This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Markley, Platt, Crow, Kleinknight, Stump, Meekin, Elzey, Bragg, Black, McGinnis,
Springer, Rhoton, Brotherwood, Taylor, Proegler, Buttermore,
Classification: Obituary
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Message Board Post:
Obituaries courtesy of News-Banner Publications, posted with permission.
Nov. 17, 2001
Bruce K. Markley, 42
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney
Funeral Home with Pastor Tony Henry officiating, for former Bluffton resident Bruce K.
Markley, 42, of 2316 West State Ct., Fort Wayne, who died Thursday of injuries in an Allen
County motorcycle accident that day.
Calling will be at the funeral home today and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. both days.
Burial will be in Elm Grove Cemetery, Bluffton. Memorials may be made to a scholarship
fund for his children.
Mr. Markley was born in Bluffton on March 24, 1959, to Jerry L. and Janis Ann Bynum
Markley, both deceased.
He was a 1977 graduate of Bluffton High School and was employed at Midwest Tool & Die
in Fort Wayne, where he was an accomplished toolmaker and known as a hard worker. An avid
NASCAR fan and follower of Indiana University basketball, Mr. Markley had resided in Fort
Wayne for the past 11 years.
He was married Sept. 21, 2001, in Key West, Florida, to Sara C. Morken, who survives. Also
surviving are two stepchildren, Phyllisa Ann Morken and Jimmy C. May; one brother, Kent J.
Markley of Bluffton; one sister, Mrs. Michael (Julie) McArdle of Xenia, Ohio, and four
nephews and nieces, Jonathan, Thomas, Kay and Beth McArdle.
Kathaleen E. Platt, 85
Kathaleen E. Platt, 85, of Pennville, died early Friday morning, Nov. 16, at Miller’s
Merry Manor in Dunkirk.
Mrs. Platt and her husband, Ray E., who died two weeks ago on Nov. 3, owned and operated
Platt’s IGA Grocery in Pennville from 1945 until their retirement in 1977.
Mrs. Platt was a member of the Pennville United Methodist Church and its Esther Circle and
a member of the Alumni Chapter of Pennville Delta Theta Tau Sorority.
She was born in Jay County Dec. 14, 1915, a daughter of Paul and Virgie Thornburg
Fulkerson. Her marriage to Ray E. Platt took place on Sept. 23, 1932.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Fred (Barbara) Kellogg of Pennville; 4 grandchildren, 2
stepgrandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, 3 stepgreat-grandchildren, 1
great-great-granddaughter, and 7 stepgreat-great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Pennville United Methodist Church with
Pastor Nancy Richmond officiating. Burial will be in Salamonia Cemetery.
Calling hours at Williamson & Spencer Funeral Home, Pennville Chapel, are today from 2
to 8 p.m. and at the church Sunday for one hour prior to services.
Memorials to Family Hospice of Northeast Indiana or to the Pennville United Methodist
Church.
Edna Crow, 90 — Rites Pending
Edna Crow, 90, a sister of Bluffton City Councilman Tom Terhune, died at 10:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 16 at Meadowvale Care & Rehab Center. Arrangements are pending at
Thoma/Rich, Hewitt and Chaney Funeral Home.
Nov. 19, 2001
Edna J. Crow, 90
Edna J. Crow, 90, a native of Bluffton, died at 10:30 p.m. Friday at Meadowvale Care
Center in Bluffton. She had been in failing health the past two and one-half years.
Mrs. Crow was a resident from 1933 to 1989 of Muncie, where she was employed for 20 years
in the ladies department of the J.C. Penney Co. store.
She was a member of the Madison Street United Methodist Church in Muncie and had served
many hours as a volunteer at the Rescue Mission in Muncie. She returned to live in
Bluffton in 1990.
She was born in Bluffton Aug. 4, 1911 to Daniel E. and Edith J. Frantz Terhune.
Surviving are a sister, Mrs. Russell (Violet) Barnell of Bluffton; three brothers, Jesse,
Dean, and Tom Terhune, all of Bluffton; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home,
where calling hours are today from 2 to 8 p.m.
Pastor David Terhune will officiate at services and burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.
Memorials to Meadowvale Care & Rehabilitation Center in Bluffton.
Ethel May Kleinknight, 74
Ethel May Kleinknight, 74, of rural Bluffton, died at 4:45 p.m. Saturday at Markle Health
Care.
Mrs. Kleinknight retired in 1990 after 14 years of employment at Franklin Electric Co. She
was a member of the Church of the Nazarene.
She was born in Wells County April 14, 1927, a daughter of Gerald and Myrta Bell Meyer.
Her marriage at Bluffton on May 23, 1957 was to James A. Kleinknight, who survives.
