This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Pond, Bollenbacher, Holder, Jacks, Sommers, Bulger, Walzer, Bauermeister,
Wright, Houser, Scott, Duncan, Chambers
Classification: Obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ui.2ADI/3235
Message Board Post:
Obituaries courtesy of News-Banner Publications. Posted with permission.
Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2005
Jed A. Pond, 24
A native of Bluffton, Jed A. Pond, 24, died at 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 14, 2005, at his
residence in Willshire, Ohio.
Mr. Pond was engaged in farming and formerly attended the Willshire Zion U.B. in Christ
Church.
He was born in Bluffton to John and Rosie (Suman) Pond on May 3, 1981.
Survivors include his mother, Rosie Pond of Willshire; his father, John Pond of Florida;
his maternal grandfather, Kenneth Suman of Willshire; and two sisters, Amy Pond of Marion
and Erica Pond of Willshire.
Calling is from 2 to 4 and 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Zwick and Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur.
Services are at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with Rev. Mark Rutledge
officiating.
Burial will be in Willshire Cemetery.
Preferred memorials are to Willshire-Wren EMS or the Willshire Zion U.B. in Christ Church.
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2005 - None
Thursday, Nov. 17, 2005
Catherine P. Bollenbacher, 87
A resident of Swiss Village in Berne, Catharine P. Bollenbacher, 87, died at 3 a.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 16, at her residence.
Born Jan. 19, 1918, in Van Wert, Ohio, to Joseph and Anna Gribler Maxwell, she married
Ralph Bollenbacher in Ohio May 1, 1938. He preceded her in death in 1995.
She was employed by the Fashion Dress Shop in Berne for 25 years and was a member of Peace
Lutheran Church in Berne.
Survivors include a son, Ronald, of Fort Wayne, a daughter, Mrs. Warren (Nancy) Yoder of
Berne, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Two sons, Larry and Gary, half brothers Oscar and William McCollum and half sister,
Florence Snow, preceded her in death.
Services at Peace Lutheran will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday under the direction of Vicar
Jeffrey Kuening. Burial will follow at M.R.E Cemetery west of Berne.
Calling at Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and one hour
prior to services Saturday at the church.
Memorials may be made to Peace Lutheran or to Swiss Village.
Friday, Nov. 18, 2005
David T. Holder, 78
A former resident of Bluffton, David T. Holder, 78, of Geneva, died at 5:50 p.m. Thursday,
Nov. 17, at his residence.
Born in Adell, Ga., June 9, 1927, to John and Lela May Rechstroth Holder, he married the
former Ethel M. Martin March 14, 1946, in Lafayette, Ga. She preceded him in death May 13,
1982.
An employee of Sterling Casting for 30 years, he retired in 1985. He was a member of the
Eagles Lodge and the Moose Lodge in Decatur.
Survivors include a companion, Nancy Whited; three daughters, Mrs. Harold (Virginia)
Williams, Evelyn Hall, and Dian Mahon, all of Bluffton; a half-brother, John Holder of
Bluffton; two half-sisters, Joyce Fox, Bluffton, and Ruby Short, Anderson; nine
grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Lelia
Nickelson.
Services at Goodwin Memorial Chapel will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday under the direction
of Rev. David Knell. Burial will follow at the Murray Cemetery east of Murray.
Calling Monday will be from 2 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Bernita F. Jacks, 94 —Rites Pending
Rites are pending at Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel in Montpelier for Bernita F.
Jacks, 94, of Hartford City, who died at 2:10 a.m. today at Blackford Community Hospital.
Eileen Sommers, 78 —Rites Pending
Eileen Sommers, 78, widow of Earl D. Sommers, died at 8:55 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at
River Terrace Estates. Rites are pending at the Goodwin Memorial Chapel.
Saturday, Nov. 19, 2005
Theodore "Ted" Bulger, 66
A native of Bluffton, Theodore “Ted” Bulger, 66, died of cancer at his residence in
Plymouth at 11:38 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 18, 2005.
He was born in Bluffton on Dec. 11, 1938, a son of Thomas M. and Erma L. Noble Bulger. He
attended school in Wells County, and was a former member of the Indiana National Guard in
Bluffton. His marriage on March 15, 1957, in Kentucky, was to the former Bonnie Ritter,
who survives.
He worked for the Northern Indiana Power Service Company for 35 years. He retired from
NIPSCO in 1994. He was a member of the Northern Indiana Bassmasters and a former member of
the Knox Kiwanis Club.
In addition to the wife he is survived by a son, Tim Bulger of Schaumburg, Ill.; five
daughters, Cindy Rose of Lake Havasu, Ariz., Cherry Bulger of Porter, Cammy Messer of
Plymouth, Connie Peace of South Bend and Christy Ramsey of Monon; 16 grandchildren and
five gret-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Candy Lee Bulger who died in 1961, and a brother,
Thomas N. Bulger.
