USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
GEAR
Carl T. Gear, 53, of 6754 Middle Point-Wetzel Road, Middle Point, died at 10:03 p.m. Sunday, June 29, 2003, at Van Wert County Hospital.
He was born January 27, 1950, in Van Wert, the son of Jack R. and Mary L. (DuVall) Gear, both of whom survive. On June 14, 1986, he married Kim (Miller) Crager, who survives at home.
Mr. Gear has been disabled since August 14, 1987, due to a semi-truck accident. He was an active member of the Boy Scouts when he was younger and received the Eagle Scout Award.
In addition to his parents and wife, he is survived by a son, Jeff (Gretchen) Gear of Sturgis, Mich.; one daughter, Jody (Paul) Cline of Sturgis, Mich.; a stepdaughter, Kristy (Gary) Rogers of Van Wert; three brothers, John (Donna) Gear of Georgia and Dale Gear and Mark Gear, both of Middle Point; one sister, Carol Gear of Auburn, Ind.; three grandchildren, Paul Cline III, Courtney Cline and Christopher Carl Thomas Cline, and five stepgrandchildren, Chris, Amanda, Allison, Madeline and Mason Rogers.
Graveside funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Ridge Cemetery near Middle Point, the Rev. Paul Miller officiating.
Calling hours are noon-2 p.m. Wednesday at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mr. Gear to Thomas Edison School in Van Wert.
DIX
Frieda D. Dix of Paulding died Tuesday, June 3, 2003, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind.
She was born February 5 (no year provided) in Payne, the daughter of the late Charles and Louise (Schieber) May. On August 1, 1958, she married Clyde Dix, who survives.
Mrs. Dix was a homemaker and a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paulding.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Larry M. Dix of Paulding and Charles L. Dix of Stryker; four daughters, Dorothy M. Moreno, Beverly D. Apple and April R. Dix, all of Paulding, and Michelle R.A. Thompson of Ayersville; 14 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by five sisters, Donna Zielke, Delta Wallen, Beula May and Stella Boyd; three brothers, Harry, Charles and Paul May, and a grandchild, Anthony Dix, in 1992.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paulding, the Rev. Mary Beth Smith-Webb officiating. Burial will be in Lehman Cemetery in Payne.
Calling hours are after 4 p.m. Thursday at Slade Funeral Home in Payne.
Memorial contributions can be made to the family.
HIMMEGER
B. Lee Himmeger of Delphos died Tuesday afternoon, June 3, 2003, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
He was born August 2, 1933, in Delphos, the son of the late Clarence S. and Charlotte (Weathers) Himmeger. In 1952, he married Billie Jo Brittingham, who survives in Delphos.
Mr. Himmeger was a school principal in Ayersville for 12 years, athletic director for 23 years and summer program supervisor for 24 years. He taught for a total of 34 years, 24 of those at Ayersville, eight years at Upper Sandusky and at Zanesville for two years. He coached basketball for 33 years and made three trips to the Class A state championships and won two of those. He also coached baseball for 23 years, track for 10 years, tennis for four years and golf for seven years. He retired in June 1990. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, both in Delphos. He was a graduate of Delphos Jefferson High School in 1952, where he participated and lettered in basketball, football, baseball and track. He scored 1,000 points in his basketball career, making him a member of the 1,000 Point Club. He then attended Findlay College, where he was a four-year letterman in both basketball and baseball. While playing for the Findlay College basketball team, he went to the NAIA basketball tournament two years. For his lifetime commitment to basketball and coaching, he was a member of the District 7 Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Hancock County Hall of Fame (2001), Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame (1998), Dapper Dan Classic Coach (1982), Findlay University Athletic Hall of Fame (1972), North/South All-Star Coach (1962/1977), Ohio Class A Coach of the Year (1961/1962), president of the OHSACA from 1966-68, District 7 Director for eight year in basketball, a football official for 20 years and district secretary for 12 years.
Survivors include two sons, Bernie (Marla) Himmeger of Grove City and Brad (Stephanie) Himmeger of Hilliard; two daughters, Jody (Thomas) Gorman of Brighton, Mich., and Julie Thompson of Lewis Center; a brother, Earl (Martina) Himmeger of Belle Center; two sisters, Evelyn (Don) Weideman and Helen (Bill) Mullenhour, both of Delphos, and six grandchildren, Rachel, David, Elizabeth, Jacob and Carter Himmeger and Taylor Thompson.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Ivan Himmeger.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Delphos, the Rev. David Howell officiating. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Delphos.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Friday at Harter & Son Funeral Home in Delphos and an hour prior to services Saturday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mr. Himmeger to the church.
JOHNSON
Carolyn S. Johnson, 66, of Rockford, died at 11:18 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, 2003, at The Laurels of Shane Hill in Rockford.
