Opal May Borror, 97
Opal May Borror, 97, former Bluffton grocery store owner, died at 11:50 p.m. Tuesday at Meadowvale Care Center in Bluffton. She had been in failing health since January.
Mrs. Borror was retired from ownership of the former West Market Grocery.
She was a member and active in the Bible Holiness Church and served as a Sunday school teacher and member of the administrative board and as a trustee.
Mrs. Borror was known as an avid gardener and sold produce from her garden and used the money to support charities.
She was born at Hamilton, Ohio, Feb. 21, 1903 to Robert and Ina Bell Higgs Johns. A first marriage was to Huston Armstrong, who died in an auto accident; her second marriage in 1930 was to A. Ross Borror, who died in 1978.
Surviving are a son, Charles R. Armstrong of Indianapolis; a brother, Lyle Johns of Fort Wayne; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Services at 10:30 a.m. Saturday will be at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home with Rev. Arnold Quinton officiating. Burial will be in Gravel Hill Cemetery at Bryant.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be Friday from 2 to 8 p.m. and Saturday after 9 a.m.
Memorials to the Bible Holiness Church.Jean A. Lau - Rites Pending
Jean A. Lau died this morning at her home in Warren. Funeral services are pending at Glancy Funeral Homes, H. Brown & Son Chapel, in Warren.  - Published Aug. 9, 2000

John Koons Melching, 86 - Rites Pending
John Koons Melching, 86, of rural Ossian, founder and former owner of Melching Machine Inc. of Ossian, died at 9:05 p.m. Tuesday at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. Arrangements are pending at Elzey & Haggard Funeral Home, Ossian Chapel.  - Published Aug. 9, 2000

Caroline J. Gowen, 71
Caroline J. Gowen, 71, of Fort Wayne, died Monday at Byron Health Care Center in Fort Wayne.
Born in Toledo, Ohio, she was a homemaker and a member of Christ United Methodist Church.
Surviving are two sons, Donald H. and Douglas M., both of Columbia City; two daughters, Dorothy M. Gause and Donna S. Crutchfield, both of Columbia City; two sisters; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Her husband, Charles, died in 1995. A sister also is deceased.
Services at 11 a.m. Friday will be at D.O. McComb & Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home, 1140 Lake Ave., Fort Wayne. Burial will be in Lindenwood Cemetery.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Friday for one hour prior to services.
Memorials to American Diabetes Association.  - Published Aug. 9, 2000

Herbert W. Kiser, 80
Father of Vance Kiser of Bluffton, Herbert W. Kiser, 80, of Fremont, died Monday at Carlin Park Nursing Home in Angola.
Born in Battle Creek, Mich., he was a glass cutter at Pomfretts Glass in Coldwater, Mich. He also worked at Eaton Springs Trout Club in Fremont.
Mr. Kiser was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and was a past commander of Fremont American Legion Post 257.
His wife, Dorothy Violet, died in 1996.
Surviving, in addition to the son in Bluffton, are a daughter, Veronica Y. Brown of Fremont; four sisters, Viola Baker and Frances Ice, both of Homer, Mich., Elizabeth Anderson of Marshall, Mich., and Beverly Yeck of Battle Creek; a brother, William of Kansas City, Kan.; 10 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Beams Funeral Home in Fremont. Military rites will be performed by the American Legion  - Published Aug. 9, 2000

Christina ‘Tina’ Cook, 41
Christina “Tina” Cook, 41, of Fort Wayne, died Monday at Hospice Home of Northeast Indiana.
She was a native of Allen County and worked for two years at Patten Electric.
Surviving are her husband, Robert H.; a daughter, Linda Grubbs of Fort Wayne; four sons, Steven Terry of Fort Wayne and James Terry, Jeremy Terry and Robert Cook Jr., all of Zanesville; her mother and stepfather, Belinda J. and Donald H. Smith, both of Fort Wayne.
Also surviving are five sisters, Shirley Anderson of Texas, Sharon Hoffman of Tennessee, and Jeanette Smith, Janice Smith and Donna Book, all of Fort Wayne; three stepsisters, Deborah Deitschel, Christina Federspeil and Cathy Clendenen, all of Fort Wayne; and four grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at C.M. Sloan & Sons Funeral Home, 1327 North Wells St., Fort Wayne. Burial will be in Covington Memorial Gardens.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be Friday for three hours prior to services. Memorials to Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice Inc.  - Published Aug. 9, 2000
 
