Obituaries

Nov 5, 2017

Elzie Wayne Fry, 94 of Van Wert, died at 8:55 p.m., Sunday, November 5, 2017 at the VanCrest Health Care Center in Van Wert, Ohio. He was born on August 24, 1923 in Ohio City, Ohio, the son of the late Harry Richard and Arnie Irene (Custer) Fry. On December 23, 1944, he married the former Georgia M. Pierce,...

Nov 3, 2017

Betty L. Gordon, 79, of Van Wert, passed away at 9:15 a.m., Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, at the Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus. She was born on June 16, 1938, in Logansport, Indiana, the daughter of the late Gilbert and Evadna (McNeely) Crockett. On September 6, 1959, she married Robert D. Gordon, Sr., who survives. Other family...

Oct 28, 2017

Oct 23, 2017

Zyathen Andre Blair, 3 months, of Grover Hill, passed away at 3:30 p.m., Monday at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana in Fort Wayne. He was born on July 2, 2017, in Lima, Ohio, the son of Tristen Andre Blair of Grover Hill and Destiny Marie Brooks of Van Wert. Other survivors include his grandparents, Craig and Carla Blair of Grover...

Oct 14, 2017

Alice M. Cooper, 92, formerly of Liberty Township, died at 9:15 p.m., Saturday at VanCrest Health Care Center in Van Wert. She was born on May 19, 1925, in Van Wert County, the daughter of the late Owen A. and Myrtle Leota (Flager) Cooper. She was also preceded in death by a brother, John D. Cooper. Alice was a...

Oct 4, 2017

Christie F. Bashore, 98, of Rockford, passed away at 12:33 a.m., Wednesday at Van Wert Manor Nursing Home. He was born on November 15, 1918, in Hoaglin Township, the son of the late William Albertus and Caroline W. (Akom) Bashore. On October 16, 1948, he married the former Juanita Whitmore who also preceded him in death on June 9,...

Oct 3, 2017

Maria A. Tracey, 93, of Convoy, died at 12:14 p.m., Tuesday, October 3, 2017, at the CHP Inpatient Hospice Center in Van Wert. Maria was born on August 25, 1924, in Binghamton, NY to Willard and Mary Fox. She was married to Andrew J. Tracey. She had a son Michael J. Tracey. All have preceded Maria in death. Maria...

Sep 29, 2017

Patty Ann Raudabaugh, 73, of Van Wert, passed away at 7 p.m., Friday at Mercy Health (St. Rita Medical Center) in Lima. She was born on February 1, 1944, in Van Wert the daughter of late Maurice R. and Laverne (Lawrence) Williams. On February 8, 1965, she married Edward Francis Raudabaugh who preceded her in death on August 20,...

Sep 22, 2017

Michael B. Smith 50, of Ohio City died at 3:55 p.m., Friday shortly after arrival at Van Wert County Hospital. He had fought a long battle with cancer, but Mike wanted it know that he died as a result of being stubborn, refusing to follow doctors' orders and raising hell for four decades. He was born on April 2,...

Sep 3, 2017

Louise I. Stemen, 103, of Van Wert, passed away at 1:50 p.m., Sunday at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert. She was born on April 10, 1914, in Van Wert, the daughter of the late Charles William and Jennie (Lindsey) Knodel. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Marcia Sue Martin, a daughter-in-law, Dorothy...

Sep 2, 2017

Harold D. Eddy, 92, of Tully Township, passed away at 5:55 a.m., Saturday at Vancrest of Convoy. He was born on November 15, 1924, in Union Township, the son of the late William R. and Pheba Savilla (Poling) Eddy. On August 31, 1947, he married the former Pauline A. Poling and they enjoyed over 70 years of marriage. Family...

Aug 27, 2017

Royce N. High, 77 of Ohio City, passed away at 12:47 a.m., Sunday August 27, 2017 at the Van Wert County Hospital. He was born on May 8, 1940 in Van Wert, the son of the late Orval Henry and Mary Frances (Baltzell) High. On August 9, 1959, he married the former Carolyn Jean Mosier, who survives at the...

Aug 22, 2017

John M. Thomas, 73, of Van Wert, passed away at 11:37 a.m., Tuesday at Lima Memorial Hospital. He was born on September 30, 1943, in East St. Louis, Illinois, the son of the late Ralph R. and Ora Jane (Woods) Thomas. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Louis Thomas. On November 22, 1967, he married the...

Aug 13, 2017

Susan J. Riley, 67, of Van Wert, passed away at 7:10 a.m., Sunday at Van Wert Manor Nursing Home. She was born on July 17, 1950, in Van Wert, the daughter of the late Forrest Pearl "Ike" and Mabel May (Adams) DeLong. She is survived by her two sons, Cory Riley of Van Wert and Andy (Shelly) Riley of...

Aug 10, 2017

Glenn E. Turner, 53, of Van Wert, passed away at 12:12 p.m., Thursday at the CHP Inpatient Hospice Center in Van Wert. He was born on August 11, 1963, in Van Wert the son of the late Donald Eugene Turner and Phyllis A. (Wiseman) Turner who survives in Van Wert. On March 29, 1982, he married the former Chrisanne...

Aug 6, 2017

Viola D. "Vi" Hofacker, 85, of Van Wert and formerly of Scott, passed away at 7:03 a.m., Sunday at the CHP Inpatient Hospice Center in Van Wert. She was born on December 6, 1931, in Ohio City, the daughter of the late Chester Francis Ketner and Clela Doloris (Alt) Ketner Stoepfel. She is also preceded in death by her...

Aug 3, 2017

Mary Florene Bigham of Ohio City went home to be with her Savior Thursday, Aug. 3 at 10:17 p.m. at The Gardens of Celina. She was born December 7, 1931 in Ohio City, the daughter of Clarence Bynon Bolenbaugh and Rea Agnes (Taylor) Bolenbaugh. On Aug. 18, 1951 she married Roger Lee Bigham, who preceded her in death on...

Jul 29, 2017

Gene Autry Ray, 77, of Pleasant Township, went to be with his Lord and Savior at 1:50 a.m., Saturday, with his family by his side at the CHP Inpatient Hospice Center in Van Wert. Gene had been battling an extended illness. He was born on March 13, 1940, in Hardy, Kentucky, the son of the late Enos and Elmay...

Jul 29, 2017

Edward E. "Ed" Garver, 76, of Van Wert passed away at 8:21 p.m., Saturday, at the CHP Inpatient Hospice Center following an extended illness. He was born on April 29, 1941, in Glenmore, the son of the late Elmer Edward and Florence Viola (Giessler) Garver. On November 4, 1961, he married the former Alice L. Dunn who survives. Other...

Jul 27, 2017

Sandra Sue Goodenough, 71, of Union Township, passed away at 5:09 a.m., Thursday at Lima Memorial Hospital. She was born on June 28, 1946, in Van Wert, the daughter of late Clarence and Catherine (Stripe) Conley. On October 17, 1964, she married Dana Goodenough and he survives. Other family members include her son, Brian (Kristin) Goodenough of McKinney, Texas;...