USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
ROWE-TAYLOR
Shelly Colleen Rowe-Taylor, 50, of 1025 E. Sycamore St., died at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, January 25, 2004, at her residence as the result of a house fire.
She was born December 24, 1953, in Paulding County, the daughter of William "Bill" Rowe of Paulding County and Coralie (Cromwell) Pate of Paulding. On September 16, 1998, she married Roger Lee Taylor, who survives at home.
Mrs. Rowe-Taylor worked for Parker-Hannifin Corp. in New Haven, Ind. She was a member of American Legion Auxiliary 178 in Van Wert and the Van Wert YWCA. She loved the outdoors.
In addition to her parents and husband, she is survived by a son, Anthony Rowe of Van Wert; two stepdaughters, Kandi Stripe and Mandi Danylchuk, both of Ohio City; one brother, Dana Rowe of Paulding; four sisters, Teresa Rowe of Fort Wayne, Ind., Cindy Walker of Atlanta, Ga., Pamela Vilaboy of Miami, Fla., and Kimberly Rowe of Lima; a maternal grandmother, Dorothy Odum of Fort Wayne, and 12 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday, January 30, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Neil Hammons and Rev. Charles Walker officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Thursday, January 29, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Van Wert YWCA or Van Wert County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
MILLER
Elizabeth B. "Betty" Miller, 82, of Van Wert, died at 5:30 a.m. Sunday, January 25, 2004, at her residence.
She was born December 17, 1921, in Van Wert, the daughter of the late Howard and Adda (Davis) Parks. On May 25, 1947, she married Thomas Paul Miller, who survives.
Mrs. Miller was a homemaker and had formerly worked in Detroit, Mich., for several years before joining the U.S. Army. She was a sergeant in the Women's Army Corps (WACs) during World War II and was stationed in Florida, Georgia and California. She was a member of the National Disabled American Veterans group, was a former member of the Van Wert Woman's Club and a former Marsh Foundation student. She graduated from Van Wert High School in 1940.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a stepson, Thomas Joe Miller of Defiance; two sisters, Mary Purdy of Delphos and Jeanne (Chalice) Jerome of Van Wert; three stepgrandsons, and a stepgreat-granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by a twin sister, who died in infancy.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, January 28, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Paul Miller officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert, with military graveside rites performed by the combined honor guards of American Legion Post 178 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803, both of Van Wert.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, January 27, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to a charity of donor's choice.
O’BRIEN
Evan Patrick O’Brien, 5 days old, died on Tuesday, January 20, 2004, at the Children’s Medical Center in Cincinnati.
He was born on January 15, 2004, in Dayton, to the Rev. Shawn and Megan (McGonagle) O’Brien, who survive in Miamisburg.
Additional survivors include his paternal grandparents, Fred and Karen O’Brien of Fruitland Park, Fla.; maternal grandparents, Kevin and Linda McGonagle of Van Wert; an uncle, Brian McGonagle of Dayton, one aunt, Kelly (Allen) Kacenjar of Aurora, and a cousin, Conner Kacenjar.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 24, at 5 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Miamisburg.
Condolences can be mailed to the family at 2214 Manton Drive, Miamisburg, OH 45342
DAVIS
Larry M. Davis, 65, died of a heart attack on Tuesday, January 27, 2004, at Van Wert Manor following an extended battle against cancer of the colon and diabetes.
He was born May 16, 1938, in Middle Point, the son of the late Charles N. and Ethel (Seibert) Davis. On October 6, 1957, he married Phyllis Etzler, who survives in Van Wert.
Mr. Davis was employed at Magnavox Corp. and International Harvest (Navistar) in Fort Wayne, Ind., and retired as an auto-CAD engineer in 2000 from Findlay Industries' Ohio City Division. After graduating from Van Del High School in 1956, he served with the 53rd Signal Corps Battalion of the U.S. Army in Food Hood, Texas, from 1953-1959, attaining the rank of sergeant. He attended Purdue University, Thermo-King School in Minneapolis, Minn., Lima Technical College, Sawyer College, Hondros College, plus several technical schools. In 1981, he attended Reppert Auction School and was a licensed auctioneer in both Ohio and Indiana. He earned his real estate license in 1980 and was currently licensed with Key-1 Realty. In 1993, he started Alakwa Home Inspection Service in the Van Wert area and also owned and operated G&L Cycle Service in Van Wert in the 1970s.
Being Native American, he joined the Piqua Sept of the Ohio Shawnee and was chief of the Snake Clan. He co-founded the Ohio Native Ancestral Association in 1991 and served as its business manager. He also published a monthly newsletter, "The Drum Beat." He was also instrumental in getting the southern portion of U.S. 68 renamed the Simon Kenton Highway.
