Obituaries for January 9, 2008

Death notices for Georgia A. Martin, Karl A.R. Laemmle, Mary M. Harshman and Helen L. Whitman.

MARTIN
    Georgia A. Martin, 72, of Van Wert, died at 5:09 a.m. Wednesday, January 9, 2008, at Van Wert Manor in Van Wert.
    She was born December 9, 1935, in Van Wert, the daughter of the late James M. and Mildred (Myers) Mace. On December 20, 1947, she married Wilbur E. Martin, who died January 19, 2007.
    Survivors include a stepbrother, Wilbur (Lois) Williamson of Cavett; and close friends and caregivers William and Mary Schnepp of  Van Wert.
    Two children, Chester and Christine Martin; two stepbrothers, Delbert and Forest Williamson; and a sister, Betty Mace, also preceded her in death.
    There will be no visitation or services held. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
    Memorials: Donor’s choice.
    Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory in Van Wert handled arrangements. Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at agfhc@embarqmail.com.

LAEMMLE
    Karl A.R. Laemmle, 85, of Lima and formerly of Van Wert, died at 6 p.m. Wednesday, January 9, 2008, at Lima Memorial Hospital.
    He was born February 3, 1922, in Van Wert County, the son of the late Gottlob and Pauline (Siebold) Laemmle. On December 21, 1947, he married Patricia (Clouse) Laemmle, who died October 19, 1997.
    Survivors include two children, Doug (Dawn) Laemmle of Van Wert and Teresa (Martin) Hopkins of Lima; one sister, Elsie Taylor of Mansfield; and five grandchildren.
    A daughter, Babette Laemmle; one brother, Elmer Laemmle; and a sister, Clara Bebout, also preceded him in death.
    Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 14, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. Lance Armstrong O’Donnell officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
    Visitation is from 2-8 p.m. Sunday, January 13, at the funeral home.
    Memorials: American Heart Association.
    Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at agfhc@embarqmail.com.

HARSHMAN
    Mary M. Harshman, 85, of Payne, died Wednesday, January 9, 2008, at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana in Fort Wayne, Ind.
    She was born July 29, 1922, in Berne, Ind., the daughter of the late Fred and Lavina (Beer) Pickford. She married Ernest Harshman, who survives in Payne.
    Other survivors include two daughters, Frances (James) Litzenberg of Merritt Island, Fla., and Sharon “Sis” (Gary) Burke of Payne; two brothers, Fred (Patsy) Pickford Jr. of Pensacola, Fla., and Donald (Shirley) Pickford of Decatur, Ind.; two grandchildren; and a great-grandson.
    A son, Eric Harvey; one brother, Stephen Pickford; a sister, Bernice Barte; and a great-grandson, David Litzenberg, also preceded her in death.
    Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, January 14, at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Payne. Burial will be in MRE Cemetery in Berne, Ind.
    Visitation is from 2-8 p.m. Sunday, January 13, at Den Herder Funeral Home in Paulding and an hour prior to services Monday at the church.
    Memorials: St. Paul United Methodist Church in Payne.

WHITMAN
    Helen L. Whitman, 92, of Payne, died Wednesday, January 9, 2008, at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert.
    She was born December 15, 1915 in Payne, the daughter of the late Harl and Estella (Myers) Sitcler. On October 24, 1936, she married Lawrence F. Whitman, who preceded her in death on April 9, 1981.
    Survivors include three sons, Larry (Sharon) Whitman, Gerald “Pete” Whitman and Richard (Eileen) Whitman, all of Payne; three daughters, Mary Harting of Fort Wayne, Ind., Judy Rosselet of New Berlin, Wis., and Kay (Richard) Williams of Plano, Texas; four sisters, Christine (Victor) Timbrook of Hicksville, Shirley (Robert) Barbeau of Dayton, Jean Gibson of Fort Wayne, and Sharyn (Gaylord) Willett of Oak Harbor; 23 grandchildren; and 48 great-grandchildren.
    A son, Jerry Whitman; and four sisters, Maxine Steibling, Madeline Gideon, Betty Landrie, and an infant sister, Nancy Sitcler, also preceded her in death.
    Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 12, at Payne Church of the Nazarene, with Rev. Mike Harper officiating. Burial will be in Lehman Cemetery in Payne.
    Visitation is from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, January 11, at Den Herder Funeral Home in Paulding and an hour prior to services Saturday at the church.
    Memorials: Convoy Care Center Activity Fund or Payne Church of the Nazarene Building Fund.