This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Sailsbery, Parkison, Oley, King, Horton, Gerber, Springer, Lund, Capper, Garton,
Shaw, Ayers, Magner, Brane, Whitesell
Classification: Obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ui.2ADI/3014
Message Board Post:
Obituaries courtesy of News-Banner Publications. Posted with permission.
May 15, 2004
Sandy L. Sailsbery, 55
Sandy L. Sailsbery, 55, of Bluffton, who was stricken with a brain aneurysm on April 4,
2004, died at 10 p.m. Thursday, May 13 at Hospice Home of Fort Wayne.
The wife of former Northern Wells Community Schools superintendent Dr. Mike Sailsbery, she
was a teacher at Northwest Elementary School in Decatur for the past 19 years.
Born June 17, 1948 to Gerald and Lucille Sanders Conley, she graduated in 1966 from
Churchville-Chili High School in North Chili, N.Y. She earned a bachelor of science degree
in education from Greenville College in Illinois in 1970 and later obtained a master of
science degree in elementary education in 1985 and a school administration degree in 1994,
both through IPFW in Fort Wayne.
Her marriage on June 6, 1970 to Dr. Sailsbery was in North Chili, N.Y.
She served on the board of directors of the Angel of Hope Committee, was a member of the
Hope Missionary Church in Bluffton, and a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Educational
Society.
In addition to the husband and her mother, Mrs. Sailsbery is survived by two daughters,
Mrs. Mike (Kristen) Sundin of Aurora, Colo., and Mrs. Brian (Michaele) Sheltz of Bluffton;
a sister, Mrs. Dave (Karen) Foster of North Chili, and six grandchildren. She was preceded
in death by a son, Robert Michael Sailsbery on June 19, 2000.
Calling will be at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home on Monday from 1 to 8
p.m.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Hope Missionary Church, with calling
at the church one hour prior to services. Rev. Gary Aupperle and Rev. Matt Hartsell will
officiate at services and burial will be at the Garden of the Chimes in Elm Grove
Cemetery.
A memorial service, for friends from the Northwest School family, will be held at 7 p.m.
on Wednesday, May 19 at The Bridge Church in Decatur, located at 1403 Winchester Road.
M. Scott Parkison, 74
A retired sheet metal worker, M. Scott Parkison, 74, of Fort Wayne, died Thursday, May 13
at Parkview Hospital. He retired in 1995 from Local #20 as a sheet metal worker after 31
years. He was currently employed at Signature Products.
Mr. Parkison was a member and trustee of the Waynedale United Methodist Church, a U.S.
Army veteran of the Korean War, and a member of Waynedale Masonic Lodge.
Born March 23, 1930 in Fort Wayne, he is survived by his wife, Sally W. Parkison; a son,
Sam Parkison of Fort Wayne; a daughter, Mrs. Mike (Sarah) Baker of Ossian, two sisters,
Mrs. Otto (Evelyn) Fultz of Huntington and Mrs. Bob (Marilyn) Roehm of Big Long Lake; a
brother, Richard Parkison of Louisville, Ky., and six grandchildren. He was preceded in
death by brothers Otis, Paul and Robert Parkison.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 19 at the Waynedale United
Methodist Church, 2501 Church Street. Calling will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at
Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Funeral Home for Funerals in Waynedale and for one hour Wednesday at
the church prior to services.
Burial will be in Covington Memorial Gardens. Preferred memorials to Waynedale United
Methodist Church.
Ella F. Oley, 79
A sister of Arnold Quinton of Bluffton, Ella F. Oley, 79, of Lafayette died at 2:04 a.m.
Friday, May 14 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lafayette.
Born Feb. 25, 1925 in Bullsgap, Tenn., her marriage in July of 1968 in Bloomington was to
William F. Oley, who survives. She worked in housekeeping for the Indiana Veterans Home
and had previously worked at Sears for 20 years. She was a member of the VFW Lodge in
Lafayette.
In addition to the husband and brother in Bluffton, she is survived by a son, Roy Earl
Thomas of Versailles, six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She was preceded in
death by a brother, Alvin Quinton and a grandson.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Hippensteel Funeral Home in Lafayette with
calling one hour prior to services. Rev. Dr. Clayton Kendall will officiate. Preferred
memorials are to the Alzheimer’s Association.
