Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992
Lewis N. Hudson
Feb. 5, 1929 – Aug. 13, 2004
Wilkinson resident, Lewis N. Hudson, 75, died Friday, August 13 at Community Hospital in Anderson. He was born February 5, 1929 in Anderson, a son of the late William and Cecil (Little) Hudson.
Mrs. Hudson retired from Delco Remy after 31 years of service and also retired from the Big 4 Railroad.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Patricia Joan Hudson of Wilkinson; two sons, Steve (wife Machell) Hudson of Mechanicsburg and Neal Hudson of Morristown; two daughters, Roxann (husband Eric) Sharpnack of Pendleton and Karen (husband Will) Wiseman of Wilkinson; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one brother, Bill Hudson of Frankton; several nieces and nephews.
Three brothers, John, Chiffer and George Hudson preceded him in death.
Funeral services were held Monday in the Condo & Son Funeral Home in Wilkinson with burial in McCray Cemetery.
Visitation was held at the funeral home Sunday, August 15.
Robert E. Harris
Dec. 26, 1926 – Aug. 12, 2004
Robert E. “Red” Harris, 77, a resident of New Castle, died Thursday, August 12 at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie. He was born December 26, 1926 in Ashland, Ky., a son of Robert Rose and Carrie Harris.
Mr. Harris retired in 1988 from the New York Central & Conrail Railroad after 39 years of service as a brakeman. He was a member of Eagles Lodge #933 and the American Legion in Middletown. Harris, a farmer, was exceptionally good at telling stories and was easily recognizable in his bib overalls and clodhopper shoes. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and his dogs, Trixie and Pal. He served during World War II in the U.S. Navy from 1943-1945 aboard the USS Hessom as a Carpenter’s Mate 1st class.
Survivors include three sons, Robert L. Harris of Mt. Summit, Patrick A Harris of Knightstown and Tim J. Harris of Montpelier; two grandsons, Stephen Jay Harris of Montpelier and Scott Allen Harris of Montpelier; two granddaughters, Margaret “Maggie” (husband Joe) Kennedy of Sulphur Springs and Darra (husband Howard) Moore of Seymour; four great-grandchildren, Keylyn Evamarie Thompkins, Jack Patrick Kennedy, Grace Moore and Jacob Moore; one sister, Edyth Fraley of Fort Wayne; several nieces, nephews and a special friend, Joy Dishman of Mt. Summit.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Ruth Maxine (Ford) Harris, one brother, Claude Harris and twin sisters, Maxine Nickles and Ernestine West.
Funeral services were held Monday in the Condo & Son Funeral Home in Wilkinson with Pastor Paul Davis officiating. Burial was in Green Hills Memory Gardens in New Castle with military graveside services.
Visitation was held at the funeral home Sunday, August 15.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Scottie J. Shaw
Dec. 7, 1940 – Aug. 13, 2004
Greenfield resident, Scottie J. Shaw, 63, died Friday, August 13 at his residence. He was born December 7, 1940 in Hancock County and is the son of Oswyn and Rosalind (Shipley) Shaw.
Mr. Shaw was a lifelong farmer and school bus driver for Greenfield Central School System. He was a former deputy for the Hancock County Sheriff’s Dept. He was a 1958 graduate of Hancock Central High School where he was a member of FFA. He was also a member of House of Prayer Ministries in Lewisville, served in the National Guard from 1963 to 1967 and was an avid hunter, fisherman and collector of antique tractors.
Survivors include two sons, Brian (wife Tania) Shaw of Greenfield and Neil (wife Marca) Shaw of Greenfield; one daughter, Betsey (husband Dale) Anderson of Ingalls; his mother, Rosalind Shaw of Greenfield; two grandsons, two granddaughters, one step-grandson; a sister, Alice (husband Ron) Barnett of Greenfield; an uncle, Norman Shaw of Greenfield and an aunt, Jennie Purdy of Anderson.
Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. today (Wednesday, August 18) in the Condo & Son Funeral Home in Wilkinson with Pastor David Todd officiating.
Visitation will be at the funeral home from 1-7 p.m. today (Wednesday).
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Assoc., the Diabetic Assoc. or the House of Prayer Ministries in Lewisville.
Reba Murl Bonewits
May 3, 1913 – Aug. 15, 2004
Former Knightstown resident, Reba Murl (Hutcheson) Bonewits, 91, died Sunday, August 15 at Indiana Masonic Home in Franklin. She was born May 3, 1913 in Reelsville, a daughter of the late Ross A. and H. Hazel (Mullinix) Hutcheson.
Reba graduated from Washington High School in Indianapolis with the Class of 1929. On December 4, 1932, she married Austin E. Bonewits who preceded her in death in 1996, four days after their 64th wedding anniversary.
Mrs. Bonewits, a homemaker, had worked at Bridgeport Brass during World War II while Austin was aboard the Navy USS Pittsburgh serving in the South Pacific. Several years later, Austin and Reba purchased a grocery store near their Fountain Square home and named it Butch and Reba’s Market. In this way, they were available for their four children. In 1959, their children were grown and they sold the grocery store. Reba and Austin were resident managers for the McKay Apartments in Indianapolis for several years and worked for White Gloves Cleaning Service for a short while. Reba later worked at Fox/Carhart Photo and finished her outside-the-home career at Methodist Hospital, working for Sylvania TV.
