Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992
Florence Marie Ray
Oct. 29, 1922 – Jan. 24, 2008
Florence Marie Ray, 85, of Shirley, died January 24 at Morristown Manor Nursing Home.
She was born Oct. 29, 1922, in Shirley, a daughter of the late Everett and Alice (Robinson) Ray.
A lifelong Shirley resident, Miss Ray was a 1940 Wilkinson High School graduate. She owned and operated a Shirley restaurant for several years and was known for her popular pies. Miss Ray also worked at Shirley Hardware, enjoyed dancing and playing cards in her penny-ante card club.
Survivors include cousins and a several special friends.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Everett Ray, Jr.
Funeral services were January 29 at Marshall & Erlewein Funeral Home in Shirley. Burial will follow at Harlan Cemetery near Wilkinson. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Memorials Lockbox, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, Ill., 60674.
Arthur R. Rose
Dec. 16, 1930 – Jan. 26, 2008
Arthur R. Rose, 77, of La Porte, formerly of Knightstown, died January 26 at LaPorte Hospital.
He was born Dec. 16, 1930, in Carter County, Ky., a son of the late Homer C. and Edna C. (Stone) Rose.
Mr. Rose was a 1950 Knightstown High School graduate. He served in the U.S. Army’s airborne division and earned a master’s degree in mathematics at Indiana State Teachers College in Terre Haute, where he played football for three years. Mr. Rose started teaching in 1957 at Merrillville High School. He then moved to Lowell, where he taught math and coached football at Lowell High School. After four years at Lowell, he worked for White Outdoor Advertising for two years. He taught at New Prairie High School, then moved to LaPorte where he taught math until his retirement in 1995. Mr. Rose owned an accounting business from 1969-2007. He was a member of the LaPorte VFW and Knightstown American Legion Post 152. Mr. Rose was also a member of Phi Delta in LaPorte and the I Club at Indiana State.
Survivors include his wife, Beverly (Bender) Rose; a daughter, Debbie Rose; a granddaughter, Natasha Brophy; two sisters, Elizabeth Martin of New Castle and Deanna Griffin of Greenfield; two brothers, Lawrence Rose of Pensacola, Fla., and Phillip “Buddy” Rose of Knightstown; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five brothers, James, Farris, Robert, Carl and Cecil Rose; and two sisters, Jackie Ernst and Nadine Swanson.
Private funeral services were held January 29 at Salem Cemetery in LaPorte with Rev. Steve Laue officiating. Burial will take place in Salem Cemetery. There was no visitation. Cutler Funeral Home in LaPorte is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Knightstown American Legion Post 152.
Darwin Lee Tompkins
Aug. 6, 1936 – Jan. 26, 2008
Darwin Lee Tompkins, 71, of Greenfield, died January 26 at Brandywine Health Care in Greenfield.
He was born Aug. 6, 1936, in Vinnie, Ky., a son of the late James Willard and Luella Mae (Roberts) Tompkins.
Mr. Tompkins was a self-employed truck driver and a member of the Army National Guard.
Survivors include two sons, William Lee (wife, Ann Marie) Tompkins of Palmetto, Fla., and Jay Willard (wife, Tina) Tompkins of Nesbit, Miss.; two daughters, Crystal Ann Breedlove of Greenfield and Catherine T. (husband, Tim) Looper of Markleville; his stepmother, Theria Tompkins of Shirley; four brothers, James H. (wife, Emma) Tompkins of Wilkinson, Larmie Tompkins of Indianapolis, Anthony (wife, Rhonda) Tompkins of Shirley, Theodore (wife, Cotton) Tompkins of Markleville; four sisters, Winifred (husband, Tom) Tharpe of Lebanon, Estelle (husband, Phil) McDonald of Knightstown; Georgiana Childress of Greenfield, Virginia Redmon of Shirley; six grandchildren, Marcus (wife, Brittany) Breedlove, Jessica Breedlove, William Lee (wife, Kristy) Tompkins Jr., Allison Suzanne (husband, Lloyd) Higginbotham, Zachary Tompkins, Micaela Tompkins; and 10 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his second wife, Frankie Tompins, in 2005; a son, Harry Alfred Tompkins; two brothers, Robert and Randolph Tompkins; and a granddaughter, Leeann Tompkins.
Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Thursday, January 31, at Condo & Son Funeral Home in Wilkinson. Burial will follow in McCray Cemetery in Wilkinson. Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, January 31, at the funeral home.
Byron Collier
April 15, 1914 – Jan. 16, 2008
Byron Collier, 93, of Wilkinson, died January 16 at his home.
