This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Potts, Arnett, Merchant, Smith, Bagwell, Foughty, Higgins, Amdall, Miller,
Osborn, Rust, Gibson, Story, French, Albright, Martin, Gunn
Classification: Obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ui.2ADI/3232
Message Board Post:
Obituaries courtesy of News-Banner Publications. Posted with permission.
Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2005
Ruth Potts, 87
A longtime member of the Wells County Election Board, Ruth I. Potts, 87, rural Bluffton,
died at 8:45 a.m. Monday, Oct. 24 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
Born in Bluffton on June 13, 1918 to Hugh and Mima E. Kleinknight Sturgeon, she married
Ralph Potts, Jr. on June 27, 1942 in Hattiesburg, Miss.; he died March 20, 1987.
A housewife, she was a 1936 graduate of Bluffton High School and worked for a short period
at John A. Morris Co. She was a member of the Bethel Church and the Poplar Grove Lodge.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Susan Gaiser of Bluffton; two brothers, Robert Sturgeon
and Wayne “Alphie” Sturgeon, both of Bluffton; and two grandchildren.
Calling hours are Wed. from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Goodwin Memorial Chapel. Services will be
held Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Bethel Church with Pastor Patrick Harris officiating.
Burial will be in the Bethel Cemetery. Preferred memorials are to the church’s building
fund.
Charles Arnett, Sr., 73
Charles H. Arnett, Sr., 73, Markle, died Monday, Oct. 24 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort
Wayne.
Born in Indianapolis on July 21, 1932 to Donald C. and Mary Arnett, he retired from Rogers
Markets in 1994, where he worked for 42 years as an assistant manager and manager of the
Fairfield Ave. store. He also had worked at Lincoln Food Service as a food broker. He was
a Korean War veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy, and a member of the Waynedale American
Legion No. 241.
Survivors include his wife, Betty M. Arnett; three sons, William C. Arnett of Fort Wayne,
Kenneth A. Arnett of Ossian, and Thomas Woodward of Markle; two brothers, Donald Arnett of
McClenney, Fla., and Richard Arnett of Bowling Green, Ky.; and seven grandchildren. He was
preceded in death by his first wife, Jane Elizabeth Arnett in 1990; and a son, Charles
Arnett, Jr.
Calling hours are Wed. from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Elzey Patterson Rodak Funeral
Home in Ossian, with services there Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
Interment will be in the Hoverstock Cemetery at Zanesville. Preferred memorials to the
American Heart Association.
Frances Merchant, 88
Frances Pearl Merchant, 88, a longtime Montpelier resident, died Monday morning, Oct.24,
at The Waters of Yorktown following an extended illness.
Born in Greenfield on August 7, 1917 to Leonard and Emma Reese, she retired from Dacra
Glass in Hartford City and was a member of Grace Community Church in Montpelier.
Survivors include two daughters, Joyce Rupe and Rhea Morgan, both of Muncie; three
sisters; two grandchildren; and six great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her
husband, Raymond Merchant, and a daughter, Sue Merchant.
Services will be held Wednesday at 10 am. at the Garden View Funeral Home in Muncie, with
calling there this evening from 5 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in the Gardens of Memory
Cemetery.
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2005
Charles W. Smith, 77
Charles W. Smith, 77, rural Markle, died Monday, Oct. 24 at his residence.
Born in Moline, Ill. on Dec. 11, 1927, he was a Korean War veteran, serving with the U.S.
Army, and retired from Kmart Corp. in 1991. He was a member of the First Church of the
Nazarene in Bluffton and also a member of the Lime City Cruisers.
Survivors include four daughters, Mrs. Jerry (Diana) Sell of Ossian, Mrs. Jesse (Sheryl)
Spencer of Salyersville, Ky., Joyce Flood of Huntington, and Mrs. Mike (Tammy) McCormack
of Ft. Wayne; a son, Steven Smith of Benbrook, Texas; two brothers, Albert Smith of Warsaw
and Clarence Smith of Ft. Wayne; a sister, Dorothy Beaty of Markle; 18 grandchildren and
37 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn (McCartney) Smith, in
1982.
Services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene with Rev.
