Please visit our sponsor's site by clicking on their ad.

April 26, 2012

Alvin Trudy Sparks

Alvin Trudy Sparks, 63, of Madison, formerly of Holton, died Saturday, April 21, 2012 at his home.  Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 25 at Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, Madison. Memorials may be given to the donor’s choice.

Earl Rice

Earl Rice, 90, of North Vernon, passed away Wednesday, April 25, 2012. Graveside services will be Thursday, April 26, 1:30 p.m. at Grandview Memorial Gardens near Madison; with burial following.  Memorials may be made to the Heart Fund.  Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home, Milan is entrusted with arrangements.

April 19, 2012

Stanley Clayton Lay, Sr.

Stanley Clayton Lay, Sr. 70, of Holton, passed away Monday, April 16, 2012 at his residence. He was born in Casey County, Kentucky on November 21, 1941, the son of the late Bessie (Buck) and Thornton Bant Lay.

He worked at Seagram's Distillery in Lawrenceburg for 30 years and retired in 1997.He also worked for the Rising Sun Gulf Station and operated Lay's Marathon Station in Versailles. Stanley was a member of the Versailles Volunteer Fire Department for 11 years and a former member of the Versailles American Legion. He enjoyed gardening and fishing. Stanley was also a mechanic and enjoyed tinkering on anything that needed fixed. His greatest joy was his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

On August 25, 1962 at the Patriot Baptist Church he married Henrietta (White) Lay and she survives. Stanley and Henrietta were married almost 50 years.

Other survivors include Faye Rayburn and fiance James Hartline of Port Washington, Ohio; son, Stanley C. Lay, Jr. and wife Renee of Lebanon, Ohio; four grandchildren, Gretchen (Derrick) Moore of Holton, Nicholas (Jessica) Rayburn of Dillsboro, Vanessa Lay of Lebanon, Ohio and Alexander Lay of Lebanon, Ohio; three great grandchildren Dereck Moore, Jr., Devin Moore and Lane Rayburn.

He is also survived by three sisters, Carolyn (Terry) Wright of Milan, Linda (John) Cann of Rising Sun, Connie (Frtiz) Sigmon of Rising Sun; four brothers, Alton (Betty) Lay of Versailles, Jesse Lay of East Enterprise, Carl Lay of Rising Sun, and Chester (Mary Ann) Lay of East Enterprise.He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Raymond Lay and by a sister, Datha Carman.

Lt. Col. Dennis E. Courtaney

Retired Lt. Col. Dennis E. "Gene" Courtaney, age 80, died at 1:10 p.m. Sunday, April 15, 2012 at Westminster Village Terrace Health Center in West Lafayette. Born September 4, 1931 in Versailles, IN, he was the son of the late Harrison and Mable Warfield Courtaney.

His marriage was to Phyllis Ann Lemen on December 20, 1952 in Versailles, IN, and she survives.

Dr. Courtaney received his B.S., M.A. and PhD from Purdue University. Gene was commissioned into the Air Force and retired after 22 years of service. He taught for 4 years in the Purdue R.O.T.C. program and served for 22 years in the Registrar's office at Purdue University, retiring in 1998. He was a member, past president, and board member of Lafayette Rotary Club, a member of First Christian Church in Lafayette where he served as a trustee and elder and served on various committees, a member of Fort Nightly, and a former member of the John Purdue Club.

He enjoyed playing tennis and golf, and loved to read and learn. Gene also loved to travel and showed keen interest in the lives of his 6 children, 16 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren.

Surviving with his wife, Phyllis, are their five children, Teri Biedermann (husband, Mike) and Carol Lichtwardt (husband, Brian) both of Colorado Springs, CO, Diane Miller (husband, Jim) of Tulsa, OK, Joanie Kendall (husband, Tom) of Terre Haute, IN, and Brad Courtaney (wife: Shannon) of Valparaiso, IN, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Lisa Courtaney in 2005, an infant sister, and two other sisters, Bea Odem and Naomi Strimple.

Funeral service 10 a.m. Friday at First Christian Church, 329 N. 6^th St., Lafayette, IN with Dr. James Miller and Pastor Ronn Oren officiating. Graveside services 3 p.m. Friday at Tanglewood Cemetery in Versailles, IN with military honors.Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church in Lafayette, The Tanglewood Cemetery in Versailles, IN, or charity of donor's choice.

