USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
WILLIAMSON
Marian D. Williamson, 85, of Van Wert, died at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, January 4, 2004, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
She was born July 26, 1918, in Delta, the daughter of the late Howard and Helen Wise. On February 2, 1956, in Toledo, she married James Williamson, who died in 1986.
Mrs. Williamson worked several years at the former People's Bank & Trust Company in Van Wert prior to moving to Toledo, and later to Lakewood. She was raised at the Marsh Foundation and was a 1937 graduate of Van Wert High School. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Van Wert.
She is survived by nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Howard Wise Jr.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 6, in the Scott Chapel of First Presbyterian Church in Van Wert, the Rev. Dr. Edward W. Jillson officiating. Burial will be in Lakewood Park Cemetery in Rocky River.
There will be no visitation.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mrs. Williamson to First Presbyterian Church in Van Wert.
Arrangements were handled by Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert.
GENGLER
Alice Gengler, 94, of rural Delphos, died at 1:45 p.m. Sunday, January 4, 2004, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
She was born July 26, 1909, the daughter of the late Adam and Laura (Etzkorn) Miller. On June 15, 1929, she married Aloysius "Aloy" Gengler, who died April 20, 1977.
Mrs. Gengler was active in the family dairy farm business and was the former owner of the Delphos Bowling Center. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Landeck, Eagles Aerie 471 in Delphos, Catholic Ladies of Columbia Council 84 in Landeck and the Landeck Altar Rosary Society. She shared her love for others with a friendly smile, cinnamon rolls and, best of all, her delicious caramels.
Survivors include two sons, William (Annie) Meyers of Ottawa and Richard (Marilyn) Gengler of Landeck; a daughter, Mary (Eugene) Ashby of Fort Wayne, Ind.; three sisters, Luella Beard of Cleveland and Mary Hauenstein and Ann (Eugene) Klausing, both of Delphos; two brothers, Alphonse Miller of Delphos and Paul (Lois) Miller of Phoenix, Ariz.; 15 grandchildren, and 30 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, John and Melvin Miller; two sisters, Isabelle Gengler and Cell Murney, and a granddaughter, Kathleen Ashby.
A Mass of the Resurrection will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 6, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Landeck, with Father John Fleck officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Calling hours are 2-9 p.m. Monday, January 5, at Harter & Son Funeral Home in Delphos, where a Catholic Ladies of Columbia service will be Council 84 at 7 p.m. Monday and a parish wake service held at 3:30 p.m. Monday.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mrs. Gengler to the American Cancer Society or St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Landeck.
CARTER
Helen M. Carter, 91, formerly of Van Wert, died at 9:10 a.m. Sunday, January 4, 2004, at Northview Living Center in Johnstown.
She was born November 20, 1912, in Van Wert County, the daughter of the late Frederick D. and E. Pearl (Miltenberger) Ackom. She married Floyd L. Carter, who died October 28, 1992.
Mrs. Carter retired from Aeroquip Corp. in Van Wert in 1977 after 28 years of service. She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Van Wert and was a former member of the Van Wert Chapter of Eastern Star.
Survivors include a daughter, Rande (James T.) Kaufman of Johnstown, and a grandson, David R. Riley of Indianapolis, Ind.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Gerald "Bud" Ackom.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday, January 9, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Paul Miller officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mrs. Carter to the National Parkinson's Foundation.
WHETSTONE
Evelyn Whetstone, 88, of Van Wert, died at 2:27 a.m. Tuesday, January 6, 2004, at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert.
She was born September 11, 1915, in Decatur, Ind., the daughter of the late Henry and Ada (Drumond) Yocum. She married William Whetstone, who died in 1987.
Mrs. Whetstone was a member of Victory Church and Pentecostal Church, both in Van Wert.
Survivors include a sister, Margaret Smith of Rockford; two granddaughters, and two great-granddaughters.
She was preceded in death by her only child, Ronald Shinabery; two brothers, Doyle and John Yocum; a sister, Doris Wittung, and a daughter-in-law, Beverly Height Shinabery Fields.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, January 10, at Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Darryl Ramey officiating. Burial will be in Decatur Cemetery.
Calling hours are 4-8 p.m. Friday, January 9, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mrs. Whetstone to Community Health Professionals/Visiting Nurses.
MERKLE
Ralph H. Merkle, 62, of Van Wert, died at 8:21 p.m. Tuesday, January 6, 2004, at Van Wert County Hospital.
