Lucile Miller, 93
Mother of Dr. Gerald L. Miller of Markle, Lucile Miller, 93, of Goshen born June 8, 1909, a daughter of Harry D. and Edith P. Wiler Miller. Her marriage at Shipshewana on May 15, 1932 was to Perry J. Miller, who Cemetery at Shipshewana. Yoder-Culp Funeral Home in Goshen is in charge of arrangements. Memorials to the Goshen College International Students Fund.

Ruth Pratt, 89
A graveside service for Ruth Pratt, 89, formerly of Andrews, was held at 2 p.m. today at Riverside Cemetery in Andrews. Miss Pratt, who was a resident of the United Methodist Memorial Home at Warren, born Feb. 27, 1913, a daughter of Lewis and Ethel Brewer Pratt. Surviving is a sister, Mrs. Homer (Jane) Kline of Huntington. A brother, Thomas Pratt, and a sister, Bethel McVay, are deceased. Visitation was held today at the Myers Funeral Home Huntington Chapel from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. prior to the graveside service. Rev. John Wallace presided at the cemetery interment.

Marvin R. Curtis, 64
A retired operating engineer, Marvin R. Curtis, 64, of Fort Wayne, born at Thealka, Ky., June 7, 1938, to Hobart and Hattie Ward Curtis. His marriage at Huntington on Dec. 20, 1982 was to Shirley “Sue” Bollenbacher, who survives. Surviving also are six sons, Thurman of Montpelier, Hobart of Redkey, Kenneth C. of Bryant, Robert of Portland, Joe of Poneto and Hubert of Ridgeville; a daughter, Deborah Renner of Berne; three brothers, Lloyd of Petroleum, Fred of Indianapolis and Joel of Stafford, Ariz.; 22 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. A brother and a sister are deceased. Service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home in Berne with Pastor Lorenza Hurd officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery at Berne. Calling hours at the funeral home will be Tuesday from 3 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. until time for services. Memorials to Bethel Chapel Free Will Baptist Church in Fort Wayne.

Bernard F. Horn, 80
Bernard F. “Barney” Horn, 80, of Fort Wayne, father of John Horn of Ossian, died at 7 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2, at his home. Mr. Stickler was a machinist at General Electric for 37 years, retiring in 1978. He was a member of the Markle United Methodist Church and attended the Trinity United Methodist Church in Huntington, where he sang with both church choirs. He volunteered in Missions in Mexico and was a member of the GE Quarter Century Club and the GE Camping Club and the Markle Historical Society. He participated with his wife, Alice, in her bubble show presentations. Mr. Stickler, a 1931 graduate of Huntington High School, earned both the associate and the bachelor degrees in Biblical studies from the Anchor Theological Seminary in Texarkana, Texas, and served two years with the Civilian Conservation Corps in Idaho and California. He was a member also of the National Amateur Press Association. He was died Nov. 14, 1985; his second marriage in North Webster on April 23, 1992 was to Alice M. Plasterer Jacobs, who survives. Additional survivors are three daughters, Mrs. Dan (Marjoria) Dafforn of Fort Wayne, Mrs. Ron (Jane) Helzerman of Riverdale, Mich., and Mrs. Larry (Judith) Park of LaVista, Neb.; two stepdaughters, Mrs. Robert (Patricia) Simmons of Long Beach, Calif., and Mrs. Robert (Juanita) Schaeffer of Milwaukee; 15 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. A sister, a brother and a great-grandson are deceased. Services will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Markle United Methodist Church with Rev. Gary Allen and Rev. David Arnold officiating. Burial will be in the Markle Cemetery. Calling at Myers Funeral Home Huntington Chapel will be Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and at the church on Thursday from 10 a.m. until time of services.

