Ida Gehring, 97
Ida Gehring, 97, died at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Christian Care Retirement Center.
A homemaker, she was a native of Adams County and a member of the Apostolic Christian Church East.
She was born Oct. 24, 1903 to Noah and Bertha Biberstein Stauffer. Her marriage in Adams County on June 28, 1924 was to Homer Gehring, who died July 30, 1990.
Surviving are two sons, Clarren of Ossian and DeWayne of Craigville; two daughters, Mrs. Betty Baumgartner of Craigville and Mrs. Ervin (LaVera) Krummen of Bluffton; a brother, Everett Stauffer of Berne; a sister, Della Lehman of Berne; 17 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. A brother and three sisters are deceased.
Services at 10:30 am. Friday 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 will be Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m. and at the church Friday for one hour prior to services.
Memorials to the Apostolic Christian Church Charity Fund.  - Published Dec 6, 2000
 

Mary Elizabeth Denton, 87
Funeral services for Mary Elizabeth Denton, 87, who died at 4 a.m. Tuesday at Blackford County Hospital in Hartford City, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
The rites will be at Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel, in Montpelier, with Rev. Frank Rodgers officiating. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery at Montpelier.
Calling hours at the funeral home are today from 4 to 8 p.m.
A former employee for several years at Dryden Rubber Co. while living in Montpelier, she has been a resident of the Community Care Nursing Home in Hartford City for the past 10 years. She had attended Hoover school in Montpelier.
She was born in Blackford County Feb. 3, 1913 to John and Florence Myrtle Evers McClish. Her marriage in Huntington County on Nov. 8, 1930 was to Emerson Milton Denton, who died Oct. 21, 1952.
Surviving are a daughter, Carol Mowery of Hartford City; a son-in-law, Richard Pence of Montpelier; two granddaughters, Mrs. Ryan (Kathy) McCall of Montpelier and Mrs. Bob (Regina) Patterson of Hartford City; and four great-grandchildren. A daughter, C. Jan Pence, two sisters and a brother are deceased.  - Published Dec 6, 2000
 

Elsie Z. Cash, 93
Funeral services for Elsie Z. Cash, 93, of rural Pennville, will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday at Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel, in Montpelier.
Mrs. Cash died at 11 p.m. Monday at Chalet Village & Health Center in Berne.
Visitation hours will be Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m. at the funeral chapel.
Mrs. Cash was a homemaker and with her late husband founded Cash Hampshire Hogs operation.
She was a 50-year member of Pennville Lodge 202 of the Order of Eastern Star, member of the Pennville United Methodist Church and a former member of the Ena Vaunt Club in Pennville. She was a 1922 graduate of Montpelier High School.
She was born in Blackford County June 19, 1907 to Eugene and Ethel Woolard Hitesman. Her marriage at Marion on April 2, 1927 was to Howard Merle Cash, who died June 18, 1980.
Surviving are a son, Glen Howard Cash of Pennville; three daughters, Mrs. Duane (Mary Lou) Judy of Portland, Mrs. John (Shirley) Taylor of Lake Panasoffkee, Fla., and Mrs. Kermit (Martha) Geeseman of Pennville; 15 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and 20 great-great-grandchildren. A sister and a brother are deceased.
Rev. K.M. Lord will officiate at Friday’s rites and burial will be in Twin Hills Cemetery at Pennville.
Memorials to Family Hospice of Northeast Indiana in Berne or to donor’s choice.  - Published Dec 6, 2000

Dorothy M. Fogwell, 86
Sister of Clarence Roth of Bluffton, Dorothy M. Fogwell, 86, died Sunday at Covington Manor Nursing Home in Fort Wayne.
Born in Huntington County, she was a homemaker.
Surviving, in addition to the brother in Bluffton, are her husband, W. Glenn; five sisters, Ethel Nycum, Edna Eickhoff and Miriam Black, all, of Fort Wayne, Eloise Zion of Matlacha, Fla., and Ruth Graft of Fremont; two other brothers, Charles Roth of Fort Wayne and John Roth of New Haven.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Risen Savior Lutheran Church, 8010 West Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne, with calling for one-half hour prior to services.
Calling also is today from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Klaehn, Fahl & Melton Funeral Home Winchester Road Chapel, 6424 Winchester Rd., Fort Wayne.
Burial will be in Fogwell Cemetery.
Memorials to Risen Savior Lutheran Church Mortgage Fund or to ACRES Inc.  - Published Dec 6, 2000
  
