Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992
Virginia S. Finney
August 5, 1921 - August 16, 2009
Virginia S. Finney, 88, of Rushville, died August 16 in Rushville.
She was born Aug. 5, 1921, in Rush County, a daughter of the late Clay and Pauline (Huber) Shields.
Mrs. Finney worked at the Rushville Republican for many years, serving as bookkeeper. She was related to Jacob Hackleman, who founded the newspaper. A 50-year member of Center Christian Church, she was also a member of Main Street Christian Church since 1994. Her other memberships included the CWF at Main Street Christian Church and Rushville Garden Club. Mrs. Finney was a county and township 4-H leader for several years, as well as a county 4-H club agent. She also worked with the home extension office at the Rush County Courthouse where she performed demonstrations. She served as memorial DAR chairman and was a 1939 Mays High School graduate.
Survivors include her daughter, Judy (husband, Dick) Reed of Rushville.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert.
Funeral services are at 1 p.m. Wednesday, August 19, at Glen Cove Cemetery in Knightstown with Chip West officiating. Visitation was at Moster Mortuary in Rushville.
Memorial contributions may be made to Main Street Christian Church RFT fund or Rush County Humane Society.
Betty Jane Brooks
October 31, 1915 - August 18, 2009
Betty Jane Brooks, 93, formerly of Knightstown, died August 18 at Regency Place in Greenfield.
She was born Oct. 31, 1915, in Carthage, a daughter of the late Charles and Lillian Moore.
Survivors include a daughter, Jane (husband, Richard) Leakey of Knightstown; three sons, Duane "Butch" (wife, Debra) Brooks of Indianapolis, James Robert "Jim Bob" (wife, Cindi) Brooks of Atlanta, Ga., and Steve (wife, Lois) Brooks of Knightstown; 14 grandchildren, Chad Leakey, Angie, Jill, Jason, Nick, Tyler, Lauren and Kate Brooks, Scott, Whitney and Hayley Brooks and Amy, Ben and Jenny Brooks; and 10 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Carlos "Jake" Brooks.
Graveside funeral services are at 10 a.m. Friday, August 21, at Center Christian Church Cemetery near Mays.
Memorial contributions may be made to Knightstown Public Library.
Raymond C. Simerly
September 30, 1919 - August 17, 2009
Raymond C. Simerly, 89, of Straughn, died August 17 at Henry County Memorial Hospital in New Castle.
He was born Sept. 30, 1919, in Maryville, Tenn., a son of the late Ernest and Clara (Davis) Simerly.
Mr. Simerly was known as a loving father and grandfather. He was a self-employed welder and owned his own shop in the Straughn area. Mr. Simerly served as a 1st lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War II, earning the Purple Heart.
Survivors include three sons, Mark (wife, Carol) Simerly of Straughn, Dan (wife, Marcy) Simerly of Straughn and Monte (wife, Tina) Simerly of Dalhart, Texas; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; a cousin, Pat Simerly; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma E. (Drugan) Simerly; two sisters, Maxie Bresaugh and Helen Henry; and an infant brother, Dale Simerly.
Funeral services were August 20 at Marshall & Erlewein Funeral Home in Lewisville with Rev. Arthur Whitaker officiating. Burial with full military graveside rites followed at Lewisville Cemetery. Visitation was August 19 at the funeral home.
Margaret Ann Custer
October 30, 1946 - August 20, 2009
Margaret Ann Custer, 62, of Rush County, died August 20 at Community Hospital East in Indianapolis.
She was born Oct. 30, 1946, in Rush County, a daughter of the late Robert and Joy (Tomson) Moore.
Mrs. Custer was a homemaker and co-owner of Custer Farms and Custer Electric. She was a member of Springhill Presbyterian Church and also attended Plum Creek Christian Church. A 1964 Clarksburg High School graduate, Mrs. Custer was a member of Tri Kappa sorority and was a longtime EMT and dispatcher for the Raleigh Volunteer Fire Department. She was also an EMT instructor. Known as a gifted seamstress, she also loved gardening and flowers.
Survivors include her husband, Verlin; two sons, Dale Custer and Craig (wife, Catherine) Custer, both of Rushville; two daughters, Nansi Custer of Rushville and Carol Taylor of Knightstown; four brothers, John (wife, Kathy) Moore, Walter Moore, David (wife, Beth) Moore and Jim (wife, Hope) Moore, all of Greensburg; four sisters, Marti Robbins of Phoenix, Ariz., Jeannie (husband, Chuck) Peggs and Bobbi (husband, Warren) Norris, all of Rushville, and Dottie (husband, Greg) Robbins of Greensburg; and three grandchildren, Brooke Taylor and Chase and Cora Custer.