Connie J. Sark, 63
Connie J. Sark, 63, of Fort Wayne, who worked as a hostess at Carlos O’Kellys in Fort Wayne, born in Adams County Nov. 1, 1939 to Thurman and Sarah E. Bebout Douglas. Her father is deceased and her mother survives and resides in Berne. Surviving also are her husband, William Sark of Fort Wayne, to whom she was married July 5, 1991; her former husband, Alan Bogner of Florida; a son, Greg Bogner of Decatur; three daughters, Mrs. Walter (Jill) Fairchild of Decatur, Mrs. Ricardo (Julie) Morales of Sarasota, Fla., and Mrs. James (Jennifer) Morton of Orlando, Fla.; a stepson, Robert L. Sark of Fort Wayne; two brothers, Ted Douglas of Decatur and Jerry Douglas of Pleasant Mills; a sister, Mrs. Leland (Beverly) Welker of Bemidji, Minn.; 19 grandchildren; and one great-grandson. A grandson is deceased. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Haggard & Sefton Funeral Home in Decatur with Rev. Greg Clark officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery southeast of Berne. Visitation hours at the funeral home will be Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials to Hospice of Northeast Indiana.

Agnes M. Slagle, 75
Mother of John Robert Slagle of Bluffton and Sandy Miller of Craigville, Agnes M. Slagle, 75, of Decatur born Oct. 2, 1927 in Brush, Colo., where she spent her childhood before moving to Van Buren, Ind., and finally to Decatur for the last 10 years. She was the daughter of William F. and Martha Yunkon Fisher. Her marriage in 1942 was to John Slagle, who died at 6:23 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2, at Chalet Village in Berne. Mrs. Ehrman formerly worked as a secretary for Balsiger Motors in Berne and for Yager Furniture, also in Berne. She was a member of the the Evangelical Mennonite Church in Berne and a former choir and Ladies Aid member, and member of the Merrier Monday’s Home Economics Club and served for many years as a Cub Scout leader. She was died in 1988, and her second marriage in Berne on Aug. 3, 1996 was to Hugh Ehrman, who survives. Additional survivors are two daughters, Mrs. Phillip (Lisa) Martin and Mrs. Gregg (Lana) Gerber, both of Berne; two sons, Gary Nussbaum and Todd Nussbaum, both of Berne; two brothers, Carl and Earl Yoder, both of Berne; a sister, Mrs. Rev. Allen (Gloria) Sprunger of Saginaw, Mich.; 10 grandchildren; nine stepgrandchildren; and one stepgreat-grandchild. A sister is deceased. A burial committal service will be conducted at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the Evangelical Mennonite Church Cemetery. Services will follow at the church at 10:30 a.m. Thursday with Rev. Allen Sprunger and Rev. David Bocker officiating. Memorials to the church’s building fund or to Youth for Christ.

Sharon Kay Thompson, 60
Sharon Kay Thompson, 60, of Fort Wayne, a native of Union City, Cemetery at Union City. Memorials to Waynedale United Methodist Church’s music fund, to Cancer Services of Allen County, or to Parkview Home Health Care & Hospice.

Dec. 4, 2002

Albert F. Heiser, 81
Owner and operator of a service station at Poe, Allen County, Albert F. Heiser, 81, born in Fort Wayne Dec. 28, 1920, a son of Marshall and Ethel Phelps Heiser. His marriage at Ossian on May 3, 1942 was to Marguerite Reinhard, who Cemetery at Poe. Visitation hours at Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Funeral Home in Ossian will be Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m. and at the church Friday for one hour before services. Memorials to the church or to the Poe Volunteer Fire Department.

Josephine Tedford, 94
A former resident of Markle, Josephine Tedford, 94, born in Woodland, Ill., Nov. 3, 1908, a daughter of Frederick and Carrie Cavitt West. Her marriage in Baltimore, Md., on June 1, 1942 was to Clare Tedford, who Interment will be in Markle Cemetery. Memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Garth N. Haines, 78
Garth N. Haines, 78, a native of Wells County, born in Wells County Dec. 25, 1923 to Charles and Goldie Nussbaumer Haines. His marriage in 1948 was to Shirley R. Custer, who survives. Additional survivors are an adopted daughter, Ann Poullard of Navarre, Fla.; a brother, Jesse Haines of Ossian; a sister, Mary De Vries of Fort Wayne; three grandchildren; and seven great-grandsons. Four brothers are deceased. Services at 10 a.m. Saturday will be Nine Mile United Methodist Church, 6202 Winters Road, Fort Wayne, where calling will be for one hour prior to services. Rev. Tom Babler will officiate and burial will be in Nine Mile Cemetery. Memorials to the church, to Naperville Heritage Society, to Community United Methodist Church, or to North Central College. Haggard & Sefton Funeral Home in Decatur is in charge of arrangements.

