Forrest A. Pond, 80 -- Rites Pending
Forrest A. Pond, 80, died at 2:15 a.M. today at his residence in Warren. Arrangements are pending at Glancy Funeral Homes, H. Brown & Son Chapel, in Warren.  - Published Oct. 18, 2000
 

Earldean Budd, 66
Father of Kimberly K. Richardson of Ossian, Earldean Budd, 66, died Monday in Fort Wayne.
Born in Liberal, Kan., he was the owner and operator of Volume Auto Sales.
Surviving, in addition to the daughter at Ossian, are a son, Dana A. of Fort Wayne; his mother, Leota L. Budd of Fort Wayne; a brother, Max L. of Fort Wayne; and a grandchild.
Private family services with no calling hours.
Arrangements are by D.O. McComb & Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home, Fort Wayne.  - Published Oct. 18, 2000
 
Forrest A. Pond, 80
A member of the Warren Volunteer Fire Department for 26 years and its chief for 19 years, Forrest A. Pond, 80, died at 2:15 a.m. Wednesday at his residence at 414 East First St., Warren.
A self-employed carpenter most of his life, Mr. Pond never missed a meeting of the volunteer firemen in his 26 years. He was a member of the Indiana Volunteer Fireman’s Association, was awarded its Samuel Jones Award in 1999 and given the key to the city.
He served for many years on the Warren Town Board and Huntington County Civil Defense and was a member of the Sportsman Club. In addition, he was an honorary member of Sams.
Mr. Pond was a veteran of U.S. Army service during World War II, seeing duty from Oct. 29, 1942 to Feb. 21, 1946. He attended Chester Center High School.
He was born in Wells County Sept. 21, 1920 to Charles M. and Della Spaulding Pond. His marriage in Wells County on Oct. 7, 1944 was to Alice Crawford, who survives.
Surviving also are a daughter, Mrs. Ted (Becky) Foreman of Bluffton; two sisters, Agnes Fordyce of Warren and Girthie McCoy of Mt. Etna; a brother, Frank Pond of New Haven; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A sister and a brother are deceased.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Glancy Funeral Homes, H. Brown & Son Chapel, in Warren, with Rev. Joe Haney officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery at Warren.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be Friday from 2 to 8 p.m. Members of the Warren Fire Department will convene at the funeral home at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Memorials to the Warren Fire Department, P.O. Box 373, Warren, IN 46792.  - Published Oct. 19, 2000

Herbert ‘Paul’ Gearhart, 81
A former member of the Markle Fire Department and former member of the Town Board, Herbert “Paul” Gearhart, 81, died Wednesday morning at his home in Markle.
He worked as a machinist at Navistar in Fort Wayne before retiring in 1979. He also worked for Luther Baker Lumber Co. in Markle for 20 years and was a graduate of Markle High School.
Mr. Gearhart was a member of the Markle United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge at Markle, Masonic Lodge 145 at Bluffton, Scottish Rite at Fort Wayne and was a cubmaster for the Markle Boy Scout troop from 1968 to 1969.
He served for 35 years as volunteer for the Markle Fire Department and served a time as a member of the Markle Town Board.
Mr. Gearhart was a veteran of service with the U.S. Air Force.
He was born at Markle Aug. 31, 1919, a son of George William and Minnie Mae Barnheisel Gearhart. His marriage in Uniondale on Nov. 20, 1941 was to Martha Ake, who survives.
Surviving also are a son, Gregg of Markle; a daughter, Cindy Stoffel of Roanoke; a sister, Wanda Schoeff of Tecumsch, Mich.; two brothers, Everett Gearhart of Lima, Ohio, and Roscoe Gearhart of Fort Wayne; and four grandchildren. Four brothers and three sisters are deceased.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Markle United Methodist Church with Rev. Tim Dilley officiating. Interment will be in the Markle Cemetery.
Visitation hours at Myers Funeral Home Markle Chapel will be Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and at the church Saturday for one hour prior to services.
Memorials to the church or to the North Eastern Family Hospice.  - Published Oct. 19, 2000
 
