Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992
Richard T. Hiner
Jan. 1, 1917 – Aug. 18, 2004
Richard T. Hiner, 87, a resident of Kennard, died Wednesday, August 18 in Henry County Memorial Hospital in New Castle. He was born January 1, 1917 in Rush County, a son of the late Samuel and Leila Ethel (Thrall) Hiner.
Mr. Hiner was a lifelong farmer specializing in tomatoes and popcorn. He was a member of the Kennard Christian Church, Lions Club, Greensboro Masonic Lodge #175 F & AM and also was on the Board of Directors for Henry County REMC.
Survivors include four children, Leila (husband Howard) Lewis of Hagerstown, Mary (husband Stanley) Guinn of Kennard, Ray (wife Penny) Hiner of New Castle and Robert (wife Andrea) Hiner of Fishers; step-children, Bonnie Murphy of New Castle, RoseAnn (husband Bob) Cater of New Castle, Donald (wife Diane) Sloan of Knightstown, Marilyn (husband Jerry) Glisson of Kennard, Sondra (husband Jim) Gorman of Carthage, Kevin (wife Brenda) Brooks of Carthage, Frank Brooks of Carthage, Jack (wife Janie) Brooks of New Castle and Jim (wife Sandy) Brooks of New Castle; one brother, James Hiner of Arizona; one sister, Helen Baker of Knightstown; one step-sister, Peggy Hurst of Indianapolis; 13 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by wives, Roberta Hiner and Donna Hiner; two stepsons, Mike Sloan and Robert Fox.
Funeral services were held Monday, August 23 in the Condo & Son Funeral Home in Wilkinson with Marion McFarland officiating. Burial was in Glen Cove Cemetery in Knightstown.
Visitation was held at the funeral home Sunday, August 22 with a Masonic Service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kennard Christian Church.
Edna Ferguson
Feb. 6, 1920 – Aug. 18, 2004
Former longtime Knightstown resident, Edna Pauline Mayer Ferguson, 84, of Safety Harbor, Fla. and Indianapolis, died Wednesday, August 18. She was born February 6, 1920.
While living in Knightstown, Edna was very active in civic affairs. She was a Tri Kappa member and a leader and supporter of Girls Scouts of America. Also, she was a member of the Sesquicentennial committee that took on the project of rebuilding the “Bandstand” on the Knightstown Square.
Surviving are two sons, Reginald Ferguson and Douglas Ferguson; two daughters, Cynthia Ferguson and Laura Kinnick; her sister, Mary E. Smith; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth C. Ferguson and a sister, Ella Mayer Hoffman.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 28 in Spencer. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Edna Maxine Blankenship
Jan. 29, 1915 – Aug. 24, 2004
Edna Maxine Blankenship, 89, of rural Carthage died at her home Tuesday, August 24. She was born January 29, 1915 in Rush County, a daughter of Ross and Pearl (Reddick) Souder.
On June 14, 1936, she married Charles Blankenship and they recently celebrated 68 years of marriage. She was born in the same farmhouse in Rush County that she died in last Tuesday.
Mrs. Blankenship was a farm wife and for many years, she and her husband were well known for raising and selling turkeys for the holidays. She was a member of the East St. Christian Church in Carthage and a member of C.W.F. East Street Christian Church.
She is survived by her husband, Charles; two sons, Larry Joe Blankenship of Mooresville and Terry Gene Blankenship of New Castle; one daughter, Mary Jane (husband Jerry) Johnson of Knoxville, Tenn.; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Besides her parents, one son and two brothers preceded her in death.
Services were held Saturday, August 28 at the Todd Funeral Home, Carthage Chapel, with Rev. David Bonne officiating. Burial was in Glen Cove Cemetery, Knightstown.
Visitation was held at the funeral home Friday, August 27.
Verna E. Akers
Oct. 10, 1921 – Aug. 30, 2004
Former Knightstown resident Verna E. Akers, 82, a resident of Fortville, died Monday, August 30 at Hancock Memorial Hospital in Greenfield. She was born October 10, 1921 in Sandy Hook, Ky., a daughter of the late Leander and Cora Alice (Conley) Howard.
Mrs. Akers was a homemaker and had worked at Western Electric and RCA. She was a member of the Knightstown American Legion Auxiliary for 52 years and a member of Grace Temple Church in Knightstown. She loved to crochet, knit and paint.
Survivors include a son, Phillip (wife Nancy) Tanner of Fortville; a daughter, Gloria (husband Fred) Biesecker of Knightstown; six grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; five stepchildren, Bruce Akers of New Castle, Mary Alice Mann of New Castle, Donald Akers of New Castle, Brenda Lacy of Anderson and Kenneth Akers of Anderson.
She was preceded in death by two husbands, Russell Nicholson and Donald L. Akers; a stepson, Richard Nicholson; two sisters, Ellen and Leann Howard; and one brother, Everett Howard.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, September 2 in the Condo & Son Funeral Home in Wilkinson with Rev. Kenneth Brown officiating. Burial will follow at Glen Cove Cemetery in Knightstown.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. today (Wednesday, September 1) at the funeral home.
