USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
SUNDERLAND
Evelyn Sunderland, 79, of Van Wert, died at 12:27 p.m. Sunday, December 26, 2004, at Wayne Hospital in Greenville.
She was born November 9, 1925, in Huntington, Ind., the daughter of the late Leo and Edith (Pfister) Ness. She was married to Wilbur Sunderland, who died May 11, 1993.
Mrs. Sunderland was a registered nurse at Van Wert County Hospital. She was a member of American Legion Auxiliary 178 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary 5803, both in Van Wert. She also belonged to Elks Lodge 1197, Women of the Moose in Van Wert and the Catholic Ladies of Columbia.
Survivors include a son, Jay (Barbara) Sunderland of Convoy; two daughters, Cindi (Jim) Koontz of Greenville and Margaret Palmer of Danville, Ill.; one sister, Margaret Gatchell of Indianapolis, Ind.; eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, John L. Ness, and a sister, Lucille Fisher.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 8, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert, with Father Charles Obinwa officiating.
There will be no calling hours.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Van Wert County Council on Aging.
KIRCHENBAUER
Lester Kirchenbauer, 97, a resident of Vancrest Assisted Living in Van Wert, died at 2:36 a.m. Tuesday, December 28, 2004, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind., from complications following a fall.
He was born October 30, 1907, in Willshire Township, Van Wert County, the son of Gottlieb and Antionetta (Schaadt) Kirchenbauer. On February 8, 1936, he married Louise Pennell, who died March 31, 1999.
Mr. Kirchenbauer was a retired educator with 44 years of service. He first taught in a one-room schoolhouse, then at the then-new Hoaglin-Jackson School for three years. He became principal of what is now Van Wert Middle School in 1932, and also taught science and mathematics at the school, where he stayed for 40 years before retiring in 1972. He was also manager of Brook's Chive Farm near Van Wert and was a salesman at Balyeat the Clothier clothing store and Ken Gribler Clothing, both in Van Wert. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Van Wert and was a longtime deacon there. He was a member of the Retired Teachers Association, a life member of Lodge 1197, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and was a former member of the Van Wert Kiwanis Club. He was a graduate of Wren High School and Ohio Northern University.
Survivors include a son, David L. (Janice) Kirchenbauer of Van Wert; one daughter, Linda S. (Ron) Bagley of Van Wert; six grandchildren, Melanie Kirchenbauer, David L. Kirchenbauer II, Jeff (Kristy) Bagley, Jon (Joy) Bagley, Julie (Quinn) White and Mark (Rachelle) Bagley; 10 great-grandchildren, and a nephew, Arnold (Evelyn) Kirchenbauer of Coldwater.
He was preceded in death by seven brothers, John, Wayne, Edwin, Paul, Harold, Arthur and Lewis Kirchenbauer; three sisters, Anna Fegley, Rose Maloney and Frieda Kirchenbauer, and a granddaughter, Amber Lea Kirchenbauer.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 31, at First Presbyterian Church in Van Wert, with the Rev. Dr. Edward W. Jillson, Rev. Ron Fruth and Rev. Job Stagner officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 4-8 p.m. Thursday, December 30, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert and an hour prior to services Friday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the new Van Wert Middle School Principal's Office.
WILLIMAN
Rev. Robert Earl Williman, 88, of Findlay, died at 4:27 p.m. Tuesday, December 28, 2004, at The Heritage in Findlay.
He was born March 18, 1916, in Van Wert County, the son of the late Clarence and Emily (Snyder) Williman. On September 6, 1941, he married Eva Scott, who survives in Findlay.
Rev. Williman graduated from Van Wert High School and worked in the Williman Family Grocery in Van Wert as a youth. Responding to God's call to the ministry, he received a degree at Defiance College and theological training at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Ill. During his 41 years in the ministry, he served pastorates in Leipsic, Helena, Rockford, Marion Greenwood, First United Methodist Church in Toledo, Old Fort and Celina Bethany (from which he retired in 1980) -- all in the West Conference of the United Methodist Church. He will always be remembered as a man who loved and served God every day. He will be missed.
In addition to his wife, survivors include two sons, Steve (Marty) Williman of Findlay and Jon (Anne) Williman of Cincinnati; two daughters, Janet (Ralph) Coffman of Bucyrus and Kay (Steve) Bowen of Springfield; three sisters, Margaret Fleming, Mildred Raudabaugh and Betty Homer; a brother, Ned (Marilyn) Williman; nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Charles, Maurice, Walter and Jack Williman, and a sister, Joan Brazen.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Friday, December 31, at Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Lowell Reeder of Findlay officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 3-5 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday, December 30, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Old Fort Lions Club Eyesight Program or Findlay Youth for Christ.
