This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Bowman, Ramseyer, Pursley, Edgell, Gerber, Taylor, Dafforn, Mangold, Schwartz,
Gilbert, Martin, Folk, Roop, Melching, Sheeler, Taylor
Classification: Obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ui.2ADI/3229
Message Board Post:
Obituaries courtesy of News-Banner Publications. Posted with permission.
Saturday, Oct. 1, 2005
Willodean “Willie” Bowman, 88
Willodean “Willie” Bowman, 88, of Ossian, died Friday, Oct. 30 at Bluffton Regional
Medical Center.
Born June 17, 1917 in Larwill to Roy and Mary Bolton Prescott, her marriage was to Everett
M. “Coxie” Bowman, who preceded her in death on Aug. 22, 1992.
She was a member of the U.S.A.C. racing association.
Surviving are daughters Rose Mary Elzey of Lafayette and Mrs. Boyd (Anita) Byerly of
Ossian; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Elzey Patterson Rodak Home for Funerals in
Ossian with Pastor Tim Dilley officiating. Burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery in Ossian.
Calling at the funeral home will be Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. and on Monday for one hour
prior to services.
Preferred memorials are to the U.S.A.C. Benevolent Fund, 4910 W. 16th St., Speedway, IN
46224.
Edwin Roy Ramseyer, 68
Brother of several area residents, Edwin Roy Ramseyer, 68, died at his home in Priceton,
Ala., Thursday, Sept. 29.
Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Sue; his mother, Ida Mae Ramseyer, of Ossian;
daughters Laurie Wade, Tonya Scott, Annie Davis and Polly Wisehart, all of Hollywood,
Fla.; two brothers, Ron Ramseyer of Bluffton and Bill Ramseyer of Princeton, Ala.; three
sisters, Mrs. John (Kathy) Poore and Mrs. F. P. (Joyce) Koroma, both of Bluffton, and Mrs.
Norm (Carolyn) Thompson of Ossian; three step-children; eight grandchildren and seven
step-grandchildren.
Services at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, will be at Scottsboro Funeral Home Chapel in
Scottsboro, Ala. Calling is from 5-9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Ruth F. (Pursley) Edgell, 81
Funeral services for Ruth F. (Pursley) Edgell, 81, of Willshire, Ohio, will be held at 1
p.m. Monday at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur.
Mrs. Edgell died at 4:55 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30 at Woodcrest Nursing Center in Decatur
following an extended illness.
Born Dec. 14, 1923 in Blackford County to Leroy and Inez Marshall Pugh, her first marriage
was on April 5, 1941 to Russell Edgell, who died on Dec. 30, 1973. A second marriage on
Oct. 5, 1974 was to Vernell “Bud” Pursley, who died Aug. 10, 1995.
She was a member of Mt. Zion United Brethren Church in Bobo and was retired from Decatur
Industries.
Survivors include two sons, Don E. Edgell of Pleasant Mills and Richard L. Edgell of
Willshire; two daughters, Mrs. Robert (Mary E.) Brown and Mrs. Anthony (Nancy J.) Wilson,
both of Willshire; 19 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and one great-great
grandchild. She was preceded in death by two sons, James E. Edgell and Thomas W. Edgell
and four sisters.
Calling will be from 12 noon to 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Rev. Richard Springer
will officiate at Monday services and burial will be in the Decatur Cemetery.
Preferred memorials are to Family Hospice of Northeast Indiana.
Gerald L. (Gary) Gerber, 72
A native of Liberty Center, Gerald L. (Gary) Gerber, 72, of Syracuse, Ind., died
Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005 while traveling through Laramie, Wyoming.
Born in Liberty Center on Aug. 20, 1933 to Walter S. and Glennys J. McBarnes Gerber, he
was a U.S. Army veteran, a member of the St. Andrew United Methodist Church, Hoosier
Warbirds, Replica Fighters and Quixtar. He was owner of Gerber Network, and was also the
former owner of Gerber-haus and Indian Springs Campground.