Margie May Cummins

Margie Mae Cummins, 70, of Greensburg, passed away Wednesday, April 18, 2012. Visitation will be held Friday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. with funeral services being at 11 a.m. at Myers Funeral Home, Batesville. Burial will be in the Hopewell Cemetery in Rush County.

Arthur J. Dudley

Arthur J. Dudley, 90, of St. Peters passed away April 16, 2012 at the Heritage House, Connersville.. Visitation will be held Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at Cook Funeral Home, Sunman with funeral mass beginning at 1 p.m. at St. Peters Church, Sunman. Burial will be in St. Peters Cemetery.

Virginia E. Hardy

Virginia E. Hardy, 92, of Cincinnati and formerly of Moores Hill, passed away Tuesday, April 17, 2012.
Graveside funeral services will be Friday, April 20, at 11 a.m. at New Craven Cemetery with Rev. Harris Long officiating. Laws Carr Moore Funeral Home, Milan is entrusted with the arrangements.

Eugene "Gene" Virgil Personett

Eugene "Gene" Virgil Personett, 74, of Logansport passed away Monday, April 16, 2012. Funeral services will be held Friday, April 20 at 10:30 a.m. at McClain Funeral Home, Denver. Burial will be in the St. Anne's Cemetery, Monterey. Visitation will be today, Thursday, April 19 from 3-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Robert F. Wallace

Robert F. Wallace, 73, of Elrod, passed away Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at the Dearborn County Hospital in Lawrenceburg. He was born at Hamilton, Ohio on August 24, 1938, the son of Robert and Marian Innsprucker Wallace. He was married to Connie Craig Sparks on May 19, 1990 and she survives.

Other survivors include two sons, Robert (Pam) Wallace of Lawrenceburg and Greg Wallace of Indianapolis; one daughter, Marcia (Travis) Bowers of Lawton, OK; two stepsons, Lonnie (Donna) Sparks of Dabney and Shawn (Vickey) Sparks of Clanton, AL; one stepdaughter, Michelle Sparks of North Vernon; 12 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; one brother, Mark Wallace of Fairfield, OH; one sister, Shirley Kyle of Juno, FL. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Nancy Heis.

Mr. Wallace retired in 1994 after 30 years with Monsanto as an electrician. Bob was a member of the Eagles Lodge at Aurora.

April 12, 2012

David Junior Hughes

David Junior Hughes, 90, of Osgood, passed away Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at the Manderley Health Care Center in Osgood.  He was born in the Flat Rock community near Osgood on October 30, 1921, the son of David and Mabel Williams Hughes.  He was married to Irene Hanaway on June 9, 1943 and she preceded him death on July 11, 1994.  He was married to Dorothy Hon Morgan on September 7, 1996 and she survives.

Other survivors include eight sons, Charles (Ruth) Hughes, Daniel Hughes, and Tom (Donna) Hughes all of Osgood, Kenneth (Lana) Hughes of Scipio, David (Judy) Hughes of Delaware, Paul (Debbie) Hughes of Holton, John (Lisa) Hughes of Greensburg, and Mark (Amy) Hughes of Indianapolis; seven daughters Charlene (Gary) Lavetta of North Vernon, Sharon (Larry) Houck of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Carol (Tom) Wagner of Pickering, Ohio, Rachel (Marlin) Kohlmeier of Holton, Rebecca (Jonathan) Harris of Sheridan, Ruth Hughes of Westfield, and Jane (Walt) Richey of Osgood; three stepsons Howard (Martha) Morgan, Jr. of North Vernon, Donald (Beverly) Morgan of Huntington, and David (Loretta) Morgan of Hayden; one stepdaughter Twyla (Leonard) Waller of Versailles; 31 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

Also surviving are four brothers Paul Hughes of Anderson, South Carolina, Raymond Hughes of St. Louis, Don (Nancy) Hughes of Columbus, and Marlin (Mary) Hughes of Osgood.