Larry Sheets officiating. Calling hours are Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m. at Elzey Patterson
Rodak Funeral Home in Ossian and for one hour prior to the services on Friday at the
church.
Burial will be in Uniontown Cemetery. Preferred memorials are to the church.
David R. Bagwell, 30
Calling will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Calvary Baptist Church, 7810 Saint Joe
Center Road, Fort Wayne for David R. Bagwell, 30, who died Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005, at
Ossian. Additional arrangements are pending, a family representative reported.
Mr. Bagwell was a stepson of Robert Nick of Ossian.
Charles E. ‘Ed’ Foughty, 79
Stepfather of Dean George of Bluffton, Charles E. “Ed” Foughty, 79, of Huntington, died
at 7:13 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, at Parkview Huntington Hospital.
He retired in 1988 from Central City Freight Lines in Columbia City. Previously he had
worked for many years for the former Lime City Trucking in Huntington. Mr. Foughty was a
World War II Marine corporal serving in the South Pacific Asiatic Theater. A lifetime
resident of Huntington, he was a member of VFW Post 2689.
Born June 2, 1926, in Huntington, he was a son of Jesse and Pearley M. Elsten Foughty. His
marriage to Rose Pence George was on March 1, 1975 in Huntington, where she survives. Also
surviving in addition to the wife and the Bluffton stepson, are one daughter, Mrs. Mack
(Cindy) Gamblin of Marion; two additional stepsons, Daniel George of LaFontaine and David
George of Huntington; two stepdaughters, Diana Boeger of Fort Myers, Florida, and Mrs.
James (Delinda) Schmittler of South Whitley; one brother, Everett Foughty of Kokomo; 16
grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Dorothy
Ellet and Velma Fordyce, and two brothers, Thetus Foughty and Lloyd Foughty.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Bailey-Love Mortuary,
Huntington, where services will be at 10 a.m. Friday with Rev. Elzie Spencer officiating.
VFW Post 2689 will perform military graveside rites. Burial will be in Gardens of Memory,
Huntington. Memorials to donor’s choice.
Amy L. Higgins, 32 -- Rites pending
Amy L. Higgins, 32, of 319 South Williams St., Bluffton, died Tuesday, Oct. 25, in Fort
Wayne. Arrangements are pending at Thoma-Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home.
Thursday, Oct. 27, 2005
Amy Higgins, 32
Amy L. Higgins, 32, Bluffton, died at 2;45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 in Fort Wayne.
Born in Bluffton on Nov. 20. 1972 to Tom L. and Carol Cline Higgins, she was a Trauma
Certified Registered Nurse, working in the Emergency Room at Lutheran Hospital since Feb.,
2001.
A 1991 graduate of Bluffton High School, she graduated from Lutheran College of Health
Professionals in 1996 and began her career at the Wells Community Hospital, working there
from 1996 to 2001. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of St.
Francis.
Ms. Higgins was a member of First United Methodist Church in Bluffton, Tri-Kappa Sorority
and the Bluffton Elks Lodge.
Survivors include her parents of Bluffton; a sister, Joy R. Higgins of Fishers; a
grandmother, Betty L. Cline of Bluffton, and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church with Pastor
Cindy Osgood officiating. Calling hours are Friday from noon until 8 p.m. at Thoma/Rich,
Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home and Saturday for one hour prior to the service at the
church.
Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery. Preferred memorials are to the Lutheran Air Educational
Fund or the Angel of Hope Memorial Park.
Emmet F. Amdall, 89
The father of Mrs. Bill (Becky) Goshorn of Bluffton, Emmett F. Amdall, 89, Dallas, Wisc.,
died Saturday, Oct. 22 at Barron Medical Center after suffering a massive stroke one week
earlier.
Born in Dallas on Oct. 12, 1916 to Andrew and Mildred Keyes Amdall, he married Alma Bergon
June 2, 1944; she died April 27, 2005.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Saipan during World War II, he and his wife
operated a dairy farm in the Dallas area for 36 years. He was a member and former deacon
of the First Baptist Church in Barron.
