Warren H. Keene, 84
A resident of the Warren United Methodist Home, Warren H. Keene, 84, died Friday at 9:33 a.m. at the Home.
Mr. Keene previously lived in Wayne Township in Huntington County before moving into the Methodist Home in 1998. He worked for 43 years at Foster-Forbes in Marion where he retired as a shipping supervisor. He was a member of the Boundary Line Church of Christ in Lafountaine and attended Upland Schools.
Mr. Keene was born July 20, 1915 in Grant County to Orlando Keene and Jennie Loffler Keene. His marriage to Louise took place Dec. 22, 1939 in Marion. She survives.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Rex Keene of Elwood and Mike Keene of Warren; a sister, Doris Griffin of Marion; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Preceding Mr. Keene in death were a daughter, Joyce Anne Karst; two sisters, Mary Butler and Dorothy DeBonis; and five brothers, Carl, Clifford, Herbert, Howard and Waldo Keene.
Calling at Grant Memorial Park Cemetery Chapel will be from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. Monday with services following at the chapel at 3 p.m. Officiating the service will be Rev. Richard Thompson and burial will be in the Grant Memorial Park Cemetery.
Arrangements are in charge of Glancy Funeral Homes, H. Brown & Son Chapel, Warren.
Memorials are to the donor’s choice.

June 7, 2000

Harold L. Bowman, 92 — Rites Pending
Harold L. Bowman, 92, of Bluffton died late this morning at Wells Community Hospital. Funeral rites are pending at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home.

Thomas F. Jesse, 66
Son of Kathryn Jesse of Ossian, Thomas F. Jesse, 66, of Fort Wayne, died Tuesday at Hospice Home of Northeast Indiana.
Born in Fort Wayne, he was retired from Midwestern United Life Insurance Company as an accountant and was a consultant for Security Life of Denver.
Mr. Jesse was a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, National Association of Accountants, Fort Wayne Senior Golf League and IOOF Lodge. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.
Surviving, in addition to his mother at Ossian, are a son, Mark B. Jesse of Fort Wayne; a daughter, Lisa S. Calvin of Columbus, Ind.; two brothers, William Jesse of Ossian and David Jesse of Fort Wayne; and a granddaughter. A brother, Herbert, is deceased.
Services at 11 a.m. Friday will be at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 2417 Getz Rd., Fort Wayne. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park.
Calling hours at D.O. McComb & Sons Covington Knolls Funeral Home, 8325 Covington Rd., Fort Wayne, will be Thursday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. and at the church Friday for one hour prior to services.
Memorials to the church or to Hope Cancer Lodge.

Fred C. Catlin, 67
Fred C. Catlin, 67, of Tampa, Fla., a former businessman at Hartford City, died Sunday at St. John’s Hospital in Tampa.
Mr. Catlin was owner and operator of Catlin’s Plumbing in Hartford City for 25 years, having started the business in 1965. He was a resident of Tampa for the past 21 years.
He was a member of the Moose Lodge in Hartford City and while living in Blackford County resided in Jackson Township. He attended Muncie Central High School.
He was born in Muncie Feb. 11, 1933 to Ray and Cleo Stine Catlin. His marriage at Hartford City on Aug. 2, 1952 was to Mary Doty, who survives.
Other survivors are four daughters, Mrs. Archie (Marilyn) Flowers of Muncie, Susan St. Clair of Minneapolis, Minn., Mrs. Mike (Mary Ann) Klaus and Mrs. Ken (Donna Sue) Jackson, both of Tampa; three brothers, Ray Catlin and Charlie Stine, both of Muncie, and Herman Stine of Largo, Fla.; two sisters, Mrs. Bill (Betty) Bess of Muncie and Mrs. Victor (Carolyn) Lewis of North Webster; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel, in Montpelier, Ind., where calling hours will be Friday from 2 to 8 p.m.
Pastor Ken Horning will officiate and burial will be in IOOF Cemetery at Montpelier.