Mr. Hughes attended the Fowl School in Jackson Township and was a 1939 graduate of Napoleon High School.  He was a retired farmer and had sheared sheep for many years in the community.  David was an Army veteran of WWII where he served on a Coxswain Landing Craft.  He served in New Guinea, the Southern Philippines, and the Luzon and received the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Ribbon with four bronze stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two bronze stars, Bronze Arrowhead, and the WWII Victory Medal.

David was a member of the Holton Wesleyan Church.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 14 at 10:30 a.m. at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with Rev. Leonard Waller officiating.  Burial will be in the Flat Rock Cemetery with military graveside rites by the Versailles American Legion.  Visitation will be Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Memorials may be given to the Flat Rock Cemetery in care of the funeral home.

Dorothy Kimball

Dorothy Kimball, 85, of Holton passed away Wednesday, April 11, 2012.  Services are pending at Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home, Versailles. For more information call 812-689-1171.

Mary Evaleen Pelsor Knudson

Mary  Evaleen Pelsor Knudson, age 100 of Osgood, formerly of Versailles, passed away Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at the Manderley Health Care Center of Osgood.  She was born April 17, 1911 in Cross Plains the daughter of Charles Scott and Malinda Susan Buchanan Pelsor. She married Harlon Knudson in December of 1934 and he preceded her in death in 1983.

Survivors include sons, Harlan "Buzzy" and wife Harriet Knudson of Dayton, Ohio, Delbert and wife Arlene Knudson, Norman and wife Pina Knudson all of Holton, daughters Elaine and husband Edwin McCarthy of Florida, Daphne and husband Rex Heiny of Pekin, ten grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and three step great grandchildren.

Two brothers, Charles and Forrest Pelsor and four sisters, Wilma Lewis, Dorothy Bilton, Elva Risk and Loretta Borders and one great grandchild, Joe Knudson, preceded her in death.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 13 at Neal's Funeral Home, Osgood with visitation being from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and funeral services following at 11 a.m.  Burial will be in the Shelby Cemetery, Versailles.

Brenda Sandlin

Brenda Sandlin of Milan passed away Wednesday, April 11, at her home. Services are pending at Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home in Milan.

Jeannetta E. Tufts

Jeannetta E. (nee Stegemiller), age 80, of Cincinnati, Ohio, passed away April 10, 2012.

Beloved wife of the late Frank H. Tufts, devoted mother of Mary Ann (Michael) Rinderle, Charles D. (Molly) Tufts, David W. (Carlean) Tufts and Mark A. (Sheri) Tufts, loving grandmother of David (Laurel) Rinderle, Christopher (Marianthe) Tufts, Katie (Dan) Walton, Daniel (Heather) Rinderle, Michelle (Tim) Taylor, Elizabeth, Kevin, Patrick, Nicholas, Garrett and Rachel Tufts and great grandmother of Charlie C. Tufts.

Born in Cross Plains, she is preceded in death by siblings: Herbert, Mike and Fritz Stegemiller and Ruth Marsh.

April 5, 2012

Louis A. Dickman

Louis A. Dickman, 79, of Napoleon, passed away Monday, April 2, 2012, at St. Andrew's Health Campus in Batesville. Born October 31, 1932 in Franklin County, the son of Catherine (Nee: Rahe) and Herman Dickman. He married Margaret Herbert on December 31, 1960 at St. Maurice Church in Napoleon.

He served in the army and after the service he became a contractor, owning Dickman Construction Company for 40 years before retiring in 1997.

Louie was quite an athlete in his younger years. He attended North Carolina State University from 1952-1956. He earned two letters on the baseball team and four letters on the basketball team. Twice his basketball team made the final four of the NCAA tournament and after college he played two years in the NBA with the Washington Bullets (now the Washington Wizards). For all of his basketball accomplishments, many felt baseball was his best sport.

Sports remained a lifelong passion for Louie. According to his family, "his three favorite T.V. programs were ESPN, ESPN and ESPN." He enjoyed spending most of his time outdoors, whether that was working on the farm, fishing, hunting, mowing grass or golfing. An avid golfer, he is one of a small group that can say they golfed with Dwight Eisenhower and Arnold Palmer. For all the special moments he experienced in his lifetime, Louie's greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife Margaret; daughters, Teresa (Doug) Peetz of Napoleon, