Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992
Gail Ruth Wittenborn
January 11, 1929 - May 1, 2011
Gail Ruth Wittenborn, 82, of Rushville, died May 1 at her home.
She was born Jan. 11, 1929, in Chester, Ill., a daughter of the late Leonard and Cora (Craig) Hunt.
Mrs. Wittenborn worked at Rushville Elementary School and Rushville Middle School for 24 years, serving as a language arts tutor. A 1946 Chester (Ill.) High School graduate, she was a member of Psi Iota Xi Sorority, played in a bridge club and was an avid gardener and reader. Mrs. Wittenborn was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Rushville.
Survivors include her husband, Delbert Wittenborn of Rushville; a son, John L. Wittenborn of Arlington, Va.; three daughters, Nancy (husband, Dr. Robert) Woodruff of Columbus, Lee Ann (husband, Richard) Vaughan of Carthage and Jan Wendt of Carmel; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services are at noon Wednesday, Jan. 4, at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Rushville with Pastor Jan Dimick officiating. Visitation is May 4 from 10 a.m. until time of services. Private burial services will take place at East Hill Cemetery in Rushville.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church or Rush County Community Foundation.
Ira Willard Sparks
February 22, 1930 - May 1, 2011
Ira Willard Sparks, 81, of Pendleton, died May 1 at Rawlins House in Pendleton.
He was born Feb. 22, 1930, in Hancock County, a son of the late Willis and Martha (Haynes) Sparks.
Mr. Sparks worked for 29 years at Kraft Cheese in Shirley. He later worked 17 years at the Indiana Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Children’s Home in Knightstown, retiring in 1992.
Survivors include a brother, Bill (wife, Marieta) Troy; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth (Lemerick) Sparks; and four sisters, Cecil Jackson, Viola Jones, Freda Basbinder and Ruth Hawkins. Graveside services will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 5, at McCray Cemetery in Wilkinson with Adam Payne officiating. Condo & Son Funeral Home in Wilkinson handled arrangements.
Evelyn A. Zilligen
April 21, 1914 – April 30, 2011
Evelyn A. (Moss) Zilligen, 97, of Greenfield, died April 30 at Hancock Regional Hospital in Greenfield.
She was born April 21, 1914, the daughter of the late Rome Moss and Ethel Lucas.
Ms. Zilligen was a musician, playing both organ and piano for many decades at South Street Methodist Church (now Trinity United Methodist Church) and at Pasco’s Mortuary in Greenfield. A lifelong member of the American Music Teachers Association, she is remembered for teaching piano and organ to several generations of students from the 1930s through the 1980s in Hancock County and the surrounding areas. In addition, she worked for the Indianapolis Red Cross and later for Riddick Music Company, traveling and teaching through- out central Indiana. Ms. Zilligen was known as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She shared her interest in antiquing, writing, reading, nature, decorating, good food, card games and her cabin on Lake Gage in northern Indiana with all. She maintained numerous long distance correspondences with family, friends and former students. She kept busy, helped others and shared her special music.
Survivors include a son, Dr. Jesse J. Thomas of Murrieta, Calif.; daughters Marjorie (husband, Don) Smith of New Palestine and Susan (husband, Walter) Vandenbark of Wilkinson; 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Jesse B. Thomas and Fred Keppler, and one grandson, Paul Thomas.
A private family service is being held May 4 at Condo and Son Funeral Home in Wilkinson with Michael Manning officiating, with burial following at Park Cemetery in Greenfield.
Carolyn Sue Spears
July 9, 1944 – April 29, 2011
Carolyn Sue Spears, 66, of Wilkinson, died April 29 at her home.
She was born July 9, 1944, in New Castle, a daughter of the late Ben and Lillian (Carter) Madison.
Mrs. Spears was a homemaker most of her life, but had worked at DSA Group Home and Elder Beerman in Anderson for several years. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.
Survivors include her husband, Dale "L.D." Spears of Wilkinson; a son, Shawn (wife, Della) Spears of Knightstown; daughters Kelly (husband, Scotty) Seybert of Shirley and Tanya (husband, Jerry) Stromme of Wilkinson; a sister, Sharon Boggs of Anderson; and grandchildren Nicholas Stromme and Thomas Dale Spears.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Danny Madison.
Visitation will be May 7 at Condo and Son Funeral Home in Wilkinson from 1-3 p.m. Funeral services will follow with Ryan McCarty and Richard Gregg officiating.
Memorial Contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, 9635 W. 96th Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46278 or to St. John’s Health System Hospice, 2015 Jackson Street, Anderson, In 46016.
Betty L. Swincher
October 17, 1929 – April 29, 2011
Betty Lou (Higgins) Swincher, 81, of Knightstown, died April 29 at Regency Place Rehabilitation Center in Greenfield.
She was born Oct. 17, 1929, in New Castle, a daughter of the late Robert Harvey and Della Mae (Craig) Higgins.
Mrs. Swincher graduated from New Castle High School in 1949. She worked as an operator for Indiana Bell Telephone for several years, and then became a homemaker once she and her husband began building their family of 11 children. She worked at Jac-Wil Casket Factory in Knightstown and at Indiana Knitwear in Greenfield. She earned an associate degree in nursing from Ivy Tech in 1984 and worked at Regency Place Nursing Home in Greenfield until her retirement in 1995.
