USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
KNODEL
Michael L. Knodel, 59, of 1301 Kathy St., died at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 1, 2003, at Van Wert County Hospital.
He was born December 31, 1943, in Van Wert, the son of the late William Dale and Gwendolyn Hyacinth (Jerome) Knodel. On February 3, 1968, he married Linda Spoon, who survives at home.
Mr. Knodel owned and operated the Goodyear Shoe Store in Wapakoneta from 1970-75 and was a former Van Wert city auditor from 1976 until his retirement in 1982. He was a 1962 graduate of Van Wert High School and attended Northwestern Business School in Lima. He was a member of Calvary Evangelical Church in Van Wert and a veteran of the U.S. Army (1963-66) serving in Korea and Vietnam. He was a member of the Van Wert County Chapter of Disabled American Veterans and belonged to Isaac Van Wert Post 178, American Legion and Robert G. Longwell Post 5803, Veterans of Foreign Wars, both in Van Wert.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Ryan M. (Julie) Knodel of Lima and Justin J. "JJ" Knodel of Findlay. one daughter, Heidi C. (Rich) Arney of Van Wert; a brother, William Richard "Dick" (Judith) Knodel of Van Wert; two sisters, Debra Knodel and Shirley (Robert A.) Young, both of Van Wert, and two granddaughters, Alexa Knodel and Alaina Arney.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Calvary Evangelical Church in Van Wert, with Pastor Raymond E. Feeck and Pastor W. Clark Williman officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery, with military graveside services by the combined honor guard of American Legion Post 178 and VFW Post 5803.
Calling hours are from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday and an hour prior to services Wednesday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mr. Knodel to Calvary Evangelical Church, Disabled American Veterans or Van Wert Visiting Nurses.
Cowan & Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
STERLING
Lester "Bummer" Sterling, 72, of Delphos, died at 7:39 a.m. Sunday, June 1, 2003, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
He was born March 30, 1931, in Delphos, the son of the late Charles and Jessie Bell (Follas) Sterling. He married Margaret (Hilvers), who survives in Delphos.
Sterling worked for Harter Corporation in Van Wert for 32 years. He was a veteran of the Air Force, in which he served two years, and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3035 and Eagles Aerie 471, both in Delphos. Sterling was also an extensive wood worker and enjoyed gardening.
In addition to his wife, Sterling is survived by four brothers, Lonnie (Jeannette), George (Etta), Frank (Lee) and Nick (Phyllis) Sterling, all of Delphos; one sister, Mary (Ed) Rigdon, of Venedocia; a granddaughter Kathy Lindeman of Delphos, and two great-grandsons, Damien Lindeman and Zack Dudgeon, both of Delphos.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Rebbecca Lindeman, and three brothers, Vernon, Lewis and Ray Sterling.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Harter & Son Memorial Chapel, Delphos, with Pastor Wayne Prater officiating. Burial will follow in Walnut Grove Cemetery, with military graveside rites by the Delphos Veterans Council.
Calling hours are from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
PRICHARD
Don E. Prichard, 82, of Van Wert and formerly of Ohio City, died at 12:39 a.m. Tuesday, June 10, 2003, at Van Wert County Hospital following a brief illness.
He was born September 7, 1920, in Mercer County, the son of the late John and Grace (High) Prichard. On July 24, 1943, he married Eleanor Tickle, who survives at home.
Mr. Prichard retired in 1980 as a rural mail carrier at Ohio City for 25 years. He was a member of Ohio City United Methodist Church and was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army serving in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and Van Wert County Good Sam Camping Club and was a former member of the Ohio City Post of the American Legion.
Survivors include two daughters, Debra Sue (Wayne) Matthews of Ohio City and Carol Ann (Randy) Braun of Pleasant Lake, Mich.; a brother, Max (Margaret) Prichard of Van Wert; three sisters, Thelma (Rex) Custer of New Haven, Ind., Mary Lue (Ned) Krugh of Ohio City and Ardyth (James) Bennett of Sun City, Fla., and four grandchildren, Jamie (Matthews) Friedrich, Lorie (Matthews) Garwood, Corey Braun and Chad Braun.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Nedra Kay Prichard, and three brothers, Dale, Wilbur and Von Prichard.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Pastors Mike Waldron and Steve Waterman officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Ohio City with military graveside rites performed.
Calling hours will be from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions can be made on behalf of Mr. Prichard to Ohio City United Methodist Church.
MERICLE
Mervin L. "Pete" Mericle, 76, formerly of Paulding, died Wednesday, June 11, 2003, at the Laurels of Defiance.
He was born April 15, 1927, in Grover Hill, the son of the late George and Dora Mae (Smith) Mericle. In June 1953, he married Doris A Reinhart Beltz, who survives.
Mr. Mericle was a chief dispatcher for Schwerman Trucking in Paulding, retiring in 1982. He was life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 587 and a former Paulding County Veterans Service officer, retiring from that position in 1999. he was a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Korean Conflict.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by four sons, Mike (Deb) Mericle of Paulding, Kris Mericle of Gloucester, Mass., Pat (Sandie) Mericle of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Jerry (Marsha) Mericle of Huntertown, Ind.; four daughters, Janice (Dave) Kaylor and Ronnie Sue Mericle, both of Hicksville, Mary Ann (Jimi) Powell of Paulding and Kathy (Greg) Mericle-Adkins of Cecil; 16 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Mahlon Mericle.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Paulding, with Father G. Allan Fillman officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Paulding, with military graveside rites performed by VFW Post 587.
Calling hours are an hour prior to services Friday at the church.
Memorial contributions can be made on behalf of Mr. Mericle to Masses at St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Defiance County Hospice Society or to the Laurel of Defiance Auxiliary Fund.
