USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
GRIFFIS
David W. “Griff” Griffis, 67, of Delphos, died Thursday, November 24, 2005, at his residence.
He was born January 24, 1939, in Delphos, the son of the late Richard and Helen (Fleming) Griffis. On November 29, 1958, he married Norma K. Burman, who survives in Delphos.
Mr. Griffis was retired from I & K Distributors in Delphos. He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Delphos and was a graduate of Delphos St. John’s High School. He also belonged to the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts.
In addition to his wife, survivors include a son, David (Tracey) Griffis of Fort Wayne, Ind.; three daughters, Pamela Griffis and Carolyn (Mike) Brock, both of Delphos, and Cheryl (Michael) Springer of Van Wert; two brothers, Richard (Nancy) Griffis of Aiken, S.C., and Craig (Bonnie) Griffis of Toledo; three sisters, Dianne (Leon) Youngpeter of Fort Wayne, Lynn (Roger) Davis of Delphos and Terri (Bruce) Massa of Columbus; six grandchildren, Jennifer (Bill) Watson, Miranda Hemker, Emily Hemker, Hannah Springer, Trisha Lucas and Andrew Lucas; three stepgrandchildren, Lacey Fredricks, Sarae Brubaker and Nathan Brock, and four stepgreat-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, November 28, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Delphos, with Father Randy Giesige officiating. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Delphos.
Viewing hours are 5-8 p.m. Saturday, November 26, and from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday, November 27, at Harter & Schier Funeral Home in Delphos, where a parish wake service will be held at 7:30 Sunday evening.
Memorials can be directed to St. Jude’s and the Shriners Children’s Hospital.
TUMBLESON
Kevin Eugene Tumbleson, 27, of rural Ohio City, died Thursday, November 24, 2005, at his residence.
He was born July 20, 1978, in Decatur, Ind., the son of Ted and Nancy (Beam) Tumbleson, who both survive in Ohio City.
Other survivors include a brother, Matt Tumbleson of Lima.
Funeral services will be held at noon Monday, November 28, at Haggard & Sefton Funeral Home in Decatur, with the Rev. Fuhrman Miller officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Tabor Cemetery.
Viewing hours are noon-5 p.m. Sunday, November 27, at the funeral home.
Memorials may be directed to Wren Fire Department.
MILLIGAN
Raymond Joe Milligan, 67, of Van Wert, died at 1:15 p.m. Thursday, November 24, 2005, at Hearth & Home Assisted Living in Van Wert.
He was born October 18, 1939, in Lebanon Junction, Ky., the son of the late George and Bessie (McCubbins) Milligan.
Mr. Milligan was a repossession officer for City Loan and had served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.
Other survivors include a cousin, Doris Rorick of Van Wert.
Private funeral services will be held at a later date.
There will be no visitation.
Arrangements were handled by Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert.
HOWELL
Ardith R. Howell, 64, of Rockford, died at 6:45 a.m. Friday, November 25, 2005, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
She was born October 18, 1941, in Van Wert County, to the late Harold Yoh and Marvil (Basil) Yoh Agler. On September 28, 1962, she married Larry Howell, who survives in Rockford.
Mrs. Howell worked at Van Wert County Hospital, retiring in 1996. She graduated from Wren High School and Lima Memorial School of Nursing as a registered nurse. She was a member of Rockford Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Women's Association and was a Sunday School teacher and elder of the church.
In addition to her husband, survivors include a son, Jeffery Howell of Rockford; one daughter, Kimberly (Paul) Rapking of Cincinnati; three brothers, Jerry (Sharon) Agler of Lewisburg, Tenn., Dallas (Leigh Ann) Agler of Van Wert and Phillip Agler of Houston, Texas, and two sisters, Ann (Richard) Combs of Orlando, Fla., and Rita (Leslie) Stewart of Springfield.
She was preceded in death by her stepfather, Elmer Agler.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday, November 27, at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Pastor Karen Long officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Rockford.
Viewing hours are 4-8 p.m. Saturday, November 26, and from 12:30 p.m. until the time of services Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be directed to Rockford Presbyterian Church.
