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Howard B. Clifton
Timber Crest Road resident Howard B. "Cliff" Clifton died December 16, 1998 at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. He was 73 years old.
Mr. Clifton retired from US Steel in 1983 after 38 years with the company and then worked the next 10 years as a consultant in construction and design engineering.
He moved to Brown County in 1992.
Mr. Clifton was active in Christian work, participating in churches, prayer groups and ministries.
His hobbies included fishing and gardening.
Born October 14, 1925 in Hammond, Indiana, he was the son of the former Esther Schweiger and Landis Clifton.
A World War II Marine Corps veteran, he married the former Marian "Jackie" Keith on March 1, 1946. She survives at home.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Other survivors include a brother, Paul Clifton of Munster; two sons, Mark of Bright and John Clifton of Sanford, Maine; two daughters, Jean Stovall and Backy Bilek, both of Highland, and 13 grandchildren.
Burial was in Calumet Park Cemetery at Merrillville.
Audney Greathouse
Brown County native Audney Greathouse died Wednesday morning, December 30, 1998, at Community Care Center in Seymour. A resident of that city, he was 87.
Mr. Greathouse was born April 17, 1911, in Brown County to Leonard and Margaret Cummings Greathouse.
He and Inez N. Fleetwood were married May 6, 1935, in Seymour. She died October 20, 1996.
Mr. Greathouse had worked as a truck driver for Morgan Packing Company in Austin for 30 years. He had also worked at Swains Industries for 13 years and Stradley Trucking Company, both at Seymour.
He was a member of Jackson County's Calvary Baptist Church.
Survivors include three sons, Marshall Greathouse of Crothersville, Gary Greathouse of North Vernon and Wesley Greathouse of Franklin; a daughter, Donna Thompson of Brownstown; three sisters, Mayda Sandin of North Vernon, Nora Wray of Winter Haven, Florida and Roberta Hunter of Crothersville; 12 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Mr. Greathouse was preceded in death by two brothers; five sisters; and a granddaughter, Patty Thompson.
Bill Scott conducted a service Saturday, January 2, at Myers Funeral Service, Burkholder Chapel in Seymour.
Burial was in that community's Uniontown Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the cemetery's maintenance fund.
Lela P. Harden
Long-time county resident Lela Pearl Harden died Sunday, January 3, 1999, at the Brown County Community Care Center in Salt Creek Park. She was 99.
She was the widow of Weber Harden.
Barkes, Inlow and Weaver Funeral Home at Columbus is in charge of arrangements.
Lloyd Hoover
Former Nineveh area resident Lloyd J. Hoover died Friday, December 25, 1998, at his daughter's home in Columbia City. A resident of Fort Wayne, he was 77.
Mr. Hoover was born October 9, 1921, in Ossian to Evin and Bertha Caston Hoover.
He and Geneva L. Richards were married in April 1943, at Nineveh Christian Church. She survives.
Mr. Hoover had worked at Coverall Rental Company in Fort Wayne, retiring in 1984. He had also worked at Phelps Dodge Corporation in Fort Wayne.
He was a member of Harlan United Methodist Church, Fort Wayne Scottish Rite, Mizpah Temple and American Legion Post 0777.
Mr. Hoover had been a member of the Nineveh Masonic Lodge for 50 years.
He was a United States Army veteran of World War II.
Other survivors include a daughter, Annell Smith of Columbia City; two sisters, Corrine Geake of Grayling, Michigan and Josephine Moore of Warsaw; a brother, Mark Hoover of Fort Wayne; and two grandchildren.
A private service will be conducted at a later date in Oaklawn Cemetery at Ossian.
Memorial contributions may be made to Harlan United Methodist Church or Parkview Home Health and Hospice in Whitley County.
Wilbur Kesler
Bean Blossom Road resident Wilbur C. Kesler died Friday, January 4, 1999, at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Franklin. He was 81.
Mr. Kesler was born June 11, 1917, in Indianapolis to Ora and Janie Kittinger Kesler.
