Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Catherine Beltz
Catherine T. Beltz of 1049 Warpole St., Lot 19, Upper Sandusky, died at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2003, in Mount Carmel-St. Anne's Hospital, Westerville. She was 77. Born in Shelby on Sept. 9, 1926, she was a daughter of Robert and Caroline (Kurtzman) Spangler. She was married to Robert Beltz and they were divorced. She leaves two sons, Thomas of Little Sandusky and Robert Jr., address unknown; two daughters, Mary Louise, Upper Sandusky; and Donna Weatherspoon, Castalia; two grandchildren, Mike and Dawn; a brother, Leo Spangler, Shelby; and a sister, Dorothy McKinley, Shelby. Preceding her in death were three brothers, Robert, John and Francis; and a sister, Elfreda. Mrs. Beltz retired in 1991 from Millington Plastics, where she had worked for 24 years. She was baptized into the Catholic faith. She collected artificial ducks and angels and loved her pet poodle, Daisy. Her hobbies were crocheting, needlepoint, watching TV and playing cards, especially euchre. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Bringman-Clark & Co. Funeral Home, the Rev. Kent Kaufman officiating. Interment will be in Old Mission Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. Thursday. Memorials may be made to St. Peter Catholic Church in care of Bringman-Clark & Co. Funeral Home, PO Box 246, Upper Sandusky OH 43351.
Dwight Beamer
Dwight C. Beamer, 16323 CH 113, Harpster, died at 6:10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003, at the Wyandot County Nursing Home. He was 74. Born in Pitt Township on Aug. 3, 1929, he was a son of Arnold J. and Mamie M. (Bower) Beamer. He married Barbara J. Seidler on Aug. 15, 1954, in Westerville. She survives. Also surviving are a son, Dan, Harpster; two daughters, Karen Castanien and Debra Hines, both of Upper Sandusky; four grandchildren, Mike, Kevin, Nicki and Scott Castanien; a great-grandchild; a brother, Clifford, Upper Sandusky; and four sisters, Dorothy Louise Hare, Ruth Wilt and Janet Young, all of Upper Sandusky, and Peggy Dillion, Harpster. He was preceded in death by a sister, Thelma Myers. A 1947 graduate of Upper Sandusky High School, Mr. Beamer was a truck driver in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He started at Westinghouse/A.O. Smith in Upper Sandusky in 1955, retiring in 1993, and was a farmer in Pitt Township. Mr. Beamer attended Trinity Evangelical United Methodist Church, where he sang in the church choir, was on the church dartball team and was a member of Men With a Vision and of the Progressive Sunday school class. He also was on a work team in Honduras twice, as well as Red Bird Mission in Kentucky. Mr. Beamer was a member of the Wyandot County Rod and Gun Club, Wyandot County Farm Bureau and served on the council for 39 years, Ohio Pork Producers, National Pork Producers and American Legion Post No. 225. He enjoyed bowling, collecting caps, being with nature and playing cards. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Bringman-Clark and Co. Funeral Home with the Rev. Derik Hines officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation is at the funeral home from 1-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday. Memorials may be made to the 4-H Endowment Fund, Upper Sandusky High School FFA, Trinity Evangelical United Methodist Church building fund or to the organization of the donor's choice in care of Bringman-Clark and Co. Funeral Home, PO Box 246, Upper Sandusky OH 43351.