Surviving are his wife, Norma L. Gerber of Syracuse; a son, Scott A. Gerber of Fort Wayne;
five daughters, Mrs. Ken (Stacy) Junk of Fort Wayne; Mrs. John (Dawn) Schacht of Syracuse;
Cindy Forest of Springfield, Mo., Mrs. Ted (Susan) Hege of Syracuse and Lee Ann Richardson
of Syracuse. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5 at Covington Memorial Funeral Home,
8408 Covington Road in Fort Wayne. Friends may call Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the
funeral home. Entombment will be in Covington Memorial Gardens. Preferred memorials are to
Hoosier Warbirds, Replica Fighters Assoc. and Christian Care.
Mabel Eileen Taylor, 86
A native of Wells County, Mabel Eileen Taylor, 86, died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005, at
Golden Years Homestead in Fort Wayne.
Born to Earl and Minnie Taylor in Wells County, she was a client service correspondent
with Lincoln Life Insurance Company for 43 years, retiring in 1981. She was a member of
Christ Church at Georgetown where she was trip chairman for the Voyagers Senior Group for
20 years.
Survivors include several cousins. She was preceded in death by her sister, Melba Taylor.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at D.O, McComb & Sons Maplewood Park Funeral
Home, 4017 Maplecrest Road with calling one hour prior to services. Calling also will be
from 5 to 7 pm. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Alberson Cemetery in
Petroleum. Preferred memorials are to Christ Church at Georgetown.
Monday, Oct. 3, 2005
Dwight E. “Duke” Dafforn, 93
Dwight E. “Duke” Dafforn, 93, Ossian, died Saturday, Oct. 1 at Hospice Home.
Born in Pleasant Township, Allen County on Oct. 29, 1911 to James C. and Anna V. Earl
Dafforn, he was a tool and die maker for General Electric for 48 years, retiring in 1998
and was a member of the G.E. Quarter Century Club.
Survivors include two sons, David Dafforn of Ossian and Robert Dafforn of Marquette
Heights, Ill.; nine grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; and two great-great
grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Bernice Snyder, who died
on May 23, 1998.
Services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Elzey Patterson Rodak Funeral Home in
Ossian with Rev. Larry Taylor and Rev. Larry Elders officiating Visitation times are
Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and one hour prior to the services on Thursday.
Burial will be in Hoverstock Cemetery in Zanesville. Preferred memorials are to the
Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home or the Zanesville Church of God.
Clarence Mangold, 90
The twin brother of Clarice Isch of Bluffton, Clarence Mangold, 90, of Ellington, Conn.,
died Sunday, Oct. 2 at his home.
Other survivors include his wife, Martha, five children, Nancy Zahner, Mary Evans, Edward
Mangold, Luann Hoffman and Dorothy Viens, all of Ellington and Pamela Trinque of Union,
Conn.; another sister, Melba Mangold of Eureka, Ill.; a brother, Willis Mangold of Leisic,
Ohio; 17 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren.
Calling hours are Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Apostolic Christian Church in
Ellington, where he was a member. Services will be held there Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.,
with burial following in the Ellington Cemetery.
Arrangements are being handled by the Ladd, Turkington & Carmon Funeral Home, Vernon,
Conn. Preferred memorials are to the Apostolic Christian Home for the Handicapped of
Morton, Ill., or to Longview Village in Ellington.
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005 - None
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005
Katherine Schwartz, 84
A resident of Christian Care Retirement Community, Katherine Schwartz, 84, died at 10:10
a.m. Tuesday at her residence.
Born Oct. 5, 1920 to Frank Clifton and Pearl L. Trenary Howard, she married Lloyd Schwartz
Dec. 24, 1944 in Farmland. He preceded her in death Feb. 21, 1995.
A member of Lancaster Chapel, she was a 1939 graduate of Lancaster High School and worked
for 12 years as a waitress at the lunch counter of the Progress Store. Before telephones
went to the dial system, she was a telephone operator in Bluffton and Huntington. She was
one of the last surviving members of the Pioneer’s Club, a club of women who worked as
operators for the telephone company. She also worked at Estey Piano for five years.