He and Tressie J. Clarke were married June 11, 1939, in Indianapolis. She survives in Brown County.
Mr. Kesler had worked at Milturn Machine Company in Indianapolis for 15 years, retiring in 1982. Before that, he had worked as a tool maker at Mitchell and Scott Machine shop in Indianapolis for 20 years.
He was a former member of the Indianapolis Moose Lodge.
Mr. Kesler enjoyed hunting and fishing.
He was a United States Marine Corps veteran of World War II.
Other survivors include two sons, Larry James Kesler of Bean Blossom Road and Ross Edward Kesler of Columbus; two daughters, Janet K. Payson of Trevlac and Viva Ellen Thompson of Spearsville; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Carl Lee Kesler in 1979; four brothers; and three sisters.
Pastor Fred Harrison will conduct a service tomorrow, January 7, at 11 a.m. in the Meredith-Clark Funeral Home at Morgantown.
Burial was at Unity Baptist Church Cemetery in northern Brown County.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Post Office Box 736, Franklin, Indiana 46131.
Russell Lucas
Brown County native Russell L. Lucas died Friday evening, January 1, 1999, at Decatur County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg. A resident of Alert, he was 67.
Mr. Lucas was born November 5, 1931, in Brown County to Jesse B. and Mary Hardin Lucas.
He and Rebecca A. Gessler were married May 14, 1966, in North Vernon. She survives in Decatur County.
Mr. Lucas had worked at Golden Foundary in Columbus for 13 years, retiring in 1982.
He had worked as a self-employed mechanic from 1982 until 1998.
Other survivors include two sons, Bobby Lee Lucas of Greensburg and Russell Allen Lucas of Westport; four daughters, Betty King of Columbus, and Judy Vail, Beverly Sutton and Sally Evans, all of Greensburg; two brothers, Perry Lucas of North Vernon and Raymond Lucas of Scottsburg; 18 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Mr. Lucas was preceded in death by a sister, Maggie King; three brothers, Wilson Lucas, Clinton Lucas and Elsworth Lucas; a grandson, Nathan Lucas; and a great-granddaughter, Josie Wells.
The Reverend Connie Barr conducted a service Tuesday, January 5, at Bass and Gasper Funeral Home in Westport.
Burial was at Vernon Cemetery.
Richard Ping
Richard L. "Chopper" Ping Sr. died Friday, December 25, 1998, at his home in Seymour. He was 67.
Mr. Ping left survivors in Brown County.
He was born May 20, 1931, in Monroe County to Oscar and Gladys Denet Ping.
Mr. Ping is survived by a daughter, Belinda Sue Begley of Mooresville; five sons, Phillip Ping, Richard Ping Jr. and Albert Ping, all of Indianapolis, Tim Ping of Nashville and David Ping of Texas; two brothers, Roy Ping and Robert Ping, both of Indianapolis; a sister, Lois Keller of Ellettsville; 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter; and a brother.
Brother Johnie Edwards led a service Saturday, January 2, in Bloomington's Valhalla Memory Gardens
Chandler Funeral Home in Ellettsville was in charge of arrangements.
Robert Smith Sr.
Robert L. Smith Sr., the brother of Bean Blossom resident Lucille Schrock, died Saturday, December 26, 1998, at Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. A resident of Taylorsville, he was 66.
Mr. Smith was born May 8, 1932, in Johnson County to Clinton and Myrtle Marie Winegardner Smith.
He was married to Phyllis Ciavone Moates. She survives in Bartholomew County.
Mr. Smith had worked as a truck driver for CTI Trucking in Edinburgh, retiring in 1987.
He had attended River of Living Waters and First Baptist Church in Taylorsville.
Mr. Taylor was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Alliance.