The couple moved to Knightstown to be near their son and family. In 1998, two years after her husband’s death, Reba moved to the Indiana Masonic Home in Franklin where she resumed her friendship of 40 plus years with a former customer, Beulah Barrett, whose apartment was across the hall. She was a member of American Legion Auxiliary, 8/40 Henry Co. Salon #72 and Order of Eastern Star, Ransford Chapter.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her step-mother, Loti Hutcheson; grandson, Phillip Toney; brothers, Earl, Orville, Lloyd and Richard Hutcheson; and sisters, Vada Hutcheson and Carolyn Hutcheson Emmons.
Survivors include one son, Robert A. (wife Janie) Bonewits; three daughters, Nancy (husband Robert) Rarey, Linda (Marc) Toney, and Judith (husband Thomas) Archer-Hendrickson; one sister, Kathryn Hutcheson Theaman of Mesa, Ariz.; 15 grandchildren, 20 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Friends and family may call at Todd Funeral Home, Butcher Chapel, Knightstown from 4-8 p.m. today (Wednesday, August 18). Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, August 19 at Boone-Hutcheson Cemetery in Reelsville.
W. Gerald Keesling
Mar. 25, 1913 – Aug. 24, 2004
W. Gerald Keesling, 91, a resident of Knightstown, died Tuesday, August 24 at his residence. He was born March 25, 1913 in Pendleton, a son of Charles Riley and Clara Belle (Dudley) Keesling.
Mr. Keesling was a farmer most of his life and bought the Keesling Farm north of Knightstown in 1951. He retired in 1978 from Daimler-Chrysler of New Castle after 44 years of service as a tool and die maker. He was a member of the Greensboro Masonic Lodge #175, the Indianapolis Shrine-Murat Temple and the Indianapolis Scottish Rite 32nd Degree Mason. He graduated from Kennard High School in 1932.
Survivors include his wife, Catherine (Mahle) Keesling of Knightstown, whom he married in 1978; five daughters, Darlene (husband Malcom) Petry of New Castle, Vikkie (husband Eddie) Witham of New Castle, Clara (husband Jerold) Donaldson of Cumberland, Bonnie (husband Ross) Manche of Knightstown, and Colleen Jarvis of Knightstown; four sons, Wilbur (wife Jessie) Keesling of Grayson, Ky., Fred (wife Sara) Keesling of Shelbyville, Rex (wife Pam) Keesling of Greens Fork, and Daryl (wife Patti) Keesling of Knightstown; one stepdaughter, Carla (husband Bob) Lynch of New Palestine; one stepson, Eric (wife Peg) Tribbey of Mt. Lake Park, Md.; 25 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife of 43 years, Isabelle (Darling) Keesling in 1976; a brother Kenneth Keesling; and a sister, Elizabeth Zirkle.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, August 27 in the Condo & Son Funeral Home in Wilkinson with Joshua Keesling, Steve Brackney and Michael Smith officiating. Burial will be in McCray Cemetery in Wilkinson.
Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, August 26 with a Masonic Service at 7:30 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hancock Memorial Hospital Hospice Care, Shrine Burn Center or the donor’s choice.
Chalmer Back
Sept. 12, 1931 – Aug. 23, 2004
Chalmer Back, 72, of Knightstown died Monday, August 23 at Henry County Memorial Hospital following an extended illness. He was born September 12, 1931 in Carter County, Ky., a son of the late George and Anna (Fife) Back.
A longtime Knightstown resident, he retired from Smurfit Stone Container Corp. in Carthage. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Germany during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of Northside Church of God in New Castle.
Survivors include his wife, Nina Back of Knightstown, whom he married October 30, 1954; a daughter, Terri (husband Dan) Drysdale of Kennard; three sons, Jeffrey D. (wife Lesa) Back of Knightstown, David (wife Beth) Back of Carthage and Kevin Lee (wife Crissy) Back of Kennard; 14 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two brothers, Junior (wife Lou) Back of Globe, Ky. and Johnny (wife Jody) Back of Upper Tygart, Ky.; three sisters, Joan (husband Berkley) Hall of Upper Tygart, Ky., Madge (husband Ronald) Lankford of Louisville, Ky. and Gail (husband Dick) Counts of Huntsville, Ala.; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Harold and Paul Back and one sister, Pauline Richmond.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 26 at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service, Knightstown Chapel with Pastor Phil Brown officiating. Burial will follow in Glen Cove Cemetery in Knightstown.
Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. today (Wednesday, August 25).
Les Caudill
Sept. 6, 1922 – Aug. 18, 2004
Knightstown resident, Les Caudill, 81, died Wednesday, August 18 in Regency Place Healthcare in Greenfield. He was born September 6, 1922 in Raysville, a son of the late Charles and Gertrude (Hamm) Caudill.
Mr. Caudill retired from the Body Shop of Chevrolet. He was a World War II veteran serving in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the Faith Chapel Baptist Church in Knightstown and was an avid fisherman.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Lena (Goodwin) Caudill of Knightstown; a son James (wife Margo) Caudill of Shelbyville; one daughter, Mary (husband William) Klare of Shelbyville; a daughter-in-law, Sandy Caudill of Indianapolis; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters; three brothers; several nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepmother, Ida Caudill; a son, William Caudill; a sister and two brothers.
Funeral services were held Saturday, August 21 in the Condo & Son Funeral Home in Wilkinson with Pastor Randy Gross officiating. Burial was in Glen Cove Cemetery in Knightstown.
Visitation was held at the funeral home on Friday, August 20.