May 17, 2004
Keith D. King, 34
Keith D. King, 34, of Montpelier, died at 11:00 p.m. Saturday, May 15 at his home.
Born in Bluffton on January 25, 1970, he married Amy Reynolds on Nov. 15, 1997 in
Bluffton; she survives.
He was a 1989 graduate of Bluffton High School and worked at Fleetwood in Decatur.
Other survivors include his father, James W. King, Sr. of Uniondale; his mother, Jewel
(Sage) VanOver of Montpelier; two daughters, Alyssa and Alison King, both at home; three
sisters, Tammy King of Warren, Penny Clanin of Delray Beach, Fla.; and Jamie King of
Uniondale; three brothers, James King, Jr. of Liberty Center, Kevin King of Montpelier,
and Jon Bailey of Ft. Carson, Colo.; and a step grandmother, Mary Ann VanOver of
Montpelier.
Calling hours are Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene in
Montpelier, with services there to begin at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, with Rev. Jack
Littlefield officiating. Burial will be in Brookside Memorial Park in Montpelier.
Preferred memorials to Alyssa and Alison King in care of Citizens First State Bank of
Montpelier. Arrangements are being handled by Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel, in
Montpelier.
Travis Horton, 22
Travis Allyn Horton, 22, Pennville, died early Saturday morning in the Jay County Hospital
of injuries sustained in an accident on River Road at the Pennville town limits.
Born in Bluffton on Feb. 3, 1982 to Tracy A. and Christi Harris Horton, he graduated from
Jay County High School in 2000 and was a student at Ivy Tech in Marion. He was employed at
Millwright Fabricators in Pennville, was a member of the Millwright’s Local 1029 in Warsaw
and the Sons of the American Legion in Pennville.
He is survived by his mother of Pennville; his father and stepmother, Traci and Kathleen
Horton of Pennville; a brother, George P. Horton of Montpelier; a sister, Cherokee McCoin
of Montpelier; three half-sisters, Tracie Jo Wharham of Spokane, Wash., Erica Leamon of
Everett, Wash. and Jessica Horton of Hartford City; a step-brother, Ryan Daniels of
Portland; a step-sister, Lindsay Evers of Pennville and maternal grandparents Bill and
Bobbi Harris of Pennville
Services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Pennville Chapel of the Williamson &
Spencer Funeral Home with Pastor Gene Betts officiating. Calling hours are Tuesday from 4
to 8 p.m and Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m., as well as Thursday for one hour prior to the
services. Burial will be in the IOOF Twin Hill Cemetery in Pennville.
V. Dwight Gerber, 71
V. Dwight Gerber, 71, of rural Bluffton, died at 1:00 a.m. Saturday, May 15 at his home.
Born in Adams County on Oct. 19, 1932 to Reuben and Aldula Aschliman Gerber, he married
Lucille Geisel on Nov. 16, 1952 in Wells County; she survives.
After starting Thermtron in 1957 and working there until 1983, he worked at Bluffton
Rubber Co. for nine years before incorporating G&G Inc. in 1991 and working there for
10 years. He was a member of the Apostolic Christian Church East.
Other survivors include three daughters, Elaine Liechty of Markle, and Beverly Meyer and
Karen Steffen, both of Bluffton; four sons, Keith Gerber of Howell, Darrell Gerber of Fort
Wayne, Ronald Gerber of Syracuse, and Brad Gerber of Berne; one brother, Milton Gerber of
Cedarville, Mich.; 25 grandchildren; and 11 great grandchildren.
Services were held this morning at the church, with burial in the church cemetery.
Preferred memorials to the Hospice of N.E. Indiana. Arrangements were handled by Goodwin
Memorial Chapel.
Damon J. Springer, 23
Services for Damon John Springer, 23, Yoder, will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. Wednesday
at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. He died in a single vehicle accident at 1:30 a.m. Saturday,
May 15 on State Route 104 in Wayne Twp., Ohio.
Born in Fort Wayne on August 26, 1980 to Ronald J. and Jackie K. Springer, he was a
journeyman tool & die maker for Midwest Tool & Die in Fort Wayne. He was a member
and deacon of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, serving on the church council.