Mary Catherine Spangler, 79
Sister of Mrs. Thomas (Rosemary) Williams of Bluffton, Mary Catherine Spangler, 79, of Decatur, died at 6:45 a.m. Thursday at Woodcrest Nursing Center in Decatur.
She had worked as an abstractor for the G. Remy Bierly Abstract Co. and the Schurger Abstract Co. in Decatur.
Miss Spangler was a member of St. Mary’s of the Assumption Catholic Church, Women of St. Mary’s, Catholic Ladies of Columbus, Guardian Angels Study Club, 50-year member of Business & Professional Women’s Club, Delta Theta Tau Sorority, Harvest House, and American Legion Post 43 Auxiliary.
She was born in Adams County Jan. 19, 1921 to Peter J. and Mary C. Eiting Spangler.
In addition to the sister in Bluffton, she is survived by three nieces and several nephews. A brother, Robert J. Spangler, is deceased.
Services at 10 a.m. Monday will be at St. Mary’s of the Assumption Catholic Church in Decatur with Fr. John Gillig officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery at Decatur.
Visitation hours at Haggard & Sefton Funeral Home in Decatur will be Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
A Rosary service will be conducted at 4 p.m. Sunday and a prayer service at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memorials to St. Joseph Catholic School or to Masses.  - Published Oct. 20, 2000
 

Larry D. Stromberg, 51
Larry D. Stromberg, 51, a pharmacist/manager, died at 9 p.m. Thursday at his home at 1425 Deerbook St. in Bluffton.
He was a pharmacist and manager for 23 years, which included employment at Kroger and at Peyton’s Northern Distribution Center for 16 years.
He was a member of the Calvary Lutheran Church and a resident of Wells County for the past 16 years.
Mr. Stromberg was a 1972 graduate of North Dakota State University, where he earned his pharmaceutical degree. He was a member of the Optimist Club. He was a soccer coach and coached basketball at the PAL Club and was leader in the grades 3 to 6 basketball program.
He was born in Minot, N.D., June 19, 1949 to Douglas and Caryl M. Johnson Stromberg, both of whom survive and reside at Minot. His marriage at Gackle, N.D., on Sept. 2, 1972 was to Susan K. Mayer, who survives also.
Other survivors are a son, Joshua S., at home; two daughters, Mrs. Tyler (Jodi S.) Blevins of Fort Wayne, and Jamie L. Stromberg of Bluffton; two brothers, Tom D. of Manhattan, Mont., and Danny D. of Minot; and three sisters, Cheryl A. Moore and Mrs. Randy (Iona Rae) Gowin, both of Bismark, N.D., and Mrs. Andy (Darla J.) Fimrite of Minot.
Services at 11 a.m. Monday will be at the Calvary Lutheran Church with Rev. Otto Dorsch officiating. Burial will be in Six Mile Cemetery.
Calling hours will be Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. at Goodwin Memorial Chapel and Monday at the church for one hour prior to services.
Memorials to the church.  - Published Oct. 20, 2000
 
Margie Blevins, 88
Former longtime co-owner and operator with her husband of the Pennville Northside Cafe in Pennville, Margie Blevins, 88, a resident of Millers Merry Manor Nursing Center at Dunkirk, died early Friday afternoon at Caylor-Nickel Medical Center in Bluffton.
Born March 1, 1912, in Wise County, Virginia, she was a daughter of Charles and Eliza (Mooris) Moore. Her marriage was on Feb. 1, 1942, to James C. Blevins, who preceded her in death on Feb. 15, 1998.
Mrs. Blevins was a member of the Pennville American Legion Auxiliary.
Surviving are three sons, Ronald C. Blevins of Bluffton, Thomas L. Blevins of Montpelier and J. Wayne Blevins of Pennville; three sisters, Virgie Garrison of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, and Elise Miller and Velma Wilson, both of Kingsport, Tenn.; 9 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Calling will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday in the Pennville Chapel of the Williamson & Spencer Funeral home, where funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday with Rev. Bob Heimach and Jeff Thayer officiating.
Burial will be in I.O.O.F. (Twin Hills) Cemetery east of Pennville.   - Published Oct. 14, 2000
 
Gay Lynn Huffman, 55
Gay Lynn Huffman, 55, who resided in Wells County on a Huntington rural route, was injured fatally in an auto accident on St. Rd. 124 at 7:40 p.m. Saturday.
She had been employed since 1982 in the pharmaceutical department of Peyton’s Northern Distribution Center west of Bluffton.
Born in Fort Wayne, Mrs. Huffman had resided in Wells County all of her life. She was a member of Boehmer United Methodist Church.
She was born Aug. 9, 1945 to Lewis J. and Juanita Morgan Walker. Her marriage at Ossian on Oct. 19, 1963 was to Dwight “Ike” Huffman, who survives. Her mother also survives and resides in Ossian. 
Surviving also are three sons, Brent of Bluffton, Greg of Poneto and Matt of Fort Wayne; two brothers, Donald Walker of Bluffton and Gary Walker of Fort Wayne; a sister, Mrs. John (Donna) Freds of Huntington; and six grandsons.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home with Rev. Barry Humble officiating. Burial will be in Mossburg Cemetery at Liberty Center.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be Tuesday from 1 to 9 p.m.
Memorials to Boehmer United Methodist Church or to the American Diabetes Association.  - Published Oct. 16, 2000

