USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
DARLING
Glenn L. Darling, 75, of Van Wert, died at 1:35 a.m. Saturday, January 22, 2005, at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana in Fort Wayne, Ind.
He was born January 3, 1930, in Fort Wayne, the son of the late Birdsell and Leona Myrtle (Severs) Darling. On June 18, 1964, he married Joann (Kiracofe) Hasis, who survives at the residence.
Mr. Darling had worked at FLP, North American Philips, Ohio City Manufacturing, Tecumseh Box Company and Wal-Mart. He was also a member of the Van Wert County Sheriff's Auxiliary. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps (now U.S. Air Force), having served during World War II and the Berlin Airlift. He was a member of Eagles Aerie 886, a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803, both in Van Wert, and a member of the Van Wert Amvets chapter.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by five children, Linda Kay (Robert) Tobias and Bradley Scott (Pam) Hasis, both of Port St. Lucie, Fla., Jeffrey Paul Hasis of Van Wert, David Leonard Darling of St. Louis, Mo., and Amy Joann (Ed) Kinney of Convoy; four grandchildren, Jennifer Tobias, Jeremy Hasis, Justin Hasis and Austin Eutsler, and a great-granddaughter, Lauren Elizabeth Tobias.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Louis A. Darling.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 25, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. Paul W. Miller officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Ohio City, with military graveside services conducted by the combined honor units of the Van Wert VFW and American Legion posts.
Calling hours are 4-8 p.m. Monday, January 24, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
MATTHEWS
Carl Vernon Matthews, 79, of 10406 State Route 118, Van Wert, died at 5:14 p.m. Saturday, January 22, 2005, at Lincolnway Home near Middle Point.
He was born September 30, 1925, in Union Township, Van Wert County, and was raised by Glenn and Ada Beck. He married Ruby Lucille Billieu, who died May 6, 1995.
Mr. Matthews retired in 1987 from Continental Can Company in Van Wert with 44 years of service. He was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Van Wert. He had served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II in China and India. He was a member of the Continental Can Retirement Club and a former member of American Legion Post 178. He was an avid hunter and fisherman in his younger days.
Survivors include a son, Rickey Alan Matthews of Van Wert; one daughter, Connie Darlene (Bob) Lautzenheiser of Van Wert; two grandchildren, Ty (Kimberly) Lautzenheiser of Convoy and Kirsten (Terry) Hauter of Van Wert; four great-grandchildren, Chloe Elise, Anna Mary and Matthew Tyson Lautzenheiser and Allison Claire Hauter; two stepgrandchildren, Cheri Uhlenhake of St. Henry and David Goodwin of Wren, and four stepgreat-grandchildren, Nate Goodwin, Brad Goodwin, Dustin Heath and Brandon Heath.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 26, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. Lance O'Donnell officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Van Wert, with military graveside services conducted by the combined honor units of American Legion Post 178 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803, both in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, January 25, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Van Wert County Council on Aging or the Lincolnway Home Activity Fund.
MERKLE
Paul J. Merkle, 93, of rural Ohio City, died at 4:13 p.m. Sunday, January 23, 2005, at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert.
He was born December 17, 1911, in Liberty Township, Van Wert County, the son of the late George and Hannah (Schumm) Merkle. On January 2, 1936, he married Selma Weck, who survives at home.
Mr. Merkle was a retired farmer and dairyman in Pleasant Township, Van Wert County. He was a lifetime member of St. Thomas Lutheran Church in rural Van Wert County, a past president, secretary and treasurer of the church congregation, a member of the church choir and a past member of the Lutheran Laymen's League. He was a current member of the Van Wert County Farm Bureau and a very active former member of the Van Wert Soil and Water Conservation District.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, John F. (Dorcas) Merkle of rural Ohio City; three daughters, Barbara (William) Sexton of Cameron, N.C., Marcille (Charles) Ansorge of Lincoln, Neb., and Mildred (Jerry) Willis of Midland, Ga.; eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Theo, Rudolf and Henry Merkle, and a sister, Hulda Germann.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 27, at St. Thomas Lutheran Church in rural Van Wert County, with Pastor Timothy Sims officiating. Burial will be in Evangelical Protestant Cemetery in rural Van Wert County.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, January 26, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert and an hour prior to services Thursday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lutheran Hour or worship for shut-ins.
GRUBENHOFF
Rita P. Grubenhoff, 86, of Fort Myers, Fla., and a resident of Delphos until 1980, died Sunday, January 23, 2005, at South West Florida Regional Medical Center in Ft. Myers, Fla.
She was born April 8, 1918, in Landeck, the daughter of the late Leo and Bernadine (Kreps) Mueller. She married Bob Grubenhoff, who died July 4, 1998.
Mrs. Grubenhoff and her husband owned Rita and Bob owned Bob's Grocery on Suthoff Street in Delphos for 32 years before moving to sunny Florida in 1980. She was very active socially in her community. She was president of the social club for Poinsettia Park for several years, was in charge of park beautification, played different instruments in the Fun Band, performed skits for senior citizens homes throughout southwest Florida and was a champion shuffleboard player for over 20 years. She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church in Ft. Myers. She was an avid gardener and was especially proud of her roses, poinsettias, flowering cactus and fruit trees. She enjoyed traveling and spent several months each year visiting her children.
