USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
HALE
Dossie Ilene Hale, 79, of Delphos, died at 1:25 p.m. Wednesday, October 23, 2002, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
She was born August 25, 1923, in Attica, Mich., the daughter of the late Lewis Edward and Sarah Catherine (Diltz) Butterfield. She married Shirley "Duke" Hale, who preceded her in death.
Mrs. Hale was a homemaker and worked several places in Delphos. She was a member of the Eagles Auxiliary in Delphos and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary. She was an avid bowler, was a member of a bowling league and won several trophies.
Survivors include a son, Daniel Lee (Lynn) Hale of Lima; five daughters, Janet Rowbotham, Sharon Hardin, Sue (Steve) Dancer and Sandra (Steve) Briggs, all of Delphos, and Terry Lee (Randy) Peters of Charlotte, N.C.; 14 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by five brothers and four sisters.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at Harter & Son Memorial Chapel in Delphos. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Delphos.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Friday and an hour prior to services on Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Autistic Foundation or Special Olympics.
RITCHIE
Danny R. Ritchie, 53, of 5480 Middle Point-Wetzel Road, Middle Point, died Thursday morning, October 24, 2002, in a car-pedestrian accident near his residence.
He was born June 23, 1949, in Van Wert County, the son of Mary (Adams) Ritchie of Rockford and the late Gael R. Ritchie. He never married.
Mr. Ritchie worked at Thomas Edison Workshop in Van Wert. He played for the Thomas Edison Special Olympics team, was an avid bowler and avid sports fan of the Lincolnview Lancers, Cincinnati Reds and Ohio State Buckeyes.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by a special friend, Cindy Preston; two sisters, Luanne Metzger and Debbie (Steve) Allen, both of Middle Point; an aunt, Lucille Knittle of Van Wert; two uncles, Jack (Alice) Adams of Van Wert and Jim (Sandra) Ritchie of Fort Wayne, Ind.; one niece, Becky (Tyler) Holdgreve of Van Wert; two nephews, Jason (Michelle) Allen and Ben (Kendra) Allen, both of Middle Point, and six great-nieces and great-nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Stephen Placke officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery near Middle Point.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Thomas Edison Special Olympics or Thomas Edison Workshop.
VONDRAN
Clara M. Vondran, 86, of Delphos, died at 12:25 a.m. Thursday, October 24, 2002, at Roselawn Manor.
She was born May 29, 1916, in Ottoville, the daughter of the late Henry and Lena (Holbein) Pohl. On June 19, 1937, she married Bernard H. Vondran, who died October 2, 1993.
Mrs. Vondran was a homemaker and a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Delphos and the Delphos Eagles Auxiliary.
Survivors include three sons, Norman (Nancy) Vondran of Lima, Gerald (Patricia) Vondran of Cincinnati and Robert (Rhonda) Vondran of Marion, Ind.; one daughter, Marilyn Titzer of Newburgh, Ind.; one sister, Margaret Powell of Delphos; 12 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Edward, John and Elmer Pohl, and two sisters, Lucille Clark and Dorothy Barnes.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Delphos, with Father Giesige officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Calling hours are 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. Friday at Harter & Son Funeral Home in Delphos.
COWGILL
Mary Cowgill, 83, a former Van Wert resident who has resided in Tucson, Ariz., the past eight years, died Thursday morning, October 24, 2002, at Tucson Medical Center.
She was born April 22, 1919, in Van Wert, the daughter of the late John and Anna (Hirsch) Horther.
Ms. Cowgill was employed by the Van Wert City Auditor's Office for 10 years. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Van Wert.
Survivors include a son, Roger Cowgill of Tucson; one daughter, Kathy Cowgill of Tucson, and a cousin, Nora (Paul) Scott of Van Wert.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. James C. Dunaway officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 2-6 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
KIRBY
Adrian A. Kirby, 87, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, October 25, 2002.
Rev. Kirby served as minister of several United Methodist churches, including churches in Harrisburg, Salem Heights and New Morfield. He also served as chaplain at Orient State Mental Institution for 28 years and was a longtime president of the Chaplains Association of Ohio. He was an avid golfer and also loved to travel with his wife, Betty, in their motor home throughout the United States.
Survivors include his wife, Betty, of Van Wert; one daughter, Karen (Gary) Corcoran of Van Wert; two sons, Kerry (Diane) Kirby of Austin, Texas, and Keith (Dawn) Kirby of Orient; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a son, Kendall; one sister, and four brothers.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Grove City United Methodist Church, 2684 Columbus St., Grove City, with Pastor Mike (Laura) Laird officiating. Burial will be in Grove City Cemetery.
Calling hours are 12:30-2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the church.
Arrangements were made by Shaw-Davis Funeral Homes Victorian Village Chapel in Columbus.
SIMON
Walter T. "Thad" Simon, 66, of 702 W. Main St., died at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 26, 2002, at his residence.
He was born November 1, 1935, in Defiance, the son of Helen Nusbaum of Sherwood and the late Walter T. Simon Sr. On August 24, 1957, he married Sandra J. Rosselet, who survives in Van Wert.
Mr. Simon worked three years as a salesman for Heckman Biscuit Co. of Lima, 21 years as an agent for Western-Southern Life Insurance Co. and retired after 16 years at Lima Correctional Institution in Lima. He was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert, American Legion Post 178 in Van Wert and Lodge 1197, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was a 1953 graduate of Oakwood High School and a graduate of Lima Technical School in law enforcement and corrections. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1954-1957.
In addition to his mother and wife, he is survived by three daughters, Lisa (Tim) Ellert of Fort Wayne, Ind., Renee (Jesse) Velasquez of Dayton and Jana (David) Parsons of Boise, Idaho; one brother, Michael (Sandy) Simon of Defiance; three sisters, Mary Hauenstein of Lima, Jane (Leonard) DeWitt of Elkhart, Ind., and Ida (Denver) Hammons of Hamilton, Ind., and six grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Monday (November 4) at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Father Joseph Schmelzer and the Rev. James Slow officiating.
Calling hours are noon-3 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Angel Foundation or Community Health Professionals in Van Wert.
MOWERY
Dennis P. Mowery, 47, of 635 N. Franklin St., Apt. 2, died at 9:45 p.m. Saturday, October 26, 2002, at Select Specialty Hospital in Columbus.
He was born January 27, 1955, in Coldwater, the son of Lorraine (Fowler) Heiland of Mendon and the late John B. F. Mowery. On May 19, 1990, he married Carol Roberts, who survives in Van Wert.
Mr. Mowery was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Celina.
In addition to his wife and mother, he is survived by a stepfather, Norman Heiland of Mendon; a stepmother, Shirley Mowery of Florida; one daughter, Rebecca Mowery at home; two brothers, Thomas (Ersilia) Mowery of Van Wert and Stephen Mowery of Nashville, Tenn., and a sister, Teresa (Joseph) Cornett of St. Marys.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Deacon Timothy Knepper of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