Laurel K. Mattax, 82
Funeral services for Laurel K. Mattax, 82, former Adams Central School Board member, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Springhill Methodist Church in rural Berne. Visitation hours at Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home in Berne will be Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m. and at the church Friday for one hour prior to services. Mr. Mattax born in Adams County Nov. 7, 1920, a son of Vance and Coral Myers Mattax. His marriage at Wabash on March 12, 1944 was to Virginia Flueckiger, who survives. Additional survivors are four daughters, Mrs. Keith (Saundra) Minger, Mrs. Keith (Linda) Keller and Mrs. Tony (Susie) Braun, all of Berne, and Mrs. John (Rita) Carroll of Decatur; a brother, Robert Mattax of Bluffton; a sister, Rowena Hurst of Decatur; 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Two brothers and four sisters are deceased. Rev. Gene Wilson will officiate at services and burial will be in Backesto (Springhill) Cemetery in rural Berne. Memorials to the church or to National Parkinson Foundation.

Alton C. Bittner, 91
A lifetime dairy farmer in Preble Township, Adams County, Alton C. Bittner, 91, of rural Decatur, born in Adams County’s Kirkland Township Sept. 1, 1911, a son of Charles H. and Emma Bieberich Bittner. His marriage at Decatur on Aug. 21, 1934 was to Alice Marie Reinhart, who survives. Other survivors are two sons, Ronald K. and Frank D., both of Decatur; a daughter, Mrs. Robert E. (Faye) Keuneke of Decatur; a brother, Herman Bittner of Decatur; a sister, Leota Jensen of Elmhurst, Ill.; seven grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. A brother and a great-grandson are deceased. A prayer service will be conducted at 9:15 a.m. Friday at the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur, followed at 10 a.m. by a funeral service at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Preble by Rev. Daniel Brege and Rev. Donald Biester. Burial will be in Decatur Cemetery. Visitation hours at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur will be Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials to the church at Preble or to Wyneken Expansion.

Dec. 5, 2002

Gerald V. Houtz, 89
Funeral services for Gerald V. Houtz, 89, of Ossian will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Funeral home in Ossian. Burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery at Ossian. Visitation hours at the funeral chapel, 120 West Mill St., will be Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. Mr. Houtz born in Wells County July 21, 1913, a son of William Henry and Ida Blanche Sale Houtz. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; a daughter, Sandra Imel of Uniondale; a son, Gerry Houtz of Ossian; a sister, Gladys Fuhrer of Bluffton; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and two stepgreat-grandchildren. Three brothers and two sisters are deceased. Memorials to the United Methodist Churches at Ossian or Uniondale.

Anna Lou McMullen, 92
A homemaker who made airplane instrument panels during World War II, Anna Lou McMullen, 92, born Sept. 10, 1910, a daughter of Benjamin H. and Mecie Ellen Mullis Stripling. Her marriage in Miami on Nov. 9, 1929 was to Alva H. McMullen, who Cemetery at Warren, Ind. Glancy Funeral Homes, H. Brown & Son Chapel, in Warren is in charge of arrangements.

Dec. 6, 2002

Earl R. Michel, 93
Earl R. Michel, 93, a lifelong Huntington County farmer, born Aug. 19, 1909 in Huntington County, a son of William and Clara Pflieger Michel. His marriage at Huntington on Feb. 26, 1935 was to Pauline K. Meitzler, who Interment will be in the St. Peter’s First United Church of Christ Cemetery in Huntington. Visitation hours will be Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Memorials to the church.

Nancy M. Crowe, 60
Mother of Chris Crowe of Bluffton, Nancy M. Crowe, 60, of Auburn, born in Wauseon, Ohio. Surviving, in addition to the son in Bluffton, are her husband, David A.; her parents, Walter S. and Mary Helf of Auburn; two other sons, Brent of Dover, Ohio, and Timothy of Dallas; a sister, Karen S. Smith of Waterloo; and four grandchildren. There will be no funeral service or calling hours. Arrangements are by Thomas Funeral Home in Garrett. Memorials to Indiana Organ Procurement Organization in Indianapolis.