Additional survivors are a son, Phil W. of Bluffton; a daughter, Mrs Michael (Lu Ann)
DeBolt of Southern Pines, N.C.; a sister, Anna Rogers of Bluffton; and three
grandchildren. A son, Scott G., died in September 1999.
Services at Goodwin Memorial Chapel will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday with Rev. Walter
Graeflin and Rev. Larry Sheets officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.
Visitation hours at the funeral home will be Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m..
Memorials to the Church of the Nazarene.
Violette M. Confer Stump, 90
Violette M. Confer Stump, 90, who resided formerly in the Montpelier area and more
recently at the United Methodist Memorial Home in Warren, died at 11:15 a.m. Saturday,
Nov. 17, at the Bluffton Regional Medical Center.
Mrs. Stump grew up in the Montpelier area and graduated in 1928 from Montpelier High
School. She had lived most of her adult life in Hartford City, where she was employed at
the A&P Store, Overhead Door Corp. and the Citizens State Bank, from which she retired
in 1970.
She was a long-time member of the Trinity United Methodist Church and its Homebuilders
Class and was founder and former member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, the Rebekah Lodge,
and the Magazine Club, all in Hartford City.
She was born in Jay County July 14, 1911 to Charles H. and Bertha Lineberry Confer. Her
first husband, Lowell R. Smith, died in 1953 and her second husband, Cecil R. Gough, died
in 1970. Two brothers also are deceased. Surviving are a daughter, Suzanne Conner of Fort
Wayne; a brother, Floyd Confer of Warren; two sisters, Velma Blount of Losantville and
Mrs. Thomas P. (Blanche) Bennett of Hartford City; two grandchildren; two
great-grandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Waters Funeral Home in Hartford City
with Rev. Merlyn Cox presiding. Burial will be in the Hartford City Cemetery. Calling
hours at the funeral home will be Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday for one hour
prior to services.
Memorials to the Trinity United Methodist Church, to the American Heart Association, or to
the American Diabetes Association.
Sharon J. Meekin, 53
Sharon J. Meekin, 53, of Fort Wayne, who has stepchildren residing in Bluffton, died
Saturday, Nov. 17, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.
She as born in Kenosha, Wis., and was a paraprofessional at Arlington Elementary School
for 18 years.
Surviving are her husband, Rex A.; a son, Matthew A. Recht of Fort Wayne; a stepson, Gary
Meekin of Bluffton; a stepdaughter, Jeannette M. Barnell of Bluffton; a brother, Scott A.
Lentz of Fort Wayne; and nine grandchildren.
Services at 10 a.m. Tuesday will be at D.O. McComb & Sons Maplewood Park Funeral Home,
4017 Maplecrest Rd., Fort Wayne, where calling hours are today from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery. Memorials to Parkview Hospice or to Cancer Services
of Allen County.
Nov. 20, 2001
M. Lucile Elzey, 82
A former resident of Bluffton and Uniondale, M. Lucile Elzey, 82, of Baton Rouge, La.,
died Saturday, Nov. 17, at Sherwood Manor in Baton Rouge.
Mrs. Elzey was a 1936 graduate of Rockcreek High School in Wells County and formerly was
employed at Royal Lace in Fort Wayne, Triad Utrad at Huntington and Elzey’s Phillips 66 at
Uniondale.
She was born in Wells County Dec. 1, 1918 to William Delbert and Anna Drust Crum. Her
marriage at Uniondale on Oct. 8, 1938 was to Loren W. Elzey, who died July 7, 1985.
Surviving are two daughters, Sharon Bowers of Paris, Ill., and Becky Walker of Baton
Rouge; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Two brothers are deceased.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Funeral Home, Ossian Chapel,
with Rev. Laura L. Meier officiating. Burial will be in Horeb Cemetery near Uniondale.
Visitation hours at the Ossian chapel will be Friday from 1 to 3 p.m.
Memorials to Breast Cancer Awareness or to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Uniondale.
Ralph M. Bragg, 83
Funeral services for Ralph M. Bragg, 83, rural LaFontaine, will be conducted at 11 a.m.
Wednesday at Glancy Funeral Homes, H. Brown & Son Chapel, in Warren.
Mr. Bragg died at 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 19, at his rural Huntington County residence.
Calling hours at the funeral chapel are today from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Mr. Bragg was the owner and operator of Ralph’s Sales & Service for lawn mowers and
small engine repair in rural LaFontaine. He had lived near Banquo for 81 years, serving
that community from a huckster wagon, and as school janitor and bus driver and later as a
driver for Marathon Oil.
He was a 1936 graduate of Banquo High School and was a 58-year member of the Mt. Etna
Masonic Lodge 333.
He was born in Wabash County June 2, 1918, a son of Jesse A. and Lizzie Rose Snyder Bragg.