June 12, 2000

Lucille H. ‘Lucy’ Venis, 83
Lucille H. “Lucy” Venis, 83 a teacher nearly two decades and Bluffton shop owner for 10 years, died at 7:40 p.m. Sunday at Christian Care Community Center, where she had been a resident 27 months. She had been in failing health several years.
Mrs. Venis was graduated in 1937 from Indiana University and received her master’s degree in 1967 from Saint Francis University.
She taught at Beech Grove High School from 1937-38, at Lindley Elementary in Fort Wayne from 1958 to 1970, Bluffton from 1954-55, and Lancaster High School from 1943 to 1945.
She owned and operated the Cotton Patch Store in Bluffton from 1973 to 1983.
Mrs. Venis was a charter member of the Altersgate United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, Psi Iota Xi, and Foltz Club.
She was born in Vera Cruz Aug. 25, 1916 to Amos and Marizne Rupp Neuhauser. Her marriage at Richmond on Dec, 24, 1937 was to Harold L. Venis, who died March 6, 1998.
Surviving are two daughters, Karyn Irvin of Orlando, Fla., and Mrs. Donald (Barbara) Parrish of Fort Wayne; two sisters, Mrs. Sandy (Dorothea) Muir of Bluffton and Mrs. Luzerne (Mildred) Weileman of Fort Wayne; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church in Bluffton with Rev. Bill Shannon officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.
Calling hours at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home will be Wednesday from 2 to 8 p.m. The body will be taken to the church at 9:30 a.m. Thursday for services.
Memorials to Children Ministries of First United Methodist Church.

Ellen F. Cline, 73
Ellen F. Cline, 73, wife of William L. Cline, 1220 Sycamore Lane, died at 6:10 a.m. Saturday at Caylor-Nickel Medical Center.
A homemaker, she was a member of First United Methodist Church and former member of Tri Kappa Sorority.
She was born at Niagara Falls, N.Y., Nov. 17, 1926 to Leslie S. and Dorothy Murdock Fry. Her marriage to William L. Cline, who survives, took place on June 20, 1952 at Fort Wayne.
Surviving, in addition to the husband, are a daughter, Mrs. Stanley (Sandy) Heyerly of Bluffton; a sister, Muriel Hinton of Fort Wayne; and three grandchildren, Stacy R. Heyerly of Bluffton, Laura Brown of Fort Wayne, and Mrs. Rodney (Jennifer) Aker of Ossian.
Services at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday will be at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home, where calling hours are today from 2 to 8 p.m.
Rev. Cindy Osgood will officiate and interment will be in the family mausoleum at Elm Grove Cemetery.
Memorials to the donor’s choice.

Ralph R. Schwartz, 81
Ralph R. Schwartz, 81, rural Bluffton, died at 8:30 a.m. Sunday at Caylor-Nickel Medical Center.
He was a milk hauler and a bus driver and maintenance employee with the Bluffton-Harrison School District.
Born in Wells County, Mr. Schwartz was a lifelong resident of the county and a member of the Apostolic Christian Church.
He was born Aug. 18, 1918 to Levi and Sarah Reinhard Schwartz. His marriage in Wells County on Feb. 22, 1942 was to Leona Gerber, who survives.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Jim of Bluffton; a daughter, Mrs. Russell ‘Butch” (Susie) Gerber of Bluffton; a brother, Ervin of Bluffton; four sisters, Mrs. Lula Baumgartner, Mrs. Harry (Ada) Gerber, Mrs. Martha Gerber and Mrs. Alice Steffen, all of Bluffton; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Two children, Bonnie Lou and Thomas Ray, and two brothers are deceased.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Apostolic Christian Church East with ministers of the church officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation hours at Goodwin Memorial Chapel are today from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday from 1 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 12 noon and for one hour at the church prior to services.
Memorials to Caylor-Nickel Home Health Care.

Ricky Dean Smith, 45
Ricky “Rick” Dean Smith, 45, a self-employed bricklayer, died at 6:17 p.m. Friday at his residence in Geneva.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church at Geneva and member of Local 4 of the Indiana-Kentucky Bricklayers Union.
He was born in Adams County June 29, 1954 to Harold D. and Jean E. Manning Smith. His marriage at Vera Cruz on July 21, 1984 was to Belinda “Windy” Dale, who survives.
Surviving, in addition to the wife, are his parents, who reside at Geneva; two daughters, Mrs. Chad (Tera Marie) Myers of Berne and Tessa Smith, at home; a son, Tyler, at home; three brothers, David W. and Doug H., both of Geneva, and Aaron Deon, who resides with his parents in Geneva; a sister, Mrs. Jody (Smith) Herman of Berne; and several nieces and nephews. A daughter, Chelsea Jane, is deceased.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Downing Funeral Home in Geneva with calling hours there today from 2 to 9 p.m. and Tuesday for one hour prior to services. Burial will be in West Lawn Cemetery at Geneva.
Memorials to the family.