Naomi L. Ringger, 90
Naomi L. Ringger, 90, died at 4:05 p.m. Saturday at her home on rural Monroe.
She was a homemaker and a member of the Apostolic Christian Church.
She was born in Wells County Oct. 14, 1910, a daughter of Samuel and Nettie Neuenschwander Gerber. He marriage at Bluffton on Aug. 28, 1938 was to Orville W. Ringger, who survives.
Other survivors are a son, Kent of Bluffton; a daughter, Mrs. Ned (Dixie) Kipfer of Bluffton; a brother, Arthur Gerber of Berne; three sisters, Mrs. Sylvia Frauhiger, Mrs. Raymond (Viola) Ringger and Mrs. Freida Steffen, all of Bluffton; nine grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. A daughter, Diane Eisamann, is deceased.
Services at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday will be 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 in Bluffton are today from 1 to 8 p.m. and at the church Tuesday for one hour prior to services.
Memorials to Christian Care Center or to Family Hospice of Northeast Indiana.  - Published Oct. 16, 2000
 

James H. Nussbaum, 73
Retired Adams County farmer James H. Nussbaum, 73, died Saturday at his home in Monroe.
He also was a former Adams Central School bus driver for 42 years and was a past president of the Monroe Lions Club.
Surviving are his wife, Joyce I.; his mother, Rosella Nussbaum of Berne; two sons, Jan. E. of rural Monroe and Jed A. of rural Berne; a daughter, Joni M. Lehman, of rural Geneva; a brother, Curtis of Monroe; a sister, Corrine Lehman of rural Berne; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Monroe United Methodist Church, with calling for one hour before services.
Calling also will be today from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur.
Burial will be in MRE Cemetery at Monroe. Memorials to Monroe United Methodist Youth Mission Project or to College and Career Bible Fellowship.  - Published Oct. 16, 2000

Robert F. Kiser, 65
Robert F. Kiser, 65, of Decatur, died at 8 p.m. Saturday at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, where he had been a patient since undergoing heart surgery Tuesday, Oct. 10.
He was an employee of CTS in Berne since Oct. 22, 1963.
Mr. Kiser served in the U.S. Army in the 1950s and was a longtime coach and umpire in the Little League baseball program.
He was born in Adams County Aug. 11, 1935 to Kenneth L. and Clara L. Urick Kiser. His marriage at Decatur on June 25, 1960 was to Lorraine Haugk, who survives.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Timothy A. of Goose Creek, S.C., and Todd A. of Decatur; two daughters, Mrs. John (Tina A.) Bodner of Ossian and Teresa A. Kiser, at home; three brothers, Kenneth D. of Fort Wayne, Vernon L. of Ukiah, Calif., and Richard P. of Bluffton; two sisters, Mrs. Alfred Louis (Norma J.) Dellinger of Fort Wayne and Mrs. John “Monty” (Phyllis A.) Heller of Decatur; and three grandchildren. A sister is deceased.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur, where visitation hours will be Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m.
Rev. John Fuchs will officiate and burial will be in Decatur Cemetery, where Adams Post 43 color guard will perform graveside military rites.
Memorials to Decatur Little League or to donor’s choice.  - Published Oct. 16, 2000
 

Vilaf F. Starkey, 75 -- Rites Pending
Vilaf F. Starkey, 75, died Sunday evening at Caylor-Nickel Medical Center. His wife survives. Arrangements are pending at Goodwin Memorial Chapel.   - Published Oct. 16, 2000

Carl ‘Blackie’ Braden Jr., 79
A native of Bluffton, Carl “Blackie” Braden Jr., 79, of Martinsville, died Friday at Vencor South in Greenwood.
He was a teacher and basketball coach at Pinnell High School in Lebanon, Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Warren Central High School and Southport High School. He also was the assistant principal at Southport High School until 1983.
Mr. Braden was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame as a director and was serving as director emeritus.
He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
Surviving are his wife, Barbara J.; two sons, Barton Kemp of Indianapolis and Bradford Carl of Baltimore; a brother, Harold of Fort Wayne; and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Forest Lawn-Wilson Street Pierre Funeral Home in Greenwood, where calling will be for two hours prior to services.
Entombment will be in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Greenwood.
Memorials to the Indiana Basketball Hame of Fame in New Castle.  - Published Oct. 16, 2000
 