He was born April 15, 1914, in Hancock County, a son of the late Robert and Margaret (Cook) Collier.
Mr. Collier was a 1932 Wilkinson High School graduate. He served as a Hancock County Commissioner for eight years. He also served as Hancock County Treasurer for eight years. Mr. Collier was a member and elder at Wilkinson Church of Christ. He was also a member of Farm Bureau. He was a dairy farmer on his family’s farm.
Survivors include his wife, Freda (Barton) Collier; four sons, Theron (wife, Kathy) Collier of Brea, Cal., Charles (wife, Jessie) Collier of Wilkinson, Donald (wife, Lee) Collier of Indianapolis and Philip (wife, Karen) Collier of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a daughter, Phyllis (husband, William) Vest of Wilkinson; 18 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Doris (Milner) Collier; three brothers, Harrison, James and Max Collier; and three sister, Cecil Forkert, Ruth Collier and Mary Carpenter.
Funeral services were January 21 at Wilkinson Church of Christ with Herman Lippert officiating. Burial followed in Harlan Cemetery. Visitation was January 20 at Condo & Son Funeral Home in Wilkinson. Memorial contributions may be made to Wilkinson Church of Christ.
Joanne R. Travis
Nov. 10, 1929 – Jan. 20, 2008
Joanne R. Travis, 78, of Knightstown, died January 20 at Hancock Regional Hospital in Greenfield.
She was born Nov. 10, 1929, in Indianapolis, a daughter of the late Robert C. and Edith (Prentice) Lewis.
Mrs. Travis was a former Indianapolis and Springfield, Ohio, resident. She was employed by American States Insurance Company, where she served as an underwriter for 29 years. Mrs. Travis was a member of Knightstown Christian Church and a former member of Knightstown United Methodist Church, where she was involved with the Methodist Women’s organization. She enjoyed needlework, gardening and feeding and watching birds.
Survivors include her husband, Norman E. Travis of Knightstown; two sons, Robert E. Randolph and Richard S. Randolph, both of Indianapolis; four grandchildren, Kimberly J. Randolph, Justin R. Randolph, Bradley Randolph and Michelle Theising; two brothers, Robert C. Lewis of Huntsville, Ala., and John K. Lewis of Knightstown; three stepchildren, Susan Kay (husband, Larry) Ford of Ft. Myers, Fla., Michael T. (wife, Alma) Travis of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., and Gregg Randall Travis of Madison, Ala.; and six stepgrandchildren.
Funeral services are at 1 p.m. Wednesday, January 23, at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in Knightstown with Rev. Richard Thayer officiating. Burial will follow in Glen Cove Cemetery in Knightstown. Visitation is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, January 23, at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service Scholarship Fund, in care of the Henry County Community Foundation.
Cora Beth Cole and Josie Danielle Cole
January 17, 2008
Cora Beth and Josie Danielle Cole, infant twins of Justin and Miki (Wells) Cole of Knightstown, died January 17 at University Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio.
They were members of Fletcher United Methodist Church in Carthage.
Survivors include their parents, Justin and Miki (Wells) Cole of Knightstown; maternal grandparents, Marty and Debbie Wells of Carthage; paternal grandparents, Mamie and Junior Cole of Charlottesville; paternal grandparent, Deborah Cole of Indianapolis; grandparent, Robert Hogan of Greenfield; and great-grandparents, Sam and Marylou Cole of Carthage.
Funeral services were January 22 at Todd Funeral Home in Knightstown with Pastor Roger Campbell officiating. Burial followed in Glen Cove Cemetery in Knightstown.
Howard Harris
May 5, 1908 – Jan. 21, 2008
Howard Harris, 99, of Shirley, died January 21 at St. John’s Hospital in Anderson.
He was born May 5, 1908, in Henry County, a son of the late Ira and Bertha (Coon) Harris.
Mr. Harris was sexton and caretaker of Harlan Cemetery since 1943. He was a member of the Straughn Brotherhood and Sisterhood and a retired farmer.
Survivors include a son, Howard Manford (wife, Jacqueline) Harris of Shirley; four daughters, Lavonne (husband, William) Stall of Hagerstown, Alveda Whisler of Wilkinson, Freda (husband, John) Good of Daleville and Ellen (husband, Robert) Smith of Markleville; 17 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Credeth L. Harris; eight brothers; and two sisters.
Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Friday, January 25, at Condo & Son Funeral Home in Wilkinson with Rev. Maynard Powell officiating. Burial will follow in Harlan Cemetery. Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Thursday, January 24, at the funeral home.