Edgar Allen Poe
Sept. 2, 1954 – Aug. 28, 2004
Edgar “Big Ed” Allen Poe died Saturday, August 28 at his home in Comanche, Okla. He was born September 2, 1954 in Oklahoma City, a son of Steven Edward and Connie JoAnn Poe.
He and Connie Brooks were married March 30, 1974 in Knightstown. Big Ed worked as the water plant operator for the City of Comanche for 23 years. He attended Grace Free Will Baptist Church in Comanche and City Heights Baptist Church in Duncan. He was honored with a chapter in the book “Greatest Americans”. Ed enjoyed playing the guitar and most of all spending time with his grandkids.
Survivors include his wife, Connie Poe of Comanche, Okla.; his father, Steven Poe of Choctaw, Okla.; his mother, Connie Palmer of Comanche, Okla.; one son and daughter-in-law, Steven Ray and Tina Poe of Duncan, Okla.; one daughter and son-in-law, Debra Kay and Thomas McNair of Duncan, Okla.; three grandchildren, Clayton Breeze, Dillon Breeze and Trey McNair; one brother, Jerry Ray Poe of Pawnee, Okla., one sister, Betty JoAnn Williams of Rush Springs, Okla.; three half-brothers, Greg Palmer of Comanche, Tony Poe of Choctaw and Jamie Palmer of North Carolina; one step-brother, Mike Howard of Tennessee; and one step-sister, Yvonne Howard of Texas.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday, September 1) at the Praise Assembly of God Church with Dow Pannell and Jimmy Green officiating. Burial will be in the Fairlawn Cemetery in Comanche under the direction of Dudley Funeral Home in Comanche.
Visitation was held Monday and Tuesday at the funeral home.
A few Knightstown relatives of Connie Poe’s are in Comanche to attend the services.
Phillis Roland
Sept. 26, 1936 – Aug. 31, 2004
Phillis Roland, 67, died Tuesday, August 31 at her home in Greenfield. She was born September 26, 1936 in Carthage, a daughter of Luther and Edith (Manlief) Hull.
Mrs. Roland worked as a school secretary and teachers aid at Carthage High School and was a homemaker. She was a member of East Street Christian Church in Carthage and member of CWF at East Street Church. Phillis graduated from Carthage High School with the class of 1954.
On December 23, 1955, she married George Roland and he survives. Other survivors include a son, Douglas W. (wife Nancy) Roland of Greenfield; two daughters, Danette (husband Paul) Steel of West Lafayette and Debra (husband Jey) Stremel of Beaufort, S.C.; five grandchildren; and her mother, Edith Hull of rural Charlottesville.
Her father and one brother preceded her in death.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, September 3 at Todd Funeral Home Butcher Chapel in Knightstown with Rev. David Bonne officiating. Burial will follow in Glen Cove Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday, September 2 from 4-8 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Hancock Memorial Hospital Hospice.
Earl W. Kiger Jr.
May 26, 1911 – Sept. 4, 2004
Dunreith resident, Earl W. “Bill” Kiger Jr., 93, died Saturday, September 4 in Henry Co. Memorial Hospital in New Castle following an extended illness. He was born May 26, 1911 in Indianapolis, a son of the late Earl E. and Sadie (McLaughlin) Kiger Sr.
In 1940, he and his wife, Louise Geraldine Niven Kiger, moved from Indianapolis to Dunreith where Bill founded Kiger Service Co., selling school supplies to dozens of central Indiana schools and then moved into typewriter and television sales and service.
About 1952, he devoted fulltime to his home printing business, turning out many orders each year for local businesses, churches, unions and individuals. He loved the printing business and kept at it for 35 years. He pioneered printing on many surfaces such as silk-screening on T-shirts, political and yard signs, baseball caps, mugs and even cookies.
Bill also loved singing. For 50 years, he sang in the Knightstown United Methodist Choir and sang in his deep bass voice for hundreds of local weddings and funerals.
He was past president of the Knightstown Kiwanis Club, president of the Great Books Club and Scoutmaster of the Spiceland Boy Scouts for a number of years. He helped a number of young people get a start by having them work in his print shop. The graduate of Shortridge High School in Indianapolis earned a bachelors degree at DePauw University.
Survivors include one daughter, Gretchen Cryer of New York, N.Y.; one son, Pete Kiger of Dunreith; seven grandchildren: Brian Kiger of Baltimore, Md.; Brent Kiger of Chicago; Bridget Lee of Austin, Texas; Brandon Kiger of Lafayette; Robin Hyland, Jon Cryer and Shelly Collins, all of Los Angeles; seven great-grandchildren, Hallie, Grace Louise, Charlie, Harrison, Natalie, Julia and Hunter; three sisters, Mary Kathryn Hadley of Franklin, Barbara Hough of Darien, Conn., and Carolyn Kiger of Indianapolis; and former daughter-in-law, Judy Sadler of Falmouth.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Louise Geraldine Kiger; a son, Christopher McKern Kiger; a brother, Richard Kiger; and a sister, Elizabeth Miller.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 11 at the Knightstown United Methodist Church with Pastor Steve Brackney officiating. Burial will be in Circle Grove Cemetery. Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Knightstown United Methodist Church.
