This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Huss, Keys, Spanos, Feeback, Fuller, Gadbury, Campbell, Helms, Rittenhouse,
Schwartz, Singleton, Gerardot, Coolman, Droll, Bear, Downs
Classification: Obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ui.2ADI/3241
Message Board Post:
Obituaries courtesy of News-Banner Publications. Posted with permission.
Saturday, Dec. 24, 2005
Leona Lucille Huss, 94
A resident of Meadowvale Health & Rehabilitation, Leona Lucille Huss, 94, died at 1:57
p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, at Bluffton Regional Medical Center.
Born in Liberty Center Dec. 2, 1911, to Sherman and Lillie Davis Gehrett, her marriage to
Homer D. Huss took place Dec. 24, 1927, in Bluffton. He preceded her in death May 21,
1988.
A homemaker, she was a member of the Bluffton Moose Lodge.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Robert (Bonnie) Worden of Bluffton, 14 grandchildren
and 21 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Vaughn Huss, a daughter, Alfred (Colleen) Pearson, a
brother, Edwin Gehrett and a granddaughter.
Services at 11 a.m. Wednesday under the direction of Pastor Cindy Osgood will be at
Thoma/Rich Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery.
Calling hours are 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and one hour prior to services Wednesday.
Memorials may be made to Meadowvale Health & Rehabilitation or the First United
Methodist Church, Bluffton.
Marlene D. Keys, 74
Marlene D. “Bernie” Keys, 74, of Geneva died at 7:20 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005, at
Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
Mrs. Keys had worked at Franklin Electric Co. Inc. in Bluffton, and she formerly attended
Decatur Church of Christ.
A former Monroe resident, she had lived in Geneva for the past 41 years.
Born Sept. 9, 1931, in Missouri, to Byron and Bertha (Hill) Palmer, her marriage on Nov.
9, 1944, in Missouri was to Farley M. Keys, who preceded her in death in February 2004.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Charles (Janet) Myers of Bryant; two sisters, Ina
Palmer Ortt of Greensburg, Ky., and Eva Palmer Strain of La Mosira, Calif.; 11
grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Russell Keys; two daughters, Sharon Wittman and Gloria
Jean Keys; and a brother, Leroy “Bud” Palmer.
Calling is from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday at Downing & Glancy Funeral Home, Geneva.
Services are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with Pastor Terry Bye officiating.
Burial will be in M.R.E. Cemetery, Berne.
Monday, Dec. 26, 2005 - None. No Paper Published.
Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005
Robert D. Spanos, 80
Services were this morning at Goodwin Memorial Chapel for Robert D. Spanos, 80, of Muncie,
who died at 11:50 a.m. Saturday, December 24, at his residence. Visitations had been
Monday and for an hour prior to the 11 a.m. service today, for which Rev. Gary Phillips
officiated. Burial was in Six Mile Cemetery.
Employed in the Canteen Service of the Veterans Administration Hospital for 34 years, he
also had served in the U.S. Navy in the World War II period of 1944 to 1946.
Born October 13, 1925, in St Cloud, Minn., he was a son of Gust and Ruth Bartholomew
Spanos. His marriage was on Jan. 16, 1954, in Downey, Ill., to Joyce Ann Schlagenhauf, who
died Oct. 3, 2002.
Surviving are a daughter, Deb Spanos of Muncie; a son, Tom Spanos of Canyon Country,
Calif., and a sister, Nancy Spanos of St. Cloud, Minn A brother, Gust Spanos Jr., is
deceased.
Memorials: Blood donation to the Ball Hospital Blood Bank, Muncie, and Cancer Center of
Ball Hospital; Turnstone Center of Fort Wayne.
Allen P. Feeback, 81—Rites Pending
Father of David Feeback of Bluffton, Allen P. Feeback, 81, Fort Wayne, died Monday
evening at Parkview Memorial Hospital followiung a brief illness. Rites are pending at
D.O. McComb & Sons Maplecrest Rd. Chapel.
Emory D. Fuller, 87
A Wells County farmer who retired in 1989, Emory D. Fuller, 87, of Chester Township died
at 12:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 25, at his residence. He was a native of Wells County and
attended Wells County schools. He was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene and the
Wells County Farm Bureau.
Born March 10, 1918, in Wells County, he was a son of Henry Winfield and Mabel Marie
Tucker Fuller.
