Obituaries for January 20, 2008
Death
notices for Ruth V. Davis Edwards, Delbert D. Harding, Emaline R. John, Gloria
Whitcraft and Lorene Van Horn.
EDWARDS
Ruth V. Davis Edwards, 91, of Van Wert, died at 2:40 p.m.
Sunday, January 20, 2008, at Hearth & Home in Van Wert.
She was born May 29, 1916, in Allen County, Ind., th
e
daughter of the late John and Clara (Gibson) Woods. On November 28, 1935, she
married Charles Edgar Davis, who died March 3, 1968. On January 11, 1975, she
married Walter Edwards, who died March 5, 2005.
Mrs. Edwards was a homemaker and member of St. Mark’s
Lutheran Church in Van Wert. She was a 50-year member and past noble grand of
the Rebekah Lodge in both Middle Point and Spencerville. She was a TWIG II
member and a member of the Esther Circle of the church.
Survivors include six children, Evelyn Schwartz, Donna Wermer
and Doreen (Rick) O’Daffer, all of Van Wert, Robert “Bob” (Michael) Davis of
Cadiz, Ky., Roger (Lynn) Davis of Delphos, and Mary (Tom) Odenweller of Middle
Point; a stepson, Larry Edwards of Convoy; 16 grandchildren, Joy Kennedy, Diane
Shardelow, David Schwartz, Brad Schwartz, Paul Swartz, Scott Wermer, Rob Davis,
Nolan Davis, Tony Davis, Steve Davis, Jeff Davis, Laura Berzonski, Jen Hohman,
Susan Odenweller, Colleen Locher and Ryan O’Daffer; 23 great-grandchildren; and
a great-great-grandson.
A brother, Daniel Woods, also preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be conducted at 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 23, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the
Rev. Will Haggis officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery near Middle
Point.
Visitation is from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, January 22, at
the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Community Health
Professionals-Hospice or the American Cancer Society.
Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at
agfhc@embarqmail.com.
HARDING
Delbert D. Harding, 68, of Willshire, died at 7:45 a.m.
Sunday, January 20, 2008, at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert.
He was born November 22, 1939, in Plymouth, Ill., the son of
the late Herbert B. and Nellie Marie (Flint) Harding. On November 6, 1960, he
married Judy (Winhover) Harding, who survives in Willshire.
Other survivors include three children, Renee’ (Monte) Linn
of Rockford, Tonja (Wil) Green of Indianapolis, Ind., and John (Rose) Harding of
Willshire; three sisters, Wanda (Bob) McSperrit and Beulah Self, both of McComb,
Ill., and Louella VanFleet of Blandinsville, Ill.; seven grandchildren; and two
great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday,
January 23, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Pastor Mark
Rutledge officiating. Burial will be in Willshire Cemetery.
Visitation is from 2-8 p.m. Tuesday, January 22, at the
funeral home.
Memorials: Willshire Park Fund or Praise Point Church.
Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at
agfhc@embarqmail.com.
JOHN
Emaline R. John, 89, of Elida, died at 4:45 a.m. Sunday, January 20, 2008, at
Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
She was born October 14, 1918, in Allen County
, the daughter
of the late George W. and Wilhelmina B. “Minnie” (Huck) Haller. On June 24,
1937, she married Francis “Ray” John, who died January 12, 2006.
Mrs. John was a housewife and a member of Zion United
Methodist Church. She also belonged to the Delphos Chapter of Order of Eastern
Star for more than 50 years, was a charter member of the Lima Motorcycle Club
and a member of the International Airstream Club, Auglaize County Unit.
Survivors include a daughter, Jo Ann (Roy) Noggle of
Haviland; six grandchildren, Douglas (Star) Zizelman of Celina, Vicki (Steve)
Salmons of Wapakoneta, Connie Myers of Elida, David (Amy) Noggle of Payne and
Cindy (Ken) Trammell of Convoy; 14 great-grandchildren; and 11
great-great-grandchildren.
A son, Gary E. John; one daughter, Carol R. John; three
brothers, Harold, Clayton and Merle Haller; and a sister, Nettina Haller, also
preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday,
January 23, at Harter and Schier Funeral Home in Delphos. Burial will be in
Walnut Grove Cemetery in Delphos.
Visitation is from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, January 22, at
the funeral home, where an Eastern Star service will be held at 7:30 that
evening.
Memorial contributions may be made to Zion United
Methodist Church or Delphos Chapter, Order of Eastern Star.
WHITCRAFT
Gloria Whitcraft, 80, of Van Wert, died at 11:15 p.m. Sunday,
January 20, 2008, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
She was born April 21, 1927, in Muncie, Ind., the daughter of
the late Robert I. and Martha M. (McDowell) Langdon. She married Richard E.
“Buck” Whitcraft, who survives in Van Wert.
Mrs. Whitcraft worked at Van Wert County Hospital from
1963-1973 for Thomas Wilson, M.D., radiologist, and Donald Hughes, M.D.,
pathologist. She had previously worked for Ralph Rasor, M.D., for three years.
In 1973, she moved to Lima and was employed by Lima Memorial Hospital. She
retired from there in 1989 as director of the Medical Records Department. After
retirement, she did medical transcription for Dr. F.M. Flickinger, Lima Memorial
Visiting Nurses Association and Paul Kalogerou, M.D. She then went to work for
Urology Associates of Ohio Inc. in Lima in 1990 and worked there until 2001.
After that, she volunteered for Community Health Professionals’ Family Caring
Clinic in Van Wert. She was past president of the Medical Assistants
Association, a member of the West Central Ohio Medical Record Association,
American Medical Transcriptionists Association, and had ART and CMT degrees. She
was a member of the Elks Cerebral Palsy Board, serving as secretary for several
years. She was a 600 Club member of the Women’s International Bowling Congress,
was a past member of Willow Bend Country Club and current member of The Woods
Golf Club, both in Van Wert.
In addition to her husband, survivors include three children,
Steve (Dee) Whitcraft of Van Wert, Brent “BW” Whitcraft of Sterling Heights,
Mich., and Brenda (Eric) Merkle of Williamston, Mich.; a brother, Dick (Bev)
Langdon of O’Fallon, Mo.; a half-brother, Charles “Chuck” Langdon of Van Wert;
six grandchildren, Scott (Traci) Whitcraft of Van Wert, Jason (Angie) Whitcraft
of West Liberty, Josh (Ashlee) Ellinger of Covington, Ky., Andy Merkle of
Dayton, Kylie Merkle of Matthews, N.C., and Kyle Lane of Chicago, Ill.; eight
great-grandchildren, Kaleb Whitcraft, Taylor Whitcraft, Spencer Whitcraft,
Camille Whitcraft, Jordan Whitcraft, Lily Ellinger, Nathan Ellinger, and Carson
Ellinger; and three stepgreat-grandchildren, Courtney Van Horne, Brianna Van
Horne and Gabriella Van Horne.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday,
January 25, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory in Van Wert, with the
Rev. Will Haggis officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Visitation is from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, January 24, at the
funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Family Caring
Clinic in Van Wert.
Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at
agfhc@embarqmail.com.
VAN HORN
Lorene Van Horn, 78, of Van Wert, died at 10:30 p.m. Sunday,
January 20, 2008, at Hearth & Home of Van Wert.
She was born August 31, 1929, in Lima, the daughter of the
late Guy and Inez (Bendure) Brentlinger. On September 10, 1950, she married
Frank Van Horn, who survives in Van Wert.
Other survivors include three children, Keith (Jill) Van Horn
of Bryan, Denise (Brad) Hoghe of Gahanna and Brent (Jan) Van Horn of
Pickerington; two sisters, Hope Yazel and Jeanne Gaskey, both of Lima; and six
grandchildren.
Two brothers, Warren and Neil Brentlinger, also preceded her
in death.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday,
January 24, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. Paul W.
Miller officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Visitation is from 3-8 p.m. Tuesday, January 23, at the
funeral home.
Memorials: First United Methodist Church of Van Wert’s
Chancellor Choir.
Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at
agfhc@embarqmail.com.