USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
COON
Tracy Coon, 31, of Van Wert, died at 5:48 p.m. Saturday, February 7, 2004, at Lima Memorial Hospital.
She was born September 21, 1972, in Lima, the daughter of Lois (Spring) Coon and the late Charles Coon.
Ms. Coon was a house parent at The Marsh Foundation, was a graduate of Van Wert High School and a member of First Baptist Church in Van Wert. She loved being an active mother.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by a son, Bennet Coon of Van Wert; one sister, Amie Coon of Van Wert; a brother, James Coon of Ohio City; a special cousin, Dennis (Melody) Spring, and nieces and nephews Brianna and Nicholas Coon and Libby, Madison and Anna Spring.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Al and Ruby Spring, and paternal grandparents, Flo and Marvin Meyers.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 11, at Harter & Son Memorial Chapel in Delphos, with Rev. Robinson officiating. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Delphos.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Tuesday, February 10, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to her son.
BLUSH
Berniece Grace "Bea" Blush, 83, of Columbus, Ga., and formerly of Fort Wayne, Ind., died at Heritage Manor in Columbus, Ga.
She was born February 12, 1920, in Coldwater, the daughter of the late Fred and Minnie (Tipple) Wallick. On June 15, 1940, in Clinton, Iowa, she married Richard O. Blush from Ohio City, who died March 11, 1969.
Mrs. Blush retired from Lincoln Life Insurance Company in Fort Wayne after 25 years of service. She was a member of the Columbus (Ga.) United Methodist Church and was a 1938 graduate of Van Wert High School. She was active in the Fort Wayne and Great Lakes Regional International Training in Communication and was a former winner of the national speech contest. She was a former member of Lincoln Life's LINCS.
Survivors include a son, Sidney W. (Wanda) Blush of rural Convoy; one daughter, Billia Ann (Alan F.) Stewart of Columbus, Ga.; six grandchildren, Jill Stewart Mooney of Jefferson, Ga., Chip Stewart of Dawson, Ga., Jan Stewart of Block, Vancouver, British Columbia, Wayne Blush of Abilene, Texas, Robert Blush of Sofia, Bulgaria, and Beth Blush Knepp of Fort Wayne, and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by four brothers, and three sisters.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, February 11, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Michael Saylor of Redeemer Lutheran Church near Ohio City officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Ohio City.
Calling hours are 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, February 10, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Community Health Professionals-Hospice of Van Wert.
McKITTERICK
Samuel Denney McKitterick, 54, of Van Wert, died at 2:40 a.m. Friday, January 9, 2004, at his residence.
He was born April 4, 1949, in Jackson, the son of the late Samuel McKitterick and Mary Marjorie (Denney) Haas. On August 22, 1975, he married Linda Ranly, who survives at home.
Mr. McKitterick was owner and operator of Abbey Road Moving & Storage for 15 years. He was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert, a former member of the Van Wert Area Jaycees and formerly coaches for the Van Wert Parks Department.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Erick (fiancé, Jennifer Bowers) McKitterick of Van Wert; two daughters, Monica and Renee McKitterick, both of Van Wert, and two stepbrothers, Don Haas of Fort Recovery and Jerry (Lisa) Haas of Troy.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday, January 12, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert, with Father Charles Obinwa officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 1-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday, January 11, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, where a vigil service will be held at 7:45 that evening.
Memorial contributions may be directed to The McKitterick Children College Fund.
SHINDELDECKER
Josephine V. Shindeldecker, 61, of Van Wert, died at 6:43 a.m. Friday, January 9, 2004 at Van Wert County Hospital.
She was born May 11, 1942, in Allen County, Ohio, the daughter of the late George A. and Dora W. (Kitchen) Hoffman. On June 20, 1959, she married Carl Shindeldecker, who died October 2, 1999.
Mrs. Shindeldecker was a homemaker.
Survivors include a daughter, Lisa (Terry) Meeker of Van Wert; two sisters, Caroline Pavel and JoAnne Hoffman, both of Delphos.
She was preceded in death by a brother, George Hoffman Jr., and three sisters, Marcella Armstrong, Velma Louise Fifer and Diane Budd.