Surviving are two brothers, Bill Fuller of Bluffton and Keith Fuller of Ossian; a sister,
Geraldine Smith of West Palm Beach, Fla., and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded
in death by a sister, Doris Jean Druckenmiller, and two brothers, Robert Fuller and Jack
Fuller.
There will be no viewing and no services. Burial will be in Asbury Cemetery, Wells County.
Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel, Montpelier, is in charge of arrangements.
J. Eldon Gadbury, 77
A farmer for most of his life in Washington Township of Blackford County, J. Eldon
Gadbury, 77, of rural Hartford City, died at 2:55 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 24, after a short
illness.
He was a 1946 graduate of Roll High School in Blackford County and a member of the
Independence Church of Christ in that county.
Born July 7, 1928, in Hartford City, he was a son of Max C. and Etta Bailey Gadbury. His
marriage was on Dec. 25, 1952 in Blackford County to Olive Spaulding, who survives. Also
surviving are a son, Calvin Gadbury of Hartford City; a daughter, Karen McTague of
Anderson; a brother, Everett Gadbury of Hartford City and three grandchildren.
Calling will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel,
Montpelier, where services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday with Rev. Jerry Pugh officiating.
Burial will be in Brookside Memorial Park, Montpelier. Memorials to the Independence
Church of Christ, Hartford City.
Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005
Ethel L. Fuller, 89
The mother of Mrs. Mike (Christina E.) Gilbert of Ossian, Ethel Leoline Fuller, 89, of
Hartford City died at 11:35 p.m. Monday at Blackford Community Hospital in Hartford City.
Mrs. Fuller was a homemaker and had also worked at William Reed Elementary School serving
lunch. She formerly attended First Christian Church in Hartford City and has resided at
Miller’s Merry Manor Nursing Home in Hartford City since 1994.
Born Feb. 10, 1916, in Wells County to Fred and Emma (McCullick) Meyer, her marriage on
Jan. 7, 1939, in Wells County was to Robert B. “Bob” Fuller, who preceded her in death on
Oct. 20, 1995.
Survivors, in addition to the daughter in Ossian, include another daughter, Mrs. Andy
(Priscilla J.) McCaffrey of Hartford City; a son, Robert B. Fuller of Coopersville, Mich.;
eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Peggy A. Nottingham; two sisters, Edith VanHorn
and Josephine Baker; and a brother, Glen Meyer.
Calling is from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday at Keplinger Funeral Home, Hartford City.
Services are at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with Rev. Mike Fanning officiating.
Burial will be in Gardens of Memory Cemetery in Muncie.
Preferred memorials are to the Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Association of Central
Indiana, Indianapolis.
Allen P. Feeback, 81
The father of David A. Feeback of Bluffton, Allen P. Feeback, 81, of Fort Wayne died
Monday evening, Dec. 26, 2005, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne following a brief
illness.
Born in Urbana, Ohio, Mr. Feeback retired as a sales supervisor from Super Foodsso. He was
a member of Plymouth Congregational Church of Christ.
He served in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a major. He was a B-24 pilot during World War
II and was a P.O.W. A member of Air Force Association Chapter 143, he also was a member of
American Legion Post 47 and D.A.V.
Survivors, in addition to the son in Bluffton, include his wife, Marjorie A. Feeback of
Fort Wayne; two daughters, Mrs. Jeff (Valerie J.) Pelz of Fort Wayne and Paula A. Gassett
of Woodstock, Ga.; and five grandchildren.
Calling is from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday at D.O. McComb & Sons Maplewood Park, Fort
Wayne.
Services are at 4 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home with Dr. John P. Gardner officiating.
Burial will be in Ottawa Hills, Toledo, Ohio.
Preferred memorials are to the University of St. Francis, Wabash College or Plymouth
Congregational Church of Christ.
Maurice D. Campbell, 70 — Rites Pending
Maurice D. “Dutch” Campbell, 70, of rural North Webster died at 5:29 p.m. Tuesday at
Lutheran Hospital of Indiana.
Arrangements are pending at Glancy Funeral Homes - H. Brown & Son Chapel, Warren.
Thursday, Dec. 29, 2005
Lynda K. Helms, 64
Lynda K. Helms, 64, of Bluffton died at 10:25 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005, at Lutheran
Hospital in Fort Wayne. She had been in failing health since October.
