USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
ELLER
Paul L. Eller, 92, of 18216 Rhoades Mills Road, Rockford, died at 7:20 p.m. Thursday, April 21, 2005, at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert.
He was born July 21, 1912, in York Township, Van Wert County, the son of the late Charles Russell and Lulu Belle (Barnhart) Eller. On January 8, 1938, he married Mary Elizabeth Chubb, who died October 12, 1986.
Mr. Eller was a retired farmer in Liberty Township and was a member of Ohio City United Methodist Church and the Liberty Grange.
Survivors include a son, Raymond L. (Joyce L.) Eller of Rockford; one daughter, Janis Owens of Van Wert; a brother, John R. (Rose Marie) Eller of Decatur, Ind.; six grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren, and two stepgreat-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Russell L. Eller, in infancy; one brother, Dale R. Eller, who died November 3, 1983, and two sisters, Gladys Kull and Elizabeth Robinson.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday, April 25, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Pastor Mike Waldron of Ohio City United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Ohio City.
Calling hours are 2-6 p.m. Sunday, April 24, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ohio City United Methodist Church.
GERINGER
Margaret P. Koch Geringer, 87, of Celina, died at 2:45 a.m. Monday, April 4, 2005, at the Laurels of Shane Hill in Rockford.
She was born August 1, 1917, in Liberty Township, Mercer County, the daughter of the late John and Elizabeth (Fisher) Koch. On November 11, 1942, she married Arthur J. Geringer, who died October 26, 1972.
Mrs. Geringer was employed as a teacher of children with emotional disabilities in the Toledo Public Schools and was a member of the Mercer County Retired Teachers and the Ohio Retired Teachers associations. She was a graduate of Rockford High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University and a master's degree from the University of Toledo. She was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Rockford and had been in the area since 1984 when she relocated from Toledo.
Survivors include a sister, Marea Snyder of San Jose, Calif., and 13 nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Glen, Arlie and Morris Koch, and a sister, Hilda Eichenaur.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 7, at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, with Pastor John Fleming officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Calling hours are 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford and an hour prior to services Thursday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the church.
MULLEN
Josephine (Gutierrez) Mullen, 77, of Van Wert, died at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 4, 2005, at her residence.
She was born September 27, 1927, in Lansing, Mich., the daughter of the late Longino and Conception (Castenda) Marez. She first married John Gutierrez, who preceded her in death. On May 10, 1997, in Van Wert, she married Frederick S. Mullen Jr., who survives at home.
Mrs. Mullen retired from Aeroquip after 15 years of service. Most of her life was spent raising her family and she also worked at Van Wert Manufacturing Company and did house cleaning and ironing for many families in Van Wert. She was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert, its Rosary Altar Society, Catholic Ladies of Columbia, Wapakoneta Eagles Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 178 in Van Wert, Wapakoneta American Legion Auxiliary and was a TWIG volunteer for Van Wert County Hospital.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by six sons, John (Paula) Gutierrez of Paulding, Gil (Denise) Gutierrez, Dan Gutierrez and David (Marsha) Gutierrez, all of Van Wert, Ron (Pat) Gutierrez of Alpharetta, Ga., and Randy (Jeanene) Gutierrez of Rockford; five daughters, Diann (Jeff) Ebel of Grover Hill, Sue Szuch of Elida, Lou (Steve) Biberstine of Ohio City, Bernadine (Klayton) Hooper of Cloverdale and Mariea (Dan) Moreland of Van Wert; a sister, Mary Torres of Grand Rapids, Mich., two brothers, Salvadore Marez of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Genero Marez of Atlanta, Ga.; 23 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Theresa; one sister, Connie Trevino, and a son-in-law, Dave Szuch.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, April 8, 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 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, and 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 7, at Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert, where The Rosary will be recited at 8 Thursday evening.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Church and School and the TWIG association of Van Wert County Hospital.
BENNER
David Lee Benner, 48, of Van Wert, died at 9:57 p.m. Monday, April 4, 2005, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
He was born April 15, 1956, in Van Wert, the son of the late Charles John and RaeDean (Tyler) Benner. On February 23, 1980, he married Agnes Rose Heimann, who survives in Van Wert.
Mr. Benner formerly worked for the Van Wert County Weatherization Program.