Funeral services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Monday, January 12, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Robert L. Boop II officiating. A private family burial will be held at a later date.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 5-7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association.
SHUMAKER
Paul M. Shumaker, 89, of Landeck, died at 5:08 p.m. Friday, January 9, 2004, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
He was born June 10, 1914, in Allen County, the son of the late William and Mary Ellen (Noonan) Shumaker. On September 2, 1940, he married Esther Clement, who preceded him in death.
Mr. Shumaker was a retired farmer and a member of the Farm Bureau. He also belonged to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Landeck and was a member and past president of the Landeck Catholic Knights of Ohio. He was also an honorary chapter farmer of the Delphos FFA, was an avid fisherman and gardener and enjoyed watching sports.
Survivors include two sons, Urban "Shuy" Shumaker of Landeck and William (Dolores) Shumaker of Delphos; three daughters, Mariella (Eugene) Meyer, formerly of Leipsic and now of Chapel Hill, N.C., Emily (Paul) Kleman of Van Wert and Lenore (Robert Michael) Brooker; 19 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Ellean Suever and Coletta Shumaker, and three brothers, Walter, Richard and Ralph Shumaker.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 13, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Landeck, with Father John Fleck officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Calling hours are 6-9 p.m. Sunday, January 11, and 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday, January 12, at Harter & Son Funeral Home in Delphos, where a parish wake service will be held at 8 p.m. Monday and a Catholic Knights of Ohio service at 8:30 that evening.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Red Cross or the Landeck Catholic Knights of Ohio.
CLARK
Gladys L. Clark, 85, of Payne, died at 1:53 a.m. Friday, January 9, 2004, at Dallas Lamb Foundation Home in Payne.
She was born October 4, 1918, in Payne, the daughter of the late George and Nora (Little) Burris. On July 2, 1969, she married Archie Clark, who survives in Payne.
Mrs. Clark was a retired beautician. She was a member of St. Jacob's United Church of Christ and Hesperian Chapter 2821, Order of Eastern Star, both in Payne.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Ann Bond of Payne; three stepsons, Art Clark of Minnesota, Bob Clark of Bensonville, Ill., and Bill Clark of Lombard, Ill.; three stepdaughters, Ruth Clark of Atlanta, Ga., Barbara Rush of the Wisconsin Dells and Sandy Cork of Whitewater, Wis.; a brother, Ray Burris of Florida; four sisters, Marjorie Powless of Tallahassee, Fla., Alice Fleck of Angola, Ind., Esther Caryer of Wren and Jeanette Waltmier of Van Wert; 29 grandchildren, and 58 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Eddie Snellenberger, in 1967.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, December 13, at St. Jacob's United Church of Christ in Payne, the Rev. James Langham officiating. Burial will be in Wiltsie Cemetery in Payne.
Calling hours are after 4 p.m. Monday, January 12, at Slade Funeral Home in Payne.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the church.
BRAGG
George R. Bragg, 89, of 10991 Ohio City-Venedocia Road, Ohio City, died at 5:50 a.m. Thursday, January 1, 2004, at his residence in Liberty Township.
He was born November 24, 1914, in Grant County, Ind., the son of the late Earl E. and Hazel (Burgher) Bragg. On January 2, 1934, he married Ruby Pearl Foster, who died April 23, 2000.
Mr. Bragg had been a farmer and operated Bragg Meat Market in Middle Point from 1947-1952. He retired from Borden's Foods in Van Wert. He was a member of the former Bethel Evangelical United Brethren Church and attended the Apostolic Church in Van Wert.
Survivors include a son, Donald Eugene (Brenda) Bragg of Ohio City; one daughter, Joyce D. (Larry) Krugh of Ohio City; a sister, Ruby Hamrick of Willshire; nine grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two daughters, Marilyn Joan Bragg and Donna Jean Zolman; a brother, Carl Vernon Bragg; two sisters, Mildred Ray and Pansy Delight Eichar; a granddaughter, Debra Lou Bragg, and a great-grandson, Joshua Bragg.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, January 5, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Paul Eichar officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Ohio City.
Calling hours are 4-8 p.m. Sunday, January 4, and Monday morning prior to services at the funeral home.