She was born June 23, 1936, in Chesterfield, Ind., the daughter of the late Perry and Jean I. (Grier) Brandon. In October 1970, she married Paul E. Johnson, who died June 22, 1993.
Mrs. Johnson was a homemaker an had lived most of her life in this area, moving to Economy, Ind., in 1970 and then returning to Rockford. She attended New Horizons Community Church in Rockford, was a member of the Order of Eastern Star in Hagerstown, Ind., and was a charter member of the Mercer County Saddle Club.
Survivors include three sons, Clinton O. Smith and his fianceé, Rebecca L. Cook and Daniel G. (Lisa C.) Smith, both of Celina, and Rance Johnson of Rockford; a daughter, Kachina Johnson of Rockford; two brothers, Jack Brandon of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Paul (Janet) Brandon of Downyville, Calif.; one grandson, and three stepgrandchildren.
Preceding her in death are her twin brother, Michael Brandon, and a sister, Martha Jane Wilson.
Funeral services will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford, with Pastor Robert Loar officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Gravel Lawn Cemetery in Fortville, Ind.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-7:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, while a luncheon for family and friends will be served at New Horizons Community Church outside Rockford.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mrs. Johnson to the church.
ROZELLE
Mildred F. Rozelle, 83, of Delphos, died at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, June 5, 2003, at Plus Health Care in Lima.
She was born July 12, 1919, in Johnstown, Colo., the daughter of the late Jens and Martina (Jensen) Frederiksen. On August 20, 1943, she married Paul F. Rozelle, who died March 30, 1964.
Mrs. Rozelle worked for the Allen County Council on Aging was a homemaker and worked at Scherger Monument, Sheeter Auto Sales and was a secretary at Trinity United Methodist Church, where was a member. She also belonged to Order of Eastern Star Chapter 26 and Pythian Sisters and was a graduate of Colorado Women's College and Mead High School in Colorado in 1920. She was a member of the Board of Directors of Delphos Senior Citizens Center from 1987-1993 and served as vice president from 1987-1991.
Survivors include two sons, Jack (Dorothy) Rozelle of State College, Pa., and Gerald (Patricia) Rozelle of Fort Wayne, Ind.; a daughter, Joyce I. Rozelle of Centreville, Va.; four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother and two sisters.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in Delphos, the Rev. David Howell officiating. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Harter & Son Funeral Home, where an Eastern Star service will be held at 7:30 that evening, and an hour prior to services at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mrs. Rozelle to Trinity United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society.
MYERS
Kenneth Gene Myers, 83, of Rockford, died at 3:07 a.m. Friday, June 6, 2003, at Colonial Nursing Home in Rockford.
He was born October 14, 1919, in Stark, Ill., to the late David Henry and Nellie Frances (Williams) Myers. On June 14, 1947, he married Loverda Howell, who survives.
Mr. Myers was a farmer and had lived all his life in Rockford. He was a member of Rockford United Methodist Church, Shanes Lodge 377, Free and Accepted Masons, in Rockford and Lodge 1197, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in Van Wert.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a sister, Virginia Strete of Celina.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Fern Smith Smalley.
Funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford, with Pastor Mike Berne of Rockford United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Rockford.
Calling hours are from 2-7 p.m. Sunday and an hour prior to services Monday at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mr. Myers to the Mercer County Heart Association.
MICHAEL
Marcia Jean Michael, 74, of West Liberty and formerly of Van Wert, died at 4:16 a.m. Friday, June 6, 2003, at Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine.
She was born May 8, 1929, in Van Wert, the daughter of the late Rev. Harold and Norma (Robison) Wyandt. On October 6, 1951, she married John D. Michael, who survives in West Liberty.
Mrs. Michael was a homemaker and substitute teacher in the West Liberty school system and taught at Adriel School. She was a graduate of Cleveland Bible College. She was a very active member of Urbana Nazarene Church and its prayer ministry. She was also a former Vacation Bible School director and was a puppeteer for various churches.Marcia will be lovingly remembered as a woman of integrity who shared her enthusiasm for God, life and all things beautiful with her family and friends.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by three daughters, Susan (Nick) Lautz of Cable, Nancy (Barry) Skaggs of Gahanna and Mary Jo (Terry) Price of St. Paris; two brothers, Gordon (Glenna) Wyandt of West Liberty and Michael Jim Stemen of Mississippi; one sister, Marjorie Wollet of Van Wert; seven grandchildren, Sarah Yoder, Rachel, David and Rebecca Lantz, Jody and Jason Ober and Michael Price, and a great-granddaughter, Cassandra Watts.
A graveside funeral service was held at 2 p.m. June 7 at Fairview Cemetery in West Liberty, the Rev. Gary Morgan and Rev. John Ware officiating.
There will be calling hours this Sunday, June 15, from 2-3 p.m. at Urbana Nazarene Church, with a memorial service beginning at 3.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mrs. Michael to Urbana Nazarene Church.