In addition to his wife, survivors include three children, Curtis John Benner, Matthew Benner and Jason Dean Benner, all of Van Wert; two brothers, Phil Benner of Virginia and Doug (Robbin) Benner of Van Wert; three sisters, Bonnie (Paul) Coburn and Deb Benner, both of Van Wert, and Chris (Tom) Stutz of Middle Point, and his godfather, David (Pat) King of Fort Wayne, Ind.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Sue Baucom and Elaine Pollock.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, April 8, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Deacon Andy McMahon officiating.
Calling hours are 5-8 p.m. Thursday, April 7, at the funeral home.
BENDER
Sara Jane "Sally" Bender, 86, of Jackson, Mich., died Monday, April 4, 2005, at Vista Grande Villa in Jackson.
She was born August 22, 1918, in Springfield, the daughter of the late Victor C. and “Dollie” Lydia Anne (Mowrey) Showalter. She married Robert S. Bender on August 15, 1941, who preceded her in death in 1982.
Mrs. Bender worked at the church offices of St. Marks Lutheran Church, in Van Wert and First Congregational Church in Jackson, Mich. She also was employed at Consumers Power in Jackson for 20 years.
Survivors include her children, Ronald Lee Bender of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Sheryl Ann (William) Rees of Algonquin, Ill.; one brother, James R. Showalter of Marietta, Ga.; a sister-in-law, Gertrude (Diehl) Showalter of Cambridge, Md.; former daughters-in-law, Cynthia Bender of Chelsea, Mich., and Deanna Griak of Lansing, Mich.; four grandchildren, Julie (Brian) Williams of Carpentersville, Ill.; Jeffery (Kimberly) Rees of Southington, Conn.; Rex Bender of Coldwater, Mich., and Chad Bender of Lansing, MI; three great-grandchildren, Alexis Mitchell of Aurora, Colo., Brianna and Maxwell Williams of Carpentersville, IL, and “expected” baby boy Rees of Southington; nephews Stewart (Diane) Showalter of Atlanta, Ga.; Gary (Barbara) Showalter of Van Wert, Douglas (Karen) Droll of Van Wert; nieces Judith Ann Showalter and Jane Elizabeth (Showalter) McGarity of Cambridge, Md.; Sue Showalter of Gatlinburg, Tenn. and Connie Droll of Florida; several great-nieces and nephews and close friends.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, V. Herbert and Thomas R. Showalter, and a sister-in-law, N. Joan (Ladd) Showalter.
There will be a memorial service held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. William Haggis of St. Mark's Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will follow in Ridge Cemetery in Ridge Township.
There will be no calling hours.
A luncheon will be hosted by the family at St. Mark's Lutheran Church following the services.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Vista Grande Villa Gift & Memorial Fund, 2251 Springport Road, Jackson, MI 49202.
RUMBLE
Ray F. Rumble, 77, of Scott, died at 6:13 a.m. Saturday, April 9, 2005, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind.
He was born June 14, 1927, in Van Wert County, the son of the late Bruce G. and Leota (Unger) Rumble. On November 1, 1947, he married Donnabelle Grandstaff, who survives at their residence.
Mr. Rumble was a retired lifetime farmer. He was a 1945 graduate of Hoaglin-Jackson High School, served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Winged Arrow in the Pacific Theatre during World War II, was a member of the Van Wert County Farm Bureau, a life member of American Legion Post 178 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803, both in Van Wert, and a member of Scott Equity.
In addition to his wife, survivors include a son, Lloyd (Diane) Rumble of Greenfield, Wis.; one sister, Ruth Ashton of Reading, Mich., and a grandson, Matthew Rumble of Greenfield.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Nola Jean Rumble, and one brother, Bruce Rumble.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Ronald E. Lumm officiating. Burial will be in Mohr Cemetery in rural Van Wert, with graveside military services by the combined honor units of VFW Post 5803 and Legion Post 178.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Monday, April 11, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of donor's choice.
WILSON
Marie Anna Wilson, 61, of Celina, died at 12:10 a.m. Wednesday, April 6, 2005, at her residence.
She was born June 5, 1943, in Paulding County, the daughter of the late Steven and Elzina (Lee) Saco. On January 11, 1964, she married Otto Wilson, who survives.
Mrs. Wilson was a homemaker and a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Mendon. She had lived the past 41 years in Mercer County after coming from Paulding County.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Angie (Mike) Grunden of Celina and Lorie (Bart) Beerbower of Rockford; one sister, Imogene (Henry) Wilson of Defiance County, and five grandchildren.
A sister, Donna Dickey, preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 9, at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford, with Pastor Peter Calvert officiating. Burial will be in Hamilton-Bethel Cemetery in Mendon.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 8, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church or to the Celina Area Visiting Nurses Association.