Cletus G. Gifford, 72
Cletus “Clete” G. Gifford, 72, retired as a grocery business owner and operator after 60 years, died at 3:23 a.m. Wednesday at his residence in Berne.
Mr. Gifford was former owner of Gifford’s IGA Store.
He also was a member for more than 50 years of the Berne Volunteer Fire Department, serving as chief for 18 years. He was awarded in March of this year the Governor’s Meritorious Service Award and was honored on July 16 at the dedication of the new Berne fire station.
Mr. Gifford was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church.
He was born in Wells County May 12, 1928 to Glen and Martha Jane Simon Gifford.
Surviving are his wife, JoAnn, who survives and to whom he was married in Berne on Aug. 13, 2000.
Surviving, in addition to the wife, are a son, John Gifford of Detroit, Mich.; four daughters, Mrs. Tom (Linda) Walsh of Berne, Mrs. Rick (Valerie) Graber of Albuquerque, N.M., Mrs. Tom (Rita) Hough of Pucallpa, Peru and Joan Lane of Fort Wayne; four stepsons, Irv Koehler of Chattanooga, Tenn., Daniel E. Koehler and Michael L. Koehler, both of Berne, and Steven M. Koehler of Linn Grove; five grandchildren; nine stepgrandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and three stepgreat-grandchildren.
Services will be held at the Berne Fire Department Station at 1:30 p.m. Sunday with Tom Hough and Paul Zurcher officiating. Burial will be in the MRE Cemetery at Berne.
Calling hours at Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home in Berne will be Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and at the fire station Sunday from 12 noon until time of services.
Members of the Berne Fire Department will serve as pall bearers.
Memorials to Family Hospice of Northeast Indiana or to the Jacob Corral Fund (a great-grandson).  - Published Dec 7, 2000
 

Herretta M. Stump, 91
A former resident of Decatur and Fort Wayne, Herretta M. Stump, 91, of Bradenton, Fla., died at 11:25 a.m. Tuesday at Freedom Village Nursing Center in Bradenton, where she had been a patient the past month.
She was a former co-owner with her late husband of Star Bowling & Billiards Supplies in Fort Wayne and former co-owner of Decatur Floral Company.
Mrs. Stump had been a resident since 1983 of Bradenton and was a member of the United Methodist Church there.
She was born in Decatur May 6, 1909 to Harve and Margaret Beam Elzey. Her marriage on May 27, 1934 was to Donald G. Stump, who died Dec. 24, 1993.
Surviving are a sister, Ruth Macklin of Decatur. A brother and two sisters preceded her in death.
A private service will be held Saturday at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur Saturday with Rev. Bud Abrams officiating Burial will be in Lindenwood Cemetery in Fort Wayne.
Visitation will be private also. Memorials to the donor’s choice.  - Published Dec 7, 2000

Frank A. Garriott, 87
A former resident of the Petroleum area, Frank A. Garriott, 87, of Marion, died at 5:40 a.m. Wednesday in the emergency room of General Hospital in Marion. 
He was retired from Lynch Corporation in Anderson and was a 1933 graduate of Petroleum High School. He served during World War II with the U.S. Navy.
Mr. Garriott was a member of the Swayzee Street United Methodist Church and served on its board of administration and its board of trustees.
He was an avid fisherman.
He was born in Oden, Ind., April 6, 1913, a son of Rev. Taylor A. and Eva Collins Garriott. His marriage on Jan. 13, 1935 was to Roberta M. Uptegraft, who died Feb. 27, 1999. He had resided in Marion most of his lifetime.
Surviving are a son, Max Garriott of Marion; a sister, Geneva Billiard of Indianapolis; and three grandchildren. Two brothers and a sister are deceased.
Services at 10:30 a.m. Saturday will be at the Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral Service, North Chapel, 1341 North Baldwin Ave., in Marion.
Visitation hours at the funeral home will be Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Rev. Janet Luchs and Rev. Robert Thompson will officiate and burial will be in Gardens of Memory in Huntington County.  - Published Dec 7, 2000
 
