be at Glancy Funeral Homes-Walker Chapel,
Montpelier, with Rev. John Long officiating. Burial will be in Gardens of Memory, Muncie.
Calling hours are 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials may be made
to the Millgrove United Methodist Church.
August 10, 2004
Evelyn F. Luginbill, 80
A resident of rural Decatur, Evelyn F. Luginbill, 80, died unexpectedly at Lutheran
Hospital in Fort Wayne at 11:28 a.m. Monday, Aug. 9.
Born Jan. 9, 1924 in Adams County to Samuel and Nora Frank Hamrick, she married Robert D.
Luginbill Nov. 7, 1942 in Adams County. He survives.
A homemaker, she was a member of the Mt. Hope Church of the Nazarene. She also served as
the board secretary of the Decatur Church of the Nazarene for 35 years.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by three sons, Jeff of Decatur, Mike of
Kankakee, Ill., and Greg of Enon, Ohio; three daughters, Connie Wilson of Decatur; Mrs.
Randy (Kathy) Reynolds of Decatur, and Mrs. Gary (JoEllen “Jody”) Lengerich of Berne; two
sisters, Mrs. Lindy (Norma) Lybarger of North Manchester and Mrs. Tom (Carolyn) Baker of
Celina, Ohio; four brothers; Charles Hamrick of Decatur, Paul Hamrick of Monroe and
Clarence and Duane Hamrick, both of Willshire, Ohio; 20 grandchildren and 13
great-grandchildren.
One brother, Victor Hamrick, preceded her in death.
Services at 10:30 a.m. Thursday will be at the Mt. Hope Church of the Nazarene with Rev.
Greg Clark officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Calling will be from 1-4 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Zwick and Jahn Funeral Home in
Decatur, and one hour prior to services Thursday at the church.
Memorials may be made to the Mt. Hope Mission Fund.
Mary Ellen Hirschy, 80
A resident of rural Bluffton in Adams County, Mary Ellen Hirschy, 80, died at 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 8, at her residence.
Born in Wells County July 8, 1924 to John Z. and Hazel Lucille Rogers Confer, she married
Melvin M. Hirschy Dec. 24, 1941. He survives.
A member of Cross United Church of Christ in Berne, she was a homemaker.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by four sons, Dean of Craigville, Gary and
Randy of Monroe, and Edward of Decatur; five daughters, Mrs. Gary (Kathleen) Affolder,
Ossian, Mrs. Lynn (Linda) Lehman of Monroe, Mrs. Steve (Judy) Affolder of Berne, Mrs.
Kevin (Lori) Foster and Mrs. David (Bonnie) Dolch, both of Monroe; one brother, Daniel E.
Confer, of Yoder; two sisters, Dorothy M. Wicks and Betty M. Kling, both of Yoder; 31
grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Richard Dale Confer and Donald Confer and a
grandson, Michael Dee Hirschy.
Services at 10 a.m. Thursday will be held at Cross United Church of Christ with Rev.
Randal Luther officiating. Burial will follow at Ray Cemetery in Monroe.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Wednesday at Haggard & Sefton Funeral Home in Decatur and
one hour prior to services Thursday at the church.
Memorials may be made to the Cross United Church of Christ Tape Ministry or the Heartland
Hospice.
Mary Alice Knox, 79
A resident of the University Nursing Center in Upland, Mary Alice Knox, 79, died at 2:45
a.m. Monday, Aug. 9, at the center.
Services at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday will be at Glancy Funeral Homes-Walker Chapel,
Montpelier, with Rev. John Long officiating. Burial will be in Gardens of Memory, Muncie.
Calling hours are 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials may be made
to the Millgrove United Methodist Church.
August 11, 2004
Virginia Ardella Freestone, 89
A resident of the Warren United Methodist Memorial Home, Virginia Ardella Freestone, 89,
died at the home at 5:40 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10.
Born in Bangor, Mich., Oct. 11, 1914 to William Nicholas and Mary Alice Sheridan Pifer,
she married Rexferd D. Freestone Aug. 19, 1936 in Bangor. He survives.
She and her husband moved to Warren from Muncie in 2002. They had previously resided in
Bangor and Niles, Mich.
Survivors include two sons, Richard of Bangor and Robert of Muncie; two daughters, Mrs.
Don (Kathleen) Gugliotta of Sparks, Nev., and Mrs. David (Alyse) Keyworth, of Grand
Rapids, Mich.
A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, in Bangor (located about 20
miles west of Kalamazoo) at the Simpson United Methodist Church. Rev. James McNary will be
officiating.
Local arrangements are in charge of Glancy Funeral Homes-H. Brown & Son Chapel,
Warren.
Dwight “Hap” E. Kehrn, 82—Rites Pending
Rites are pending at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home for Dwight “Hap” E.
Kehrn, who died at his residence. Calling hours will be from 2-8 p.m. Friday at the
funeral home and a private family service is scheduled for Saturday. A complete obituary
will appear in Thursday’s edition of the News-Banner.
August 12, 2004
Dwight “Hap” E. Kehrn, 82
A lifelong farmer in Wells County, Dwight “Hap” E. Kehrn, 82, of rural Craigville, died at
12:45 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10 at his residence after an extended illness.
A 1940 graduate of Lancaster High School, in addition to farming he also worked at
International Harvester in Fort Wayne for 12 years. He attended the First United Methodist
Church in Bluffton.
Born March 30, 1922 in Craigville to John L. “Dick” and Ada Plank Kehrn, his marriage on
Feb. 28, 1942 in Decatur was to the former A. Pauline Marshall, who survives.
Mr. Kehrn and his wife spent the winters in Rockport, Tex., which was a favorite fishing
location.
In addition to the wife, also surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Bill (Kathy) Fuller of
Bluffton, one grandson and one great granddaughter.
Calling will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home.
Private family services will be held on Saturday with Rev. Gary Lewis of the First United
Methodist Church officiating and burial in Oaklawn Cemetery in Ossian.
Preferred memorials are to the donor’s choice.
August 13, 2004
Floyd Runyon - Rites Pending
Arrangements are pending at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home for Floyd A.
Runyon of Bluffton, who died early this morning at his home.