Marie E. Thompson, 81
Marie E. Thompson, 81, of Bluffton, died in 1982, and a son, Bobbie E., in 2001. Surviving are four sons, Richard E., Robert E. and Lonnie W., all of Portland, and Donald L. of Middleton; four daughters, Betty A. Fancil, Mary C. Elliott, Mary L. Dailey and Kathy A. Sprunger, all of Berne; two brothers, John Duer and Virgil Duer, both of Ohio; 14 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Williamson & Spencer Funeral Home, Portland Chapel, where calling hours are today from 2 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in Center Cemetery, west of Portland.

Ralph S. Sample, 92
Burial will be Sunday afternoon in Oak Lawn Cemetery at Ossian for Ralph S. Sample, 92, of Hudson, who born in Marvel, Ark., retired in 1972 from General Electric in Fort Wayne after 42 years. His wife, Opal E., died in 2000. Surviving are two grandchildren, Kathy Chambers of Muncie and Keith Sample of Fort Wayne; three great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Memorials to Helmer United Methodist Church.

Nov. 30, 2002

Josephine P. “Jo” Barnes, 90
A lifelong resident of Wells County, Josephine P. “Jo” Barnes, 90, died Jan. 11, 1999. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. William (Betty) Mann of Bluffton; a son, Charles Ray Barnes of Fort Wayne; two sisters, Bernice Baker of Bluffton and Charleen Roberts of Marion; seven grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Victor Eugene Markley, who died at 2:35 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 28, at Hospice Home of Northeast Indiana. He had been in declining health for some time and seriously ill for the past month. Mr. Dowty retired in 1976 after 16 years as the deputy assessor for Wayne Township in Allen County. Earlier, he had worked for several years as a route driver for Coverall Rental Service. He was died Oct. 24, 2001. The couple had lived in Ossian until moving in 1946 to Fort Wayne. Mr. Dowty was a member of the Simpson United Methodist Church and the Wayne Masonic Lodge 25. Surviving are a son, Don A. of Churubusco; a daughter, Mrs. Perry (Karen L.) Cross of Fort Wayne; a sister, Marjorie Sorg of Fort Wayne; eight grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and seven stepgreat-grandchildren. Three brothers and four sisters are deceased. There will be no public funeral service or calling hours. Shields & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco is in charge of arrangements. Memorials to Hospice Home of Northeast Indiana, 5910 Homestead Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46804.

Russell A. Searles
A retired former employee of Wabash Magnetics of Huntington, Russell A. Searles, 73, of 312 East 11th St., Warren, Cemetery at Warren. Military gravesite rites will be conducted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2689 of Huntington.

Viva Fayette Schott, 91
A woman who greeted people and served store business customers over a long career in the Bluffton downtown, Viva Fayette Schott, 91, of 1327 Kenwood Drive, Bluffton, born Sept. 30, 1911, to Harry and Blanche Page Chalfant. Her marriage to Terrell W. “Bud” Schott was in Bluffton on Oct. 24, 1932. He Cemetery in Adams County. Preferred memorials are to the First Baptist Church.

Dorothy M. Songer, 75
Retired since August of 1982 from the Guide Division of General Motors after 33 years of service in production, Dorothy M. Songer, 75, of 801 Huntington Ave., Warren, born Jan. 17, 1927, to Earl and Marie Stroup Keesling. She was a 1945 graduate of Anderson High School Her marriage was on June 26, 1947, at Anderson to Robert N. Songer. who survives at Anderson Also surviving are one son, Steve W. Songer of Terre Haute; one brother, James Keesling of Warren; three sisters, Mary Keesling and Mrs. Lloyd (Jean) Bault, both of Warren, and Olive Egan of Las Vegas, Nevada, and three grandsons at Terre Haute. Two brothers and a sister are deceased. A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Anderson Memorial Park Cemetery Chapel with Rev. Paul Wohlford officiating. Burial will be in the Anderson Memorial Park Cemetery. There will be no calling at the cemetery. Memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 4204, South Bend, Indiana 46634. Glancy Funeral Homes-H. Brown & Son Chapel in Warren, is in charge of arrangements.

Ruth Pratt, 89 — Rites Pending
Formerly of Andrews, Ruth Pratt, 89, a resident of the United Methodist Memorial Home in Warren, died at 10:08 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 28 at the Bluffton Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending at the Myers Funeral Home Huntington Chapel.