Clarence E. Sible, age 90, of Churubusco, IN passed away at 12:25 a.m. Friday, August 27, 2010 at North Ridge Village Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Albion, IN.  Born on September 8, 1919 in Smith Township, Whitley County, he was the son of Elmer and Elva (Rice) Sible.

He was a lifetime resident of Churubusco and attended school in Eel River Township, rural Allen County.  On March 1, 1941, he married Blanche M. Freeman in Columbia City. Clarence was both a lifetime general and hog farmer. He was also an avid fisherman.

Survivors include his daughter, Judy A. (Harold) Schinbeckler of Churubusco; 6 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Blanche M. Sible and son, Larry L. Sible.

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VIRGINIA E. “GINNY” LANTZ, 88, of Fort Wayne, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010, at her residence.

She was born in Roanoke, Ind. All the grandchildren will greatly miss “Grandma Cookie.” Ginny was loved by her family and friends.

Surviving are her son, DeWayne E. (Carol) Trim of Fort Wayne; grandchildren, Douglas E. (Michelle) Trim of Churubusco and DeChelle (Donald) Rice of Fort Wayne;five great-grandchildren; and sister, Helen Smithson of Fort Wayne. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Lantz; son, Larry Trim; brothers, Richard, Billie, Jesse and Kenneth Fulmer; sisters, Elvie Ummel, Lucille Joseph, Velma Mills, Dottie Fulmer and Evelyn Fulmer.

Service is 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 30, 2010 at Hockemeyer & Miller Funeral Home, 6131 St. Joe Road, Fort Wayne with visitation one hour prior to service. Visitation also from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010 at the funeral home. Burial in Lindenwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Heartland Hospice or American Diabetes Association.

Due to injuries she sustained in an ATV accident, Deanna Marie Wagner, age 37, of Columbia City, passed away at 6:34 p.m. Saturday, August 21, 2010 at Monroe Hospital, Bloomington, IN. Born August 12, 1973 in Auburn, IN she was the daughter of Fredrick J. and Sherry Lindell (Williams) Harroff.

She attended Columbia City High School and Cornerstone Christian Schools. Raised in Churubusco and a current Whitley County resident, she was a homemaker.

Survivors include her parents, Fredrick and Sherry Harroff of Columbia City; daughters, Hope Ann and Faith Lynn Wagner both of Columbia City; sisters, Kimberley (Garry) Gorsuch of Albion and Roberta (Dean) Wort of Hicksville, OH; maternal grandmother, Phyllis Walerstein of Columbia City; 6 nieces and nephews; and fiance, Neil Carpenter of Columbia City. She was preceded in death by twin sons, Matthew & Anthony Wagner.

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Talia Joy Smith, age 20, of LaOtto, Indiana, passed away Wednesday August 18, 2010 as the result of a car-bicycle accident on Old S.R. 3 North of C.R. 400 S.

Talia was born April 30, 1990 in Fort Wayne to Brad and Mary (Speakman) Smith. Talia graduated from East Noble High School in 2008, an Honor Graduate (top 10 in her class). She desired to pursue vocal performance and acting professionally, aiming toward Broadway. She was attending New York University, (currently a Junior, earning a 3.87 GPA) on academic scholarship to pursue her dream by majoring in Music Theater and Vocal Performance at the Steinhardt School of Culture and Education. She had just signed on to a new job as the Personal Assistant to the Assistant Musical Theater Program Director at NYU.

Talia enjoyed singing, reading, dancing, shopping, being with her friends, and spending time with family. She attended church at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church. She was a record breaking swimmer, beginning at age 6 with YMCA through freshman year in high school. Multiple show choir competitions, grand champion soloist; highlighted by wins at De Kalb, Belmont, Marion and Carroll. Talia was an Honor Thespian, landing many significant roles in East Noble productions. In June 2010 she performed professionally for the first time in concert at NYU for the 25th celebration of the faculty resource network.

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Kenneth E. Dammeyer, 73, a resident of rural Churubusco, passed away on Thursday evening, August 17, 2010, at the family residence in Smith Township. He had been in declining health for some time, and had been seriously ill since January.

Mr. Dammeyer was born on January 2, 1937 in St. Mary’s Ohio, to Leon and Ada (Moeller) Dammeyer. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1955, and as a young man served with the U.S. Army National Guard.

While in Ohio he was engaged in farming and served with the St. Mary’s Volunteer Fire Department. He later lived in Fort Wayne for a period before moving to Churubusco in 1988.

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Dave Partin, 62, a resident of Churubusco, passed away at 1:05 a. m. on Tuesday, August 10, 2010, at the home of his mother in Churubusco. He had been in failing health since March.

Mr. Partin was born in Middlesboro, Kentucky on July 15, 1948, and moved to Churubusco with his family in 1955.

A U. S. Army Vietnam veteran, he had been employed as a metal plater at Lippert Components in Goshen, and spent most of his adult life in Churubusco. He was a member of the Churubusco Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Turtle Post 3846.

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William D. Cook, 75, a resident of Avilla, and formerly of Auburn and Huntertown, passed away at 10:00 p. m. on Wednesday, August 4, 2010, at Northridge Village Nursing Home in Albion, where he had been a patient for the past two weeks.

Mr. Cook was born in Fort Wayne on January 25, 1935, a son of Bernard and Hope (Kuzeff) Cook, and spent his formative years there. As a young man he served in the U. S. Navy during the Korean Conflict, and was married in Angola on July 20, 1953 to Shirley Spangle.

He was employed for 28 years at International Harvester in Fort Wayne, and later worked as a self-employed contractor. In his leisure time he enjoyed hunting, fishing, race car driving, and woodworking.

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Al L. Knapp, 71, well-known Churubusco businessman and a resident of rural Columbia City, passed away unexpectedly at 4:17 a. m. on Monday, August 2, 2010, at the family residence in Smith Township from the results of an apparent heart attack.

Mr. Knapp was born in Bryan, Ohio on June 3, 1939, a son of Alva and Leila (Ginter) Knapp, and as a youth moved with his family to New Haven.

On August 3, 1958 he was married in Bryan, Ohio to Carol Sue Joseph.  The couple lived in Bryan, Ohio for a period before moving to Churubusco in 1961.  They had lived at their current home in rural Smith Township since 1967.

Mr. Knapp operated Al’s Barber Shop in Churubusco for 12 years, and was well-known as the owner and operator of Al’s 33 Club in Churubusco for 33 years, retiring in 2006.  In addition to his work, he enjoyed raising horses and horse racing.

The surviving relatives include his wife Carol, to whom he was married for nearly 52 years; his children Lori (Stan) Cremeens, Brad (Koreen) Knapp, and Jennifer (Harry) Jordan, all of Churubusco, and Sue (Todd) Tonkel of Fort Wayne; and  two sisters Carlyne (Dan) Krauter of New Haven and Delila (Larry) Woodruff of Greenfield.  There are eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

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Fred A. Riddle, 58, of Noble Township, Noble County, died Thursday evening, July 29, 2010 at his home.

He was born January 27, 1952 in Columbia City, Indiana a son of Stanley James and Mary Catherine (Cox) Riddle. A lifelong resident of Noble Township, he graduated from Central Noble High School.

On November 27, 1976 he was united in marriage to Mariann Metzger.

In addition to farming, he drove truck for North American Van Lines and later Salesman Trucking.

He was very active and supportive of St. Matthews United Methodist Church and its many activities, Wolf Lake Lions Club, Mizpah Shrine and Christian Chapel Cemetery Association Board. He was an associate of Whitley County Soil & Water Conservation District, assisted with Boy Scouts of America and a member of Churubusco Lodge #515 F. & A. M.

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Ronald L. Wellman, 72, died Thursday, July 29, 2010 at home.

He worked for Magnavox for 37 years and was a life-long farmer. He loved woodworking, fishing, and raising farm animals. He was active in various local and regional square dance functions for many years. He would look forward to spending winters in Texas.

Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Sandra of Cromwell; son, Todd (Cynthia) Wellman of Fort Wayne; daughter, Pam (Matt) Delong of Milford; brother, Larry (Sharon) Wellman of Spencerville; grandchildren, Chad, Chase, Colin, and Elise; great grandson, Dylan.

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Eldora P. McCoy, 89, of Albion died Thursday, July 29, 2010 at North Ridge Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Albion.

Born December 21, 1920 in Whitley County, she was the daughter of the late Oscar and Etta Fulk.  She married Leland McCoy in Columbia City on May 7, 1938.  He died on February 12, 1985.

Mrs. McCoy was a nurses aid at the Luckey Hospital in Wolf Lake as well as at Sacred Heart in Avilla.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Stanley and Pansy McCoy of Churubusco; daughters and son-in-law Peggy and Keith Rupert of Albion and Donna Coleman of Albion; sisters, Gertrude Fulk of Albion and Laurel Wilson of Uniondale: 7 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

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Gail L. Herron, 70 of Churubusco died Monday, July 26, 2010 at home.

She was born January 1, 1940 in Allen county the daughter of Edward and Louise Stoops.  She was a 1958  graduate of Huntertown High School.  On August 2, 1958 she was married to Donald R. Herron at the Churubusco United Methodist Church.

Gail was a 4-H leader for the handicapped, a member of the Morning Glories Bowling League and a honorary member of Beta Sigma Phi.  She was employed at Sears Glenbrook for over 30 years.

She is survived by her husband Donald R. Herron; children, Donald R. Herron, Jr., Anthony E. (Lea Ann) Herron both of Churubusco and Nicholas D. (Lisa) Herron of Auburn.  Her sisters are Elaine (Ron) Renkenberger of LaOtto, Alma DeVore of Wabash and Mary Helen Wheeler of Eaton, Ohio.  Her brothers are Edward Stoops, Jr. of Missouri and David (Kathy) Stoops of Butler.  Her grandchildren, Kelly (Mathew) Haber, Amy Herron, Nancy (Fiance Cody Gordon) Herron and Anthony Herron, Jr. all of Churubusco as well as Kaleb Herron and Emily Herron of Auburn.  Also surviving is her grandchild, Claire Haber; beloved friend, Linda ( Mac) Millington; special friends, Rebecca Herron-Whitman, Sharon Meitz and her co-workers at Sears.  Other relatives are her brother-in-law, James Herron and sister-in-law Sandra Speakman of Churubusco; several nieces and nephews as well as countless friends.

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William C. “Bill” Wright, 91, a resident of Fort Wayne and formerly of Churubusco, died peacefully on Sunday, July 18, 2010, at Covington Manor Nursing Home in Fort Wayne.

Born on May 8, 1919 in Neodesha, Kansas, he was the son of Carl and Josephine Wright.  He served in the U. S. Navy during World War II, and after settling in Fort Wayne worked for 38 years as an employee of General Electric.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Rosemarie C. (Magers) Wright of Fort Wayne; and has two surviving sons and daughters-in-law, Timothy C. “Tim” (Kathy) Wright of Fort Wayne and William M. “Mike” Wright of Columbia City.  His only daughter Bonnie (Steve) Balser, died in 2002.  He had four brothers John, Chuck, Melvin, and Lee; and one sister, Margaret, all of whom preceded him in death.  Also surviving are six granddaughters, two grandsons, nine great-granddaughters, nine great-grandsons, and one great-great-grandson; and several nieces and nephews.

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Caryn Henline Freeman, 58, a resident of Fort Wayne, passed away at 8:35 a. m. on Tuesday, July 13, 2010, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.  She had been in declining health for the past two years, and had been seriously ill for the last  month.

Ms. Freeman was born on July 30, 1951 in Fort Wayne, a daughter of Robert E. and Betty L. (Harman) Henline.  She spent her formative years in Fort Wayne and graduated from Snyder High School in 1969.

In 1984 she was married to Wesley Freeman, and lived much of her adult life in the western part of the United States.  He preceded her in death on September 25, 1997, and in 2002 she returned to Fort Wayne.

For the past five years she had been employed at NAL Worldwide in Fort Wayne.

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Robert L. Wheaton, 71, a resident of rural Churubusco, passed away at 11:02 a. m. on Friday, July 9, 2010, at his residence in Smith Township.  He had been in failing health since 1996.

Mr. Wheaton was born in Fort Wayne on July 12, 1938, a son of Russell and Lexie (Hughes) Wheaton, and as a young man served with the U. S. Navy.

On March 25, 1960 he was married in Fort Wayne to Regina Lidster.  He had been employed for 30 years at Peter Eckrich in Fort Wayne, and later worked for eight years in the maintenance department at Parkview Hospital until illness forced him to retire.

Mrs. Wheaton preceded him in death on September 5, 2007.

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WAYNE LEROY MORGAN, 83, passed away on Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at Heritage Park Senior Center, Fort Wayne.