Mrs. Helms worked at PHD in Fort Wayne for five years. Before that, she and her husband
owned and operated Wells Electric for 30 years.
A lifelong resident of Wells County, she was a 1959 graduate of Bluffton High School. She
was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Bluffton.
She was born June 12, 1941, in Wells County to Donald C. Myers and Phyllis M. (Collier)
Wemhoff.
Her marriage in June 1969 in Bluffton was to Robert Helms, who preceded her in death on
Oct. 4, 1998.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Jon (Lori) Dobson of Bluffton; three sons, Kevin, Kent
and Kurt Beer, all of Bluffton; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Kirk (Joyce) Potts of Bluffton; a
stepson, Marty Helms of Fort Wayne; two sisters, Stacy Wemhoff of Fort Wayne and Robin
Lawhead of Cincinnati; two brothers, Lynn “Bub” Myers of Bluffton and Charles Wemhoff of
Buffalo, N.Y.; an aunt, Edith Dougherty; six grandchildren; and 13 stepgrandchildren.
Services are at 11 a.m. Saturday at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home with Tim
Reyes officiating.
Calling is from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday and one hour prior to services on Saturday, all at the
funeral home.
Burial will be in Elm Grove Cemetery.
Preferred memorials are to the American Cancer Society.
Douglas W. Rittenhouse, 32
Douglas W. Rittenhouse, 32, of Bluffton died at 11:03 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005, at
Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
He was born Jan. 12, 1973, in Huntington. His mother, Rebecca Ann (Arivett)
Sexton-Higgonson, survives and resides in Joplin, Mo. His father, Thomas Rittenhouse,
preceded him in death.
Survivors include grandparents Wayne and Catherine Arivett of Bluffton and Patricia
Rittenhouse of Bippus; and a half sister, Angela M. Hitt of Elkhart.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert E. Rittenhouse.
There is no calling or services. Burial of the cremains will follow at a later date at
Woodlawn Cemetery, Warren.
Goodwin Memorial Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Maurice D. Campbell, 70
Maurice D. “Dutch” Campbell, 70, of rural North Webster died at 7:29 p.m. Tuesday, Dec.
27, 2005, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
Mr. Campbell lived in Warren for 25 years before moving to North Webster. He worked at
Hayes Lemmerz International in Huntington in the maintenance department, retiring in 1997
after 10 years of service.
Born July 31, 1935, in Fulton County to John and Bertha (Widner) Campbell, his marriage on
June 3, 1978, in Allen County was to Vicki Campbell, who survives.
Other survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Robert (Marlene) Bartrom of Huntington; a son,
Mark Allen Campbell of Warren; three sisters, Mrs. Ralph (Florence) Taylor of Dillman,
Vera Campbell of Warren and Phyllis Anderson of White Pigeon, Mich.; a brother, Dudley
Campbell of Warren; four grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Marsha Campbell; a sister, Mary Cline; and three
brothers, Delbert, Leland and J.D. Campbell.
Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Glancy Funeral Homes - H. Brown & Son Chapel,
Warren. Services are at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home with Dr. Dan Haifley
officiating.
Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Warren. Preferred memorials are to the American Heart
Association.
Ervin R. Schwartz, 88
Ervin R. Schwartz, 88, of Bluffton died at 1 a.m. today, Dec. 29, 2005, at Christian Care
Retirement Community.
Mr. Schwartz made custom-built cabinets for 53 years, and he was a member of Apostolic
Christian Church.
He was a U.S. Army veteran with service during World War II. Before leaving for the
service, he drove a semi for Central Soya.
Born March 9, 1917, in Wells County to Levi and Sarah (Reinhard) Schwartz, his marriage on
March 3, 1946, in Adams County was to Alice M. Gerber, who survives.
Other survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Richard (Sharon) Miester of West Lafayette and
Mrs. Glen (Carol) Martin of Roanoke, Ill.; three sons, Ernest, Sidney and Tracy Schwartz,
all of Bluffton; three sisters, Mrs. Martha Gerber, Mrs. Alice Steffen and Mrs. Harry
(Ada) Gerber, all of Bluffton; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Lula Baumgartner; three brothers, Harry, Ralph and
Edward Schwartz; and a grandchild.
