Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992
Hyldred Beck Spitler Willis
Nov. 16, 1901 – Sept. 3, 2005
Hyldred Beck Spitler Willis, 103, formerly of Knightstown, died September 3, in Port St. Lucie, Fla., where she had resided since 1996. She was born November 16, 1901 in Cass County to the late Clement and Rose Lenon Beck.
Hyldred married C. Everett Spitler in 1921 and was active in the Frankfort Parent Teacher Association before moving with her family to Greenfield. She worked at Goodman’s Department Store and at Eli Lilly during WWII. Widowed in 1946, she married John Willis of Knightstown in 1949. She was active in local civic clubs and the Knightstown United Methodist Church. Mrs. Willis was treasurer of KUMC until retiring in 1986, at the age of 85.
Mrs. Willis is survived by two children, Wendell Spitler of Greenfield and Rosemary Spitler Grabhorn of Port St. Lucie, Fla. Also surviving are her stepchildren, David Willis of Lake Placid, Fla. and Ana Mae Willis Walker of Portland, Ore.; 11 grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 17 step-great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and first husband, Mrs. Willis was preceded in death by husband John Willis in 1966.
Graveside services were held Sunday, September 11, 2 p.m., at the Center Cemetery, near Young America, Ind. Pastor John Newman officiated. Gundrum Funeral Home, Logansport, was in charge of the arrangements.
Robert A. Farmer, II
July 7, 1946 – Sept. 11, 2005
Robert A. Farmer, II, 59, of Shirley, died Sunday, September 11, at IU Medical Center, Indianapolis following an extended illness. He was born July 7, 1946, in Henry County, son of the late Robert and Dorothy (Saathoff) Farmer.
Mr. Farmer was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served during the Vietnam era. He retired from Chrysler Corp. in New Castle and Dayton Thermal Products in Dayton, Ohio in 1944, after over 30 years of service. He had previously co-owned Helton’s Quality Home Furnishings in New Castle and had farmed and owned rental properties. Mr. Farmer was member of the American Legion and past president of the 40-8 Club. He was affiliated with the First Christian Church in Shirley. Mr. Farmer enjoyed collecting classic cars and playing with his cat, Pookster.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Candi (Parsons) Farmer; a son, Patrick Farmer of Shirley; a daughter, Jennifer Farmer of St. Petersburg, Fla.; one sister, Dr. Chris Stepleton of Chicago, Ill.; two half brothers, Jeffrey Farmer of Lafayette and Jim Farmer of Anderson; and a nephew, Drew Farmer of Indianapolis.
Funeral services will be held at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service, New Castle, on Wednesday, September 14, at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Mark Martin officiating. Military rites will be conducted by the American Legion and the VFW. Burial will follow in South Mound Cemetery. Friends are encouraged to drive their classic cars in procession from the funeral home to the cemetery.
Visitation was held Tuesday, September 13, 6-8 p.m. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the National Leukemia Foundation or IU Medical Center Cancer Research. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.
Samuel Moore Chase
Jan. 16, 1910 – Sept. 8, 2005
Samuel Moore Chase, 95, of Sulphur Springs, Texas, formerly of Indiana, died Thursday, September 8, after a brief illness. He was born in Chicago, Ill., son of the late Carl William and Ethel Moore Chase.
Mr. Chase grew up in Gary, where he graduated from Emerson High School. He attended Indiana University and was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. He joined the Herbie Kay Orchestra; he played clarinet and saxophone. He was employed with Indiana National Bank until WWII, when the family moved to Knightstown. He then served as business manager of the Indiana Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Children’s Home for over two decades. He was a Deacon and Trustee of the Bethel Presbyterian Church and also served as president of Knightstown Kiwanis. Before his retirement, Mr. Chase served as business administrator of the Indiana State Teachers’ Retirement Home in Greenwood. His love of music will be remembered.
Mr. Chase is survived by his wife of 69 years, Frances Gentry Fillingim Chase; two sons, Samuel Moore (wife Nancy) Chase, Jr. of Marietta Ga. and Patrick Fillingim (wife Patricia) Chase of Sulphur Springs, Texas; grandchildren, Menzies Cade Chase (husband Noel) Campbell of Dahlonega, Ga., Samuel Moore (wife Caroline) Chase, III of Missouri City, Texas, Carrie Moore Chase (husband John) Berry of Sulphur Springs, Texas, Andrew Patrick Chase of Marietta, Ga., Molly Grace Chase of Sulphur Springs, Texas; great-grandson, Chase Mead Berry of Sulphur Springs, Texas; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Sunday, September 17, at 1 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the ISSCH Alumni Fund, c/o Evelyn Helms, 460 E. Water St., Pendleton, Ind. 46064.
Rebecca “Becky” McMichael
May 28, 1929 – Sept. 9, 2005
Rebecca “Becky” McMichael, 76, of Rushville, died Friday, September 9 at her residence. She was born May 28, 1929 in Rushville, daughter of the late Ludlow and Dora (Ketchum) Gibbs.
