Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992
Helen "Kate" Little
November 16, 1915 – March 5, 2011
Helen "Kate" Little, 95, of Wilkinson, died March 5 at Pleasant View Lodge Nursing Facility in McCordsville.
She was born Nov. 16, 1915, near New Salem in Rush County, a daughter of the late Charles Henry and Nellie (Carpenter) Stevens.
Survivors include a sister, Janet R. Bishop, of McCordsville; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph H. Little; three brothers and one sister.
Private funeral services will be held at Condo and Son Funeral Home in Wilkinson with Ryan McCarty officiating. Burial will follow at McCray Cemetery in Wilkinson.
Edward "Junior" Wilson
March 7, 1923 – March 1, 2011
Edward "Junior" Wilson, 87, of Warsaw, died March 1 at Miller’s Merry Manor in Warsaw.
He was born March 7, 1923, in Connersville, the son of the late William Edward and Lillian Mary (Hamilton) Wilson.
Mr. Wilson moved to the Warsaw area from Knightstown in 1971. He worked for United Telephone Co. for 42 years as a lineman and, later, as an engineer before retiring in 1983. He was a member of Knightstown Christian Church and Warsaw Community Church, the Knights of Pythias in Knightstown, the American Legion Post 253 of North Webster, Independent Telephone Association and Chapman Lake Association. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in General Patton’s Third Army in the European Theatre. He was an avid fisherman.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara Wilson of Warsaw; three children, Debra Jo Craft of Warsaw, Michael (wife, Tracy) Wilson of Warsaw and Patricia (husband, Paul) of Gilbert, Ariz.; one sister, Jeanne Morse of Liberty; one brother-in-law, Lee Stacey of New Castle; 10 grandchildren, Riley, Morgan, Kaylin, Jennifer, Julia, Robbie, Gage, Peyton, Jennifer and Patrick; and 11 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Wanda Jean Wilson.
Visitation was March 4 and funeral services were March 5 at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel in Warsaw with Pastor Denny Wilson officiating. Burial followed at Oakwood Cemetery in Warsaw.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County, 3489 E. CR 100-S, P.O. Box 1906, Pierceton, IN 46562.
Raymond Lee Keesling
December 11, 1957 – March 5, 2011
Raymond Lee Keesling, 53, of Greenfield, died March 5 at his home.
He was born Dec. 11, 1957, in New Castle, a son of Cecil R. and Vonda M. (Darling) Keesling.
Mr. Keesling graduated from Knightstown High School in 1976. He loved to hunt and fish. He loved people and spending time with his grandchildren. He was a member of Family Worship Center-Church of God, Greenfield.
He is survived by his parents, of New Castle; his wife, Debra (Smith) Keesling; sons Raymond C. Keesling and Stephen A. Keesling, of Greenfield; daughters Lisa (husband, Brian) Owens of Beech Grove and Jessica A. (husband, Steven) Huston of Greenfield; brother George A. Keesling of Indianapolis; sisters Deb (husband, Gene) Miller of New Castle and Kathy (husband, John) Riley of Butlerville; and six grandchildren.
Visitation was March 10 and a memorial service followed at Family Worship Center-Church of God with Pastor Jim Hibbard officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to Raymond Keesling Memorial Fun in care of Stillinger Family Funeral Home, 1780 W. Main St., Greenfield, IN 46140.
Milford T. Williams
February 22, 1942 – March 21, 2011
Milford T. "Mel" Williams, 69, of Greenwood, died March 21 at Community North Hospital.
He was born Feb. 22, 1942, the son of Russell and Mary (Parker) Williams.
Mr. Williams was an auto mechanics teacher at Lincoln Tech and Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis and at Plainfield Boys School in Plainfield. His most recent position was medical driver at Camp Atterbury. He was a member of the National Amputee Golf Association and a past member of the Scottish Rite. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, baseball and auto racing.
He is survived by children Mark Pratt of Dunreith, Timothy and Nancy Pratt of Defiance, Mo., Kevin Pratt and Diane Cluxton of Naperville, Ill., Scott Pratt and Scott Copper of Indianapolis and Kimberly Pratt of Carmel; eight grandchildren, Jennifer and Matt Pratt-Hyatt of Kansas City, Mo., Jeff Pratt of Fresno, Calif., Allison Pratt of Defiance, Mo., Christopher and Nicholas Pratt, Nick and Alex Cluxton of Naperville, Ill., Bryan, Austin and Evan Pratt of Carmel; one great-grandchild, Genevieve (Evie) Pratt-Hyatt of Kansas City, Mo., mother, Mary K. Jacob of Indianapolis; 11 siblings, Nancy Reddick-Vest and Richard Vest of Indianapolis, Russell and Mildred (Cinnamon) Williams of Rogerville, Ala., Carl David and Elaine Williams of Greenwood, Hughlane (Lynn) and Raymond McKelvey of Indianapolis, Warren Williams of Indianapolis, Claradine and David Molden of Peru, Paul Williams of Killeen, Texas, Johnny and Pat Williams of Carson City, Mich., Wally and Diana Williams of Elizabethtown, Ky., Bobby and Genevieve Williams of Huntsville, Ala., Mary Francis and Bill Collop of Westland, Mich.; 15 nieces, 14 nephews and several great-nieces and nephews. Mr. Williams was preceded in death by Russell Williams, Shirley Williams and Michael William Pratt.
