USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
BYER
Richard "Dick" Byer, 67, of 3376 Willshire Eastern Road, Willshire, died at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, 2005, at Select Specialty Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind.
He was born September 19, 1937, in Maples, Ind., the son of the late Elvin K. and Ruth Delight (Aspy) Byers. On June 30, 1957, he married Linda D. Fuhrman, who survives at their residence.
Mr. Byer was a broker, realtor, auctioneer, notary and appraiser. He had formerly worked at Phelps Dodge in Fort Wayne for 13 years and had served as a union steward there. He was also the former owner of Byer Auction Sales in Willshire. He was a 1956 graduate of Pleasant Mills High School and was affiliated with Willshire United Methodist Church. He was also a graduate of the Reppert Auction School in Decatur, Ind. He was a founding member of the Willshire Lions Club and was a former member of the Pleasant Mills Lions Club. He also belonged to the Willshire Sportsman's Club and the Harness Horsemans Association. He conducted a benefit annually for the Vintage Motor Bike Club and was an avid mushroom hunter and coon hunter.
In addition to his wife, survivors include five daughters, Sheryl (Mike) Harner of Mendon, Shelly (Matt) Schwartz of Decatur, Sheila Fuleki of Monroeville, Ind., and Shelby (Joe) Strack and Shawnette (Chris) Metzger, both of Fort Wayne; two brothers, Norbert (Beverly) Byer and Leon (Rita) Byer, both of Willshire, and; 19 grandchildren, Ashley, Andrea, Abby, Amy, Audrey and Austin Harner, Jeana, Jamie, Jarod and Josh Schwartz, Chelsea and Makalah Krick, Gregory, Nicholas, Madeleine, Emilie and Sydney Strack, Sauanna Metzger and one expected in August.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Marvin Byer; one sister, Jacqueline Rose Boroff, and a grandson, Adam Harner.
Funeral services will be conducted at noon on Monday, April 11, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. William A. Simms of Willshire United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Willshire Cemetery at a later date.
Calling hours are 1-4 and 6-9 p.m. Sunday and from 10 a.m. -noon Monday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Willshire United Methodist Church or Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne.
LONGWELL
Barbara K. Longwell, 56, of Van Wert, died at 5:30 a.m. Friday, April 8, 2005, at her residence.
She was born April 12, 1948, in Ottawa, the daughter of the late Raymond and Betty (Rigdon) Closson.
Ms. Longwell was the current manager of Brookside Convenience Store in Van Wert and attended Trinity Friends Church in Van Wert.
Survivors include her stepfather, John Schwab of Ottawa; a son, Larry (Mindy) Longwell of Van Wert; three daughters, Lisa (Troy) Waldron of Ohio City, Shelley (Matt) Dunham of New Haven, Ind., and Shannon (Joe) Moreno of Van Wert; a brother, Larry (Sandy) Closson; two sisters, Diane (Don) Fischer of Kalida and Nancy Nadler of Ottawa, and 11 grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, April 11, at Trinity Friends Church in Van Wert, with Rev. Neil Hammons officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 9:30-11 a.m. Monday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert. Condolences may be e-mailed to agfh@bright.net.
FEATHEROFF
Earl E. Featheroff, 84, of Van Wert, died at 6:55 a.m. Friday, April 8, 2005, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
He was born April 21, 1921, in Van Wert County, the son of the late James and Florence (Allen) Featheroff. On August 17, 1941, he married Becky Roberts, who died November 2, 1991.
Mr. Featheroff worked at Kennedy Manufacturing in Van Wert and then retired from McKeddie's Appliance Store in Van Wert after 45 years as a television repairman. He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Van Wert, of American Legion Post 178 in Van Wert and a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803, both in Van Wert. He has also belonged to the Black Swamp Ham Radio Club. He had served in the U.S. Army in the Philippines during World War II.
Survivors include a son, Bradford E. (Teri) Featheroff of Las Vegas, Nev.; one daughter, Connie (Joe) DeWitt of Van Wert; two brothers-in-law, Lloyd (Hazel) Roberts of Ohio City and Chuck Gerardot of Fort Wayne, Ind.; two sisters-in-law, Gloria Kimmel and Crystal (Chet) Gwozdz, both of Fort Wayne; three grandchildren, Shelly Tate of Van Wert, Jim Featheroff of Iowa and Steven DeWitt of Keller, Texas, and six great-grandchildren, Sterling DeWitt, Britni, Kayla and Hillary Wells and Tia and Kathy Tate.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Ethel Baeseman.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 12, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. Doug Stockton officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert, with military graveside services conducted by the combined honor units of VFW Post 5803 and Legion Post 178.
Calling hours are 2-4:30 and 6-8 p.m. Monday, April 11, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions can be made to the church.