Clifton E. Ross, 54
Clifton E. Ross, 54, stepfather of John L. Ebright of Bluffton, died Saturday at his home in Decatur.
He was a machinist at Precision Machine at Decatur for 12 years.
He also was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War.
Surviving, in addition to the Bluffton stepson, are a stepdaughter, Peggy L. Ebright of Decatur; another stepson, William L. Ebright of Decatur; and two brothers, Robert L. “Bud” Ross of Wren, Ohio, and Wallace M. “Howard” Ross of Mena, Ark.
Services will be at 8 p.m. today at Haggard & Sefton Funeral Home in Decatur, with calling two hours prior to services. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery at Geneva.
Memorials to Family Hospice.  - Published Oct. 16, 2000
 
Vilas F. Starkey, 75
Vilas F. Starkey, 75, who resided at 734 McArthur Dr., died at 7:19 p.m. Sunday at Caylor-Nickel Medical Center.
He was a truck driver for Cassens Transport for 35 years at Belvidere, Ill. He was an avid Packer fan, and engaged in hunting and fishing.
He was born in Richland County, Wis., May 4, 1925, a son of Faye and Lenore Hannewell Starkey. His marriage in Vernon County, Wis., on Nov. 22, 1950, was to Avis J. Zitzner, who survives.
Surviving also are three sons, Rick Groom of Prairie Duchien, Wis., Philip Starkey of Bluffton and Paul Starkey of Ossian; three daughters, Mrs. James (Debra) Keller of Mercer, Wis., Mrs. Mark (Donna) Steinke and Mrs. Chris (Edna) Dodge, both of Janesville, Wis.; two brothers, Garland and Carl Starkey, both residing in Wisconsin; 14 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Goodwin Memorial Chapel with Rev. Stan Hoover officiating.
Visitation hours at the funeral home will be Wednesday from 6 p.m. until time for services.  - Published Oct. 17, 2000
 

Melville C. Blumenhorst, 84 -- Rites Pending
Melville C. Blumenhorst, 84, died at 9:20 p.m. Monday at Meadowvale Care Center in Bluffton. Arrangements are pending at Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel, in Montpelier.  - Published Oct. 17, 2000
 

Virginia A. Burke, 85
Virginia A. Burke, 85, an Adams County native, died at 9:10 a.m. Saturday at Swiss Village in Berne.
She was a former employee at Berco Co., at Swiss Village and also served as a volunteer at Swiss Village. Her hobbies included quilting and reading.
She was born May 17, 1915, to Jesse and Elizabeth Campbell Callihan. Her marriage in Adams County on April 1, 1934 was to Herman Burke, who died Nov. 1, 1999.
Surviving are three sons, Fred of Fort Wayne, William of Huntington and Don of Berne; three daughters, Mrs. Norman (Elizabeth) Koons of Decatur, Mrs. Philip (Sue) Wulliman of Berne and Mrs. Roger (Gretchen) Lautzenheiser of Terre Haute; a sister, Mary Ellen Bauman of Geneva; 16 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. Three sisters and two grandchildren are deceased.
Services were at 10:30 a.m. today at the Swiss Village Chapel with Rev. Craig Maven and Chaplain Anita Rediger officiating. Burial was to be in MRE Cemetery at Berne.
Memorials to Swiss Village Endowment Fund of to First Mennonite Church Missions.  - Published Oct. 17, 2000

William W. Maddox Sr., 95
Father of Jean Riggs of Poneto, William “Bill” W. Maddox, 95, of Hartford City, died Sunday at Blackford County Hospital in Hartford City.
A lifetime resident of Blackford County, he was a grain and poultry farmer in both Blackford and Grant Counties.
Surviving are his wife, Mary; four other daughters, Mary E. Gunter of Portland, Margaret A. Oyler of Hartford City, Joyce M. Jenkins of South Bend and Linda “Lou” Stroup of Goshen; four sons, Kenneth D. and Chuck D., both of Hartford City, Don W. of Endicott, N.Y., and Larry D. of Upland; 26 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; 9 stepgreat-grandchildren; and 10 stepgreat-great-grandchildren. A son, William W. Jr., died in 1979.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Keplinger Funeral Home in Hartford City, where calling hours will be Wednesday from 3 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. and Thursday starting at 8 a.m. Burial will be in Hartford City Cemetery.
Memorials to Indiana Ronald McDonald House or to Riley Hospital Research for Children, both in Indianapolis.  - Published Oct. 17, 2000