Robert Sigler
SYCAMORE - Robert L. Sigler, formerly of New Riegel, died at ll:50 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003. He was 92. A native of Wyandot County, he was born to Howard and Laura Belle (La Follette) Sigler on Oct. 5, 1910. On Sept. 16, 1939, he married Pearl McLaughlin in Nevada. She died March 27, 2000. He leaves two sons, John and Wayne, both of rural New Riegel; five stepgrandchildren; six stepgreat-grandchildren and one stepgreat-great-grandchild. Four brothers and one sister are deceased. A retired farmer, Mr. Sigler was a member of the Worldwide Church of God in Findlay. He was a member of the Sycamore Horseshoe Club and played eight years in Ohio State Horseshoe tournaments in Greenville. Charlie Riffel will conduct the funeral at 2 p.m. Sunday in Walton-Moore Funeral Home, Sycamore. Burial will be in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Wyandot County. Visitation will be from 5-9 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
Orville Swanagan
Orville Louis Swanagan, 141 1/2 No. Sandusky Ave., Upper Sandusky, died at St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo at 3:05 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003. He was 61. Born in Carter County, Ky., on May 1, 1942, he was a son of Albert and Mary (Halterman) Swanagan. Surviving are three daughters, Monica, Michelle and Tina; two grandchildren; three brothers, Tom, Fostoria; Bruce, Union City, Ind.; and Albert Jr, Grayson, Ky.; and six sisters, Patty England and Lois Walker, both of Upper Sandusky; Norma Swartz, Ashland, Ky.; Lucy Porter, Grayson; Mary Cooper, Webbville, Ky.; and Nanette Atkins, New Castle, Ind. He was preceded in death by his parents, and three brothers, Robert, Jim and Leroy. Mr. Swanagan had been employed at the Wyandot County garage. He retired from Upper Auto Parts as a parts delivery driver and had worked at Beard's Sohio in Upper Sandusky. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Mr. Swanagan was a member of VFW Post No. 2842, American Legion Post No. 225, AMVETS Post No. 777 and Moose Lodge No. 1093. A private memorial service will be held in Grayson at a later date. Bringman-Clark and Co. Funeral home is handling arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Upper Sandusky Athletic Department in care of Bringman-Clark and Co. Funeral Home, PO Box 246, Upper Sandusky OH 43351.
Russell Puchta
CAREY - Russell E. Puchta, Findlay, died at his residence at 9:10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 26, 2003. He was 79. Born in Carey on Sept. 14, 1924, he was a son of John and Hazel (Boyce) Puchta. He married Catherine P. Earlie on June 6, 1951. She died April 24, 1992. He married Mary Ellen Long-Beck on Nov. 11, 1992. She survives. Also surviving are three daughters, Rose Laframboise, Windsor, Canada; Barbara Puchta, Findlay; and Joyce Hackworth, Carey; two stepsons, Richard Beck, Findlay; and Steve Beck, Fostoria; two stepdaughters, Marilyn Cunningham, Findlay; and Linda Burden, Bellefontaine; three grandchildren; 12 stepgrandchildren; a great-grandson; and 17 stepgreat-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a stepdaughter, Barbara Beck; two brothers, John and Ralph; and three sisters, Irene Manle, Frances Manle and Alice Knowlton-Milum. Mr. Puchta retired from Snyder Lumber Co. in Carey in 1986, after working for 24 years as a laborer. He had worked at the Carey Handle and Lumber Co. for 20 years and for the Green Thumb Program for seven years in Carey. He was working at Meijer for the last seven years. Mr. Puchta attended Memorial United Methodist Church in Carey. He was a member of Eagles Aries No. 2118 in Findlay. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Paul Goetz officiating. Burial will be in Spring Grove Cemetery, Carey. Visitation is Sunday from 6-9 p.m. at Stombaugh-Batton Funeral Home, Carey, and for an hour prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Bridge Hospice or Russell Puchta Memorial Fund.
Dwanne Giesige
Dwanne J. Giesige, 67, of Nevada, died at Fairhaven Retirement and Health Care Community at 10:25 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, 2003. A son of Minard Giesige and Florence (Klass) McCleary, he was born in Holgate on May 25, 1936. He married Margaret V. Johnson on Dec. 19, 1967, in San Francisco, Calif. She survives. Also surviving are a brother, Donald Giesige, Fort Myers, Fla.; and a stepbrother, David McCleary, Upper Sandusky. He was preceded in death by his parents and stepfather, Charles L. McCleary. In 1996, Mr. Giesige retired as a city bus driver and light rail vehicle operator in San Francisco, after 30 years of work. Prior to that, he was a bus driver in Phoenix, Ariz., for five years. Mr. Giesige also served in the U.S. Air Force for eight years. He attended the Nazarene Church in Upper Sandusky. Mr. Giesige was a member of the Wyan-Dot Camping Club and enjoyed traveling around he United States in his personalized travel bus, "Born to Boogie." He was a member of AMVETS Post No. 777 and Elks No. 83, both in Upper Sandusky. Mr. Giesige also enjoyed dance and country and western music and reading about panning for gold. The funeral will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Bringman-Clark and Co. Funeral Home with the Rev. Ben Gregory officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery where military graveside rites will be performed by local veterans' organizations. Visitation is at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. today. Memorials may be made to the Nazarene Church or to the organization of the donor's choice in care of Bringman-Clark and Co. Funeral Home, PO Box 246, Upper Sandusky OH 43351.