Other survivors in addtion of Mrs. Goshorn include a son, Roger Amdall of Dallas, Wisc.;
two other daughters, Mary Thompson and LE DeHaven, both of Portland, Ore.; a twin brother,
Ellis Amdall of Barron, Wisc.; another brother, Laurence Amdall of Dallas, Wisc.; six
grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.
Services were held Tuesday in Barron, Wisc. with interment in the Dallas Cemetery with
military honors.
Maxine Miller, 79
A native of Bluffton, Maxine Miller, 79, Fishers, died Sat., Oct. 22 at her home.
Mrs. Miller spent most of her married life in Fort Wayne. Survivors include three
children, Robert Miller of San Antonio, Texas, Kathy Yonkman of Fishers, and Cindy Bush of
Angola; seven grandchildren; and one great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her
husband, Robert Miller.
Graveside services will be held Saturday at noon at Greenlawn Cemetery in Fort Wayne. A
memorial service will also be held Sunday at 3 p.m. at The Heart at Windmere in Fishers.
Preferred memorials are to the Waynedale United Methodist Church.
Dale Osborn, 88
The brother of three area people, Dale A. Osborn, 88, Fort Wayne, died Tuesday, Oct. 25 at
the Lutheran Home.
Born in Wells County on Jan. 18, 1917 to Charles C. Osborn and Beulah Bell Folk, he
married Naomi P. Anderson on Nov. 6, 1938; she survives.
A graduate of Lancaster High School and Huntington College, he was a minister in the
United Brethren in Christ denomination, serving churches in Huntington, Monroe, Wren, Ohio
and Fort Wayne. In 1956 he began working for North American Consumer Electronics, where he
retired in 1982. He was a member of the Calvary United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne.
Other survivors include three daughters, Joan Clymer, Van Wert, Ohio, Janet Naeve of
Dewey, Arizona and Pauline Arnold of Fremont; five grandchildren; nine great
grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; two sisters in Bluffton, Betty Mayer and
Bessie Oliver; and a brother, Jessie Osborn of Poneto.
He was preceded in death by seven brothers, Marion, Dwight, Jay, Clifford, Max, Charles,
and Paul Osborn; three sisters, Ida Hankins, Mary Perry, and Martha Zimmerman, and one
grandchild.
Calling hours are Friday from 2 to 8 p.m. at Klaehn, Fahl and Melton Winchester Road
Chapel in Fort Wayne, with services there Saturday at 10 a.m. Preferred memorials are to
the church, Lutheran Home on South Anthony or to Heartland Hospice.
Friday October 28, 2005
Larry G. Rust, 57
Step-father of Kristy Schreiber of Craigville, Larry G. Rust, 57, Huntington, died at his
residence at 4:20 a.m. today, Oct. 28.
Born March 11, 1948 in New Castle to Norman E. and Doris Kowling Rust, he married the
former Peggy L. Minton Wehr on May 10, 1997 in Huntington. She survives.
A member of the Markle United Methodist Churchand the American Legion Post 85, he was a
Machinists Mate E-3 in the United States Navy and served during the Vietnam War.
Additional survivors include a son, Bryan Heath Rust of West Lafaytette; a step-son,
Joseph Wehr of Fort Wayne; two brothers, Frank Rust of Troy, Ohio, and Garry Rust of
Carolina Beach, North Carolina; a sister, Judy West of Greenwood; a grandson and five
step-grandchildren.
Calling at Myers Funeral Home Huntington Chapel will be Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. Services
at Markle United Methodist Church will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. with Pastor Kaye Patton
officiating. Burial will follow at Lancaster Cemetery in Huntington County.
Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005
E. William ‘Bill’ Gibson, 77
Brother of Gary L. Gibson Sr. of Bluffton, E. William “Bill” Gibson, 77, died at 6:43 a.m.
Friday, Oct. 28, at Convoy Care Center in Convoy, Ohio.
Born Sept. 20, 1928, to William F. and Lola White Gibson, he was married to the former
Jean M. Hildbold, who survives.
Retired in 1982 as chief tool designer from International Harvester in Fort Wayne, he was
a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Convoy.
Additional survivors include a son, Brent, of Van Wert, Ohio, a daughter, Mrs. Gary
(Marcia) Drake of Convoy; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A son, Bradley, preceded him in death.
