USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
WALTERS
Vonda J. Walters, 76, of Van Wert, died at 12:44 p.m. Saturday, May 28, 2005, at her residence.
She was born November 16, 1928, in Toledo, the daughter of the late Emmett and Wooley) Levering. On December 21, 1947, she married Ned E. Walters, who died February 5, 1982.
Mrs. Walters was a retired physician’s office manager and homemaker. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Van Wert. Her love of music led her to be a past member of the Towns of Harmony Sweet Adelines Barbershop Chorus. She was also a member of Twig III, volunteered in the First United Methodist soup kitchen and was an avid booster and fan of the Ohio State Buckeye football program.
Survivors include a son, Jerry Walters of West Minster, Colo.; two daughters, Judy (Wayne) Horn of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Sara Baker of Reynoldsburg; one sister, Charlene Harrison of Tulsa, Okla.; seven grandchildren, Trevor, Tracy-Sue and Trent Walters, Chad and Ryan Horn and Christopher and Nicholas Baker, and a great-granddaughter, Taylor Nichole Horn.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 2, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. Jim Howell officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund.
RUSKAUP
Donald Gene Ruskaup, 64, of Van Wert, died at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 28, 2005, at Van Wert Manor nursing home.
He was born July 24, 1940, in Van Wert, the son of Florine E. (Jenkins) Ruskaup, who survives in Van Wert, and the late William H. Ruskaup. He was divorced.
Mr. Ruskaup was retired.
In addition to his mother, survivors include a son, Brad A. Ruskaup of Boynton Beach, Fla.; one daughter, Tracey (Hank) Reis of North Palm Beach, Fla.; two brothers, Timothy Ruskaup of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Michael Ruskaup of Naples, Fla.; two sisters, Rebecca (Jack) Woodruff of Van Wert and Nannette Ingle of Lehigh Acres, Fla., and one granddaughter, Jessica L. Ruskaup.
He was preceded in death by two children, Kelley L. Ruskaup and Kevin L. Ruskaup.
A memorial service will be held at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. Paul Miller officiating.
Calling hours will be 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
MINICK
E. Jeanne Minick, 83, widow of prominent Churubusco physician Linus J. Minick, M.D., died Saturday, May 28, 2005, at her residence following a lengthy illness.
She was born in DeKalb County, Ind., on April 15, 1922, the only child of the late Kenneth W. and Helen I. (Loffi) Creviston. She spent her formative years in Garrett, Ind., graduating from Garrett High School in 1940. As a young woman, she attended St. Mary's College in South Bend, Ind., worked in the offices of Bowser's in Fort Wayne, Ind., and was married to Dr. Minick on August 30, 1947, in Garrett. The couple spent the early years of their marriage in Indianapolis, Ind., and moved to Churubusco in 1952, where her husband was in medical practice for more than 40 years. A homemaker for most of her life, she later attended Indiana University-Purdue University in Fort Wayne, received a certificate in library science and served as the librarian of the Churubusco Public Library for many years. A member of St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco, she also served on the church's finance committee, was a Eucharistic minister and was a member of the St. Mary's Alumna Club in Fort Wayne.
Survivors include her children, May Beth (Chris Bourke) Minick of Indianapolis; Dr. Michael C. Minick of Lewiston, Idaho, Mark J. (Penny) Minick of Van Wert and Marsha A. Minick of Libertyville, Ill.; eight grandchildren, James Bourke, Brandon Bourke, Matt Minick, Megan Minick, Maxx Minick, Joe Minick, Elise Minick and Noah Minick and her dog and companion, "Rags."
She was preceded in death by an infant son, Matthew Minick, on March 1, 1957.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 2, at St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco, with Father Danney Pinto officiating. Burial will be in Ege Catholic Cemetery in Noble County.