Mrs. Swincher was an avid fan of all sports, traveling to Atlanta in 1996 to attend the Olympic Games. She especially enjoyed the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning, the Butler Bulldogs, IU basketball under Bob Knight and Tiger Woods. An avid NASCAR and Jeff Gordon fan as well, for years Mrs. Swincher had two televisions in her living room, as she watched the Colts on one and the race on the other. She often kept the remote control in her hand to change over to that week’s PGA match during commercials.
For many years, she listened to the Indianapolis 500 on the radio and attended the race and qualifications several times. Mrs. Swincher was a longtime member of Knightstown American Legion Post 152 Ladies Auxiliary and was a former member of Moose Lodge and Eagles Lodge in New Castle. She was an avid bingo player and a longtime supporter of Knightstown Public Library and Knightstown Food Pantry.
Survivors include six sons, Richard Steven (wife, Ruby) Swincher of Fort Wayne, David (wife, Ann) Swincher of Dripping Springs, Texas, Kenneth (wife, Angie) Swincher of Plainfield, Ty Swincher of Knightstown, Cort (wife, Angie) Swincher of Knightstown, J. Mark (wife, Lori) Swincher of Carthage; four daughters, Paula Glick of Fort Wayne, Rhea (husband, Lonnie) Duvall of New Castle; Della Swincher (husband, Jerry) of Vevay, and Jenny (husband, Denny) Davis of Knightstown; 30 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and 10 nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Richard L. Swincher; one son, Donald; a brother, Jim Higgins; and a sister, Barbara Brown.
Visitation was May 2 at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service Knightstown Chapel and funeral services were May 3 with Pastor Bill Roberts of Christ Fellowship Church officiating. Burial was in McCray Cemetery in Wilkinson.
Memorial contributions may be made to Knightstown Food Pantry, 27 S. Jefferson St., Knightstown.
Frederick Albert Wright
February 10, 1922 – April 29, 2011
Frederick "Fred" Albert Wright, 89, died April 29.
He was born Feb. 10, 1922, in Beardstown, Ill., the son of the late Cecil Irving "Ci" and Idella Wright.
Mr. Wright graduated from Beardstown High School in 1940 and served in the Army Air Corps in World War II. He retired from the Indiana Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Children’s Home in Knightstown in 1987 after almost 40 years of service, including many years as dean of student life. He returned for the ISSCH Homecoming every September to catch up with former students. He was a tireless volunteer, especially for United Methodist Church’s Redbird Mission near Beverly, Ky., for which he gathered donations for many years and delivered them to assist the Appalachian people.
In 1989, he was part of a United Methodist Church work team that traveled to Sierra Leone. He also served on the board of directors of the Bashor Home of the United Methodist Church. Mr. Wright was an avid softball player and a member of the Indiana Silverfoxes team and the team in Fort Myers, Fla. that won the 14th annual Senior Softball World Series in Des Moines, Iowa in 2002. He also played and coached softball for many years for United Methodist Church in New Castle.
Survivors include his companion, Beth Gray; six children, Woody (wife, Judy), Cecil (wife, Penny), Joe, Terry (wife, Susan), Tim (wife, Karen) and Teresa (husband, Dave) Thornburgh; a brother-in-law, Bob Higgs; nephews Michael and Paul Higgs; grandchildren Lara (husband, Michael) Megless, Morgan (wife, Maria) Wright, Garet, Chris, Cory, Dunkin, Cameron and Carter Wright, Dylan (wife, Teralyn) and T. J. Wright, and Brinton (wife, Darci), Brandon and Dustin Gray; step-grandchildren Christopher and Michael Thielen, and Sarah, Jessica (husband, Travis) Sizemore and Emily Thornburgh; and many great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy (Higgs); his sisters; a sister-in-law, Jerry Higgs; a nephew, Jimmy Higgs; and a step-grandson, Michael Racek.
Visitation was May 3 and funeral services were May 4 at First United Methodist Church in New Castle. Burial followed at South Mound Cemetery in New Castle. Military honors will be conducted by American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society.
Helen V. Brooks
October 15, 1918 – April 28, 2011
Helen V. Brooks, 92, of Greenfield, died April 28 at Hancock Regional Hospital in Greenfield.
She was born Oct. 15, 1918, in Shelby County, the daughter of the late Charles and Grace (Webb) VanScyoc. Mrs. Brooks retired from Western Electric in Indianapolis after 33 years of service. She was a member of Red Hat Society and United Methodist Church. She enjoyed farming with her husband and spending time with her family.
Survivors include her children, Adeen (husband, John) Hargrove, Larry (wife, Vicki) Brooks and Lynn (wife, Nila) Brooks, all of Wilkinson; six grandchildren, Julie Armstrong, Lisa Deeter, Stacie Stinefield and Phil Brooks, all of Greenfield, Shannon Brooks of Atlanta, Ga., and Kyle Brooks of Wilkinson; and numerous great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Vernice Brooks; and a brother, Paul VanScyoc.
Funeral services will be private. Arrangements are being handled by Condo and Son Funeral Home in Wilkinson. Burial will be at Glen Cove Cemetery in Knightstown.
Memorial contributions may be made to Eden United Methodist Church, 2122 E. Eden Rd., Greenfield, IN 46140.