Mr. Davis is pictured, with a biography, in Richard Haithcock's book, "Great Chiefs." He was also a volunteer for the American Red Cross, doing blood runs as well as working in the office. He was also a member of the Van Wert County Fruit Growers Association and served on the Apple Festival Committee. He also was a member of American Legion Post 178 in Van Wert. Mr. Davis was a former member of the Van Wert Lions Club and also coached Little League in the 1960s. He was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Middle Point.
He enjoyed SCUBA diving, coon hunting, canoeing, fishing, gardening, bird watching and traveling, especially with his granddaughters, and had traveled to all of the contiguous 48 states. His family was the most important aspect of his life. He was a loving and devoted husband and father, father-in-law and grandfather, and will be sadly missed by his loved ones.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Valerie Davis of Cincinnati and Kristina (Barry) Craft of Van Wert; one sister, Myrna (Robert) Dickman of Crystal Falls, Mich.; a sister-in-law, Fran Davis; one brother-in-law and sister-in-law, George and Sue Noggle of Van Wert; a mother-in-law, Annabelle Johns of Van Wert, and two granddaughters, Ashley Craft, who attends Wittenberg University in Springfield, and Brittany Craft of Van Wert.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Robert, John, Richard and Loren "Jumper" Davis, and a sister, Mildred Boyd.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 31, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Van Wert, with Pastors Joe Wilck and Thomas Cover officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery in Ridge Township, where Native American services will be held and graveside military rites will be performed by combined honor units of American Legion Post 178 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803 in Van Wert.
Calling hours are from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, January 29, and 3-9 p.m. Friday, January 30, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert and an hour prior to services Saturday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Red Cross, Relay for Life Cancer Walk or the American Heart Association.
BAYMAN
Gloria Jean Bayman, 60, of Delphos, died at 4:45 a.m. Tuesday, January 27, 2004, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
She was born April 3, 1943, in Elgin, the daughter of the late Alexander and Mary (Bryant) Etgen. On June 6, 1959, she married John K. Bayman, who survives in Delphos.
Mrs. Bayman was a nurse's aide with the Visiting Nurses Association (Community Health Professionals) and worked at Hayes-Albion Corp. She made lap quilts for the Samaritan House in Lima and loved crocheting and quilting. The also enjoyed taking trips to Gatlinburg, Tenn.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Jean (Wesley) Frieson of Elida; three sisters, Velma Leaser of Van Wert, Mildred Boterf of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Marilyn (Richard) Brabant of Delphos; one brother, Harold (Roseanna) Etgen of Convoy; two grandchildren, Adam and Derek Frieson, and three stepgrandchildren, Wesley, Chris and Jeff Frieson.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Kenneth, Donald and Richard Etgen.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 31, at Harter & Son Memorial Chapel in Delphos, the Rev. Jay Lobec officiating. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Delphos.
Calling hours are 6-8 p.m. Thursday, January 29, and 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, January 30, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.
HARPSTER
Carolyn A. Harpster, 89, of Delphos, died at 10:20 p.m. Tuesday, January 27, 2004, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Delphos.
She was born January 30, 1914, in Haviland, the daughter of the late H.E. and Ova Bell (Maxwell) Swartz. She married Kenneth Harpster, who died in 1968.
Mrs. Harpster was a cook in the Delphos City Schools for 11 years and was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Delphos.
Survivors include a daughter, Leah (Robert) Hohenbrink of Delphos, and two grandchildren.
Graveside funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday, January 29, at Walnut Grove Cemetery, with Pastor Mark DeWitt officiating.
There will be no visitation.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Harter & Son Funeral Home in Delphos.
COLLINS
Frances S. Foster Collins, 94, of Van Wert, died at 5:20 a.m. Friday, January 23, 2004, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
She was born July 27, 1909, in Michigan, the daughter of the late John E. and Maude E. (Crawford) Newcomer. She first married Guy Foster, who died in 1953. She then married Edwin Collins, who died in October 1973.
Mrs. Collins was a retired school teacher who taught in the Union Township and Middle Point schools. She was a member of Calvary Evangelical Church in Van Wert and belonged to the Hoaglin-Jackson Sunrise Club and Ohio Retired Teachers Association. She was a graduate of Bowling Green State University.
Survivors include three stepsons, Ralph (Mauvette) Collins of Van Wert, Fred (Wileta) Collins of Grover Hill and Don (Vivian) Collins of Fort Jennings; a stepdaughter, Ruth (Richard) Vermillon of Cridersville; a daughter-in-law, Beverly Niswander of Van Wert; a niece, Marjorie (Steve) Martin of Ivanho, Ill.; 18 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a stepson, Floyd Collins; one brother, George Newcomer; four sisters, Helen Newcomer, Lottie Stacey, Dora Mae Spade and Sara Woodruff, and two grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 26, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. Clark Williman officiating. Burial will be in Middle Creek Cemetery in Grover Hill.
Calling hours are 2-6 p.m. Sunday, January 25, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Van Wert County Humane Society.