Calling will be Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m., and after 7:00 a.m. on Monday at the
Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1110 N. Michigan St. Funeral services will be held at 11
a.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in New Oakhill Cemetery.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care.
Eileen A. Sommers, 77
Eileen A. Sommers, 77, of rural Bluffton, died at 8:55 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at River
Terrace Estates.
Born Sept. 7, 1928, in Sandusky, Ohio, to Robert and Edna Hein Bluhm, she married Earl D.
Sommers Jan. 26, 1948 in Sandusky. He preceded her in death March 1, 1996.
She was a retired Franklin Electric employee with more than 10 years of service.
Survivors include two sons, Robert of Uniondale and Duane of Largo, Fla.; two daughters,
Linda Glick of Pinellas Park, Fla.and Karen Shutt of Tyaskin, Md.; a sister, Betty Sommers
of Sandusky, Ohio; 10 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and two great-great
grandchildren.
Services at 10:30 a.m. Monday will be at Goodwin Memorial Chapel with Tony Chaney
officiating. Visittation will be from noon to 4 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.
Bernita F. Jacks, 94
A native of Roll, Bernita F. Jacks, 94, died at 2:10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 18, at Blackford
Community Hospital.
Born Feb. 10, 1911, in Roll to Burr J. and Lena Fern Gebhart Palmer, she married Harry D.
Jacks in LaFontaine July 18, 1933. He preceded her in death Nov. 25, 1974.
A 1929 graduate of Roll High School, she retired from RCA in Marion and was a member of
the Alethia Chapter #206 Eastern Star. She spent most of her life in the Roll area where
she was well known before moving to Park Place Apartments in Hartford City and then to
Miller's Merry Manor in Hartford City. She was a member of the Roll United Methodist
Church.
Survivors include a sister, Lena Ruth Clamme of Hartford City; a half-brother, Jean Palmer
of Kokomo; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
A son, Merrill, preceded her in death in 1992.
Graveside services at 1 p.m. Monday will be under the direction of Rev. Steve Landis at
Woodlawn Cemetery in Warren. There will be no calling.
Arrangements are in charge of Glancy Funeral Homes-Walker Chapel, Montpelier.
Memorials may be made to the Roll United Methodist Church.
Monday, Nov. 21, 2005
Joanna ‘Jo’ E. Walzer, 88
A pioneer leader and volunteer in the Council on Aging and services to and for senior
citizens, Joanna ‘Jo’ E. Walzer, 88, formerly of 726 South Clark Ave., Bluffton, died at
11:20 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, 2005 at River Terrace Estates, Bluffton.
She was a past president and board member of the Wells County Council on Aging and helped
establish the Bluffton downtown office, serving as a volunteer for years. Mrs. Walzer’s
service included delivering meals to home-bound residents in Bluffton. She was honored
with the Older Hoosier of the Year Award in 1985. In addition, she helped start the
transportation program with SenioRide. Further, she launched the housekeeping service for
seniors and the Televisit Program with volunteers calling seniors who are shut-ins. She
served a Senior Citizen Internship for Congressman Phil Sharp in Washington, D.C. Beyond
the many services for senior citizens, she was a den mother for Cub Scouts.
Born July 2, 1917 at Auburn, she was a daughter of Sherman and Cora Miller Rinehold. Her
marriage was on May 17, 1941, to Frank J. Walzer, who preceded her in death on April 17,
2005. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Surviving are one son, James “Ed” E. Walzer of Portland, Oregon; two daughters, Mrs.
Robert (Linda) McHenry and Cynthia Walzer, both of Bluffton; six grandchildren and five
great-grandchildren. A sister, Mrs. Robert (Naomi) Rison, is deceased.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Goodwin Memorial Chapel, and for one hour
prior to the service at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The funeral service at the church will
be at 10 a.m. Friday, with Father Dale Bauman officiating. Burial will be in Six Mile
Cemetery. Memorials to the Wells County Council on Aging.
Paul F. Bauermeister, 83
Paul F. Bauermeister, 83, rural Ossian, died at 3:40 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 at Ossian Health
& Rehabilitation Center.
Born in Wells County on Oct. 15, 1922 to Adolph and Lydia Stoppenhagen Bauermeister, he
married Phyllis Stauffer on July 9, 1943 in Wells County; she survives.
A veteran of the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, he was a retired farmer and had
also worked at Rea Wire for four years. He was a member of the Beautiful Savior Lutheran
Church in Decatur where he served as trustee Elder, Deacon and vice-chairman. He was a
life member of the American Legion Post 43 in Decatur and Wheels of Yesteryear. He was the
founder of the Custom Club International, a club for antique tractor owners.
