USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
GLASS
Matthew Ray "Matt" Glass, 5, of Scott, died at 10:40 a.m. Wednesday, November 27, 2002, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind., from injuries received in an auto accident on November 22.
He was born April 10, 1997, in Lima, the son of Bryon A. and Nicole S. (Davis) Glass, both of Scott.
Matthew was a kindergarten student at Grover Hill Elementary School in the Wayne Trace Local School District.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by a sister, Macey Charlene Glass, at home; paternal grandparents, Dennis "Tiny" and Ruth Ann Glass of Scott; maternal grandparents, Lisa and Mike Learned and Bob and Jean Davis, all of Van Wert; paternal great-grandmother, Estella Gilroy of Van Wert; maternal great-grandparents, Dewey C. and Leah A. Shaw and Richard and Betty Learned, all of Van Wert, James and Norma Detterer of Bellefontaine, Robert and Lois Bollenbaugh of Ohio City and Thomas and Donna Davis of Kenton, and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Margery Elizabeth, who died in the same accident, and great-grandparents, W. Ray and Betty J. Glass, Everet H. Gilroy and Isabelle Morris.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Trinity Friends Church in Van Wert, the Rev. Neil Hammons and Rev. John Perkins officiating. Burial will be in Scott Cemetery.
Calling hours are 1:30-9 p.m. Friday at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, and from 9 a.m. until services Saturday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to a family medical expense fund.
BAXTER
William S. Baxter, 74, of 10615 Upp Road, died at 12:55 p.m. Friday, November 29, 2002, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
He was born May 21, 1928, in Van Wert, the son of the late Melvin and Mabel (Walters) Baxter. On March 14, 1953, in Angola, Ind., he married Shirley (Harting) Baxter, who survives.
Mr. Baxter retired as a production foreman from the Aeroquip Corp. in Van Wert after 28 years. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Van Wert. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and was a life member of American Legion Post 178 in Van Wert. He also belonged to Lodge 1197, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in Van Wert.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Jeffrey S. (Linda) Baxter of Lebanon and David W. (Jeanne) Baxter of Germantown, Wis.; three sisters, Helen Walker of Bloomington, Ill., Mildred Runion of Fremont and Patricia Roberts of Boardman, and five grandchildren, Aaron, Amy, Adam, Benjamin and Samuel Baxter.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Baxter.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home, the Rev. Timothy Burden officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert, with military graveside rites by the combined units of American Legion Post 178 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the church or the Brain Tumor Center at Duke University, Durham, N.C.
PERRY
Lester C. Perry, 91, formerly of rural Convoy, died at 11:50 a.m. Friday, November 29, 2002, at Convoy Care Center.
He was born March 18, 1911, in Scott, the son of the late Charles Wesley and Sabina (Reid) Perry. On September 14, 1935, he married Elva Ritchie, who survives.
Mr. Perry was a retired a farmer who attended Calvary Evangelical Church in Van Wert.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Richard D. (Diane) Perry of rural Convoy; one daughter, Mildred (W. Kent) Jones of Auburn, Ind.; six grandchildren, Clark (Eloise) Perry, Doug (Myrna) Perry, Laura (Pat) Menzie, Brad (Stacie) Jones, Ken (Jennifer) Jones and Nathan Perry, and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Russell and Clifford Perry, and a sister, Susie Taylor.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. W. Clark Williman officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery in Ridge Township.
Calling hours are 2-7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to either Convoy Care Center or Gideons International.
BIGELOW
Leta A. Bigelow, 80, of Van Wert, died at 6:15 a.m. Saturday, November 30, 2002, at Lincolnway Home.
She was born September 30, 1922, in Jackson Township, Van Wert County, the daughter of the late John W. and Mary Ellen (Morris) Adams. She married Walter John Bigelow, who died in October 1964. She then married Donald M. Miller, who died in November 1977.
Mrs. Bigelow was a homemaker.
Survivors include two sons, Jay W. (Diane) Bigelow of Auburn, Ind., and John W. (Patricia) Bigelow of Middle Point; a daughter, Monta (John) Hirzel of Northville, Mich.; two brothers, Lewis "Ned" Adams of Fort Jennings and Billy (Leona) Adams of Grover Hill; one sister, Marie Adam of Fort Jennings; 10 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by six brothers, Clayton, Homer "Dick", Floyd, James, Glen and John Adams, and three sisters, Treva Walters, Dorothy Gudakunst and Bonnie Dudgeon.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday at Harter & Son Memorial Chapel in Delphos. Burial will be in Ottoville Cemetery.
Calling hours are 6-8 p.m. Sunday and an hour prior to services on Monday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Lincolnway Home.
SCHMELZER
Gerald H. Schmelzer, 84, of Delphos, died at 7:55 a.m. Saturday, November 30, 2002, at Lima Manor Nursing Home.