Dale V. Gilgen, 60 — Rites Pending
Dale V. Gilgen, 60, died at 10:05 p.m. Thursday at the Community Care Center in Wabash. Arrangements are pending at Goodwin Memorial Chapel in Bluffton.  - Published Dec 8, 2000
 

Dale V. Gilgen, 60
A native of Wells County, Dale V. Gilgen, 60, died at 10:05 p.m. Thursday at Community Care Center in Wabash.
Born Aug. 18, 1940 in Vera Cruz, he was a son of Marion and Bessie Luginbill Gilgen. He was employed for 15 years at International Harvester.
Survivors include a son, Rod Gilgen of Bluffton, two daughters, Mrs. Dan (Angela) Mangold of Fort Wayne and Laura Dillingham of Bluffton; a brother, Paul Gilgen of Missouri; a sister, Mrs. Jerry (Doris) Leimgruber of Bluffton and eight grandchildren.
Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at Goodwin Memorial Chapel, where calling will be Sunday from 2 to 8 p.m.   - Published Dec 9, 2000
 
Dale R. Townsend Sr., 46
Funeral services for Dale R. Townsend Sr., 46, of rural Hartford City, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel, in Montpelier.
Mr. Townsend died at 3:14 a.m. Friday at Blackford County Hospital in Hartford City.
Visitation hours at the funeral chapel are today from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Mr. Township was employed at Keith Sullivan Excavating in Marion. He also worked for Rock Leasing in Plumtree.
He was a native and lifelong resident of Washington Township, Blackford County, and attended schools at Roll and Montpelier before graduating with the class of 1973 at Blackford High School in Hartford City. He was a member of the Eagle Lodge 928 at Portland and had seen service with the U.S. Army.
He was born July 7, 1954 to Alfred A. and Helen J. Waters Townsend. His marriage at Hartford City on Feb. 19, 1985 was to Debbie Sue Ervin, who survives.
Surviving also are two sons, Dale Jr. of Montpelier and Brian of Hartford City; a daughter, Christina JoAnn Townsend of Gibsonton, Fla.; two stepdaughters, Amy Johnson of Arizona and Jessica Johnson of Hartford City; a sister, Mrs. Leroy (Barb) Blankenship of Springfield, Mo.; four brothers, Bill and James Dean, both of Hartford City, Jerry of Muncie and Wayne of Montpelier; and nine grandchildren. A brother, Edward, is deceased.
Pastor Ken Horning will officiate at services and burial will be in Hartford City Cemetery.  - Published Dec 11, 2000

Doris L. Chilcote, 90
Doris L. Chilcote, 90, of Decatur, died at 5:38 p.m. Friday at Kingston Care Center in Fort Wayne, where she has been a patient the past 14 months.
She retired in 1962 after 18 years with the General Electric Co.
She was born in Wells County Jan. 14, 1910 to James G. and Viola M. Bailey Rockwell. She was a member of the Church of God at Decatur.
Surviving are 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three daughters, Martha Cress, Marvel (Jean) Frye and Marilyn Stucky, three brothers and three sisters.
Services at 11 a.m. Tuesday will be at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur with Rev. Sandy Hildebrand officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery at Bluffton.
Calling hours at the funeral home are today from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Memorials to the Decatur Church of God.  - Published Dec 11, 2000
 
Murray H. McKuras, 77
Retired Franklin Electric employee Murray H. McKuras, 77, of rural Poneto, died at 2:30 p.m. Monday at 0099W St. Rd. 218.
He retired in 1983 after 37 years at Franklin Electric Co. in Bluffton, where he was a member of the IUE Union.
He was born in Jay County Oct. 29, 1923 to Leo and Nellie Abbott McKuras. His marriage in Adams County on Jan. 12, 1943 was to Ruth E. Carmin, who died in April 1994.
Surviving are two sons, David of Manteno, Ill., and Robert of Indianapolis; a companion, Opal Tucker of Poneto; a sister; Mrs. Wanda Waters of Uniondale; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A brother and a sister are deceased.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Goodwin Memorial Chapel, where calling hours will be Wednesday from 2 to 8 p.m. Rev. Max Studebaker will officiate and burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery at Pennville.
Memorials to Family Hospice of Northeast Indiana at Berne.  - Published Dec 5, 2000
 