Services at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday with
Rev. Jan Berthinee officiating. Burial will follow in the IOOF Cemetery at Convoy.
Calling is one prior to services at the church.
Preferred memorials are to the church.
David Lynn Story, 62
Brother of Nelson Story of Bluffton, David Lynn Story, 62, of rural Van Buren, died at 6
p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at Marion General Hospital.
Born July 24, 1943, in Maysville, Ky., to U.G. “Buster” and Audrey L. Hawkins Story, he
married the former Henrietta Thompson June 28, 1964. She survives.
A brick mason for Weigand Construction, he was a member of the International Union of
Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. He had been a brick mason for the past 40 years. A
member of the Van Buren Fire Department, he had lived in the Van Buren area since 1964.
Additional survivors include a son, Michael, of Upland; two daughters, Mrs. Robert (Penny)
Buzzard of Warren and Mrs. Jeremy (Amy) McKee of Gas City; three other brothers, Marshall
of Flemingsburg, Ky., and Marion and Bill of Hillsboro, Ky.; a sister Andrea Story of
Morehead, Ky. and seven grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Peggy Story.
Services at Hutton Funeral Home in Hillsboro, Ky., will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. with
burial to follow at the Hillsboro Cemetery.
Local calling at Ferguson Funeral Home in Van Buren will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Calling at Hutton Funeral Home will be Monday from 4 to 8 p.m.
Memorials may be made to the Cpl. Lance McGregor Thompson Memorial Scholarship Fund care
of the Grant County Community Foundation.
Richard N. French Jr., 73
A Bluffton native, Richard N. French Jr., M.D., 73, died Thursday, Oct. 27, 2005, at
Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
Dr. French was professor emeritus for the department of psychiatry at the I.U. School of
Medicine.
A U.S. Air Force veteran, Dr. French served as assistant commissioner for the division of
mental illness of the Indiana Department of Mental Health. He was a named a Sagamore of
the Wabash by former Gov. Robert Orr.
An active member of Immanuel U.C.C., he was a member of Masonic Lodge F & AM 145,
Bluffton, the Scottish Rite, Indianapolis Valley and Murat Shrine.
He was born Feb. 11, 1932, in Bluffton to Richard Noble French and Ruth Decker French.
His marriage on March 16, 1957, was to Norma Cast French, who survives.
Other survivors include children Sheryl F. Elliott, Mrs. Steven (Kathryn F.) Cain, Richard
N. French III, Mrs. Troy (Debra F.) Allbright and Mark A. French; a sister, Mrs. Richard
(Alice F.) Maillett; a brother, Rev. Charles Thomas French; 16 grandchildren; and three
great-grandchildren.
Calling is from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Flamer & Buchanan Funeral Center, Speedway.
Services are at 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral center.
Monday, Oct. 31, 2005
Jerry G. Albright, 61 — Rites Pending
Jerry G. Albright, 61, died at 1:04 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, 2005, at his residence in
Bluffton. Arrangements are pending at Goodwin Memorial Chapel.
Opal Martin, 90 — Rites Pending
Opal Martin, 90, of Warren died at 4:15 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, 2005, at Bluffton Regional
Medical Center. Arrangements are pending at Glancy Funeral Homes, H. Brown & Son
Chapel, Warren.
James D. Gunn, 84
The father of a former Bluffton resident and grandfather of Zach Hoover of Bluffton, James
D. Gunn, 84, Van Buren, died Saturday, Oct. 29 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
A native of Van Buren, he was a U.S. Army veteran and was a member of the Van Buren Lions
Club and the Van Buren United Methodist Church. Survivors include a daughter, former
Bluffton resident Mrs. Stan (Debbie) Hoover of Annapolis, Md., two sons, Jeff Gunn of
Fairmount and Dan Gunn of Nappanee; eight grandchildren; three great grandchildren; four
sisters and two brothers. He was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine Gunn.
Services will be held at the Van Buren United Methodist Church on Wednesday at 11 a.m.
Calling hours are Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m. at Ferguson Funeral Home in Van Buren and for
one hour prior to the services Wednesday at the church. Preferred memorials are to the
church.