Visitation is March 23 from 4-8 p.m. at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service Knightstown Chapel. Services are March 24 at 11 a.m. with Lt. Col. Eric Ebb, chaplain at Camp Atterbury, officiating. Burial will follow in Dunreith Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to USO of Indiana Camp Atterbury at http://affiliates.uso.org/indiana/, American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or National Amputee Golf Association Scholarship Fund, 11 Walnut Hill Rd., Amherst, NH 03031.
Annabell Gray
December 13, 1924 – March 17, 2011
Annabell Gray, 86, died March 17 at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie.
She was born Dec. 13, 1924, a daughter of the late Frank and Lillie (Upton) Matchett.
Mrs. Gray graduated from Eaton High School in 1943. She worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company during World War II and in the Del-Com Schools cafeteria, retiring in 1986. She was a member of American Legion Post 90 Auxiliary.
Survivors include her children, Cynthia Sites of Eaton, Connie (husband, Jim) Brown of Knightstown, and Chris (wife, Kindel) Gray of Muncie; grandchildren Shawn (wife, Amy) Brown of Knightstown, Aaron (wife, Erica) Brown of Ft. Wayne, Colby (wife, Julie) Gray of Muncie, and Kortney Gray of Muncie, Amber (husband, Brett) of Provo, Utah, Garicc (wife, Kelly) Strauch of Vicksburg, Mich., Brandon (wife, Tara) Sites of Muncie and Bradley Sites of Salt Lake City; great-grandchildren Kelsi Brown, Tyler Brown, MaKenna Brown, Carson Brown, Avery Gray, Zachary, Nicholas, Owen and Samantha Showgren, Jeffrey and Shandi Strauch, Chase and Kyler Miranda Sites, Leila, Carson Sites and Chelsea Sites; and a sister, Ethel Hutchens of Eaton.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Gray; brothers Art, Don, Claude and Morris Matchett; and sisters Mary Lou, Dorothy, Marie, Susie, Sylvia, Helen and Thelma.
Visitation was March 21 and funeral services were March 22 at Pitman-Richman Funeral Home in Eaton with Pastor Roger Campbell officiating. Burial followed at Gardens of Memory.
Memorial contributions may be made to Blood-N-Fire Ministries, Fletcher United Methodist Church or the American Heart Association.
Kathryn L. Smith
February 16, 1919 – March 17, 2011
Kathryn L. Smith, 92, of Brookville, formerly of Rushville, died March 17 at Brookville Health Care Center.
She was born Feb. 16, 1919, in Fayette County, the daughter of the late Frank E. and Bertha B. (May) Bever.
Ms. Smith graduated from Arlington High School in 1936. She worked as a hostess and manager at the Kopper Kettle Restaurant in Morristown for 34 years. She was a member of Main Street Christian Church in Rushville. She was an avid gardener, and many high school seniors had their pictures taken at her Rushville home.
Survivors include one son, Richard (wife, Ann) Smith of LaPorte; two daughters, Dinah Thalheimer of Brookville and Sandy Rogers of Euless, Texas; one sister, Helen (husband, Harold) Hardin of Morristown; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one grandchild.
Visitation was March 21 at Todd Funeral Centre and Crematory in Rushville and funeral services followed with Pastor Curtis Bond officiating. Burial was at Arlington East Hill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Main Street Christian Church, 615 N. Main St., Rushville, IN 46173.
Roy A. Stevens
February 18, 1954 – March 17, 2011
Roy A. Stevens, 57, of Carthage, died March 17.
He was born Feb. 18, 1954, the son of the late John and Beulah (Whitfield) Stevens.
Mr. Stevens graduated from Knightstown High School in 1972 and worked in the automotive industry. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, riding motorcycles, collecting guns and photography. He was an avid IU basketball fan and enjoyed trains, sports, vintage cars and watching The Andy Griffith Show.
Survivors include his children, Michelle Morrow of Fishers, Cris Barkowski of Bentonville, Ark., and Rachel (husband, James) Jahrsdoerfer of Greenfield; a sister, Carol Snyder of Brownsburg; and grandchildren Sonja and Alex Jahrsdoerfer.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Verna Dale Miller.
Visitation was March 20 at Erlewein Mortuary in Greenfield and funeral services followed.
Memorial contributions may be made to a college fund for Sonja and Alex Jahrsdoerfer, c/o Erlewein Mortuary, 1484 W. U. S. 40, Greenfield, IN 46140.