He is survived by his parents; a sister, Angie D. Springer of Indianapolis; a brother,
Kyle B. Springer of Georgetown, Ky., and a step grandmother, Zelda Garrison of Terre
Haute.
Calling hours are Tuesday from 2 to 9 p.m. at the Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Funeral Home in
Ossian, and for one hour prior to the services Wednesday at the church. Preferred
memorials are to the church’s endowment fund or to St. John’s Lutheran Church School.
Gladys Lund, 87
Gladys L. Lund, 87, Markle, died at 9:00 p.m. Sunday, May 16 at the Bluffton Regional
Medical Center.
Born in Wabash County on July 22, 1916 to Milward and Mary Ellen Rupley Overholt, she
married Donald V. Lund on Jan. 1, 1935 in Markle; he survives.
A 1934 graduate of Huntington High School, she was a homemaker and also worked as a cook
for the Wolf & Dessaur store in Huntington, and in the Lincoln Elementary School
cafeteria. She was a member of the Markle Church of Christ, where she was a Sunday School
teacher for many years.
Other survivors include two daughters, Cynthia Waikel of Markle and Carol Haupert of
Wabash; a daughter-in-law, Annette Lund of Markle; a brother, Lloyd Overholt of Markle;
three sisters, Helen Bradburn and Donna Brown, both of Markle, and Joyce Kinsey of Lady
Lake, Fla.; seven grandchildren; three step grandchildren; and 15 great grandchildren and
step great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Robert Lund; a grandson, Harland Haupert; three
brothers, Glenn, Raymond and Floyd Overholt; and two sisters, Dorothy Miller and June
Geiger.
Calling hours are Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Myers Funeral Home, Markle Chapel.
Services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Markle Church of Christ. Burial will be
in the Markle Cemetery.
Preferred memorials to the church’s Mission Fund.
Jack Capper - Rites Pending
Arrangements are pending at Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel in Montpelier for Jack
Capper, rural Montpelier (Wells County), who died Sunday afternoon at St. Vincent Hospital
in Carmel.
May 18, 2004
Larry K. Garton, 68
A resident of Lamar St. in Bluffton, Larry K. Garton, 68, died at his home Monday, May 17,
at 1:05 p.m. Death followed an illness of about six months.
Born in Craigville Jan. 1, 1936 to Wendell and Anna Dubbs Garton, his marriage to the
former Roberta Rumple took place in Bluffton in 1956. She preceded him in death in June of
1998. His second marriage to the former Gelene Melching Murray took place in Wells County
Sept. 8, 2000. She survives.
A 1953 graduate of Bluffton High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Manchester
College in 1957 and a master’s degree from Ball State University. Involved in education
for 35 years, Mr. Garton taught elementary school in the Bluffton school system as well as
at Lancaster and Petroleum. He was principal at several schools including Rockcreek in
Wells County and Aboite, Indiana Meadows, Brandywine and Doe Creek, where he retired in
1992.
He coached basketball at various schools including Lancaster and Petroleum, and was a
member of the Wells County Retired Teachers’ Association.
He was also a member of the First Baptist Church, Bluffton, the Moose Lodge and the
American Legion.
Survivors include two sons, Lance K. Garton, Indianapolis, and Clark L. “Cork” Garton,
Fort Wayne; a daughter, Mrs. DeWayne (Leslie) Whitaker, Indianapolis; three step-sons,
Linc and Mike Murray, both of Warren, and Jody Murray of Montpelier; two step-daughters,
Kim Clark, and Barbara “Barbie” Fugate, both of Bluffton; a sister, Barbara Rowe of
Auburn; three grandchildren, 19 step-grandchildren, one great-grandchild and seven
step-great-grandchildren.
Calling is set for 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home.
Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home under the direction of
Pastor Rich Secor.
Following the service here, calling will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Pasco Funeral
Home in Greenfield, Ind. A graveside service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Greenfield
Park Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Family Hospice of Northeast Indiana.
Jack R. Capper, 44
A resident of Jackson Twp., Jack R. Capper, 44, died at St. Vincent Hospital in Carmel at
1:11 p.m. Sunday, May 16.
Born in Hartford City Jan. 1, 1960 to Billy Ray and Martha Sue Faulkner Capper, he was a
1978 graduate of Southern Wells High School. He worked at Wayne Metals in Markle for 25
years.