Survivors include two sons, Dan (Nancy) Grubenhoff of Dallas, Texas, and Mike (Terri) Grubenhoff of Delphos; two daughters, Diana Grubenhoff of Lake Wylie, N.C., and Elaine (Joe) Kulbako of Gaithersburg, Md.; a brother, Robert "Bobbie" (Lorene) Mueller of Lima; seven grandchildren, Elizabeth, Michael and Joey Grubenhoff; Megan and Allen Grubenhoff; Katie and Rachel Grubenhoff, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Germaine "Gerri" Schulte and Rosemary (Ochie) Bryan, and two brothers, Melvin "Slicker" Mueller and the Rev. Paul Mueller.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, January 31, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Delphos, with Father Todd Dominique officiating. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery in Delphos.
Calling hours are from 3-7 p.m. Saturday, January 29, at from 3-8 p.m. Sunday, January 30, at Harter & Schier Funeral Home in Delphos, where a parish wake service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. John's Scholarship Fund or a charity of donor's choice.
ADAMS
Dorothy A. Adams, 92, of Van Wert, died at 7:18 a.m. Tuesday, January 18, 2005, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
She was born October 23, 1912, in Noble County, Ind., the daughter of the late Atora and Georgia A. (Brown) Stallbaum. On September 11, 1942, she married Glenn W. Adams, who died in 1987.
Mrs. Adams was a homemaker and a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Van Wert.
Survivors include a daughter, Mary Ann Adams.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Ray, Tom and Ernie Stallbaum, and four sisters, Bessie Brewer and Leona Cavinder and Anna and Ellen Stallbaum, both of whom died in infancy.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 21, as Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. James Burns and Rev. Neil Hammons officiating. Burial will be in Middle Creek Cemetery in Grover Hill.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Thursday, January 20, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the church.
BRINCEFIELD
Lewis Leo Brincefield, 68, of Van Wert, went to be with the Lord at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 18, 2005.
He was born January 3, 1937, in Wapakoneta, the son of the late Theodore and Leota (Keiber) Brincefield. On September 12, 1959, he married Evelyn Allen, who survives in Van Wert.
Mr. Brincefield retired in April 1999 from Lima BRP Company as a machinist. From 1960-1979 he was Middle Point police chief, a captain of the Middle Point Fire Department, an EMT-A and was a volunteer sheriff's deputy for Van Wert County. He was a member of Electrical Engineers Construction Company in Greenland at Sondestrom Air Base in 1957. He went to these schools in 1960: automachinist/Goodyear Training School in Indianapolis, Ind.; Ohio Peace Officers Training School and Firefighters/EMT-A School, both held at what was then Vantage Joint Vocational School in Van Wert. He graduated from York High School in 1955. He was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert and a member of the Buckeye State Sheriffs Association.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Tony (Michelle) Brincefield and Patrick Brincefield, both of Van Wert, and John Brincefield of Middle Point; a daughter, Mary Rose of Lexington; five brothers, Ted (Patty) Brincefield of Lake Havasu, Ariz., Jack Brincefield of Celina, Dave (Shirley) Brincefield of Mendon, Neal (Connie) Brincefield of Wapakoneta and Neal Brincefield of Corpus Christi, Texas; five sisters, Becky Dysert of Celina, Nancy Hight of San Antonio, Texas, Barbara Brincefield of Nevada and Sue (Ed) Gasson and Brenda Fisher, both of St. Marys; five grandchildren, Adam and Abbie of Van Wert, Cassy of Lexington and Levi and Shana of Middle Point, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bobby and Larry, and a sister, Sarah.
Private family funeral services will be held.
There will be no visitation.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hope Cancer Center Clinic in Van Wert or Community Health Professionals-Hospice in Van Wert.
Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert was in charge of arrangements.
EDDY
Matthew L. Eddy, 22, of New Albany and formerly of Grover Hill, died Friday, January 21, 2005, in Logan.
He was born March 3, 1982, in Van Wert, the son of Mark W. Eddy and Karen M. (Bauer) Eddy, both of whom survive in Grover Hill. He never married.
Mr. Eddy was the office administrator for the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow in Columbus and attended Columbus North Baptist Church in Columbus. He was a 2000 graduate of Wayne Trace High School and a 2004 graduate of The Ohio State University.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by two brothers, Benjamin Eddy and Aaron Eddy, both of Grover Hill; a maternal grandfather and stepgrandmother, Arthur and Jeannie Bauer of Van Wert; paternal grandparents, Lloyd and Lois Eddy of Grover Hill, and several aunts and uncles, Bruce (Pamela) Bauer, Beth (Scott) Wilson, Kent (Pam) Eddy, Marcia (John) Laukhuf and David Eddy.
He was preceded in death by a grandmother, Gloria Bauer, and one uncle, Robert Eddy.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 26, at Mt. Pleasant Church in Van Wert County, with the Rev. Phil Mercer officiating. Burial will be in Middle Creek Cemetery in Grover Hill.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Tuesday, January 25, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Pleasant Church.