Other survivors include four daughters, Mrs. Dean (Patricia) Archbold of Bluffton, Mrs.
Robert (Cynthia) Williams of Ossian, Mrs. Bill (Sandra) Otis of Fort Wayne, and Paulette
Dawson, also of Fort Wayne; a son, Jeffrey Bauermeister, Ossian; 18 grandchildren; and 24
great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Alan Bauermeister.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in
Decatur. Calling hours are today from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Zwick-Jahn Funeral Home in
Decatur, and one hour prior to the services Tuesday at the church.
Graveside military rites will be conducted by the Adams Post 43 American Legion Color
Guard. Burial will be in the Decatur Cemetery. Preferred memorials are to the church or
the Adams County Heart Club.
Richard L. Wright, 47
Richard L. “Dick” Wright, 47, of Jackson Township, Wells County (rural Warren), died
Friday, Nov. 18 in Kosciusko County.
Born on Oct. 16, 1957 to Larry L. and Joan Peterson Wright, he attended Eastbrook High
School and was a truck driver for Arvin Leasing in Gas City.
Survivors include his father, of Warren; a son, Jeremy Wright of Bluffton; a daughter,
Mrs. Nathan (Becky) Wright Lamb of Huntington; three brothers, Larry J. Wright, Upland,
Mike Wright, Warren and Ricky Wright of Van Buren; and a sister, Mrs. Lee (Becky) Poulson
of Warren.
Services will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at Glancy Funeral Home, H. Brown & Son
Chapel in Warren, with Pastor Charlie Dye officiating. Calling hours are Tuesday from 4 to
8 p.m.
Burial will be in Grant Memorial Park in Marion. Preferred memorials are to the family.
Genevieve Mae Houser Scott, 86
A former Bluffton resident and salutatorian of her 1937 Bluffton High School graduating
class, Genevieve Mae Houser Scott, 86, of Argyle, Texas, near Denton. Texas, died at
Denton on Nov. 14, 2005.
She was active in many church and civic organizations including the Parent/Teachers
Association, the League of Women Voters, the Argyle Volunteer Fire Department Women’s
Auxiliary and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Denton.
Born Oct. 5, 1919, in Young America, Indiana, she was the only child of Miles Shaw and
Bernice Henry Houser of Bluffton. After her 1937 graduation from Bluffton High School, she
received her bachelor of science degree in 1941 from Purdue University where she also was
a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.
Following Purdue graduation, she joined International Business Machines (IBM), where she
met Eugene Victor Scott of Akron, Ohio. Their marriage was in 1942 in the Little Church on
the Circle in 1942. They retired to Argyle, Texas, in 1970 after his career in the
computer industry. He preceded her in death in 2000.
Surviving are a son, Brian Lee Scott of Denton, Texas; two daughters, Vicki Jean Scott of
Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Sara Bernice Scott of Denton, Texas, and five grandchildren.
Interment was in the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery, where her husband was interred.
Memorials to the Denton Unitarian Fellowship, 1111 Cordell, Denton, Texas 76201 in her
name.
Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2005
Edythe Grace Duncan, 85
Sister of Mrs. Woodrow (Florence) Crum of Warren, Edythe Grace Duncan, 85, died Nov. 4,
2005. She graduated in 1938 from Rockcreek Center High School and was a U.S. Navy veteran.
She worked at the Pentagon during World War II.
Born April 21, 1920, in Nashville, Tenn., she was a daughter of Chase and Grace Pinkham
Furnas. Her marriage was to Ronald Duncan, who preceded her in death, as did one son,
Brian Duncan, four brothers and one sister.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Jim (Cathy) Ford and Cynthia Duncan, another sister,
Mrs. Donald (Jane) Wise of Dansville, N.Y., two grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.
Clara Elsie Scott, 75—Rites Pending
Clara Elsie Scott, 75, rural Ossian, died this morning, Nov. 22, at Lutheran Hospital.
Arrangements are pending at Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Funeral Home in Ossian.
Alan Lee Chambers, 84
Alan Lee Chambers, 84, of Marion died at 1:50 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, 2005, at V.A. Northern
Indiana Health Care System in Marion.
Mr. Chambers was born Oct. 5, 1921, in Kirkland, Wash. He was a U.S. Army veteran with
service during World War II.
He resided at the home of friends Rob and Paula Storer of Montpelier for 13 years before
entering the Veterans Administration.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in the Veterans Administration Chapel in Marion with
Chaplain Kolen Brander officiating.
Graveside services will follow at 11 a.m. Friday at the Marion National Cemetery with the
Grant County Honor Guard conducting military graveside rites.
Glancy Funeral Homes - Walker Chapel, Montpelier, is in charge of the arrangements.