The Rev. C. Kent Chidester
Retired minister
The Rev. C. Kent Chidester, 86, 4169 E. CR 50, died at 8:45 p.m. Monday, April 13, 1998, in Autumnwood Care Center.
He was born in Lima, May 13, 1911, to William and Sylvia (Balmer) Chidester. On Aug. 4, 1936, in New Philadelphia, Ohio, he married Mary Jane Schneider. She survives.
Other survivors include: four children, William A. Chidester of Tempe, Ariz., Mrs. William S. (Anne) Hamilton of Cincinnati, Mrs. Thomas (Jane) Eshelman of Westerville and John K. Chidester of Mt. Vernon, Ohio; a brother, Dale Chidester of Salem, Ohio; two sisters, Bernice Short of San Francisco, Calif., and Mrs. Bradley (Ruth Ann) Pettibone of Racine, Wis.; and 11 grandchildren.
Three brothers, Brice, Robert and Richard, are deceased.
The Rev. Chidester graduated in 1933 from Heidelberg College, in 1936 from Eden Seminary, and earned his Doctor of Theology in 1940 from Oberlin Seminary. In 1965 he was awarded a Doctor of Divinity Degree by Heidelberg College.
He first served as minister at Ragersville, Fiat and Bakersville United Church of Christ, located in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, from 1936-40. In addition, he served as minister at the Memorial United Church of Christ in Toledo from 1940-1952; at Oakley United Church of Christ, Cincinnati, from 1952-60; at St. John United Church of Christ, Kenton, from 1960-67; as director of church relations and development for Heidelberg College from 1967-68; and as director of development for Lakeside Association from 1976-78. He retired in 1978.
A member of Trinity United Church of Christ, Tiffin, and Masonic Lodge of Oakley, Ohio, he was affiliated with the Northwest Ohio Association of United Church of Christ.
An avid forester, the Rev. Chidester planted thousands of trees in woods throughout Ohio and also secured several donations of forested land as nature preserves for Heidelberg College.
The Rev. William Smith will be the officiant at the 2 p.m. Friday service in Trinity United Church of Christ. Entombment will be in Seneca Memory Gardens.
Visitation at Hoffmann-Gottfried Funeral Home will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday.
Memorials may be made to Heidelberg College, Eden Seminary, United Church Homes, Trinity United Church of Christ or the donor's choice.
Florence R. Brant
Retired State of Ohio inspector
Florence R. Brant, 89, of 1206 Roosevelt Road, Fostoria, died at 11:41 p.m. Sunday, April 12, 1998, at her residence.
She was born in Fostoria June 3, 1908, to John and Edna (Thomas) Wise. On Sept. 3, 1925, in Fostoria, she married Ralph F. Brant. He died Feb. 25, 1998.
Surviving are a son, Charles R. Brant of Titusville, Fla.; two daughters, Mrs. Michael (Maxine) Lombardi and Mrs. Ernest (Betty) Bossler, both of Fostoria; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were a brother, Harold Wise; and a sister, Katherine Wise.
Mrs. Brant, a member of Grace United Church of Christ, Fostoria, retired in 1976 after 30 years as an inspector for the State of Ohio Women's Minor Wage and Hour Division.
The Rev. Larry Blunden will conduct the 1:30 p.m. Wednesday service in the Hoening Funeral Home, Fostoria. Burial will be in Fountain Cemetery, Fostoria.
Visitation will be noon until time of the service on Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Fostoria Community Hospital Home Health Care or Community Hospice of Seneca County.
William Dyer
Air Force/Army/National Guard retiree
William Dyer, 66, of 4050 CH 107, Upper Sandusky, died at 2:35 p.m. Sunday, April 12, 1998, in Wyandot Memorial Hospital, Upper Sandusky.
He was born in Salyersville, Ky., June 13, 1931, to the Rev. Carlos and Elma May (Barnett) Dyer. His mother survives in Vanlue. His wife, Evelyn (Lobdell) Dyer, whom he married March 31, 1951, survives.
Other survivors include: seven children, William P. Dyer II of Delaware, Ohio, Joan Y. Salyer of Upper Sandusky, Douglas F. Dyer of Columbus, Gregory P. Dyer of Forest, Derrick A. and Ed N. Dyer, both of Upper Sandusky, and Darrin A. Dyer of Kirby; 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Carl Jr. Dyer of Sycamore, Maudie Foulk of Findlay, Bob Dyer of Clear Water, Fla., Ruth Rose of Vanlue, Jerry Dyer of Illinois, Sam Dyer of McCutchenville and Etta Jo Dyer.
Mr. Dyer, a member of the Church of God of Prophecy of Vanlue, retired from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army and National Guard.
He also was a member of the Disabled American Veterans of Findlay, Bowling Green VFW and Columbus American Legion.
Graveside services with the Rev. Mark Bishop officiating, were Monday in Spring Grove Cemetery, Carey, with military honors.
There was no visitation. The Beach Funeral Home of Carey was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to his family.
Wilbur 'Woody' Hamilton
National Machinery retiree
Wilbur "Woody" Hamilton, 80, of 15 N. Marion St., Bloomville, died Monday morning, April 13, 1998, in Mercy Hospital of Tiffin, following an illness of several months.
He was born March 10, 1918, in Willard, to Don C. and Zola (Fast) Hamilton. On Dec. 29, 1945, in Bloomville, he married Alice Hackenburg. She survives.