Mrs. McMichael was a 1948 graduate of Rushville High School. She was employed at the Indiana Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Children’s Home as a house parent from 1984 – 2004. Since 1976, she was a Mary Kay consultant and director. During the 1970s she was the assistant store manager at Minear’s Department Store in Rushville. She also worked at Schnadig as a seamstress and sewing engineer. Mrs. McMichael was a volunteer at Hancock Memorial Hospital. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Rushville and a member of Gideon International Auxiliary where she participated in the jail ministry for women at the Fayette County Jail. She was a Rush County 4-H leader with the Busy Belles Club for eight years.
She married Lowell McMichael November 7, 1992, and he survives. Also surviving are four sons, Eric I. Miller of Brownsburg, Mark A. Miller of Rushville, Jay R. Miller of Greenfield and Jeff L. Miller of New Palestine; three daughters, Debbie (husband Terry) Hedges of Greenfield, Connie (husband Ron) Cole of Indianapolis and Annie (husband Don) Bell of Asheville, N.C.; three sisters, Janet Barlow of Marion, Susan (husband Dan) Cline of Indianapolis and Vickie Gibbs of Anderson; 15 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Monday, September 12, at 11 a.m., at the First Baptist Church of Rushville, with Pastor Lew Hunter and the Rev. Phil Hodgkin officiating. Burial followed in East Hill Cemetery, Rushville. Moster & Cox Mortuary, Rushville was in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation was held at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International.
Robert L. Galyen
Oct. 18, 1929 – Sept. 13, 2005
Robert L. Galyen, 75, of New Castle, died at his residence, Tuesday, September 13, following an extended illness. He was born October 18, 1929, in Hayden, Jennings County, son of the late Eugene and Luella (Robbins) Galyen.
Mr. Galyen retired from the New Castle State Hospital where he was an assistant dairyman. He obtained his mechanics license and became a farm and ground maintenance man. After retirement, he traveled to all 48 continental states and enjoyed visiting most of the national parks and other sites in the U.S. Mr. Galyen was a member of the First Baptist Church of New Castle. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, vegetable farming and family activities.
Mr. Galyen married the former Geneva Sandlin on June 2, 1950, and she survives. Also surviving are four children, Carolyn Sue (husband James) Barnett of Tucson, Ariz., Robert (wife Susan) Galyen, Jr. of Noblesville, Jeffrey (wife Kimberly) Galyen of New Castle and Teresa (husband Darron) Dulin of Shirley; six grandchildren, Jennifer, Stephanie, Michael, Sara and Matthew Galyen and Nelson Dulin; and two sisters, Betty Johnson of Prentice, Wis. and Ethel Robbins of North Vernon.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Galyen was preceded in death by two brothers, Edward and Eugene, Jr. and a sister, Mary Hartwell.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 17, 10:30 a.m., at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service, New Castle, with the Rev. Jack Hannum officiating. Burial will follow in Glen Cove Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday, September 16, 4-8 p.m., and one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Henry County Community Foundation, American Cancer Society, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology or First Baptist Church of New Castle. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.
Christine Elizabeth Jones
August 6, 1922 – September 9, 2005
Christine Elizabeth Jones, 83, of Knightstown, died Friday, September 9, at Hancock Memorial Regional Hospital. She was born August 6, 1922, in Rushville, daughter of the late Earl Gard, Sr. and Ruth (Kelly) Gard.
Mrs. Jones lived in Knightstown most of her life. She was a homemaker and a lifelong member of St. Rose Catholic Church.
She is survived by four sons, John Jones of Greenfield, David Jones of Dunreith, Mark Jones and James Jones, both of Indianapolis; four daughters, Dee Ann Peredo of Indianapolis, Sharon Jones of Greenfield, Mary Jones of Knightstown and Ruth Miller of Elliottsville; a sister, Rose Mary Clarke of Indianapolis; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Jones was preceded in death by her husband Orville Jones; one brother; and two sisters.
Funeral service was held Monday, September 12, at St. Rose Catholic Church, Knightstown, with the Rev. Joe Rautemberg officiating. Burial followed in Glen Cove Cemetery.
Todd Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Helen L. Welsh
Feb. 11, 1920 – Sept. 13, 2005
Helen L. Welsh, 85, of Greenfield, formerly of Spiceland, died Tuesday, September 13, in Greenfield. She was born February 11, 1920 in Middletown, Ohio, daughter of the late Charles and Grace (McCarty) Sorrell.
Mrs. Welsh was a graduate of Middletown High School, Middletown, Ohio. She worked as a volunteer for Hancock Regional Hospital of Greenfield for over 25 years. She also worked for Danners’ Inc. for over 35 years. Mrs. Welsh was a member of Ogden U.M.C. and Spiceland/Lewisville Order of Eastern Star.
Survivors include two sons, Michael Welsh of Avon and Rev. Barry Welsh of Franklin Co.; two daughters, Pat Haynes and Nancy Mason, both of Greenfield; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Welsh was preceded in death by her husband Roy E. Welsh; daughter Donna Miller; brothers Howard, Harold, Kenny, Haroldon; and granddaughter Kellie Mason.
Funeral services will be held Friday, September 16, 10 .m., at Pasco-Stillinger Funeral Home, Greenfield, with the Rev. Barry Welsh officiating. Burial will follow in Glen Cove Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, September 15, 4-8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hancock Memorial Hospital Foundation, 801 N. State St., Greenfield, Ind. 46140 or to the American Cancer Society, 426 Hamilton St., Fortville, Ind. 46040.