BURCHAM
Harry L. Burcham, 78, of 902 Airport Ave., died at 4:20 p.m. Friday, December 3, 2004, at his residence.
He was born July 25, 1926, in Christianburg in Champaign County, the son of the late Carl and Sarah Jane (Roach) Burcham. On March 2, 1952, he married Mary Joanne "Mickey" Bradley, who survives at home.
Mr. Burcham was the former owner of Burcham Printing in Van Wert, from 1971-1971, and had previously worked in the composition department of the Bellefontaine Examiner for 25 years. He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Van Wert and had served in the 11th Airborne Division of the U.S. Army in World War II. He belonged to First Families of Ohio and was a member of the Van Wert County Genealogical Society. He was a lifetime member of Isaac Van Wert Post 178, American Legion, and Robert G. Longwell Post 5803, Veterans of Foreign Wars, both in Van Wert. He was also a member of Black Swamp Flyers of Van Wert. He was a graduate of Johnson-St. Paris High School in St. Paris.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by four sons, John R. (Wanda) Burcham of Osseo, Mich., David C. (Sandy) Burcham and Michael P. (Karen) Burcham, both of Van Wert, and Timothy M. Burcham of Lima; a grandson, John Burcham Jr.; four granddaughters, Amy Burcham, Jamie Dirmeyer, Rachel Edsall and Julie Burcham, and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Warren K. Burcham, Carl Burcham, Homer Burcham and Dale Burcham.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 7, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. Douglas Stockton officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery, with military graveside honors by the combined honor guards of VFW Post 5803 and American Legion Post 178.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday, December 6, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Community Health Professionals-Hospice or Visiting Nurses.
SHARKEY
Ruth Mae Sharkey, 86, of Van Wert, died at 5:20 p.m. Friday, December 3, 2004, at Van Wert Manor nursing home in Van Wert.
She was born July 18, 1918, in Van Wert, the daughter of the late LeRoy and Maude Mae (Allison) Hartman. On November 1, 1952, she married Matthew R. "Bob" Sharkey, who died August 14, 2003.
Mrs. Starkey was a homemaker.
Survivors include a daughter, Joyce Cross of Delphos; one sister, Joanne Krywalski of Van Wert; three grandchildren, Luke Cross, Bev Cross McNeal and Tammy Cross; two great-grandchildren, Sean McNeal and AJ Cross; a niece, Tressa (Scott) Bissonette, and many other nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her dog, Wolfee.
She was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Art Cross; eight brothers; three sisters; one grandson, James Cross, and a great-grandson, Tyler Cross.
Private graveside services will be conducted at Woodland Cemetery, with the Rev. Neil Hammons officiating.
There will be no visitation.
Arrangements were handled by Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert.
HONEYMAN
Juanita Honeyman, 85, of Niskayuna, N.Y., and formerly of Van Wert, died Thursday morning, December 30, 2004, at Ellis Hospital in Niskayuna.
She was born September 26, 1919, in Van Wert, the daughter of the late Lee and Pearl (Young) Shimer. She married Robert N. Honeyman, who survives in Niskayuna.
Mrs. Honeyman was a homemaker and a member of Eastern Parkway United Methodist Church in Schenectady, N.Y. She attended Fort Wayne (Ind.) Business College and Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, James. E. (Felisa) Honeyman of Wellesley, Mass., and one brother, Doyt Shimer of Hilton Head, S.C.
Graveside funeral services will be conducted at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, January 6, at Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
There will be on calling hours.
ENGEL
Robert E. Engel, 85, of Middle Point, died at 10:15 a.m. Friday, December 31, 2004, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
He was born December 4, 1919, in Van Wert County, the son of the late Edward J. and Lynette (Benson) Engel. On August 9, 1947, he married Jane E. Newman, who died July 13, 2003.
Mr. Engel was a retired Washington Township farmer and Lincolnview school bus driver. He was a member of Middle Point United Methodist Church, Middle Point Lions Club, Van Wert County Farm Bureau and a former member of the Van Wert County Fair Board.
Survivors include a son, David (Rose Mary) Engel of Asheboro, N.C.; one daughter, Denise (John) Cramer of Middle Point; four grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Ronald and Gilbert Engel, and a grandchild.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 4, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Cindy Lumm officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery in Ridge Township.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Monday, January 3, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the church.