His marriage at Marion on Aug. 4, 1967 was to Ada E. Tuttle, who survives.
Other survivors are a daughter, Mrs. Francis (Peggy Jay) Oliver of Gas City; a stepson,
Gary Tuttle of Adrian, Mich., and three grandchildren. A sister, two brothers and a
granddaughter are deceased.
Rev. Ben Gray will officiate at services and burial will be in Grant Memorial Park at
Marion. Memorials to Marion General Hospital Hospice.
Rex E. Black, 84
Rex E. Black, 84, of Hartford City, father of Dianne Schwarzkopf of Bluffton, died at 4:10
p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, at Blackford County Hospital in Hartford City.
Mr. Black retired in 1977 after 47 years from St. Joe Paper Co. in Hartford City, where he
was a supervisor.
He was a U.S. Army Infantry veteran of World War II, serving in the European Theater of
Operations.
He was a member of the American Legion Post 156 and the Bro Shadow Club in Montpelier, the
Moose Lodge in Mancelelona, Mich., and the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Syracuse.
He was born in Grant County March 1, 1917, a son of Ernest L. and Hazel Knee Black. His
marriage at Dunkirk on March 4, 1941 was to Esther M. Roberds, who survives. He was a 1934
graduate of Montpelier High School.
Surviving, in addition to his wife and the daughter in Bluffton, are a son, Rod E. of
Montpelier; a sister, Signa Shores of Hartford City; four grandchildren; and two
great-grandsons.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel, in
Montpelier, with Rev. Steve Gray officiating. Burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery at
Montpelier, where graveside military rites will be performed by American Legion Post 156.
Visitation hours at the funeral chapel are today from 4 to 9 p.m.
Memorials to the Emergency Medical Service at Montpelier.
Robert K. McGinnis, 90
A brother of Beatrice King of Ossian, Robert K. McGinnis, 90, of Fort Wayne, died Sunday,
Nov. 18, at Ossian Health Care.
Mr. McGinnis was a clerk at the U.S. Post Office in Fort Wayne for 20 years. He was born
in Middle Point, Ohio, and was an Army veteran of World War II.
In addition to the sister at Ossian, he is survived by three sons, Kenneth Seibert of
Clearwater, Fla., Jack McGinnis of Leo-Cedarville, and Patrick McGinnis of Orlando, Fla.;
two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. His wife, Mary Belle, died earlier this
year.
A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Dec. 8 at Ridge Cemetery at Van Wert,
Ohio. There will be no calling hours. Memorials to National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Arrangements are by D.O. McComb & Sons Pine Valley Park Funeral Home in Fort Wayne.
Nov. 21, 2001
Alberta E. Springer, 84
Mother of Keith A. Springer of Ossian, Alberta E. Springer, 84, of Fort Wayne, died
Tuesday, Nov. 20, at Hospice Home of Northeast Indiana in Fort Wayne.
A homemaker, Mrs. Springer worked also at Magnavox and at General Electric during the
years of World War II. She was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church on Engle Rd. in Fort
Wayne.
She was born in Fulton County, Ohio, March 22, 1917. Her marriage was to Gotthold J.
“Whitey” Springer, who died Oct. 9, 1983.
Surviving are two other sons, Kenneth W. and Bruce L., both of Fort Wayne; a daughter,
Joyce M. Hoover of Yoder; five sisters, Delorus Vosz and Mary Vogel, both of Defiance,
Ohio, Jeanette Gordon and Joan Schwartz, both of Fort Wayne, and Esther Dettmer of Yoder;
and five grandchildren.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bethany Lutheran Church, 2435 Engle Rd., Fort
Wayne, and burial will be in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery on Engle Rd.
Visitation hours will be Friday from 3 to 8 p.m. at Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Home for
Funerals, 6810 Old Trail Rd., Fort Wayne, and Saturday at the church for one hour prior to
services.
Memorials to Bethany Memorial Fund or to Hospice Home of Northeast Indiana.
Mabel B. Rhoton, 92 — Rites Pending
Mabel B. Rhoton, 92, died today at Blackford County Hospital in Hartford City. Rites are
pending at Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel in Montpelier.
Nov. 22, 2001 - Thanksgiving Day. No publication
Nov. 23, 2001
Ada ‘Maxine’ Brotherwood, 82
Ada “Maxine” Brotherwood, 82, died at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, at Meadowvale Health
& Rehabilitation Center. She had been in failing health the past year.
Mrs. Brotherwood, a homemaker, attended the Calvary Chapel.
She was born in Bluffton April 29, 1919, a daughter of Peter B. and Lena Mae Bennett
Baumgartner. A first marriage was to Harry B. Eubank, who died in June 1955; her second
marriage on Dec. 18, 1979 at Bluffton was to Thomas E. Brotherwood, who survives.
