USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
THOMPSON
Charles Ambert "Chuck" Thompson, 71, of McAllen, Texas, died at 4 a.m. Wednesday, July 28, 2004, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen, following a three-month illness.
He was born February 18, 1933, in Van Wert County, the son of the late Virgil Don and Pearl Fay (Speakman) Thompson. He was a native of Middle Point. He was married for 12 years to Esther Thompson, who survives.
Mr. Thompson retired from Sprint Inc. after 50 years of telephone-associated construction, troubleshooting and supervision in Van Wert County, Rockford and Lima. He spent 13 years as the manager of the Rockford Telephone company in the 1950s and 1960s. The last 10 years of his career were spent overseeing the laying of fiber optic cable coast to coast. A sports fan, he played basketball for the Middle Point Polar Bears and, following high school graduation in 1951, played several years for the Middle Point Equity Elevator team. He enlisted in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and served as a demolitions expert in Korea.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Charles "Chuck" (Shari) Thompson of Ft. Thomas, Ky.; Mitchell Thompson of Van Wert and Christopher (Holly) Thompson of Hilliard; three daughters, Lori Thompson of Columbus, Lizbeth (Mark) Good of Eliot, Maine, and Laura Johnson of Chicago, Ill.; 15 grandchildren, Charles "Chad," Jillian, Meghan, Tom, Molly, Garrett, Carly, Scott, Elizabeth, Maddison, Victoria, Nicholas, Cameron, Jacob and Joshua; three great-grandchildren, Arianna, Alysah and Alexah; two stepsons, Randy and Michael; two stepdaughters, Denise and Debra; eight stepgrandchildren; five stepgreat-grandchildren, and two nephews, Michael and Tim Thompson of Paulding.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert "Bob" Thompson.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 2, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Sharon Stonerock officiating. Burial will be in Blue Creek Cemetery in Haviland, with military graveside rites conducted by the combined honor units of American Legion Post 178 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803, both of Van Wert.
Calling hours are 2-6 p.m. Sunday, August 1, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Van Wert County Foundation, with all funds designated for Van Wert High School's new athletic complex.
LEWIS
Judith A. "Judi" Lewis, 62, of 1109 Park St., Van Wert, died at 1:22 a.m. Friday, July 23, 2004, at Lima Memorial Hospital.
She was born October 25, 1941, in Paulding County, the daughter of Kathryn Marcile (Ross) Jenkins, who survives in Van Wert, and the late Clifford James Jenkins. In August 1958, she married Charles Edgar "Ed" Lewis, who also survives in Van Wert.
Mrs. Lewis was a homemaker.
In addition to her mother and husband, she is survived by a son, Bret (Melissa) Lewis of Van Wert; a son-in-law, Michael L. Endicott of Delphos, and two grandchildren, Jordan Brown and Hayley Brown.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Dawn Renee Brown Endicott, who died February 26, 2003, and one brother, Jimmie Lee Jenkins.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday, July 26, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Pastor Donald Clinger of Bluffton Trinity United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in King Cemetery in Washington Township, Van Wert County.
Calling hours are 2-6 p.m. Sunday, July 25, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the grandchildren or the American Lung Association.
LUDWIG-PECK
Phyllis Arlene Ludwig-Peck, 77, of Paulding, died at 5:50 p.m. Friday, July 23, 2004, at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert.
She was born May 2, 1927, in LaGrange County, Ind., the daughter of the late Henry and Mary I. (Knott) Ludwig. On February 2, 1954, she married Chester W. Peck, who also preceded her in death.
Mrs. Ludwig-Peck was a homemaker.
Survivors include two sons, Paul G. Peck and Shawn W. Peck, both of Fort Wayne; four daughters, Suellen Reiter and Mary I. Holland, both of Fort Wayne, Barbara A. (Neil) Shamber of Montpelier and Shannon K. (Bill) Griswold of Indianapolis, Ind.; 24 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Charles W. "Bill" Sroufe, and two sisters, Florence B. Betz and Willah L. Feller.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 27, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert. Burial will be in St. Paul Cemetery in Paulding County.
Calling hours are 2-9 p.m. Monday, July 26, at the funeral home.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
WEAVER
E. McGuire "Mickey" Weaver, 82, of Van Wert, passed away recently.
He was born October 29, 1921, in Richmond, Ky., the son of the late Clifton and Lona (McGuire) Weaver. In 1944, he married Coryl Shaw, who died in 1987. On July 28, 1996, he married Jean (Baltzell) Elder, who survives in Van Wert.