Clarence O. Croy, 88
Clarence O. Croy, 88, of 420 East Market St., died at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday at Meadowvale Care Center in Bluffton.
He was founder in 1945 of the Croy Machine Shop at Vera Cruz.
Mr. Croy was born in Nottingham Township Sept. 11, 1911 to George and Martha Jones Croy. His first marriage in 1930 was to Geneva Gifford, who died Nov. 14, 1969; his second marriage in Bluffton in 1976 was to Rosamond (Rix) Booth, who survives.
Mr. Croy was a lifelong resident of Wells County and a member of the Six Mile Church.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are two sons, Don Croy of Vera Cruz and Jerrald Croy of Fort Wayne; a daughter, Mrs. Louis J. (Polly) Dubach of Geneva; three stepchildren, Fred Booth of Idaho, Chad Booth of Elkhart and Mrs. Donald (Debra) Bowman of Bluffton; 11 grandchildren; 7 stepgrandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, 5 stepgreat-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren. A daughter, Judy Cotton, is deceased.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Goodwin Memorial Chapel, where calling hours will be Friday from 1 to 8 p.m.
Rev. Emmett Cox will officiate and burial will be in Six Mile Cemetery.
Memorials to the Six Mile Cemetery.  - Published Aug. 10, 2000

J. Koons Melching, 86
Funeral services for J. Koons Melching, 86 of rural Ossian, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Elzey & Haggard Funeral Home, Ossian Chapel.
Mr. Melching died at 9:05 p.m. Tuesday at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
He was the founder and former owner of Melching Machine Inc. and also engaged in farming earlier in his career. He worked with the Wells County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy reserve.
Mr. Melching was a ham (amateur) radio operator, and member of the Ossian Presbyterian Church, Ossian Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star, Knights of Pythias and the Scottish Rite and Mizpah at Fort Wayne.
He was born in Fort Wayne June 3, 1914 to William F. and Grace I. Koons Melching. His marriage at Fort Wayne on Oct. 16, 1937 was to Elsie Marie Sauer, who survives.
Surviving also are a son, Ted E. of Ossian, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Calling hours at the funeral home’s Ossian Chapel will be Friday from 2 to 8 p.m. and Saturday for one hour prior to services.
Rev. Lyle Ewing will officiate and burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery at Ossian. Memorials to the donor’s choice.  - Published Aug. 10, 2000
 

Jean A. Lau, 66
Jean A. Lau, 66, of Warren, died at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday at her residence.
She was a homemaker and formerly worked for Pyle Industries in Huntington. She was a 1951 graduate of Warren High School.
She was born Nov. 11, 1933 at Huntington to L. Eldon and Bertine Sloan Smith.
Surviving are a daughter, Kathryn Sprowl of Fort Wayne; a son, William C. Lau of Fort Wayne; two sisters, Mrs. Nelson (Marilyn) Bell of Mt. Etna and Lorita Langdon of Ohio; a brother, George Smith of Hot Springs,Ark.; and three grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Glancy Funeral Homes - H. Brown & Son Chapel, in Warren, with Pastor Al Soultz officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery at Warren. Visitation time will be for one hour at the funeral chapel prior to the services.
Memorials to the Fort Wayne Children Zoo’s Heart of the Zoo Campaign.  - Published Aug. 10, 2000

Norman L. Wilson, 73
A funeral service was to be held at 2 p.m. today at Gas City for Norman L. Wilson, 73, who died Tuesday at General Hospital in Marion.
A resident of Gas City, Mr. Wilson was born in Bridgeport, Ill., to Perl and Mary Ethel Kelly Wilson.
He attended Fairview United Methodist Church in Illinois.
Surviving are a sister, Alverta Ruth Wilson of Marion, and a nephew, Kenneth Cook of Bluffton.
Arrangements are in charge of Needham-Storey Funeral Home in Gas City.
Rev. Ben Gray was to be the officiant and burial to be in Maple Lawn Cemetery at Pennville.  - Published Aug. 10, 2000
 