Survivors include two sons, Joe of Bluffton, and Dan of Cincinnati, Ohio; two daughters,
Mrs. Robert (Jean) Weber of Ossian and Mrs. Alan (Judy) Crull of Portland; a brother, John
Howard of Huntsville, Ala.; a sister, Mrs. Cliff (Dorine ) Zuercher of Berne; 14
grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Marjorie Mitchell and Bonnie Rich, and a
grandson.
Services at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Lancaster Chapel will be under the direction of Pastors
Walter Graeflin and Tyler Sonnigsen. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery.
Calling at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home will be Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m.
and one hour prior to services Friday at the church.
Memorials may be made to Lancaster Chapel, Christian Care or the Multiple Sclerosis
Society.
B. Waldene Gilbert, 92
B. Waldene Gilbert, 92, of rural Montpelier, died at 3:35 a.m. today at Bluffton Regional
Medical Center.
Mrs. Gilbert was a homemaker and member of the United Methodist Women. She also was a
member of the Five Points Club, Wells County Historical Society and the Wells County Farm
Bureau. She was a 1929 graduate of Montpelier High School.
She was born Nov. 15, 1912, in Wells County to Charles Wilfred and Olive Helene (McKee)
Booher. Her marriage in Montpelier on Nov. 23, 1935, was to Olan L. Gilbert, who
survives.
Other survivors include a son, Glen Olan Gilbert of Montpelier; two brothers, Robert
Booher of Celina, Ohio, and B.J. Booher of Marion; two grandchildren and a
great-grandson.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Clara Doreen Booher, and Bernice Ely; and three
brothers, Lawrence E., George and Charles Booher.
Calling is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Glancy Funeral Homes - Walker Chapel,
Montpelier.
Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with Rev. John Bellante
officiating.
Burial will be at I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Montpelier.
Preferred memorials are to the First United Methodist Church, Montpelier.
Tony William Martin Jr.
Graveside services will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Ossian for Tony
William Martin Jr., the five-day-old son of Tony Sr. and Bettye Martin of Fort Wayne. The
infant died Monday, Oct. 3, 2005.
Surviving in addition to the parents are grandparents Donald T. and Reba McAfee of rural
Ossian; Robert and Diana Fromm, and Edward Burger; great-grandparents Wilbur and Margret
Van Auken, Virgil and Christene Shell, Charles and Ruth Martin and Lora Sharp. The infant
was preceded in death by a sister, Caitlyn Marie.
Calling will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday at Elzey Patterson Rodak Funeral Home in Ossian.
Preferred memorials are to the family.
John Edward Folk, 51
A brother of Steven W. Folk of Bluffton, John Edward Folk, 51, of Huntington, died Sunday,
October 2, 2005, at his home. He was an employee of Transwheel Corporation in Huntington,
where he had worked 10 years. A lifetime resident of Huntington, he was a member of VFW
Post 2689 and American Legion Post 7, both in Huntington.
Born March 15, 1954, in Huntington, he was a son of the late William E. and V. Carleen
Robinson Folk. He was a 1972 graduate of Huntington North High School.
Survivors, in addition to the Bluffton brother, include one son, Justin W. Folk of Fort
Wayne; one sister, Carol Eckert of Fort Wayne, and one grandson.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.Thursday at Bailey-Love Mortuary,
Huntington, where services will be at 10 a.m. Friday with Pastor Russell Buzzard
officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Huntington.
Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005
Betty Louise Roop, 75
Betty Louise Roop, 75, of Bluffton died at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005, at her home.
Mrs. Roop was a former laborer at Memcore, and was a member of the VFW.
She was born Sept. 1, 1930, in Poneto to John and Clara Kaves Fox. Her marriage in
Churubusco on April 2, 1972, was to Arthur L. Roop, who survives.