Reba M. Holley, 70
Reba M. Holley, 70, who resided at 231 North Bond St., died at 10:10 p.m. Monday at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. Death was attributed to congestive heart failure and followed an illness of several months.
She was retired as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) at Caylor-Nickel Hospital.
Mrs, Holley was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Bluffton. She was born in Huntington March 27, 1930 to Harold R. and Ethel L. Lewis Dolby. Her marriage at Muncie on May 11, 1948 was to Roy E. Holley, who survives.
Other survivors are two sons, Ronald G. of Murray and Gary L. of rural Bluffton; a daughter, Mrs. Jeff (Sharon) Bennett of Saginaw, Mich.; a sister, Marcia Dolby of Huntington; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A brother is deceased.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home with Rev. Russell Buzzard officiating. Burial will be in Lancaster Cemetery in Huntington County.
Visitation hours at the funeral home will be Wednesday from 1 to 8 p.m.
Memorials to the Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church in Huntington.  - Published Dec 5, 2000

Charles Frederick Hawkins, 66
Charles Frederick Hawkins, 66, of Decatur, died at 9:25 a.m. Monday at Adams County Memorial Hospital in Decatur.
He was engaged for decades in the shoe repair business, retiring in 1990 from Hawkins Shoe Repair in Decatur, where his shop was located from 1973 to 1990. Previously, he had operated shoe repair shops in Fort Wayne, Berne and Muncie.
Mr. Hawkins was born in Adams County May 30, 1934 to Wilbur Emmit and Mable Burkhart Hawkins. A first marriage on June 9, 1957 was to Wilma “Ouija” Thornburg, who died June 26 1969; a second marriage in Great Bend, Kan., on April 1, 1972 was to Shirley Green, who survives.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are a daughter, Judy K. Hawkins of rural Decatur; a son, Dale M. Hawkins of Durham, N.C.; a sister, Mrs. Marvin (Pauline) Hekel of Seattle, Wash.; two brothers, Virgil of rural Decatur and Emmit of Convoy, Ohio; and two grandchildren; a brother, Forrest, is deceased.
Services at 10 a.m. Thursday will be at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur with Pastor Sandy Hildebrand officiating. Burial will be in Six Mile Cemetery in Wells County.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 5 to 8 p.m.
Memorials to Huntington’s Disease Society of America.  - Published Dec 5, 2000

Arthur Bevington, 91
A Wells County native and long-time resident of Florida, Arthur Bevington, 91, died Nov. 22.
He was born Sept. 23, 1909 to Charles and Alice Hyde Bevington. His marriage was to Ruth Baggs, who died in 1993.
Surviving are a son, Richard, and a daughter, Patricia Lyons, both of Apopka, Fla; five grandchildren; and two nieces, Rita Blinn of Warren and Karen Freck of Bluffton.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Greeta, and two brothers, Ray and Clause, all of Wells County.  - Published Dec 5, 2000

Mary E. Denton, 87 -- Rites Pending
Mary E. Denton, 87, of Hartford City, died at 4 a.m. today at Blackford County Hospital in Hartford City. Funeral arrangements are pending at Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel in Montpelier.  - Published Dec 5, 2000