GOINS
Mercedes Goins, 86, of Van Wert, died at 8:15 p.m. Thursday, August 11, 2005, at Van Wert Manor nursing home in Van Wert.
She was born February 23, 1919, in Arcanum, the daughter of the late Orville and Nellie (Brown) Hosbrook. On December 14, 1937, she married Gladstone N. "Jack" Goins, who died November 16, 1997.
Mrs. Goins was employed for 13 years at the General Electric Company plant in Fort Wayne, Ind., and for eight years at Magnavox Corporation in Fort Wayne. Earlier, she was a volunteer for the American Red Cross for many years.
Survivors include two sons, Jerry (Carolyn) Goins of Haviland and Jack (Lois A.) Goins of Cecil; two daughters, Kay (Norm) Mason of Van Wert and Roxanna Hosbrook of Union City, Ind.; 30 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Jim and Steve Goins, and 10 brothers and sisters.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 16, at Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. Paul W. Miller officiating. Burial will be in Blue Creek Cemetery in Haviland.
Viewing hours are 2-4 and 5-7 p.m. Monday, August 15, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Van Wert Community Health Professionals-Hospice.
EIBLING
Greg A. Eibling, 49, of Van Wert, died at his residence on Friday, August 12, 2005.
He was born April 25, 1956, in Decatur, Ind., the son of John R. (Shirley) Eibling, who survives in Van Wert, and Wilma (Tinnel) Worthley, who survives in Pioneer, Mo.
Mr. Eibling was a graduate of Van Wert High School. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a member of the Blinded Veterans Association.
In addition to his parents, survivors include a son, Greg (Gail) Eibling of Van Wert; two daughters, Carrie Eibling of Eubank, Ky., and Kayla Eibling of Van Wet; one brother, John D. (Sherry) Eibling of Van Wert; two sisters, Susan Turner of Van Wert and Cheri (David) Vollmer of Edgerton, and seven grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday, August 18, at Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery in Convoy, with military graveside rites conducted by the combined honors units of American Legion Post 178 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803, both of Van Wert.
Viewing hours are from 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, August 17, at the funeral home.
RAGER
Robert E. Rager, 87, of Rockford, died at 10:23 p.m. Sunday, August 7, 2005, at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert.
He was born March 31, 1918, in Van Wert County, the son of the late Elvin and Estella (Webb) Rager. On April 7, 1940, he married Lois McSherry, who survives.
Mr. Rager retired from ConRail after 37 years, where he was a supervisor in the office in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during World War II in the European Theater of Operations. He was also a member of Rockford Presbyterian Church, a charter member of the Blue Bird Society and was also a member of Glen D. Eckhart Post 508, American Legion, in Rockford. He had lived in Rockford for the past 27 years after retiring, coming from Battle Creek, Mich.
In addition to his wife, survivors include a son, Larry (Tammi) Rager of Columbus; four grandchildren, Ryan (Joyce) Rager, Erin (Judd) Potts, Jeremy (Ellyn) Rager and Blake (Katherine) Serverson, and two great-grandchildren.
A daughter, Carol Diane Rager; one brother, Russell Rager, and a sister, Mildred Davis, preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, August 10, at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford, with Pastor Karen Long officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Rockford.
Viewing hours are 9 a.m. until the time of services Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Rockford Presbyterian Church or the Helpers Class of Olive Branch Church of God, also in Rockford.
THOMPSON
Nancy Ellen Thompson, 60, of 2525 Convoy Road, Convoy, died Sunday morning, August 7, 2005, at her residence.
She was born May 24, 1945, in Van Wert County, the daughter of Helen (Smith) Heath, who survives in Washington, and the late Glenn Heath. In 1964, she married James H. “Jim” Thompson Sr., who survives at their residence.
Mrs. Thompson was a homemaker and also bred and boarded dogs and found homes for dogs as well. She was affiliated with Convoy United Methodist Church, was a 1963 graduate of Convoy High School and was a member of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Nancy had many friends in local and Amish communities who say she will be remembered most for her love of animals and generosity to others.
In addition to her mother and husband, survivors include three sons, Jim Thompson and Shawn (Jodi) Thompson, both of Convoy, and James Thompson of Decatur, Ind.; three brothers, Glenn Heath of Washington, Bill (Jan) Heath of Convoy and Bob Heath of Colorado; two sisters, Connie (Earl) Hainline of Rockford and Deb Heath of Washington, and seven grandchildren, Kristi, Brad, Mike, Cody, Cass, Colt and Chelsi.
Funeral services will be conducted at 6 p.m. Wednesday, August 10, at Cowan & Son Stainfield Memorial Home in Convoy, with Rev. Gregory Leigh officiating. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery in Convoy.
Viewing hours are 2-6 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Van Wert County Humane Society.
