USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
COTTERMAN
Addie L. Cotterman, 76, of Van Wert, died at 5 a.m. Wednesday, June 9, 2004, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
She was born August 3, 1927, in Paulding County, the daughter of the late Charley and Opal (Dotterer) Hart. She married Ralph Cotterman, who also preceded her in death.
Mrs. Cotterman was a homemaker.
Survivors include a daughter, Nancy (Jamie) Partin of Van Wert; a brother, Lester (Ruth) Hart of Antwerp, and three grandchildren, Kayla Stickney, Corey Dolt and Austin Partin.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Leonard Laffin and Ralph Cotterman, and a sister, Mabel Hart.
Funeral services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Friday, June 11, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert. Burial will be in Rochester Cemetery in Paulding County.
Calling hours are 5-7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
GEAR
Jack R. Gear, 79, of Van Wert, died at 4:25 a.m. Tuesday, June 15, 2004, at Van Wert Manor nursing home in Van Wert.
He was born August 12, 1924, in Indianapolis, Ind., the son of the late Mark M. and Edith (Neidig) Gear. On August 10, 1947, in Middle Point, he married Mary DuVall, who survives in Van Wert.
Mr. Gear was a conductor for the Pennsylvania Railroad, Conrail and Amtrak for 43 years, retiring in September 1985. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Van Wert, and was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in the European Theater during World War II. He was a member of American Legion Post 178 in Van Wert and served as the Fort Wayne, Ind., Local chairman for the United Transportation Union for 20 years. He had also served as a committee chairman for the Boy Scouts of America for 20 years.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, John (Donna) Gear of Dallas, Ga., and Mark Gear and Dale Gear, both of Middle Point; a daughter, Carol Gear of Auburn, Ind.; eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Carl Gear.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday, June 18, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. Paul Miller, assisted by Pastor Jason Gear, officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery near Middle Point.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 17, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church in Van Wert or a charity of donor's choice.
DeWITT
Inella Rose "Red" DeWitt, 77, currently of Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert, died at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 11, 2004, at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert.
She was born April 24, 1927, in Paulding County, the daughter of the late Frank and Golda (Glaze) Kohn. On May 20, 1951, she married Herman DeWitt, who died January 8, 1996.
Mrs. DeWitt worked for many years at Borden Foods in Van Wert. She was a member of Van Wert Church of Christ and was a member of American Legion Auxiliary 178 and the Women of the Moose, both in Van Wert. She also helped for many years at the Van Wert County Senior Citizens Center and loved to play Bingo.
Survivors include a son, Joseph (Connie) DeWitt of Van Wert; two grandchildren, Shelly Tate of Van Wert and Steve (Raquel) DeWitt of Keller, Texas, and six great-grandchildren, Britni, Kayla and Hillary Wells, Tia and Kathy Tate and Sterling DeWitt.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Kenneth Kohn, Paul Franklin Kohn and Carl Kuhn, and two sisters, Pauline Adair and Farra Busick.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 16, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Paul Miller officiating. Burial will be in Middlecreek Cemetery in Grover Hill.
Calling hours are 2-4:30 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 15, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the church.
BOBERG
Frank G. Boberg, 54, of Delphos, died Friday, June 11, 2004, at Lima Memorial Hospital.
He was born March 8, 1950, in Lima, the son of the late Melvin and Shirley (Crowe) Boberg.
Mr. Boberg served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3035 in Delphos.
Survivors include two sons, Chad (Olga) Boberg of Maplewood and Mike (Nicole) Boberg of Lakeview; two sisters, Darleen (Lloyd) Rutherford and Charlene Casted, both of Iowa; a brother, Gary (Marcia) Boberg of Delphos; a stepbrother, Don (Marian) Brubaker of New Jersey, and four grandchildren.
Graveside funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 15, at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Delphos, with military rites performed by the Delphos Veterans Council.
There will be no calling hours.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Harter & Son Funeral Home in Delphos.