He was born August 22, 1941, in Van Wert County, the son of the late Paul F. and Julia E. (Edwards) Merkle. On March 9, 1963, he married Wanda G. Merritt, who survives.
Mr. Merkle was employed at Parker (Eaton Aeroquip) in New Haven, Ind., for 31 years. He was a 1959 graduate of Union City High School in Union City, Mich. He was a member of Van Wert Victory Church.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Steven R. (Ronda) Merkle of Van Wert; three daughters, Debra Merkle and Michele (Chad) Longstreth, both of Van Wert, and Melissa (Rick) Bergman of Keystone, Ind.; six brothers, Kenneth (Marilyn) Merkle of Van Wert, a twin brother, Richard (Lois) Merkle of Union City, Mich., Marvin (Susan) Merkle of Quincy, Mich., Gilbert (Sue) Merkle of Seguin, Texas, Raymond (Yong) Merkle of Renton, Wash., and Robert (Gloria) Merkle of Kauai, Hawaii; two sisters, Ruby Merkle of Coldwater, Mich., and Louise (Emery) Bremer of Rochester, Minn., and eight grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Donald Wayne Merkle.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, January 11, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Pastor Darryl Ramey officiating. Burial will be in Evangelical Protestant Cemetery in Harrison Township.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Saturday, January 10, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the family or the American Heart Association.
PERRY
Elva M. Perry, 87, of rural Convoy, died at 10:38 p.m. Tuesday, January 6, 2004, at her residence.
She was born January 8, 1916, in Ridge Township, Van Wert County, the daughter of the late Nathan Leroy and Anna Laurie (Stover) Ritchie. A stepmother, Margaret Perhamus Ritchie, also preceded her in death. On September 14, 1935, she married Lester Calvin Perry, who died November 29, 2002.
Mrs. Perry was a homemaker and attended Calvary Evangelical Church in Van Wert. She was a 1933 graduate of Hoaglin-Jackson High School.
Survivors include a son, Richard D. (Diane) Perry of rural Convoy; one daughter, Mildred (W. Kent) Jones of Auburn, Ind.; a sister, Ethel Lewis of Carlisle, Pa.; six grandchildren, Clark (Eloise) Perry, Doug (Myrna) Perry, Laura (Pat) Menzie, Brad (Stacie) Jones, Ken (Jennifer) Jones and Nathan Perry, and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by four brothers, Dale, Donald, Lester and Homer Ritchie, and three sisters, Edith Clark, Ruby Davis and Rhonda McGinnis.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 10, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Pastor W. Clark Williman officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery near Middle Point.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, January 9, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to a charity of donor's choice.
REHMERT
Carl Dwayne Rehmert, 76, of Maria Stein, died at 2:35 p.m. Tuesday, January 6, 2004, at Celina Manor nursing home, where he had been a patient for the past four years.
He was born May 16, 1927, in Darke County, the son of the late Cletus and Mary (Snyder) Rehmert. On September 4, 1981, he married Julienne Schmidt McDowell, who survives.
Mr. Rehmert retired from Price Brothers in Dayton, where he was a welder. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and was a member of American Legion Post 668 in Vandalia. He attended the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Catholic Church in Cassella.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by five stepsons, Gary (Linda) McDowell of West Union, Dan (Jackie) McDowell, Steven McDowell and James C. McDowell, all of Celina, and Kevin McDowell of Manchester; two daughters, Deborah (Mark) Emrick of Eaton and Kimberly (Tom) Michael of New Paris; five stepdaughters, Kathy (Bill) Gray of West Union, Judy Gore and Eleana McDowell, both of Manchester, Barbara Wenning of Dayton and Rita (Doug) Bigelow of Celina; three brothers, Donald (Rose) Rehmert of Huber Heights, Marvin (Charlotte) Rehmert of Tipp City and David (Kathy) Rehmert of Dayton; six sisters, Margaret Quick of Tipp City, Virgie (Billy) Edwards of New Carlisle, Naomi (Bill) May of Dayton, Nancy Reiwerts of New Carlisle, Dorothy (Bob) Gentle of Troy and Arlene (Sam) Duvall of Dayton; two grandchildren; 30 stepgrandchildren; one great-grandchild, and 21 stepgreat-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sons, Richard Rehmert and a son who died in infancy; a stepson; a stepgrandchild, and two brothers.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 10, at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford, with Father Kenneth Schroeder officiating. Burial will be in Snell Cemetery in Union City.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Friday, January 9, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to State of the Heart Hospice in Coldwater.