Harold C. Blue, 74
A watchmaker and jeweler for half a century, Harold C. Blue, 74, of Ossian, died at 9:25 a.m. Sunday at Wells Community Hospital.
He worked for 50 years in stores in Fort Wayne as well as at Worden’s Glass and China Store in Muncie and Webb’s Jewelry Store in Huntington.
Mr. Blue was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He was a member of the Lions Club at Ossian and the Watch Makers Association.
He was born at Bluffton Nov. 25, 1925 to Fred P. and Nona F. Parkison Blue. His first wife, Reathel, died in 1989. His second wife, Dorothy Searle Mead Blue, survives.
Other survivors are a stepdaughter, Shari Yeoman of Fort Wayne; a stepson, Kent Mead of Gwinn, Mich; and four stepgrandchildren.
A memorial service will be conducted at 4 p.m. Thursday at Elzey & Haggard Funeral Home in Ossian with Rev. Ken Sandefur the officiant.
Interment will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery at Ossian.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m.
Memorials to Family Hospice of Northeast Indiana.

Brenda K. Pauley, 51
Brenda K. Pauley, 51, a resident of Jackson Township, Wells County, died at 11:30 p.m. Friday at Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis.
Mrs. Pauley was employed at Franklin Electric Co. in Bluffton. A native of Huntington, W.Va., she was a 1967 graduate of Hurricane High School in West Virginia, where she resided until moving to Indiana 15 years ago.
She was born Feb. 19, 1949 to Odell and Euna A. Byrnsides Faulkner, who are deceased.
Surviving are a son, Thomas Jason Pauley of Warren; a daughter, Mrs. Matt (Carrie Lynn) Moore of Bluffton; two brothers, Charles Faulkner of Culloden, W. Va., and Ernest Faulkner of St. Albans, W.Va.; two sisters, Juanita Shirkey of Culloden and Lois Johnson of Hurricane; and two grandsons.
A funeral service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Allan Funeral Home in Hurricane, W.Va., with Rev. Jerry Losh officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Moriah Cemetery at Hurricane.
Arrangements are in charge of Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel, in Montpelier, where visitation hours are today from 2 to 8 p.m

June 8, 2000

Harold L. Bowman, 92
Harold L. Bowman, owner and operator for decades of the Bowling Center in Bluffton, died at 9:40 a.m. Wednesday at Wells Community Hospital, where he had been a patient one week.
He served 16 years on the Wells Community Hospital Board and was active at the time of the addition to the hospital. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, 60-year member and past president of the Kiwanis Club, and member of the Wells County Historical Society, Chamber of Commerce, Elks Lodge, Masonic Lodge, all in Bluffton, and Scottish Rite of Fort Wayne.
He received numerous honors, including the 1986 Wells County Distinguished Service Award, the 1990 Chamber of Commerce Service Award and in 1978 became the seventh person to be named to the Indiana Bowling Hall of Fame.
Mr. Bowman was born in Bluffton March 30, 1908 to Lester G. and Anna Johnston Bowman. His marriage at Auburn on Sept. 2, 1927 was to V. Irene Murray, who died Feb. 12, 1995.
Surviving are a daughter, Patricia Lou Wolfcale of Green Bay, Wis.; six grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. A son, Richard, died in 1991 and a son-in-law, Richard Wolfcale, in 1996. A brother and a sister also are deceased.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Bill Shannon and Rev. Cindy Osgood officiating. Burial will be in Elm Grove Cemetery.
Calling hours at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home are today from 1 to 8 p.m. and at the church Friday from 9:30 a.m. until time for services.
Memorials to the church.