“He was our beloved father, an author and a retired Lieutenant of the Columbus Ohio Police Department.” Born Jan. 26, 1927, in Columbus, Ohio, he was the son of Clarence “Roy” Morgan and Dorothy (Bumgarner) Morgan. Just out of high school, he married Barbara Faye Snider in Columbus, Ohio; she preceded him in death in 1980. He served in the U.S. Army Armored Division until the end of World War II. In the 1990’s, he authored a book that related his police exploits, “The Coppers: Personal Chronicles of the Columbus, Ohio Police Department 1935 to 1960″, which became an instant hit with members of the police profession and was used as a University text book. He joined the Columbus Ohio Division of Police in 1948. In 1959, he was promoted to Lieutenant-in-Charge of the Homicide and Robbery Squads, where he promoted America’s first female homicide detective: Madeline Baker. After suffering from a severe on duty back injury, he was forced into early retirement in 1965. He moved to Churubusco, where he founded, owned, and operated the Eel River Gun Club. He and members competed for decades in firearms competitions throughout Indiana and Ohio. He was a life member of the Fraternal Order of Police, the American Legion, and the National Rifle Association.

Surviving are his four children, James of Scottsdale, Ariz., Jane Semones, Jackie Sherman, and Jerold, all of Fort Wayne; four grandchildren, Cody, Jordy and Tony Morgan, all of Fort Wayne, and Kimberly Quinn of Caldwell, Idaho; and one great-granddaughter, Bethany Quinn of Caldwell, Idaho.

A celebration of his life is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, July 16, 2010, at American Legion Post 499, 4830 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne.

J D “Sonny” Egolf, 87, a resident of Thorncreek Township and widely acquainted Whitley County farmer and grain dealer, passed away at 3:25 a. m. on Tuesday, July 6, 2010, at Parkview Noble Hospital in Kendallville following an extended illness.  He had been taken to the hospital on Thursday from North Ridge Village in Albion, where he had resided for over three years.

Mr. Egolf was born on the Egolf Homestead in Thorncreek Township on December 18, 1922, a son of Dewey and Eva (Winebrenner) Egolf, and graduated from Wolf Lake High School in 1941.  As a young man he served with the U. S. Army during World War II, and was married in Columbia City on February 24, 1945 to Ruth Borgman.

He spent most of his life in both Whitley and Noble Counties, and was engaged in farming all of his adult life.  He was also the co-owner of Egolf Grain in Whitley County for many years.

Mr. Egolf attended the Blue River Church of the Brethren, served as a deacon at the former Blue River Church of God, and had also served on the board of directors for the Federal Land Bank.   He found joy in his work as a farmer, enjoyed tending his livestock, and most especially loved and cherished his family.

Mrs. Egolf preceded him in death on May 2, 1994.

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Ruth A. Herron, 88, a resident of Churubusco and widow of Arthur L. Herron, passed away at 4:30 a. m. on Monday, June 28, 2010, at the Laurels of Dekalb in Butler following a lengthy illness.

Mrs. Herron was born on August 27, 1921 in DeKalb County, a daughter of Leroy C. and Florence Ethel (Musser) Hodges.  She moved to Churubusco with her family as a youth where her parents owned and operated the Hodges Dairy for many years.  She graduated from Churubusco High School in 1939, and was married in Columbia City on February 19, 1941 to Arthur L. Herron.

A resident of Churubusco all of her adult life, she had worked at the former Barnhart Drug Store and later in the cafeteria at Smith-Green Community Schools.  She was employed at Rea Magnet Wire in Fort Wayne for 25 years, retiring there as an inspector in 1985.

She was a member of the Merriam Christian Chapel.

Mr. Herron preceded her in death on October 31, 2002.

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Lewis W. Brown, 92, a resident of Columbia City, passed away at 8:40 p. m. on Sunday, June 27, 2010, at Miller’s Merry Manor in Columbia City following an extended illness.  He had been a patient there for the past eleven months.

Mr. Brown was born in Richland Township on September 6, 1917, a son of Ernest V. and Erma F. (Goodrich) Brown.  He graduated from Larwill High School in 1936, completed Dodge’s Institute in Valparaiso for radio communications, and spent most of his life in Whitley County.

On May 17, 1941 he was married in Indianapolis to Ann Dalesio, and was employed in communications with the Indiana State Police for nearly 26 years.  He was one of the early state police employees and was assigned Badge 94.  He retired from there in 1966.

Following his tenure there, he worked as a maintenance electrician for General Electric in Fort Wayne for six years, owned and operated Larwill Hardware for three years, and was employed in the maintenance department at Whitley County Hospital for ten years, retiring from there in 1987.  In addition, he had owned and operated several farms in Thorncreek and in Etna-Troy Townships.

He was a member of St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco, and also attended St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church in Columbia City.   He was also a member of the Whitley County Amateur Radio Club and the Pioneers of the Indiana State Police.

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