Arrangements were made through Den Herder Funeral Home in Paulding.
CORRELLO
George T. Corrello, 89, of Delphos, died at 11:01 a.m. Wednesday, June 11, 2003, at Lima Convalescent Home.
He was born November 1, 1913, in Muncie, Ind., the son of the late Carl A. and Alice (Doolittle) Corrello. He married Dorothy Reed, who died January 24, 1995.
Mr. Corrello worked as an inspector for the Ohio Department of Transportation. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Van Wert and awas a member of the Republican Central Committee in Van Wert County. He served in the U.S. Marines during World War II in the South Pacific, entering the service December 23, 1943, and was discharged May 22, 1945.
Survivors include a son, Carl G. (Mary) Corrello of Danbury, Conn.; three sisters, Margaret Werking, Thelma Johnston and Norma Baker, all of Lima; two brothers, Carl E. Corrello of Lima and Gene Corrello of Florida; two grandchildren, Kimberly Corrello of Indianapolis, Ind., and Douglas Corrello of Bordentown, N.J., and four great-grandchildren, Taylor, Dakota, Morgan and Parker Corrello.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert and Chester Corrello, and a sister, Mary Armstrong.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Harter & Son Memorial Chapel in Delphos, the Rev. James Dunaway officiating. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Delphos, with military graveside rites performed by the Delphos Veterans Council.
Calling hours are 5-8 p.m. Friday and noon-2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mr. Corrello to First United Methodist Church in Van Wert.
WILLIAMS
Rinda June Williams, 59, of Convoy, died unexpectedly Thursday morning, June 12, 2003, at her residence.
She was born June 2, 1944, in Vancouver, Wash., the daughter of the late Oliver M. and Juanita V. (Hinton) Moore. On October 22, 1977, she married she married Benjamin R. Williams, who survives.
Mrs. Williams was a homemaker and a member of Bethlehem Tabernacle in Van Wert.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by three sons, Richard J. Busch of Van Wert, Billy L. (Sara J.) Busch of Decatur, Ind., and Benjamin Ray Williams Jr. of Convoy; two daughters, Terri K. (Patrick) Rauch of Decatur and Crystal V. (Brian) Hill of Middle Point; two brothers, John T. (Charlotte) Moore of Indiana and David O. (Karen Rostofer) Moore of Delphos; four sisters, Billie V. (Frank) Williams of Queen Creek, Ariz., Marian Jean (Lawrence) Hart of Middle Point, Sharon A. (Eugene) Lause of Delphos and Debra Moore of Virginia; 13 grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Paula Busch.
Funeral services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Monday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Russell Lawrence officiating.
Calling hours are from 2-4 and 6-7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions can be made to the family.
BEBOUT
Carol C. Bebout, 77, community leader and former Van Wert County recorder, died Saturday, June 14, 2003, at Van Wert County Hospital after a recent illness.
Carol was born April 20, 1926, in Convoy, to the late DeWitt "Dan" and Norma (Etter) Carey. On April 6, 1947, she married Eugene H. Bebout of Willshire, who preceded her in death.
Mrs. Bebout served as Van Wert County recorder from 1981-1991. As recorder, she developed the Micrographics Department and was also active in the Northwest Ohio District Recorders Association and the Ohio Recorders Association, serving as editor of the statewide news publication, "Book and Page," and as chairman of the Continuing Education Committee. Prior to her election as county recorder, Carol was a medical assistant in the office of Alford Diller, M.D., for 13 years and, prior to that, she was secretary to 4-H Extension Agent Werner Becker for 7½ years. Carol was a lifetime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Convoy, where she played the organ, as her mother did before her. She also chaired and served on many church committees, including the Fidelitas Guild. In 1987, Carol was named Convoy "Citizen of the Year" and was special events chairman for the Convoy Centennial, as well as for the first Convoy Community Days celebration. She served as Convoy's United Way chairman for three years and was also a member of the Friends of the Convoy Branch of Brumback Library, which he helped to preserve. She was a member and officer of the Van Wert County Republican Women, a member of the Board of Directors of Wassenberg Art Center, was on the Van Wert Regional Planning Commission, Joint Planning Council, Van Wert Genealogical Society, Van Wert Civic Theatre, Convoy Research Club and Japonica Garden Club. Carol helped to organize the Va Wert County Medical Assistants and the Visiting Nurses Auxiliary. She also represented Tully Township in the Flower in Full Bloom recognition for the 2001 Peony Festival. She enjoyed music, creative writing, theatre, research, genealogy, travel and, most of all, her family.
Survivors include a son, Bradley C. (Carol A.) Bebout of Marion; two daughters, Suzette R. (James) Stripe of Van Wert and Jan. M. (Jerry) McIntosh of Convoy, and one daughter-in-law, Elaine B. Klausing of Van Wert. Carol dearly loved her grandchildren, Stephen E. Bebout of New York, N.Y., Sonia R. Stripe of Holland (Ohio), Chelsea M. Stripe of Van Wert and Kelly J. (James) Feipel of Ohio City; and her great-grandchildren, Sydney Feipel and Thaddeus Feipel. She was also known as "granny" to Chad Klausing, Michelle Klausing, Carly Feipel, Delanie Feipel, Leslie Densel and Brock Densel.
She was preceded in death by a son, Stephen E. Bebout, who died as a result of injuries suffered in Vietnam, and one sister, Nancy Carey Barkley.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Convoy, the Rev. Jan Berthinee officiating. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery in Convoy.
Calling hours will be 2-8 p.m. Tuesday at Gearhart, Mack & Jurczyk Funeral Home in Convoy and an hour prior to services Wednesday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mrs. Bebout to Trinity Lutheran Church's Elevator Fund.
