USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
GAMBLE
Marcia L. Gamble, 71, of Van Wert, died at 4 a.m. Friday, March 14, 2003, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Mrs. Gamble had worked at Federal-Mogul Corporation's National Seal plant in Van Wert for nearly 43 years.
Survivors include a son, Rusty (Linda) Gamble of Van Wert; two daughters, Tina (Tom) Wannemacher and Toni Collins, both of Van Wert; six grandsons, and five granddaughters.
A private family burial will be held.
There will be no visitation or special services.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mrs. Gamble to the Thomas Edison Endowment Fund.
Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
BAER
Glendora M. Baer, 82, of Convoy and formerly of Toledo, died at 5:30 a.m. Friday, March 14, 2003, at Convoy Care Center.
She was born July 15, 1920, in Van Wert County, the daughter of the late Glenn and Annetta (Upp) Baer.
Miss Baer had attended the former Union School in Van Wert County.
Survivors include three brothers, Robert D. (JoAnne) Baer of Van Wert and Donald K. (Judy) Baer and Charles E. (Linda) Baer, both of Convoy; five sisters, Juanita Black of Convoy, Betty (Milo) Wyandt and Bonnie (Earl) Speelman, both of Van Wert, NaDonna (Ralph) Schumm of Bluffton, Ind., and Jeannette Smith of Bronson, Mich.; a sister-in-law, Harriet J. Baer of Van Wert, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Carl D. and Walter E. Baer; a sister, Anna Kathryn Rase, and a half-sister, Vera Nortley.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Paul W. Miller officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery in Ridge Township.
Visitation is from 2-8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Miss Baer to a charity of donor's choice.
DRAKE
Mary A. Drake, 89, formerly of Mendon, died at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 14, 2003, at The Gardens of Celina.
She was born September 30, 1913, in Mercer County, the daughter of the late Earl O. and Chloe B. (Andrews) Poor. On April 11, 1937, she married Joseph B. Drake, who died July 28, 1985.
Mrs. Drake was a homemaker and a former member of Mendon Church of God.
Survivors include a son, Joseph H. (Carolyn Ann) Drake of Celina; a daughter, Marjorie A. (Larry W.) Fetters of Celina; one brother, Robert (Becky) Poor of Elwood, Ind.; one sister, Miriam Poor of Silver Springs, Fla.; two granddaughters, Tess (Gary) Glass of Celina and Debora (Steve) Shaffer of Lima, and two great-grandchildren, Jennifer Blacketer and Eric Alwine, both of Celina.
She was preceded in death by five brothers, Lowell, Russell, Donald, Byron and Everett Poor, and seven sisters, Janice McCallister, Irene Duker, Emma Schierholdt, Anna C. Poor, Betty Lormor, Pauline Brookhart and Dorothy Clyde Poor.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday at W.H. Dick & Sons Funeral Home in Celina, with Pastor Bruce Strine of First Church of God in Celina officiating. Burial will be in Mendon Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mrs. Drake to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.
KNODEL
Gwendolyn H. Knodel, 90, of 701 Frothingham St., died at 8 a.m. Sunday, March 16, 2003, at Convoy Care Center.
She was born December 24, 1912, in Van Wert, the daughter of the late Daniel and Winnie (Snyder) Jerome. On July 11, 1933, she married William Dale "Whitie" Knodel, who died August 19, 1982.
Mrs. Knodel had worked at the Montgomery Ward store in Van Wert and retired from the Van Wert High School cafeteria after 17 years of service. She was a lifelong member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Van Wert and sang in the church choir. She was a 1930 graduate of Van Wert High School.
Survivors include two sons, William Richard "Dick" (Judy) Knodel and Michael L. (Linda) Knodel, both of Van Wert; two daughters, Shirley (Robert A.) Young and Debra Knodel, both of Van Wert; two brothers, Graydon Jerome and Dan Jerome, both of Van Wert; a sister, Kay (Rex) Rodman of Van Wert; seven grandchildren, Kathy Neal, Timothy Young, Brad Knodel, Tanya Carlton, Ryan Knodel, Heidi Arney and J.J. Knodel, and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by four brothers, Richard, Robert, Maynard and James Jerome; a foster brother, Paul Mason; one sister, Catherine G. Roth, and a granddaughter, Linda Young.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Wesley United Methodist Church in Van Wert, with the Rev. Douglas Stockton officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Visitation will be from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home and an hour prior to services Wednesday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mrs. Knodel to Wesley United Methodist Church.
COREY
John Corey, 87, of Grover Hill, died at 10:10 a.m. Monday, March 17, 2003, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
He was born September 9, 1915, in Akron. On August 29, 1940, he married Mary J. Miller, who died December 18, 1965. On August 23, 1966, he married Betty Dimock, who died June 1, 1991.
Mr. Corey was the former owner-operator of Corey Hardware in Grover Hill. He had formerly worked at Aero Corporation in Bryan and Grizzly Manufacturing in Paulding. He attended the Dupont Church of the Brethren and enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Survivors include a daughter, Linda (Jerry) Scarbrough of Grover Hill; three grandchildren, Laurie Janka, Kerry Laudick and Corey Scarbrough, and six great-grandchildren, Levi and Joel Elston, Kelly and Janey Janka and Laine and Grant Laudick.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Terry Porter officiating. Burial will be in Middle Creek Cemetery in Grover Hill.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mr. Corey to the Grover Hill EMS or Dupont Church of the Brethren.
TERRY
LaVern A. Terry, 87, of 1049 Linden Drive, died at 12:41 p.m. Monday, March 17, 2003, at Van Wert County Hospital.
He was born September 8, 1915, in Van Wert, the son of the late Floyd A. and Lola (Crawford) Terry. On June 5, 1941, in Van Wert, he married Lavon "Bonnie" Milheim, who died April 10, 2001.
Mr. Terry had worked at Kennedy Manufacturing and Federal-Mogul Corp. in Van Wert. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a dental assistant stationed in India. He was a 50-year member of the Van Wert Masonic Lodge.
Survivors include a son, Lendall A. Terry of Guadalupe, Calif.; one daughter, Bonita Lynn (Jay) Simson of Van Wert, and four grandchildren, Stephanie, Crystal, Terry and Nathanael Simson.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Uretta Warner and Nellie Hefke.
A memorial service will be conducted at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert.
Visitation will be from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mr. Terry to The Salvation Army.
MILLER
Wilson A. Miller, 88, of Middle Point, died at 8:25 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, 2003, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
He was born October 20, 1914, in Convoy, the son of the late Albert R. and Blanche (Schultz) Miller. On April 21, 1938, in Portland, Ind., he married Elizabeth J. (Pollock) Miller, who died April 13, 1997.
Mr. Miller was retired from the National Seal Corporation, Quality Control, after 32 years. He was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Van Wert. An avid bowler, he was inducted into the Van Wert Men’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1998.
He is survived by two sons, Richard W. Miller of Middle Point and Mark W. (Joyce) Miller of Van Wert; a daughter, Beverly (David) Brown of Rio Grande City, Texas; eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by three brothers, Walter, Clifford and Wayne Miller, and two sisters, Hazel Etzler and Oval Merkle.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. Terry Martin officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery in Ridge Township.
Visitation is from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Friday.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mr. Miller to a charity of donor's choice.