William M. Ball Jr., 57
Father of two Bluffton residents, William M. Ball Jr., 57, died at 4 a.m. Wednesday at his residence in Hartford City.
He was a native of Blackford County and had resided formerly in Bluffton and Fort Wayne before making Hartford City his permanent residence.
Mr. Ball worked for Bowman Aviation-Hartford City as a courier and was a driver for Superior Auto in Hartford City. He formerly was employed as a private investigator with the Advocate Service in Fort Wayne and served as an instructor for the the Red Cross on multimedia standard first aid and CPR.
He was active in the Boy Scout program in the Fort Wayne area and received many awards in that program.
He also was active in the Civil War Re-enactment at Hartford City. He was a former owner of the White Dove Restaurant in Montpelier for several years and was a self-employed electrician. In Fort Wayne, he had owned and operated Bill’s Wood Shop.
Mr. Ball was a veteran of U.S. Army service and had attended Hartford City High School. He was a member of the Grace Baptist Church in Montpelier.
He was born Aug. 1, 1942 in Blackford County, a son of William Martin and Elizabeth Worster Ball Sr.
Surviving are a son, Lester L. of Ohio; two daughters, Mrs. Alan (Elizabeth M.) Bower and Mrs. Bill (Michelle L.) Bower, both of Bluffton; a brother, Tom Ball Sr. of Upland; a friend, Sue VanHorn of Hartford City; an aunt, a nephew and two nieces.
Services at 10 a.m. Saturday will be at Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel, in Montpelier with Rev. Robert C. Neel officiating. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery at Montpelier.
Visitation time will be Saturday for one hour prior to services.
Memorials to the family.

Halden Delynn Dafforn, 84
A brother of Dwight Duke of Ossian, Halden Delynn Daffon, 84, of Yoder, died Wednesday at Covington Manor in Fort Wayne.
Born in Allen County, he retired as a foreman at Kmart Distribution Center after 31 years.
His wife, Freeda Mary, died in 1996.
Surviving, in addition to the Ossian brother, are three sons, Larry of Fort Wayne, Ronald of Springfield, Ohio, and Daryl of Hudson; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Elzey & Haggard Home for Funerals, Fort Wayne, where calling hours will be Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery at Ossian.
Memorials to First Missionary Church Sunshine Network, 701 West Rudisill Blvd., Fort Wayne IN 46807.

Gretchen Linn Gatton, 83
Funeral services for Grethen Linn Gatton, 83 of Fort Wayne, who died Wednesday at Covington Manor, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at D.O. McComb & Sons Foster Park Funeral Home, 6301 Fairfield Ave, Fort Wayne.
Calling hours are today from 7 to 9 p.m.
Mrs. Gatton was a native of Hamilton County and a homemaker. Her husband, Charles W., died in 1986.
Surviving are two sons, Steven E. of Churubusco and Robert D. of Fort Wayne; five daughters, Carrie Brubaker of Tucson, Ariz., Rebecca S. Moore of Fort Wayne, Kathleen Lude of Columbia City, Linda D. Hinton of Anchorage, Alaska, and Donna J. Adam of Bluffton; a brother, Lester Castor of Carmel; 23 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
Memorials to Heartland Hospice.

June 13, 2000

Ervin H. Schuller, 91
Ervin H. Schuller, 91, of Decatur, retired farmer and former rural mail carrier, died unexpectedly at 8:57 a.m. Monday at Adams County Memorial Hospital in Decatur, where he had been admitted earlier in the day.
He was a life member, having served more than 50 years, of the Poe Volunteer Fire Department, and a former member of the Good Sam Chapter 48 Camping Club and the Family Motorcoach Camping Club. He also was a former leader in 4-H Club activities and a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Friedheim.
Mr. Schuller was born in Fort Wayne Aug. 20, 1908 to Frank and Marie Eimer Schuller. His marriage on Nov. 17, 1935 was to Velma M. Fuhrman, who survives.
Other survivors are a daughter, Sharon K. Christianer of New Haven; a son, Dennis L. Schuller of rural Decatur; a brother, Henry of Fort Wayne; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Two sons, Eugene and Jerry, died in infancy and five brothers are deceased.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur, where calling hours are today from 2 to 8 p.m.
Rev. Daniel Dahling will officiate and burial will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery.
Memorials to the church at Friedheim, to Worship for Shut-ins, or to Emmanuel Lutheran Radio Ministry at New Haven.

Patricia E. Pollock, 66
Sister of Richard Lesh of Ossian, Patricia E. Pollock, 66, of Churubusco, died Saturday at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.
She was born in Fort Wayne and worked at Harlan Metal Processing for 10 years.
Her husband, James E., died in 1994.
Surviving, in addition to the brother at Ossian, are a son, Daniel E. Hofferberth of Churubusco; two daughters, Brenda Leazier of Churubusco and Karen Stackhouse of Fort Wayne; a stepdaughter, Pamela Jones of Huntington; another brother, Derry Lesh of Fort Wayne; her mother, Hazel E. Lesh of Fort Wayne; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; and five stepgreat-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Elzey & Haggard Home for Funerals in Fort Wayne and burial will be in Covington Memorial Gardens.
Calling hours at the funeral home are today from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Memorials to Cancer Services of Allen County.