Edwin H. Walter, 79
Edwin H. Walter, 79, who resided at Capri II, died at 9:25 p.m. Thursday at Meadowvale Care Center, where he had been a patient since April. Death was attributed to a stroke.
He retired in 1981 after 21 years with the Skiles Co.
Mr. Walter was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a past commander in 1968 of American Legion Post 111 at Bluffton.
He also was a member of the First Church of Christ at Markle and the Eagles Lodge at Bluffton.
He was born at Markle July 4, 1921 to Edward J. and Cora E. Hite Walter.
Surviving are a son, Keith E. Walter of Bluffton; two stepsons, Jerry Schorey of Fort Wayne and Richard Schorey Sr. of Arkansas; a half-brother, Ivan Walter of Indianapolis; 12 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. A stepson, Wayne McAfee, is deceased.
Services at 10:30 a.m. Monday will be at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home, where calling hours will be Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. and Monday after 9 a.m.
Rev. Dan White will officiate at services and burial will be in Markle Cemetery with the American Legion providing graveside rites.
  - Published Aug. 11, 2000

Betty Jo Chew, 78
Betty Jo Chew, 78, of Decatur, died at 5:55 a.m. Thursday at Hospice Home of Northeast Indiana following an extended illness.
She retired in 1983 from CTS at Berne after 20 years.
Mrs. Chew was a member of the First United Methodist Church at Decatur, Women’s Club Music Department, Rebecca Circle of the church, Chorale Society Mennonite Church at Berne and First United Methodist Church Choir for many years.
She was born in El Dorado County, Kansas, Dec. 8, 1921 to Alvin Orion and Viola May Hermann Blocker. Her first marriage at Geneva on June 9, 1940 was to Robert Milo Miller, who was killed March 19, 1945 during World War II service; a second marriage at Decatur on Aug. 6, 1950 was to Charles William Chew, who died Nov. 29, 1979.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. James (Jacqueline Miller) Blake of Largo and Carla Mattingly of Decatur; a brother, Norris G. Blocker of Decatur; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A brother and a sister are deceased.
Services at 3:30 p.m. Sunday will be at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur with Rev. Jacqueline Foley officiating. Burial will be in West Lawn Cemetery at Geneva.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be Saturday from 2 to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon until time for services.
Memorials to First United Methodist Church at Decatur.  - Published Aug. 11, 2000

Jo Ann Mills
Jo Ann Mills, a native of Wells County, died Wednesday at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
A resident of Fort Wayne, she was employed with International Harvester for 31 years. retiring in 1981.
Surviving are a sister, Ida Alice Mertens of Fort Wayne, three nieces and one nephew.
Services will be held at a later date. There will be no visitation.
Arrangements are by D.O. McComb & Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home in Fort Wayne. Burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery at Ossian.
Memorials to American Heart Fund.  - Published Aug. 11, 2000
 
Viola Wietfeldt, 85
Mother of Mrs. Thomas (Susan J.) Gouty of Bluffton, Viola Wietfeldt, 85, of rural Decatur, died at 9:20 a.m. Friday at Adams County Memorial Hospital, where she had been a patient three days.
A Decatur area resident since 1996, Mrs. Wietfeldt formerly resided in rural Allen County and lived for 16 years in Mesa, Ariz.
She was born in Preble Township, Adams County, June 4, 1915 to Otto and Marie Dirkson Ewel. Her marriage on Sept. 22, 1938 was to Rudolph F. Wietfeldt, who died Aug. 3, 1996.
She was a homemaker and member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, Fuelling.
In addition to the daughter at Bluffton, she is survived by two sons, William J. of Auburn, Ill., and John R. of Racine, Wis.; two other daughters, Mrs. Richard (Lois K.) Weber of rural Hoagland and Mrs. William (Jeanine A.) Young of Payne, Ohio; 17 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. A son, Richard, a brother and a sister are deceased.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Fuelling, with Rev. Martin Moehring officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Calling hours at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur will be Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m. and Monday at the church for one hour prior to services.
Memorials to St. Peter Endowment Fund or to the Lutheran Hour.  - Published Aug. 12, 2000
 