Surviving also are three sons, Lawrence Eugene Eubank and David Michael Eubank, both of
Bluffton, and Richard A. Eubank of Markle; two daughters, Mrs. William (Judy Jean) Ritter
of Vera Cruz and Mrs. Ronnie (Nancy) Williams ofBluffton; a brother, Paul Eugene
Baumgartner of Rice, Wis.; a sister, Mrs. Wilbert (Genevieve) Woods of Ossian; nine
grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. A son, Roger Dale Eubank, died March 1, 1995,
and a brother and two sisters also are deceased.
Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home
with Pastor Arley Higginbotham officiating. Burial will be in Grove Cemetery at Poneto.
Visitation hours at the funeral home will be Saturday from 2 to 8 p.m.
Memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Robert Taylor -- Rites Pending
Robert Taylor of Warren died unexpectedly this morning at his residence. Funeral
arrangements are pending at Glancy Funeral Homes, H. Brown & Son Chapel, in Warren.
John R. Proegler, 75
Father of John J. Proegler of Ossian, John R. “Jack” Proegler, 75, died Tuesday, Nov. 20,
at his home in Fort Wayne.
Mr. Proegler retired in 1988 as plant engineer from Smurfit-Stone Container Corp after 40
years.
Born in Fort Wayne, he was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.
In addition to the son at Ossian, he is survived by his wife, Patricia V.; another son,
Chester A. of Fort Wayne; seven daughters, Karen K. Graf, Geralyn M. Wygant and Jacqueline
S. Hull, all of Fort Wayne, Sherill A. Mourey of Hoagland, Susan M. Sommer of Monroeville,
Pamela S. Doctor of Eastport, Mich., and Janel M. Lengerich of Decatur; a sister, Mary Ann
Konger of Fort Wayne; 25 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Prayers will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at D.O. McComb & Sons Foster Park Funeral Home,
6301 Fairview Ave., Fort Wayne, followed by a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St.
Joseph Catholic Church, Hessen Cassel, 11337 Old U.S. 27 South. Burial will be in the
church cemetery.
Calling hours at the funeral home are today from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. with a rosary at
7:30 p.m. Memorials to the church building fund, the Emily Fund, or to Visiting Nurse
Service’s Hospice Home.
Mabel B. Rhoton, 92
Funeral services for Mabel B. Rhoton, 92, of Montpelier, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday
at Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel, in Montpelier. Visitation hours are today from 4
to 8 p.m. at the funeral chapel.
Mrs. Rhoton died at 4:18 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, at Blackford County Hospital in Hartford
City.
Mrs. Rhoton was a homemaker and assisted her late husband with the family farm in Harrison
Township, Blackford County. She also assisted as custodian at the Montpelier Glove Co. and
was a member of the Modern Homemakers Club and the First Baptist Church at Montpelier. She
had attended Montpelier High School.
She was born in Blackford County Oct. 12, 1909, a daughter of Herman and Edith Rogers
Teagle. Her marriage in Blackford County on Dec. 17, 1927 was to Hercle O. Rhoton, who
died July 15, 1993.
Surviving are a son, Jimmy D. of Montpelier; seven grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren
and one great-great-grandchild. A son, Carl, and four sisters are deceased.
Rev. Frank Rodgers will officiate at services Saturday and burial will be in Brookside
Memorial Park at Montpelier.
Memorials to the Montpelier First Baptist Church.
Ruthann Buttermore, 77
A native of Wells County, Ruthann Buttermore, 77, died Wednesday, Nov. 21, at her
residence in Auburn.
Mrs. Buttermore served eight years on the Board of Zoning Appeals for the City of Auburn.
She served in the 1960s as a hostess for Welcome Wagon and was employed at DeKalb Memorial
Hospital Central Supply from 1967 to 1971, with Auburn Motor Sales from 1971 to 1980 and
with Buttermore Appliance in Auburn from 1985 until her retirement in 1989.
Mrs. Buttermore was a member of the Auburn Presbyterian Church, Auburn Arts Commission,
Auburn Improvement Association, and Community Concerts of DeKalb County. She was born at
Bluffton Jan. 27, 1924 to Gerald and Agnes Reiff Russell.
Surviving are three sons, Eric J. of Kingwood, Texas, and Bradley R. and Gregg J., both of
Auburn, and one grandson. A brother is deceased.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 26, at the Feller Funeral Home, 875 South
Wayne St., in Waterloo, where calling hours will be Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Rev. William R. Haworth will officiate and burial will be in Fairview Cemetery at
Bluffton. Memorials to DeKalb Memorial Hospice or to Friends of Elkhart Public Library.