Survivors include his mother; four daughters, Amanda, Emily, Michelle and Allison Capper,
all of Montpelier; and two brothers, Jeff R. and Paul D. Capper, both of Montpelier.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Private graveside services at the IOOF Cemetery, Montpelier, will be officiated by Rev.
Chris Neel. There will be no calling.
Glancy Funeral Homes-Walker Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the family.
Robert A. Shaw, 59-Rites Pending
Funeral rites are pending at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home for Robert A.
Shaw, 59, a resident of rural Bluffton, who died at Lutheran Hospital this morning.
Bill Ayers — Memorial Service
A memorial service for William “Bill” Ayers, 60, who died May 10, 2004, in Aurora, Ill.,
will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 26 at the First United Methodist Church in Bluffton.
Preferred memorials are to the church or the American Cancer Society.
Alta Lucile Magner, 87
A former resident of Bluffton, Alta Lucile Magner, 87, died at 1:45 p.m. Saturday, May 15,
at the Peabody Retirement Home in North Manchester.
Born in Warren Twp., Huntington County, March 24, 1917 to Noah E. and Bertha H. Chalmers
Stanley, she was married to Charles Magner. He preceded her in death May 8, 1995.
A member of the First Presbyterian Church in Bluffton, she retired in 1959 after 16 years
of service for General Electric.
Survivors include a brother, Lloyd E. Stanley, North Manchester, a niece and a nephew.
Graveside services under the direction of Goodwin Memorial Chapel will be held at 2 p.m.
Monday at Lancaster Cemetery in Huntington County. There will be no calling.
May 19, 2004
Robert Alan Shaw, 59
Retired in 1996 from Franklin Electric after 32 years as a machinist, Robert Alan Shaw,
59, of 3959 South Hoosier Highway, Bluffton, died at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, May 18, 2004, at
Lutheran Hospital. He had been ill the past five weeks.
He was a 1963 graduate of Bluffton High School. In addition to his long Franklin Electric
career, he worked two years in customer service at Wal-Mart. He was a lifetime Wells
County resident.
Born Sept.9, 1944, in Bluffton, he was a son of John Robert and Mary M. Wenger Shaw, both
deceased. His marriage was on Nov. 14, 1962, in Bluffton to Kathy Aker, who survives.
Also surviving are a son, Nick Shaw of Hampton, Va.; a daughter, Mrs. Bill (Brooke)
Cushing of Cheyenne, Wyoming; two brothers, Richard Deane Shaw and John David Shaw, both
of Bluffton, and two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Carol Otis.
Calling will be from 2 to 4 p.m.and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Thoma-Rich, Hewitt & Chaney
Funeral Home,where services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday with Pastor Tom Bradley
officiating. Burial will be in Six Mile Cemetery. Memorials to the local chapter of
Alcoholics Anonymous.
May 20, 2004
Infant Priya Elizabeth Brane—Rites Pending
Priya Elizabeth Brane, infant daughter of Thomas A. and Suja M. Brane, of Cincinnati,
Ohio, died Wednesday, May 19, at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. Rites are pending at Myers
Funeral Home, Markle Chapel.
May 21, 2004
Priya Brane, Infant
Private graveside services will be held at a later date for Priya Elizabeth Brane, infant
daughter of Thomas A. and Suja M. Mathai Brane of Cincinnati, Ohio, who died Wednesday,
May 19 at the Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, where she was born on the same day.
Survivors, in addition to the parents, include grandparents, John and Betty Brane of
Markle, and Matthew and Mary Mathai of India; great grandparents Josephine Siders of
Wabash and Annamma Thomas and Varghese Mathai, both of India.
The service and burial will be in the Center Grove Cemetery in Lincolnville, with Pastor
Wendall Brane officiating.
Myers Funeral Home Markle Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Stephen Whitesell, 61
Former Pennville resident Stephen Lee Whitesell, 61, of Georgetown, Fla., died Jan. 26,
2004.
He is survived by his wife, Karen, three sons, one step daughter; his mother, Rosetta
Smiley of Pennville; a brother, Thomas Smiley of Bluffton; and three sisters, including
Jolene Stetzel of Pennville.
Graveside services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Twin Hill Cemetery east of
Pennville.
The Williamson & Spencer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.