Clifford E. Wyatt, 81
Clifford E. Wyatt, 81, retired Huntington County farmer, died at 10:50 a.m. Friday at the United Methodist Memorial Home at Warren.
He was a 1937 graduate of Rock Creek High School in Huntington County. He attended the Plum Tree United Church of Christ and was a member of Markle Masonic Lodge 453, of which he was past master in 1959.
He was born in Rock Creek Township, Huntington County, June 4, 1919, a son of Grover and Elizabeth Helkman Wyatt. His marriage in Fort Wayne on Feb. 24, 1947 was to Helen Baker, who died July 10, 1989.
Surviving is a sister, Mrs. Glenn (Wanda) Bonebrake of Warren, formerly of Wabash.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Warren United Methodist Memorial Home, where visitation hours will be Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m.
Rev. John Wallace will officiate and interment will be in the Star of Hope Cemetery at Huntington.
Myers Funeral Home, Markle Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.  - Published Aug. 12, 2000

Opal May Borror, 97
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Thoma-Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home with Rev. Arnold Quinton officiating for Opal May Borror, 97, who died at 11:50 p.m. Tuesday at Meadowvale Care Center. She had been in failing health since January.
Calling hours at the funeral home were 2 to 8 p.m. Friday and are after 9 a.m. today. Burial will be in Gravel Hill Cemetery at Bryant. Memorials to the Bible Holiness Church.
Mrs. Borror was retired from ownership of the former West Market Grocery in Bluffton. 
She was an active member of the Bible Holiness Church where she served as a Sunday School teacher, a member of the administrative board and as a trustee.
Mrs. Borror was known as an avid gardener and sold produce from her garden, using the money to support charities.
She was born at Hamilton, Ohio, Feb. 21, 1903, to Robert and Ina Bell Higgs Johns. A first marriage was to Huston Armstrong, who died in an auto accident in 1930. Her second marriage was to A. Ross Borror, who died in 1978.
Surviving are a son, Charles R. Armstrong of Indianapolis; a brother, Lyle Johns of Fort Wayne, a sister, Dorothy Miller of Bronson, Mich.; four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and two great-great- grandchildren.  - Published Aug. 12, 2000
 
Jay V. Haiflich, 90 - Rites Pending
Jay V. Haiflich, 90, of Uniondale, died at 9:45 a.m. Sunday at Caylor-Nickel Medical Center in Bluffton. Services are pending at Myers Funeral Home, Markle Chapel.   - Published Aug. 14, 2000

Albert F. Gallmeyer, 89
Albert F. Gallmeyer, 89, a lifelong Preble Township, Adams County farmer, died at 4:15 a.m. Sunday in the Adams County Memorial Hospital’s intensive care unit, where he had been a patient one day.
Mr. Gallmeyer lived his entire life on the same farm. He also was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church, Friedheim, where he had held several offices over the years.
He was born in Preble Township April 24, 1911 to August and Dorthea Schoppmann Gallmeyer. His marriage on Sept. 15, 1974 was to Esther Scare, who survives.
Other survivors are a niece, Eunice Gibson of Post Falls, Idaho; and two nephews, Vernon Gallmeyer of Louisville, Colo., and Milt Gallmeyer of rural Ossian. A brother, Frederick, is deceased.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur and at 1:30 p.m. in Zion Lutheran Church, Friedheim, with Rev. Daniel Dahling officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Memorials to Zion Lutheran Church, Friedheim.  - Published Aug. 14, 2000