Other survivors include his former wife and the mother of his children, Judith Hatton Smith of Martinsville; four daughters, Connie Ritter of Ellettsville, Patricia Hine of Martinsville, Becky Kemp of Savannah, Georgia and Cathy Stuart of Indianapolis; two sons, Dean Smith and Bobby Smith, both of Martinsville; two step-sons, Michael Kirby and Daniel Kirby, both of Michigan; a step-daughter, Mary Lena Beard of Michigan; two brothers, Leo Smith and Chester Smith, both of Indianapolis; two other sisters, Peggy McNear of Cloverdale and Opal Louise Hoban of Greensburg; 21 grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Gayle Smith; two infant brothers; and a sister, Anna Mae Smith.
The Reverend Kenneth Castleman and Reverend Roy Findley conducted a service Wednesday, December 30, at Neal and Summers Mortuary in Martinsville.
Burial was in Brown County's Christiansburg Cemetery.
William Smith
Brown County native William T. Smith died Saturday afternoon, January 2, 1999, at Columbus Regional Hospital. A resident of that city, he was 74.
Mr. Smith was born December 29, 1924, in Brown County to James and Minnie Reeves Smith.
He and Willie Mae Barger were married October 3, 1968. She survives in Bartholomew County.
Mr. Smith had worked as a pipefitter before retiring.
He was a veteran of World War II, having served in Japan.
Other survivors include three sons, Norman Smith and Steve Smith, both of Columbus and James Smith of Freetown; four daughters, Nancy Whorton of Michigan and Cathy Newby, Ruth Hunter and Elvadean Burdine, all of Freetown; two step-daughters, Mary Barger and Gidget Barger, both of Columbus; three step-sons, Bobby Barger, Jerry Barger and Paul Barger, all of Columbus; three brothers, Alvin Smith of Seymour, Harry Smith of Greensburg and Silas Smith of Columbus; a sister, Goldie Brown of Seymour; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his first wife, Emma Ruth Hall Smith; a son, Gary Smith; and a step-daughter, Beulah McIntyre.
The Reverend Wayne Emerson will conduct a service Thursday, January 7, at Norman Funeral Home in Hope.
Burial was at Bartholomew County's Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Shiloh Baptist Church.
Shirley Sparks
Shirley M. Sparks died Tuesday, December 29, 1998, at Bloomington Hospital. A resident of that city, she was 80.
Mrs. Sparks left survivors in Brown County.
He was born October 12, 1918, in Bolivar, Missouri to Ben and Laura Mock Hammontree.
She was married to Vernon Sparks. He died in 1988.
Mrs. Sparks was a homemaker.
She was a member of First Baptist-United Church of Christ. Mrs. Sparks had volunteered for Alcoholics Anonymous in Bloomington and Indianapolis and at Bloomington Hospital.
Survivors include two daughters, Sylvia Gormely of Indianapoli and Marilyn Parrish of Bloomington; three sons, Kenneth Sparks and David Sparks, both of Bloomington and Daniel Sparks of Nashville; a sister, Marjory Pitner of Boliver, Missouri; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
The Reverend Robert Curtis led a service Saturday, January 2, at Allen Funeral Home in Bloomington.
Burial was in that city's Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Monroe County Humane Society, First Baptist-United Church of Christ or Bloomington Hospital Foundation.
Eric Alberding
Former Morgantown area resident Eric Alberding died Saturday, January 2, 1999, in Indianapolis. A resident of that city, he was 50.
Mr. Alberding was born August 21, 1948, in Indianapolis to Clarence Julian "Duke" Alberding and Margot Kautschor Staggs. His mother survives in Greenwood.
He was graduated from Marion County's Howe High School in 1966.
Mr. Alberding had worked as a sheet metal draftsman for more than 30 years. He also had worked at Nuclear Measurement Company and Carr Metal Products Company, both in Indianapolis.
Other survivors include his step-father, Robert C. Staggs of Greenwood; a sister, Juliane Pedigo of Greenwood; a niece, Brinne Pedigo; and a nephew, Matthew Pedigo.
He was preceded in death by his father in 1977.
The Reverend Wayne Tucker led a service Wednesday, January 6, at Meredith-Clark Funeral Home in Morgantown.
Burial was in that community's East Hill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association, 9410 Priority Way West Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240.