COWAN
Marvin Raymond Cowan, 94, of Ohio City, died at 10:45 p.m. Sunday, June 13, 2004, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
He was born March 21, 1910, in Chattanooga, Ohio, the son of the late Harry Blaine and Nackie Elizabeth (Acker) Cowan. On May 28, 1938, he married Dorothy Lutz Dick, who died January 16, 1990. On May 5, 1991, he married Esther L. (Stemen) Moore, who survives at the residence.
Mr. Cowan was licensed as a funeral director in 1933 and was active in Cowan & Son Funeral Home with his father, then brother, son and grandsons until after his 90th birthday. He was a member of Ohio City United Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday School and held several church offices. He was a 1928 graduate of Ohio City-Liberty High School and attended Cincinnati School of Mortuary Science. He was a member of Eureka Lodge 592, Free & Accepted Masons, and had served on, and as clerk of, the Ohio City-Liberty Board of Education.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Linda (Charles) Mathew of rural Ohio City and Phyllis (Charles) Ingman and Vickie Wollenhaupt, both of Van Wert; a son, Philip (Beverly) Cowan of Van Wert; one stepdaughter, Beckie (Bernard) Motycka of rural Ohio City; 13 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Raymond M. Cowan; two brothers, John Acker Cowan and Donald Bernard Cowan, and one sister, Edna Maxine Rutledge.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 18, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Pastors Michael Waldron and Chris Henkaline officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Ohio City.
Calling hours are 1-8 p.m. Thursday, June 17, at the funeral home, where a Masonic service will be held at 8 that evening.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ohio City United Methodist Church.
DEBACHER
Bertha V. Debacher, 88, of Van Wert, died at 7:10 p.m. Sunday, June 13, 2004, at her residence.
She was born April 24, 1916, in Scott, the daughter of the late John Calvin and Goldie (Place) Waldron. On May 17, 1941, she married Ray Debacher, who died November 8, 1995.
Mrs. Debacher had been a cook for many years at the former Colonial Restaurant in Van Wert. She attended Harvest Field Pentecostal Church in Scott.
Survivors include three daughters, Donna Connon, Dee (Frank) Gillette and Debbie (Merle) Parsons, all of Van Wert; a son, Mike Debacher of Celina; 23 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Richard and Virgil Debacher; a grandson, William Derr Jr.; three great-grandsons, Thomas Coil, Cody Gillette and Michael Rice Sr., and a great-granddaughter, Galen Mihm.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 17, at Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Terry Martin officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 16, at 118 S. Wall St. in Van Wert.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
KRUGH
Harriet Krugh, 77, formerly of 3020 Wren-Landeck Road, Ohio City, died at 4 a.m. Saturday, June 19, 2004, at Bellbrook Rehabilitation Center in Bellbrook.
She was born August 2, 1926, in Wren, the daughter of the late Earl W. and Mary Mae (Case) Moser. On June 29, 1947, she married Jimmy Max Krugh, who died July 10, 2000.
Mrs. Krugh worked at the Ohio Department of Employment Services in Van Wert, and later St. Marys, and retired after 36 years of service. She was a member of Wren United Methodist Church and a 1944 graduate of Wren High School. She had been a member and past worthy matron of the Willshire chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, then later belonged to Van Wert's OES chapter. She was a member of Wren Garden Club and a local square dance club.
Survivors include a son, Randall Max (Deborah K.) Krugh of Convoy; one daughter, Tamara Allen (Dr. Thomas) Zimmer of Dayton; a twin brother, Harry Moser of Wren; four sisters, Leona Mae (Leland) Hunt of Waterford, Mich., Veda Ruth Bennett of Willshire, Evelyn Gibbs of Drayton Plains, Mich., and Audrey Sammetinger of Fort Wayne, Ind., and six grandchildren, Trevor Towle, Abbie Ellen Zimmer, Zachary Zimmer, Kira Krugh, Chad Mitchell and Lindsay Mitchell.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Marshal A. Moser, who died July 17, 1992.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 23, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Pastor Jeff Millay of Pleasantview Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 1-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 22, at the funeral home, where an Order of Eastern Star service will be held at 8 that evening.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