Other survivors include daughters Brenda Overmier of Bluffton, Rebecca Schlister of
Decatur, Debora J. West of Churubusco and Mrs. Thomas (Sherry Lynn) Faucher of Marine
City, Mich.; sons Dennis L. Roop of Monroeville, Tony Roop of Decatur and Charles L. Roop
of Phoenix, Ariz.; sisters Ruby Ginger of Bluffton and Libby Jackson of Arkansas; brothers
Bill Fox and Lewis Fox, both of Bluffton; 23 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were a daughter, Angela Roop; a sister, and a brother.
Calling is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Goodwin Memorial Chapel.
Graveside services are at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Alberson Cemetery.
Preferred memorials are to Hospice of Northeast Indiana.
Max E. Melching, 84
A native of Ossian, Max E. Melching, 84, died Sunday, Oct. 2 at Hospice Home in Fort
Wayne. He was a vice president of Colonial Oil for 34 years and also a real estate
developer and land manager for 40 years. He was a member of the Simpson United Methodist
Church and Orchard Ridge Country Club.
Survivors include his wife, Maxine Melching of Fort Wayne; daughters Mrs.Philip (Marcia)
Rodenbeck and Diane Melching, both of Fort Wayne; two grandchildren and five
great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter.
Services were held today at D.O. McComb and Sons Covington Knolls Funeral Home in Fort
Wayne with Rev. Mark Clough officiating. Burial was in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Preferred
memorials are to Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home, or The Chapel.
Friday, Oct. 7, 2005
C. Bernadine “Bea” Sheeler, 85
The mother of Mrs. Ted (Susan) Smith of Bluffton, C. Bernadine “Bea” Sheeler, 85, of
Columbia City died at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005, at the Oaks Living Care Center,
Columbia City.
A homemaker much of her life, she served as a volunteer at Miller’s Merry Manor for 25
years. She was a charter member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Columbia City and St.
John’s Fellowship Circle.
Earlier, she studied secretarial skills and attended Business College. She worked at City
Hall in Alexandria, Va., and as a typist for the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Washington,
D.C.
Born in Paris, Ill., on June 27, 1920, to Clint A. and Cora (Baughman) Kraemer, her
marriage in Alexandria, Va., on Feb. 28, 1945, was to Phil L. Sheeler, who preceded her in
death.
Other survivors in addition to the daughter in Bluffton include a daughter, Carla Emig of
Louisville, Ky.; a son, Ray Sheeler of Dallas, Tex.; a sister, Mrs. Paul (Imogene) Parrish
of Enon, Ohio; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by a son, Gary L. Sheeler; two brothers, Carl and Clyde Kraemer;
and a grandson.
Calling is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park
Funeral Home, Columbia City.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Columbia City, with
Pastor David Mommens officiating.
Burial will be in St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery, Columbia City.
Preferred memorials are to St. John’s Lutheran Church or the Church Building Fund.
Michael D. Taylor, 25 — Rites Pending
Rites are pending at Goodwin Memorial Chapel for Michael D. Taylor, 25, who died at 10
p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5 in Adams County.
Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005
Michael D. Taylor Sr., 25
A Bluffton native, Michael D. Taylor Sr., 25, of Berne, died at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5,
2005, at Decatur.
He was an industrial welder and served in the U.S. Army. Mr. Taylor was born July 17,
1980, in Bluffton.
Survivors include his father, Randy C. Taylor Jr. of Texas; his mother, Michelle Harvey; a
daughter, Arwyn J. Taylor of Berne; two sons, Michael D. Taylor Jr. of Berne and Anthony
R. Taylor of Universal City, Texas; two sisters, Elizabeth Trevino and Lorraine Walters,
both of San Antonio; a grandmother, Carol Taylor Turner of Bluffton; and his fiance, Mary
Jo Barkdull of Berne.
He was preceded in death by a grandfather, Jim Taylor.
Private family services will be held Sunday.
Goodwin Memorial Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.