DUGAN
Vincent P. Dugan, 73, of Rockford, died at 5:25 p.m. Friday, November 25, 2005, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
He was born May 13, 1932, in Rockford, the son of the late Charles and Agnes (Riley) Dugan. On April 16, 1955, he married Doris Mefferd, who survives.
Mr. Dugan was a farmer and had worked at Ketcham's Furniture Store in Rockford. He was also a corporal in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He ewas a graduate of Rockford High School and was quarterback of the football team in 1949-1950. He was a member of St. Teresa Catholic Church in Rockford and its Holy Name Society, the Knights of Columbus and Rockford American Legion Post.
In addition to his wife, survivors include three sons, Thomas (Becky) Dugan and John (Amy) Dugan, both of Rockford, and Patrick Dugan of Celina; two daughters, Cathy (Brad) Pfeiffer of Arkansas and Mary (Tom) Eischen of Celina; three brothers, Charles (Rose) Dugan of Lakewood, Michael (Kay) Dugan of Dayton and Joseph (Sharon) Dugan of Fort Wayne, Ind.; three sisters, Gerry (Charles) Lang of Louisville, Ky., Judy Hooley of Billings, Mont., and Colette Dugan of St. Marys, and eight grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Ann Yergens, and two brothers-in-law, Robert Yergens and Ray Hooley.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 30, at St. Teresa Catholic Church in Rockford, with Father Tom Brenberger officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Rockford.
Viewing hours are from 2-8 p.m. Tuesday, November 29, at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford, where a Rosary service will be held at 7:30 that evening.
Memorials may be directed to St. Teresa Catholic Church or the Rockford American Legion Post.
WORTMAN
Keith Wortman, 66, of Auburn, Ind., passed away at his home on Friday, November 25, 2005.
He was born February 13, 1939, in Van Wert, the son of B. Irene (McClure) Wortman, who survives in Van Wert, and the late Cleo W. Wortman. On November 15, 1959, he married Gloria Teeter of Monticello, Ind., and she survives in Auburn.
Mr. Wortman worked for Fruehauf Trailers in Delphos and Union Quarries after high school before attending and graduating from International Business College in Fort Wayne, Ind. He worked a brief time for two banks and spent the rest of his work career as an employee of the former Essex Wire, which through buyouts became a part of United Technologies. He retired from United Technologies in January 2000, with more than 39 years of service. He also served two years in the U.S. Army. He enjoyed woodworking, going to his grandsons’ baseball games and to craft shows, as well as playing golf and traveling in the family’s motor home.
In addition to his mother and wife, survivors include two daughters, Shari (Steve) Parrish and Rhonda Wortman, both of Auburn; two brothers, John (Phyllis) Wortman and Denzil (Kaulene) Wortman, both of Van Wert; a sister, Leila (Tom) Brown of Van Wert, and four grandsons, Spencer and Shea Parrish and Daniel and Robert Wortman, all of Auburn.
There will be no funeral services or visitation. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Ohio City.
A celebration of Mr. Wortman’s life will be held at the La Quinta Inn on Touring Drive in Auburn from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, December 3, with a pictorial video of Mr. Wortman’s life being shown at 12:15 p.m.
Memorials can be directed to the Dekalb County Chapter of the American Cancer Society or the Dekalb County Home Hospice, 1316 E. Seventh St., Auburn, IN 46706.
DAWSON
Arthur J. “Pete” Dawson, 93, of Van Wert, died at 11:43 p.m. Sunday, November 27, 2005, at Van Wert Manor nursing home in Van Wert.
He was born October 28, 1917, in Convoy, the son of the late Herbert and Elizabeth (Armes) Dawson. He married Edith Egly, who preceded him in death.
Mr. Dawson retired as a serviceman for the former Montgomery Ward store in Van Wert.
Survivors include a son, Kenneth (Marge) Dawson of Geneva, Ind.; two daughters, Donna (Gary) Heckert of Decatur, Ind., and Lue (Glen) Flippo of Columbia, Ky.; three stepchildren, Mearl (Sandra) Densel, Carl Densel and Roy (Martha) Densel, all of Van Wert; two sisters, Dorothy Emerson of Rockford and Geneva Plymate of Illinois; 27 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Bill Dawson; four brothers, three sisters, and three grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 30, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. Paul Miller officiating. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery in Convoy.
Viewing hours are from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, November 29.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