Cecil M. Johnson, 86
A native of Blackford County, Cecil M. Johnson, 86, of rural Montpelier died at 1:50 p.m. Sunday at Caylor-Nickel Medical Center.
Born June 20, 1913 to Lawrence and Maggie Chandler Johnson, his marriage on Aug. 21, 1937 in Hartford City was to the former Evelyn N. Robards, who survives.
Mr. Johnson retired from 3-M Company in Hartford City in 1977 after 15 years of service.He also was employed by Fulton Glass of Hartford City for 20 years and was a Blackford County farmer.
A 1932 graduate of Roll High School, he was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Montpelier.
Surviving in addition to the wife are a son, Robert Johnson of Santa Clarita, Calif., a daughter, Nancy Swoveland of Bluffton, a sister, Velma Sills of Hartford City, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother and sister.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel in Montpelier, where calling will be today from 4 to 8 p.m.
Rev. John Bellante will officiate at services and burial will be in Brookside Memorial Park in Montpelier.
Preferred memorials to First United Methodist Church, 215 E. Green St., Montpelier, or the American Heart Association.

June 9, 2000

Marshall D. Nash, 80
Marshall D. Nash, 80, of Bluffton, a truck driver for nearly half a century, died at 10:05 p.m. Thursday at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
He retired in 1980 after 48 years as a trucker, without an accident. He also worked part time for Equipment Warehouse in Bluffton.
He was a resident at 826 Westfield Dr. and had lived in Wells County the last 20 years.
Mr. Nash was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a member of the Moose Lodge and the Teamsters Union.
He was born in Wells County Feb. 21, 1920 to Thomas E. and Goldine Gossard Nash.
Surviving are two sons, Mike D. of Fairfield, Ill., and Tracy of Union City, In.; two daughters, Mrs. Patrick (Beckie) Hickman and Mrs. Sean (Janie) Martin, both of Louisville, Ky.; a brother, R. Stanley of Fort Wayne; two sisters, Bonnie Reidenbach of Bluffton and Maryanne Holthouse of Decatur; a companion, Ruby Turner of Bluffton; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home with Rev. Otto Dorsh officiating.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m.
Memorials to Panos Free Clinic.

Richard L. Grandlienard, 74
A native of Adams County, Richard L. Grandlienard, 74, of Muncie, died Wednesday at Muncie Health Care.
He was a resident of Fort Wayne from 1961 to 1966 and retired from American National Insurance Company as a systems analyst. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
Surviving are a daughter, Nancy K. Harter of Fort Wayne; two sons, Eric L. of Stuart, Fla., and Garry L. of Cary, N.C.; three sisters, Barbara Hayden of Muncie, Betty Meshberger of Berne and Joyce Gehring of Bluffton; four brothers, Don of Plymouth, Glen of Linn Grove, Leonard of Bluffton and Bill Jr. of Duluth, Minn.; eight grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie M., in 1959 and a son, Keith L., in 1981.
Services will be private. Arrangements are by D.O. McComb & Sons Covington Knolls Funeral Home in Fort Wayne and burial will be in Covington Memorial Gardens.
Memorials to the donor’s choice.

Gene A. Wilson, 62
Gene A. Wilson, 62, of Dunkirk, stepfather of Jimmy Brown of Uniondale, died Wednesday at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie.
Born in Morehead, Ky., he was employed at Rogers Junk Yard before retiring.
Surviving, in addition to the stepson, are his wife, Juanita L.; a daughter, Lisa Fay Frederick of Dunkirk; a stepdaughter, Sandra Betterton of Portland; a brother, Tony L. of Hartford City; a sister, Emmalene Richardson of Hartford City; five grandchildren; a stepgrandchild; and a great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by a stepdaughter, Shirley Raison.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Keplinger Funeral Home in Hartford City. Burial will be in Hartford City Cemetery.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Monday for two hours prior to services.
Memorials to the family in care of the funeral home.