Donna Mulholland
Donna J. Mulholland of South Warpole Street, Upper Sandusky, died at St. Vincent Hospital in Toledo, on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2003. She was 72. Arrangements are pending at the Bringman-Clark and Co. Funeral Home.
Dale Leichty
CAREY - Dale E. Leichty of Port Clinton, died at 9:33 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, 2003. He was 84. Arrangements are pending at Stombaugh-Batton Funeral Home in Carey.
Mary Wilkinson
KENTON - Mary Evon Wilkinson of Kenton, died at 2:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2003, at Hardin Memorial Hospital in Kenton. She was 90. Born in Wyandot County on Aug. 28, 1913, she was adopted by William S. and Martha (Rish) Woolley. She and Irvin McKinley were married on April 10, 1933. On Aug. 25, 1973, she married Walter B. Wilkinson. He died Feb. 11, 2001. Surviving are a daughter, Barbara Bender, Turtletown, Tenn.; a son, William McKinley, Ada; three stepchildren, Rudy Wilkinson, Findlay; Judy Osborn, Huntsville; and Bud Wilkinson, Sandusky; nine grandchildren; 10 step-grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; eight stepgreat-grandchildren; and a brother, William Wilson, Findlay. She was preceded in death by a son, Donald McKinley; and a granddaughter. Mrs. Wilkinson sold Avon Products for 23 years. She attended Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Mrs. Wilkinson was a member of Women of the Moose and the VFW Auxiliary. The funeral will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Price Funeral Home in Kenton, with the Revs. John Dyer and Charles Stewart officiating. Burial will be in Grove Cemetery. Visitation is today from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Our Savior's Lutheran Church or Hardin Hospice Care.
Lucile Hepperly
VAN WERT - Lucile Konetia Hepperly, formerly of Van Wert, died at Fairhaven Retirement and Health Care Community at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, 2003. She was 93. Born in Van Wert County on June 11, 1910, she was a daughter of George W. and Ida B. (Sherburn) Ketzenbarger. She married Delmer Burdette Hepperly on Dec. 24, 1932. He died Dec. 31, 1989. Surviving are a foster son, William Booher, Nevada; two grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a sister, Erma Gilbert. A graduate of Union High School in rural Van Wert, Mrs. Hepperly was a retired housewife and helped out on the family farm. She was a previous Avon representative. She attended North Union Methodist Church in rural Van Wert. Mrs. Hepperly was a lifetime resident of Union Township in Van Wert County until moving to Upper Sandusky in 1992. She was a past member of the Union Township Grange. The graveside service was Sunday at 3 p.m. in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert County. Memorials may be made to North Union Methodist Church.
Dale Leichty
CAREY - Dale Emanual Leichty, Port Clinton, died at his home at 9:33 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, 2003. He was 84. Born in Bluffton on Aug. 20, 1919, he was a son of Emanual and Mary Ann (Amstutz) Leichty. He married Doris L. Hendricks on Jan. 19, 1945, in Bowling Green. She survives. Also surviving are three daughters, Debora Brandstrup and Derinda Bradley, Port Clinton; and Karen Fletcher, Carey; a son, Doug, Lexington, Ky.; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two brothers, Ralph and Harry, Findlay; and a sister, Lucille Seihelmer, Charlevoix, Mich. He was preceded in death by a son, Dennis; six sisters; and two brothers. Mr. Leichty served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a farmer and retired as an accountant for the former Erie Ordnance Depot in Port Clinton. A graveside service will be held Wednesday in Lee Cemetery in Vanlue. Visitation will be in Stombaugh-Batton Funeral Home from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday. Memorials may be made to an organization of the donor's choice in care of Stombaugh-Batton Funeral home, 225 W. Findlay St., Carey OH 43316.