He was born January 22, 1918, in Van Wert County, the son of the late Leo and Katherine (Wiechart) Schmelzer. On December 28, 1948, he married Elizabeth "Betty" Maloney, who survives in Delphos.
Mr. Schmelzer retired from Crescent Laundry and Dry Cleaners in Van Wert. He was a lifetime member of Walterick-Hemme Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3035 and a U.S. Army veteran who served five years in the Pacific Theatre with the 37th Division during World War II. He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Delphos, serving on the Parish Council. He graduated from St. John's High School in 1938 and served as president of Delphos City Council and was a councilman at-large for many years. He was also Delphos welfare director during the 1960s.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Thomas John (Clare) Schmelzer of Bronson, Mich., and Father Joseph Michael Schmelzer of Van Wert; a daughter, Ann Elizabeth (Timothy) Byrne of Delphos; two brothers, Richard (Betty) Schmelzer of Delphos and Louis (Betty) Schmelzer of Hendersonville, N.C., and three grandchildren, Christopher Schmelzer, Alisha Byrne and Colin Byrne.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Rita Miller, and three infant brothers, Norbert, Elmer and Ralph Schmelzer.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Delphos, with Father Joseph Michael Schmelzer officiating. Burial will be in the church Cemetery, with military graveside rites by the Delphos Veterans Council.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Harter & Son Memorial Chapel in Delphos, where a wake service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday and a veterans service at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the St. John's Teachers Endowment Fund.
MUMPER
Phyllis L. Mumper, 56, of Convoy, died at 4:05 p.m. Monday, November 4, 2002, at her residence.
She was born August 11, 1946, in Busy, Ky., the daughter of Ezellia (Bailey) McIntosh of Convoy and the late James McIntosh. On August 14, 1992, in West Bend, Wis., she married Marvin J. Mumper of Convoy.
Mrs. Mumper was an office manager for 15 years in Wisconsin and four years in the Convoy area.
In addition to her mother and husband, she is survived by three sons, Robert (fiancee Stacy) Taylor of Delphos, William (Amy) Knoll of Van Wert and Scott (Julie) Bates of Convoy; two stepchildren, Ronald (Dawn) Mumper of Fond du Lac, Wis., and Robin (Richard) Pease of Waupon, Wis.; three brothers, James W. (Pam) McIntosh of Naperville, Ill., Jerry (Jan) McIntosh of Convoy and Jeff (Mary Ann) McIntosh of Van Wert; two sisters, Ann (Stokley) Colwell of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Evelyn Kerns of Syracuse, Ind.; 12 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at Gearhart, Mack & Jurczyk Funeral Home in Convoy, the Rev. Greg Leigh officiating. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery in Convoy.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Community Health Professionals-Hospice in Van Wert.
Condolences can be sent to agfh@bright.net
CODLING
Permilla Ann Codling, 76, of Convoy, died at 10:10 p.m. Monday, November 4, 2002, at Convoy Care Center following an extended illness.
Born December 1, 1925, in Van Wert, she was the daughter of the late Harry Adrian and Ola Ethel (Reed) Wherry. She married Paul Emmitt Codling on April 21, 1951, at First Methodist Church in Van Wert. Mr. Codling died on June 12, 1994.
Mrs. Codling was a 1943 graduate of Van Wert High School. In 1944, she moved to Washington, D.C., to work as a secretary at the headquarters of the U.S. Coast Guard. Mrs. Codling was active in the United Methodist Women at Convoy United Methodist Church, where she was a member. She also was a secretary at the church in the 1970s and was a member of Church Women United. With her husband, she was a member in Chapter 62 of the Roll-In Sams in Van Wert. Mrs. Codling retired from Fisher’s Big Wheel in Van Wert in 1992.
Survivors include three daughters, Paula Miller and Patti Cox of Convoy, and Phyllis Codling of Madison, Ind.; a son-in-law, Steve Miller of Convoy; a brother, Harry Adrian Wherry Jr. of Indianapolis, Ind.; one sister, Maxine Bosscher of Grand Rapids, Mich.; four grandchildren, J.P. Cox and Lisa Cox of Convoy, Eric Miller of Paulding and Erin Miller of Columbus; several nieces and nephews, and many cousins.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Genevieve Webb.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at Convoy United Methodist Church, the Rev. Gregory Leigh officiating. Honorary pallbearers are Larry Webb, Steve Miller, J.P. Cox, Lisa Cox, Erin Miller and Eric Miller. Mrs. Codling will be cremated, with her remains to be interred at Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert. A family graveside memorial service is planned.
Calling hours are 4-8 p.m. Friday at Cowan & Son-Stainfield Memorial Home in Convoy and an hour before services at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Convoy United Methodist Church and the Van Wert Special Olympics, 7478 Bergner Road, Convoy, OH 45832, c/o Margaret Miller.