Mr. Weaver was a beekeeper and farmer. He moved to Van Wert in the 1920s and graduated from Van Wert High School in 1940. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army in Great Britain and France. He was a 50-year Mason and was also a member of American Legion Post 178, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803 and the Van Wert County Farm Bureau. At one time, he was a reserve deputy for the Van Wert County Sheriff's Department. As a member of the Van Wert County Democratic Central Committee, he was actively involved in the 1960 election of John F. Kennedy and attended his inauguration. He wintered in Bradenton, Fla., for more than 50 years and resided at Two Rivers Mobile Home Park in Bradenton, where he served for a time as park manager.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three stepdaughters, Mary Ann Elder of Bradenton, Fla., Betty Jean (John) Ingman of Longwood, Fla., and Janie (Charles) Kennedy of Van Wert; eight stepgrandchildren, and 13 stepgreat-grandchildren. Other survivors include a nephew, Douglas McGuire Weaver, grandnephews Seth and Evan Weaver, all of Deland, Fla., and a niece, Tammy Ann Barrow; grandniece Maria McKay, and sister-in-law Ruby Weaver all of Ellenton, Fla.
Graveside funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 28, at Woodland Cemetery, with the Rev. Rick Birk officiating, with military services performed by the combined honors units of Legion Post 178 and VFW Post 5803.
There will be no calling hours.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert.
BECK
Retta Florence Beck, 107, of Van Wert, died at 12:37 a.m. Saturday, July 3, 2004, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
She was born August 4, 1896, in Hoaglin Township, Van Wert County, the daughter of the late Simon and Barbara (Dias) Bechtol. On October 17, 1917, she married George G. Beck, who died October 29, 1965.
Mrs. Beck was a homemaker and a member of the Eagles Ladies Auxiliary.
Survivors include four sons, Stephen (Colleen) Beck, Vernon (Betty) Beck and Carl (Pauline) Beck, all of Van Wert, and Gale Beck of North Hollywood, Calif.; six daughters, Gertrude (Estil "Hap") Washburn of Van Wert, Alice Dickson of Oxford, Grace (Dr. Robert) Stump of Hilton Head, S.C., Bernice (Earl) Zimmerman of Fort Wayne, Ind., and twins Janet (Budd) Looker of Van Wert and Joan (Smokey) Davidson of Decatur, Ind., and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two daughters, Hazel (Bob) Brubaker and Waneta Beck; two granddaughters, Patricia Stemen and Barbara Roush; three grandsons, Phil and Dave Beck and John Dickson; a great-grandson, Ethan Fast; one great-granddaughter, Tiffany DeWitt, and a great-great-grandson, T.J. Pollock.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, at Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Paul W. Miller officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Tuesday, July 6, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Vancrest Health Care Center Activity Fund.
RIEDEL
Margaret M. "Maggie" Riedel, 90, of 6226 Wren-Landeck Road, Ohio City, died at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 22, 2004, at Lincolnway Nursing Home near Middle Point.
She was born on October 27,1913, in Van Wert County, the daughter of the late John F. and Minnie L. (Emerick) Riedel. She never married.
Miss Riedel retired from Continental Can Company in Van Wert.
Survivors include a niece, Alice Exline of Van Wert; one great-niece, Connie Callow of Van Wert, and good friends Evelyn, Kathy and Paul Germann all of Ohio City.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Henry and Richard Riedel, and two sisters. Mary Handwerk and Bessie Riedel.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 24, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Kurt Bickel officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Ohio City.
Calling hours are an hour prior to services Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lincolnway Nursing Home Activities Fund.
GRINER
Tate Gene Griner, 10 weeks, of Cloverdale, died Thursday, July 22, 2004, at Coldwater Hospital in Coldwater, Mich.
He was born May 13, 2004, in Lima, the son of Chris and Kerri (Gudakunst) Griner, who both survive in Cloverdale.
Also surviving are two brothers, Damien Griner and Jordon Griner, both at home; grandparents Paul and Renne Gudakunst of Ottoville, Barb and James Kwiecinski of Shawnee; great-grandparents Norma Wannemacher of Ottoville, Cathrine Gudakunst of Ottoville, Frank Gudakunst of Defiance and James and Rosemary Klosterman, and several aunts and uncles, Chad and Tara (Gudakunst) Eickholt, Erin Gudakunst and Erik Gudakunst, all of Ottoville; Mike and Missy Esch of West Liberty, Dave and Peg Griner of Wapakoneta, Scott and Lisa Griner of St. Henry and Greg and Jane Griner of Syracuse, Ind.
He was preceded in death by a grandfather, Gene Griner; one great-grandfather, Maurice Wannemacher, and a cousin, Ian Griner.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 12:30 p.m. Monday, July 26, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ottoville, with Father Randy Giesige officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Ottoville.
Calling hours are 4-8 p.m. Sunday, July 25, at Kolkmeyer-Helmkamp-Orians Funeral Home in Ottoville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
Arrangements are being made by Harter & Son Funeral Home in Delphos.