Services are at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Apostolic Christian Church East with Edward
Schwartz and Mark Gerber officiating.
Calling is from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday at Goodwin Memorial Chapel and one hour prior to
services on Saturday at the church.
Burial will be in Apostolic Christian Cemetery with graveside services by American Legion
Post 111.
Preferred memorials are to Christian Care Retirement Community.
Helen M. Singleton, 89
A native of Wells County, Helen M. Singleton, 89, of Decatur died at 1:05 p.m. Wednesday,
Dec. 28, 2005, at Woodcrest Nursing Center, where she had resided the last two and
one-half years.
Mrs. Singleton was a homemaker and also had been employed as a cook at Monmouth School.
She was a member of the Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church for 61 years and the United
Methodist Women. Most recently, she had attended Decatur Church of God.
Born Sept. 30, 1916, in Wells County to Robert D. and Cordelia J. (Shady) Hoover, her
marriage on March 27, 1937, in Decatur was to Everett C. Singleton, who preceded her in
death on July 22, 1991.
Survivors include three sons, James E. Singleton and Dean R. Singleton, both of Decatur,
and David M. Singleton of Venice, Fla.; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two
great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by three sisters, Leitha Fosnaugh, Lida Stahl and Ruby Hoover;
and two brothers, including Neil Hoover.
Calling is from 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur.
Services are at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with Pastor Sandy Hildebrand
officiating.
Burial will be in Decatur Cemetery. Preferred memorials are to the donor’s choice.
Friday, Dec. 30, 2005
Jerry A. Gerardot, 55
The father of two Bluffton residents, Jerry A. Gerardot, 55, of Woodburn, died Wednesday,
Dec. 28, 2005, at his residence.
Mr. Gerardot was employed by Champion Seeds. Earlier, he had worked as a material handler
for B.F. Goodrich, retiring in 1996 after 20 years of service.
He was born in Fort Wayne to Clarence and Anna Gerardot, who preceded him in death. He was
a member of St. Louis Catholic Church-Besancon, located near New Haven.
Survivors include his wife, Sally J.; children John Edwards of Fort Wayne, Cheryl McElroy
of Bluffton, Jason Edwards of Woodburn, Mary Gerardot of Quincy, Mich., Joseph Gerardot of
Bluffton, and Joe Edwards of Fort Wayne; sisters Delores Taylor of Jeffersonville, Teresa
Walker of Woodburn, and Mrs. Ron (Kathy) Rosengrant of Kendallville; and 11
grandchildren.
Calling is from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at E. Harper & Son Funeral Home, New
Haven, with a rosary at 7:30 p.m.
A prayer service will be conducted at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, followed by a
Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Louis Catholic Church-Besancon.
Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Preferred memorials are to the Heart Fund or St. Louis Academy.
Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005
Janet Coolman, 86
The mother of Mrs. Ron (Carol) Blevins of Bluffton, Janet Coolman, 86, died Thursday, Dec.
29, 2005, at Swiss Village Retirement Center in Berne.
Mrs. Coolman was a homemaker and was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church and the
Order of Eastern Star.
She was born Feb. 5, 1919, in Wabash to Charles and Gertrude (Young) Holderman. Her
marriage on Feb. 8, 1941, was to David E. “Pete” Coolman, who survives.
Other survivors, in addition to the Bluffton daughter, include another daughter, Mrs.
Harold (Jean) DeHoff of Columbus, Ind.; four grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Calling is from 2 to 7 p.m. Monday at Baird-Freeman Funeral Home, Portland.
Services are at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with Pastor Greg Rittenhouse
presiding.
Burial will be in Green Park Cemetery.
Preferred memorials are to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.
Virginia B. Droll, 87 — Rites Pending
Virginia B. Droll, 87, of Hot Springs, Ark., died at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, 2005, at
Marysville, Kan.
Arrangements are pending at Glancy Funeral Homes - H. Brown & Son Chapel, Warren.
Samuel H. Bear, 71 — Rites Pending
Samuel H. Bear, 71, of Craigville died Friday afternoon, Dec. 30, 2005, at his residence.
Arrangements are pending at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home.
Elyn H. Downs, 86 — Rites Pending
Elyn H. Downs, 86, of Bluffton died at 9:07 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, 2005, at Christian Care
Retirement Community.
Arrangements are pending at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home.