Funeral services were August 25 at Moster Mortuary in Rushville with Ray Sweet III officiating. Burial followed at Raleigh Cemetery. Visitation was August 24 at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Raleigh Volunteer Fire Department, Springhill Presbyterian Church or Plum Creek Christian Church.
Grace Verna Pitts
January 10, 1926 - August 21, 2009
Grace Verna Pitts, 83, of Carthage, died August 21 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis.
She was born Jan. 10, 1926, in Carthage, a daughter of the late Noah and Bessie (Meadows) Magee.
Mrs. Pitts was a lifelong Carthage resident and a 1944 Carthage High School graduate. She was a member of East Street Christian Church and CWF. Her other memberships included Order of the Eastern Star, Carthage Library Book Club, Carthage Sewing Group and Red Hat Society. She was a former Rush County Republican precinct vice chairman for many years.
Survivors include a son, Larry Pitts of Carthage; two daughters, Marilyn (husband, Phillip) Kemple and Jan (husband, Joseph) Longo, all of Daytona Beach, Fla.; a sister, Mary (husband, Darrel) McNutt of Pendleton; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Odell Pitts; three brothers; and two sisters.
Funeral services are at 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 26, at Todd Funeral Home in Knightstown with Rev. David Bonne officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Carthage. Visitation is noon-2 p.m. August 26 at the funeral home.
Gary L. Fearnow
January 10, 1947 - August 24, 2009
Gary L. Fearnow, 62, of Wilkinson, formerly of Fortville, died August 24 at Manor Care Nursing Home in Anderson.
He was born Jan. 10, 1947, in Kokomo, a son of Olive (Hill) Fearnow and the late Gerald Fearnow.
Mr. Fearnow graduated from Clinton Central High School in Clinton County. He served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam, being honorably discharged on April 25, 1968. A self-employed HVAC contractor, he operated J&G Heating and Air Conditioning Service in Fortville. Formerly of Oaklandon and Fortville, Mr. Fearnow moved to Wilkinson in 1996. He was an active member of Fortville Christian Church where he was a church elder and Sunday school teacher. An avid fisherman, he enjoyed boating and fishing at Brookville, Summit, Westwood and Cataract lakes.
Survivors include his wife, Joan Wilhelm; seven children, Lisa Deeds and Brad Fearnow of Walton, Terry and John Schneider of Oaklandon, Christina Schneider of New Palestine, David Schneider of Fishers, and Jared Schneider of Zionsville; his mother, Olive Fearnow of Mississippi; 19 grandchildren; two sisters, Jane Main of Mississippi and Linda Slipher of Fishers; a brother, Steve Fearnow of Tennessee; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services are at 2 p.m. Friday, August 28, at Fortville Christian Church with Dale Holtzbaur officiating. Burial, with full military graveside rites conducted by Fortville American Legion Post 391, will follow at Gravel Lawn Cemetery in Fortville. Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Thursday, August 27, at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Fortville Christian Church, American Cancer Society or the veterans hospital.
Mildred M. Hunt
November 12, 1919 - August 28, 2009
Mildred M. "Millie" Hunt, 89, of Greenfield, died August 28 at Hancock Regional Hospital in Greenfield.
She was born Nov. 12, 1919, in Greenfield, a daughter of the late Chelsie and Victoria (Davis) Crossley.
Mrs. Hunt was a 1937 Greenfield High School graduate. She served as an executive secretary at American Fletcher National Bank in Indianapolis and was a member of Trinity Park United Methodist Church in Greenfield. She enjoyed traveling, crossword puzzles, golf and she was an avid bridge player.
Survivors include her husband, Robert L. Hunt of Greenfield; four sons, Gary R. (wife, Marcia) Hunt of Charlottesville, Dean S. (wife, Mary Jane) Hunt of Greenfield and Alan J. (wife, Carol) Hunt of Richmond, Ky.; a sister, Marion Lewis of Greenfield; a half-brother, William Crossley of Pendleton; seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were September 2 at Stillinger Family Funeral Home with Pastor Michael Manning officiating. Burial followed at Park Cemetery in Greenfield. Visitation was September 1 at the funeral home and one hour prior to services on Sept. 2.
Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Park United Methodist Church, 207 W. Park Ave., Greenfield, IN 46140.