Donna Mulholland
Donna J. Mulholland, 219 S. Warpole St., Upper Sandusky, died at St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo at 5:10 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, 2003. She was 72. A daughter of Donald and Leona (Shafer) Elliot, she was born in Dunkirk on Dec. 22, 1930. She was married to William C. Marsh, who preceded her in death. Surviving are a daughter, Kathlene Edwards, Forest; and two brothers, Fred Elliot, Morral; and Donald Elliot, Prosperity, S.C. She was preceded in death by a grandson, Travis; and a sister, Delores Wood. Mrs. Mulholland was employed by Worthington Custom Plastics/Blackhawk Manufacturing, and had been employed by Ashton 5 and 10 Cent Store, Neumeister's Bakery and U-Brand Corp. She was a former member of Ladies of the Moose No. 1045 and was a member of Eagles Auxiliary No. 2184. Mrs. Mulholland enjoyed Elvis Presley music and movies, collecting butterfly paraphernalia, her pet cat and dog and sewing. A graveside service will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Oak Hill Cemetery with the Elder Ronald Edwards officiating. Visitation is today from 6-8 p.m. at Bringman-Clark and Co. Funeral Home. An Eagles Auxiliary memorial service will be today at 7:45 p.m. Memorials may be made to an organization of the donor's choice in care of Bringman-Clark and Co. Funeral Home, PO Box 246, Upper Sandusky OH 43351.
Velma Starner
BUCYRUS - Velma E. Starner, 75, of Bucyrus, died at 5:59; p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, 2003, at Bucyrus Community Hospital. She was born in Struthers to Louis H. and Florence E. (Hannah) Brenizer and then became the daughter of William E. and Flossie J. (Crider) Powell. On June 19, 1949, she married Samuel W. Starner. He died April 22, 1981. Surviving are two daughters, Sharron Swartz, Wharton; and Karen Ervin, Bucyrus; four grandchildren, Shannon Swartz, Kirby; Brent Ervin, Columbus; and Velvet and Amber Ervin, Bucyrus; three great-grandchildren; three brothers, Ervin Powell and Richard Unson, Mississippi; Louis Binizer, Ohio; and a sister, Frances Denegar, South Carolina. Mrs. Starner came to the Bucyrus community in 1942 and attended school in Bucyrus. She worked at Woolworth prior to her marriage, and then was a homemaker. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church. Mrs. Starner enjoyed creating floral arrangements and giving her artistic creations as gifts and spending time with family and friends. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Wise Funeral Service, Bucyrus, with the Rev. Robert Smith officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation is Thursday from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Wyandot County MS Support Group or the family in care of Wise Funeral Service.
James Miller
James H. Miller, 13477 CH 119, Upper Sandusky, died at 5:05 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, 2003, at Fairhaven Retirement and Health Care Community. He was 53. A son of Harry C. and Dorothy A. (Steinbaugh) Miller, he was born in Tiffin on Jan. 2, 1950. He married Brenda Litell on April 8, 1978, in St. Peter Catholic Church. She survives. Also surviving are four daughters, Brandy, Marion; and Dorothy, Jessica and Rosanne, all at home; and a son, Nicholas, at home. A 1968 graduate of Upper Sandusky High School, Mr. Miller went on to graduate from Wilmington College with a bachelor of science degree in education. He was a maintenance electrician at Tower Automotive, where he had been employed for 27 years. Prior to that, he was employed by the Chief Dairy. He attended St. Peter Catholic Church, where he was past hospitality minister, reader and Communion distributor. Mr. Miller was a past member of Knights of Columbus No. 2050 and of the Rod and Gun Club. He had been a volunteer firefighter for Pitt and Crane townships, a member of the Sons of the American Legion and a member of the Wyandot County Sportsmans Club. He enjoyed Civil War reenactments and was affiliated with the 121st Ohio Artillery Division. Mr. Miller enjoyed the outdoors, especially camping with his family, the Tall Ships Festival and Lake Erie. A Mass of Christian burial will be Friday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter, with the Rev. Kent Kaufman officiating. Burial will be in St. Peter Catholic Cemetery. Visitation is at Bringman-Clark and Co. Funeral Home from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday. Family will pray the rosary at 3:45 p.m. and a biblical Scripture service will be at 7:45 p.m. Memorials may be made to Fairhaven Retirement and Health Care Community or St. Peter Catholic School in care of Bringman-Clark and Co. Funeral Home, 226 E. Wyandot Ave., Upper Sandusky OH 43351.