Calling hours are 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco, where the Rosary will be recited at 9 p.m., and an hour prior to services Wednesday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Churubusco Public Library, St. John Bosco Catholic Church for masses, the Visiting Nurses Service and Hospice or St. Mary's College in South Bend.
FRY
Alice Belle Fry, 82, of 21719 Wetzel Road, Fort Jennings, died at 7:20 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, 2005, at Lincolnway Home in Ridge Township, Van Wert County.
She was born November 11, 1922, in Jennings Township, Van Wert County, the daughter of the late Thomas G. and Noretta Mae (Sweigart) Rider. On June 1, 1947, she married Francis M. Little, who preceded her in death. On October 18, 1972, she married Rev. C.H. Wallick, who also preceded her in death, and she then married Ralph William "Bob" Fry on November 11, 1977, and he died January 17, 2003.
Mrs. Fry served as pastor of the former Center Church in Mercer County and served as pulpit supply for various churches in the Defiance and Lima districts of the United Methodist Church. She also served two years as youth leader of the Defiance District of the United Methodist Church. In addition, she helped with many revival services and served as song leader and children's worker in various services in many area churches, both in Ohio and Michigan.
Survivors include a sister, Alberta Mae (Darrell) Clay of Mendon, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Carl Murlin Rider and Harry Grover Rider, and four sisters, Mahala Rosetta Richards, Elizabeth Ireta Metzger, Anna Lucille Glass and Violet Grace Haggard.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, May 6, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. Paul W. Miller officiating. Burial will be in Mercer Cemetery in Mercer.
Calling hours are 5-7 p.m. Thursday, May 5, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lincolnway Home Activity Fund.
DeMOSS
Mable Helen DeMoss, 92, of Van Wert, died at 9:15 a.m. Monday, May 30, 2005, at Lincolnway Home in Ridge Township.
She was born August 25, 1912, in Hoaglin Township, Van Wert County, the daughter of the late Frank and Sallie (Bohr) Fowler. On September 21, 1935, she married Darrell D. DeMoss, who died April 4, 1994.
Mrs. DeMoss was a longtime employee of Van Wert Manufacturing Company, was a rural Times-Bulletin carrier for more than 20 years and also owned and operated Sugar & Spice Day Care Center for many years.
Survivors include a daughter, Sally (Frank) Snyder of Van Wert; four grandchildren, Beth (David) Evans, Amber (Greg) Rickard, Rick (Kim) Snyder and Leigh (Randy) Carey; 14 great-grandchildren, Tera, Thomas, Seth and Lauren Evans, Paul, Steven and Mitchell Rickard, Elizabeth, Michaela, Olivia and Jack Snyder, and Kade, Frankie and Dylann Carey, and one great-great-grandchild, Breck Evans.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Perry E., Ralph E. and Ernest R. Fowler, and three sisters, Lillian Shaw, Nellie Gribler and Lucile Wallace.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 2, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert. Burial will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in rural Van Wert County.
Calling hours are 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lincolnway Home Activity Fund.
BRANDT
Robert L. Brandt, 62, of 9296 Van Wert-Willshire Road, Van Wert, died at 5:05 p.m. Monday, May 30, 2005, at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana in Fort Wayne, Ind., from complications from a stroke.
He was born October 3, 1942, in Darke County, the son of Glenna Mae (Hill) Brandt, who survives, and the late Robert L. Brandt Sr., who died in October 1989. On August 1, 1964, he married Marilyn Hartman, who also survives at their residence.