Stanley ‘Jack’ Holloway, 54
A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Stahl Cemetery for Stanley “Jack” Holloway, 54, who died at 10:37 p.m. Sunday at Ossian Health Center following an extended illness.
He was a graduate in 1964 of Chester Center High School and was formerly self-employed in construction work.
Mr. Holloway served with the Green Beret forces in Vietnam with the 89th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. He was a recipient of the Bronze Star.
He was a member of American Legion Post 111 and was associated with the New Beginning Church.
He was born in Liberty Township March 17, 1946 to Joe and Martha Ferne Holloway. His father died in 1981 and his mother survives and resides in Bluffton. His marriage in Wells County on May 3, 1985 was to Patricia J. Karako, who survives also.
Other survivors are two sons, Clifton J. of Bluffton and Clinton J. of Nashville, Tenn; four stepchildren, Charles Grabner of Pinkerton, Ohio, Amy Habbick and Gigi Grabner, both of Charleston, S.C., and Clayton H. Taylor of Ladoga, Ind., and two grandchildren.
Also surviving are six brothers, Jim and Jeff Holloway, both of Poneto, Jon and Jody Holloway and Dan Anderson, all of Bluffton, and Jay Holloway of Hartford City; and five sisters, Sally Jo Tinkel and Mrs. Fred (Jenelle) Webb, both of Fort Wayne, Mrs. Rick (Sara Jane) Jarrett of Liberty Center, Mrs. Kenneth (Jill) Ellenberger of Bluffton and Mrs. Don (Jerridean) Lehman of Craigville.
Calling hours at the Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home will be Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m..
Conducting the graveside rite will be Rev. Steve Sutton and Rev. Clinton J. Holloway. The American Legion with perform military graveside rites.
Memorials to the family.  - Published Dec 5, 2000

Robert W. Lagemann, 86
Robert W. Lagemann, 86, of rural Markle, noted for his talent at the drums and with the banjo, died Sunday in Eloy, Ariz.
He was employed for 34 years as a laborer at General Electric Co. in Fort Wayne, retiring in 1976. However, his musical gift provided an outlet with the Three Rivers Senior Band.
Mr. Lagemann was a member of the Zanesville United Brethren in Christ Church and of the GE Quarter Century Club.
He was born in Fort Wayne Feb. 8, 1914 to William and Anna Rost Lagemann. A first marriage was to Martha Abbott, who died in 1970; his second marriage at Zanesville on Aug. 2, 1975 was to Wilma Potter, who survives.
Surviving also are two sons, James R. of Hudson and Jerry W. of Fort Wayne; two daughters, Nancy J. Boone of Fremont and Debra J. Morrical of Fort Wayne; four stepsons, Kedric Bailey of Markle, Thomas Bailey of Ossian, Roger Bailey of Yoder and Donald Bailey of Robin, Iowa.; 11 grandchildren; 14 stepgrandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and seven stepgreat-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Elzey & Haggard Home for Funerals in Fort Wayne, with Rev. Larry Taylor and Rev. Tom Datema officiating. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park.
Visitation hours will be Wednesday from 2 to 8 p.m.
Memorials to the Heart Association or to the Alzheimer’s Association.  - Published Dec 5, 2000

Mary E. Bowyer, 83
Funeral services for Mary E. “Mariliz” Bowyer, 83, of Warren, will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Warren United Methodist Memorial Home, where she died at 9:10 a.m. Monday.
Mrs. Bowyer entered the memorial home on April 20, 1993. She formerly resided in Winter Haven, Fla., and in Logansport, where she worked for several years at Rockwell International.
She attended the Wheatland Avenue United Methodist Church at Logansport and the UM Church in Wheatland. She also was a member of the Order of Eastern Star at Logansport.
She was born in Flora, Ind., Jan. 24, 1917 to William and Edna A. Myers McKinney. Her marriage at Logansport on June 16, 1939 was to A. Mac Bowyer, who died Dec. 18, 1984. She was a 1935 graduate of Logansport High School.
Surviving are two sons, Douglas M. and Richard W. Bowyer, both of Columbia City; a daughter, Mrs. Richard (Bonita) Basham of Culver; a sister, Mrs. Doyle (Wilma Rose) Faile of Winter Haven, Fla.; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Calling hours will be Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Warren United Methodist Memorial Home, prior to the 7 p.m. services by Rev. John Pattison. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Memorials to the Shrine Burn Center or to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.Elsie Cash, 93 -- Rites Pending
Elsie Cash, 93, of Pennville, died at 11 p.m. Monday at Chalet Village in Berne. Funeral arrangements are pending at Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel in Montpelier.  - Published Dec 5, 2000