Richard Gray
BUCYRUS - Richard J. Gray, 65, of 285 Bucyrus-Nevada Road, Nevada, died Monday morning of an apparent heart attack while walking near his home. Born Feb. 25, 1938, in Bucyrus, he was a son of Dale F. and Elenora L. (Kafer) Gray. On Feb. 25, 1966, he married Dorothy Gistle, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Doug, Bucyrus; and Steve, Pierre, S.D.; a daughter, Tina Lipstraw, Worthington; and two grandchildren, Alexander Dale and Jocelyn Annamarie. A 1956 graduate of Bucyrus High School, Mr. Gray retired from Timken in 1996 after 35 years. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Mr. Gray was an outdoorsman and a member of the NRA. The funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Munz-Pirnstill Funeral Home in Bucyrus, with the Rev. Don Neumann officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation is Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, Wynford Athletic Department or the NRA in care of Munz-Pirnstill Funeral Home, 215 N. Walnut St., Bucyrus OH 44820.
William Olpp Jr.
William C. "Bus" Olpp Jr. of Fremont and formerly of Columbus, died at his home at the age of 98 at about 5 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2003. Born in Upper Sandusky on April 25, 1905, he was a son of William C. and Estella M. (Smith) Olpp. He married Evelyn M. Weekly in 1937. She died in 1984. He is survived by his caretaker, Cynthia Young, and was preceded in death by a sister, Helen Hoffman. Mr. Olpp rode troop trains, where he distributed box lunches and coffee to new recruits en route to Camp Sherman. During World War II, he was a member of the supervisory council at the Curtiss-Wright Corp. in Columbus, where more than 5,000 dive-bombers were built for the U.S. Navy. He received several citations for developing methods for more efficient assembly of these planes. Mr. Olpp attended Ohio State University and was trained and experienced in industrial psychology. He and his wife developed and operated the Great Lakes Motel and Village for many years. He was a member of First Lutheran Church. Mr. Olpp enjoyed photography and electronics, and was a ham radio operator. He was instrumental in organizing the Ohio Motel Association in the early 1950s and was a former member of the U.S. Power Squadron. Mr. Olpp corresponded with Arthur Godfrey, Lowell Thomas and Bing Crosby. A memorial service will be held at Old Mission Church at 11 a.m. Thursday with the Rev. Julianne Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Old Mission Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Campfire Council in care of Bringman-Clark and Co. Funeral Home, PO Box 246, Upper Sandusky OH 43351.
Margaret Patchet
Margaret E. Patchet, formerly of south of Marseilles in Hardin County and a resident of Mansfield since 1991, died at Mifflin Care Center in Mansfield at 3:01 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2003. She was 87. Born in Wyandot County on Nov. 23, 1915, she was a daughter of David P. and Bernice (McCormick) Smith. She married Gilbert "Shorty" Patchet on Feb. 5, 1939, in Upper Sandusky. He died May 19, 1990. Surviving are a son, John, Mansfield; a daughter, Arkada Thomas, Kenton; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Virginia Montgomery, Marion; and a nephew. She was preceded in death by a sister, Arleta Matthews; and a niece. A 1935 graduate of Marseilles High School, Mrs. Patchet was a homemaker. She was of the Lutheran faith. Mrs. Patchet enjoyed cooking, especially baked steak and sugar cookies, gardening, canning vegetables, flowers both inside and outside, feeding and watching birds and other wildlife and square dancing. A graveside service will be Friday at 2 p.m. in McKendree Cemetery in Kenton, with the Rev. Kevin Pees officiating. Bringman-Clark and Co. Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association, Hospice or the organization of the donor's choice in care of Bringman-Clark and Co. Funeral Home, PO Box 246, Upper Sandusky OH 43351.