Mr. Brandt was a lifelong family farmer with 39 years of public school experience, including 27 years as superintendent of Vantage Career Center in Van Wert. He was also owner of Rural Energy Products. Mr. Brandt was an active member of St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Ohio City for 25 years, serving as past church council president, an elder and Sunday School superintendent. He was a past president of the United Way of Van Wert County, a member of Van Wert Rotary Club, Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business. He was a past president of the Ohio Association of Joint Vocational School Superintendents and the Council on Rural Services. He belonged to the State Future Farmers of America, and had an honorary Chapter Farmer Degree from the Spencerville and Vantage FFA chapters, an honorary State FFA Degree for leadership at the state and local level. He was a past 4-H and Junior Fair advisor, a member of the Van Wert County Farm Bureau and Farm Focus Committee and a former vocational agriculture teacher. He was a 1959 graduate of Ansonia High School in Darke County, a 1963 graduate of Ohio State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and finance, a 1965 graduate of Michigan State University, where he earned a master’s degree in educational administration, and an educational specialist degree from the University of Cincinnati.
In addition to his mother and wife, survivors include two daughters, Kimberly L. Brandt of Washington, D.C., and Tamara S. Brandt of Los Angeles, Calif.; a brother, Don Brandt, and one sister, Mary Ann (Neil) O’Brien of Albuquerque, N.M.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 4, at St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Harrison Township, Van Wert County, the Rev. Timothy Simms officiating. Burial will be in Evangelical Protestant Cemetery in Harrison Township.
Calling hours are 2-5 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, June 3, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, and an hour prior to services Saturday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ohio Future Farmers of America, P.O. Box 82428, Columbus, OH 43202 or The Lutheran Hour, 660 Nathan Ridge Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141-8557.
TAYLOR
Searle L. Taylor, 90, of Mansfield and formerly of Van Wert, Cape Coral, Fla., and Pine Island, Fla., died at 11:40 a.m. Tuesday, May 31, 2005, at Oak Grove Nursing Home in Mansfield.
He was born October 8, 1914, in Van Wert County, the son of the late Van and Olinda (Lehman) Taylor. On September 2, 1939, he married Elsie Laemmle, who survives in Mansfield.
Mr. Taylor had managed the International Harvester farm implement store in Van Wert and then took up farming, his true passion, and farmed until his retirement 45 years later. He also worked as a rural mail carrier and owned an oil delivery truck. He attended early grade school in a one-room schoolhouse in Hoaglin Township and then finished his schooling at Union School in Van Wert County. He attended Giffin College and corresponded for many years with the founder of that school. He was a good athlete in many sports while in high school and college. He loved music, played the trombone and was in many musicals and operettas while in high school and college. His favorite hymns include “Just As I Am,” “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and “How Great Thou Art.” He loved fishing and had a lake cottage in Michigan that has many fond memories for family and friends. He was involved in civic affairs and had been a school board member and board president. He was involved in the PTA and many church activities at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, such as Sunday School superintendent and choir member. He loved woodworking and would cut walnut trees from his farm, from which he made many pieces of furniture for the family. He and his wife Elsie spent their senior years on Pine Island, Fla., fishing, boating and making many friends. He assisted a church in Florida by providing a new organ and choir robes. He and his wife also recently placed a patio, flagpole and prayer bench in Taylor Cemetery in Union Township. His drive for success and innocence of life will be idolized by some and missed by all. He truly was from “The Greatest Generation.”
In addition to his wife, survivors include two sons, Robert Taylor of Shelby and David (Nanette) Taylor of Urbana; one daughter, Ann (William) Edler of Melbourne, Fla.; two brothers, Eugene (Lenore) Taylor of Punta Gorda, Fla., and John (Nancy) Taylor of Rockford; one sister, Muriel (Rex) Griffis of Waterville; five grandchildren, Todd (Katrina) Taylor, Lisa (Ron) McGinnis, Mark (Angela) Taylor, Nicole (Scott) Lynch and Heidi (Mike) Ruiz, and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two children, Stephen and Myrna; a daughter-in-law, Janet Taylor; one sister, Vada Van Wormer, and a granddaughter, Stacy Taylor Meredith.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, June 3, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Van Wert, with the Rev. Lance A. O’Donnell officiating. Burial will be in Taylor Cemetery in Union Township.
Calling hours are 9:30 a.m. until time of service Friday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.
Arrangements were handled by Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert.