Survivors also include: a son, David W. Hamilton of Bloomville; two grandchildren and a great-grandson; three brothers, Carl Hamilton of Westlake, Harrison Hamilton of Huron and Lester Hamilton of Attica; and three sisters, Mrs. Alice De Muth of Toledo, Mrs. Harold (Marjorie) Altheer of Napoleon and Mrs. Harold (Donna) Heibertshausen of Attica.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Leona Hamilton; and two brothers, Wayland and Russell Hamilton.
Mr. Hamilton, a World War II U.S. Army veteran, worked in the small header assembly department at the National Machinery Co., Tiffin, retiring in 1983.
He was a member of Bloomville United Church of Christ, Caulfield American Legion Post 434 of Bloomville, Eden Lodge 310 Free and Accepted Masons, Bloomville; Royal Arch Masons, Seneca Chapter 42, Clinton Council 47, De Molay Commandery 9 of Tiffin; Luella Chapter 223 Order of Eastern Star, Bloomville; the National Quarter Century Club and Croghan Aerie 712 Eagles of Fremont.
Services in Bloomville United Church of Christ, will be at 11 a.m. Friday, with the Rev. Diane Grohmann officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bloomville, where Caulfield Post 434 will conduct military graveside services.
Visitation at the new Lindsey-Olds Funeral Home, 3085 S. SR 19, Bloomville, will be 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday, where Quarter Century Club members will visit at 7 p.m. and the Caulfield Post visitation will be 7:15 p.m.
Memorials may be made to the church.
Mary Rose Peter
Resident of Fostoria
Mary Rose Peter, 71, 9231 W. TR 112, Fostoria, died at 6:26 a.m. Friday, April 10, 1998, at Mercy Hospital, Tiffin.
She was born July 8, 1926, in Berwick to Edward N. and Hilda C. (Wickelman) Reinhart. Both are deceased. On Aug. 17, 1946, she married Raymond F. Peter in St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Frenchtown. He survives.
Other survivors include: three sons, Francis Peter of Albuquerque, N.M., David Peter of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Michael Peter of Gibsonburg; three daughters, Mrs. Wayne (Aileen) Schreiner of Fostoria, Mrs. James (Kathleen) McManus of Fort Wayne and Mrs. Ronald (Theresa) Sheets of Fostoria; three brothers, Lawrence Reinhart of Oregon, Ohio, Wendelin Reinhart of Bloomville and Eugene Reinhart of Willard; a sister, Bernadine Reitzel of Genoa; 21 grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Margaret Nichols and Leona Reinhart, and a brother, Joseph Reinhart.
Mrs. Peter was a homemaker and retired from Copeland. She was a member of the St. Patrick Catholic Church, Bascom, and its Rosary Altar Society, and the Catholic Ladies of Columbia, Fostoria.
The Rev. David Bruning will officiate the noon Monday service at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Bascom. Burial will be at St. Nicholas Cemetery, Frenchtown.
Visitation will be 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. Sunday at Hoening Funeral Home, Fostoria, and one hour prior to Mass at the church Monday. A Christian Wake Service will be at 8:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to St. Patrick Catholic Church, Bascom.
Richard L. Callendar
Former Tiffin resident
Richard L. Callendar, 78, 2517 Fairway Drive, Fremont, formerly of Tiffin, died at 8:10 p.m. Thursday, April 9, 1998, at Firelands Hospital, Sandusky.
He was born Nov. 14, 1919, in Tiffin to Charles and Edith (Merchant) Callendar. On Nov. 24, 1949, he married Margaret Horn in Fremont. She survives.
Other survivors include: a son, Richard L. Callendar Jr. of Columbus; two brothers, Charles Callendar of California and Howard Callendar of Jackson, Mich.; three sisters, Mary Mitchell of Westland, Mich., Jean Coleman of Cincinnati and Marjorie Newsome of Laguna Hills, Calif.; and two grandchildren.
Mr. Callendar was a Tiffin high school graduate and a fighter pilot for the Army Air Corps during World War II. A partner in Wright-Callendar Buick in Clyde and owner of Dick Callendar Buick in Fremont, he retired in 1987. He served as past president of the Fremont Country Club and Fremont Outing Club.
The funeral will be at a later date. Burial will be at St. Joseph's Cemetery. The Keller-Ochs-Koch Funeral Home of Fremont is handling the arrangements.
Ruth Maxine Pressler
Former area resident
Ruth Maxine Pressler, 78, of Cape Canaveral, Fla., died at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, 1998. She was born Feb. 22, 1920, in Bowling Green to Thomas and Ruth (Brickle) Swinehart. She was married for 60 years to Donald Pressler. He survives.
Other survivors include: two brothers, Jim Swinehart of Fostoria and Bill Swinehart of Lima; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren
Preceding her in death were her parents; a daughter, Ruth Alice Motes; and two brothers, George and Thomas Swinehart.
Mrs. Pressler retired from the Florida National Bank of Orlando, Fla. Memberships included: Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 297 of Cocoa Beach and the Pythian Sisters Lodge 6 of Orlando.
The Rev. Lucinda Hunter will officiate the 11 a.m., Monday service at the Harrold-Floriana Funeral Home in Fostoria. Burial will be at the Fountain Cemetery, Fostoria.
Visitation hours are 7-9 p.m Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the R.E.S.T. Program, c/o Dorothy Hartley, 1675 S. Fiske Blvd., Rockledge, FL 32955.