Phyllis E. Dearduff, 70
Phyllis E. Dearduff, 70, of Montpelier, died at 6:36 a.m. Sunday at Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis.
She worked in the cafeteria at the Montpelier Middle School before retiring in1991. She was a 1948 graduate of Pennville High School.
Mrs. Dearduff was born in Jay County July 16, 1930 to Ollie P. and Bessie Rains Garrett. Her marriage Nov. 11, 1958 at Pennville was to Raymond D. Dearduff, who died in 1992.
Surviving are a son, Kris of Cincinnati; a daughter, Mrs. Doug (Lou Ann) Dale of Indianapolis; three sisters, Helen Case of Albany, Merlyn Dubach of Portland and Ruth Whiteman of Dunkirk; two brothers, Don Garrett of Parkersburg, W.Va., and Ernie Garrett Fort Wayne; and five grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel, in Montpelier, where visitation hours will be Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in Pennville IOOF Cemetery.
Memorials to Montpelier-Harrison Township Cancer Society.  - Published Aug. 15, 2000

Angelia Kay Wilson, 34
Angelia Kay Wilson, 34, of Geneva, died at 8:30 a.m. Monday at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne following an extended illness.
She resided for four years in Phoenix, Ariz., and was a graduate of South Adams High School.
She was born in Jay County May 19, 1966 to Robert M. and Vickie L. Clevenger Landers, who survive.
Also surviving are three sons, Andrew Patch of Geneva, Drayton Wilson of Minnesota and Tyler Wilson of Mesa, Ariz.; two brothers, Jeff Landers and Greg Landers, both of Geneva; two sisters, Mrs. Debi Roderick of Geneva and Mrs. Anthony (Jami) Arnold of Vincennes; and her grandparents, Mrs. Lena Landers of Geneva and Mrs. Pauline Clevenger of Bryant.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Downing Funeral Home in Geneva with Rev. John Randall officiating. Burial will be in Gravel Hill Cemetery at Bryant.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. until time for services.
Memorials to the family.  - Published Aug. 15, 2000

Jay V. Haiflich, 90
Funeral services for Jay V. Haiflich, 90, who died Sunday, will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Myers Funeral Home, Markle Chapel.
Mr. Haiflich, a resident of 720 East Dustman Rd., Bluffton, and formerly of Uniondale, died at 9:45 a.m. Sunday at Caylor-Nickel Medical Center.
Visitation hours at the funeral home are today from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday for one hour prior to services.
Mr. Haiflich was engaged in farming in Wells County and also was an insurance salesman with the Mutual Insurance Company for 27 years upon his retirement.
He was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church at Uniondale and was secretary of the Horeb Cemetery Association for many years and instrumental in relocating the cemetery to its present location. He also was a 1928 graduate of Rockcreek High School in Wells County.
Mr. Haiflich was born in Wells County June 14, 1910 to William A. and Roberta Maddux Haifley. His marriage in Uniondale on June 18, 1932 was to Gladys M. Keller, who survives.
A sister, Leota M. Kline of Uniondale, also survives. A brother, Raymond Haflich, and a sister, Dessie Sparks, are deceased.
Rev. Mark Cleaveland will officiate and burial will be in Horeb Cemetery.
Memorials to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.  - Published Aug. 15, 2000

Wanda Marie Dial, 57
A former resident of Bluffton, Wanda Marie Dial, 57 died Sunday at her home in Ozark Acres in Highland, Ark.
She was born in Bluffton Sept. 2, 1942, a daughter of Francis and Martha Leimenstall Crozier. Her parents, her husband, Donald Dial, and a brother are deceased.
Mrs. Dial moved to the Arkansas area 18 years ago from Bluffton. She was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church.
Surviving are a son, Keith of Cherokee Village, Ark; three brothers, Vernon Crozier of Rome City, Lester Crozier of Medesto, Calif., and Jay Crozier of Ossian; a half-brother, Harold Crozier of Fort Wayne; a sister, Wanetta West of Bluffton; and a half-sister, Naomi Yocum of Decatur.
A memorial service was held Monday at New Hope Baptist Church with Rev. Troy Harvey officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Tri-County’s Cherokee Chapel Funeral Services Inc. at Highland, Ark.
Memorials to the church.  - Published Aug. 15, 2000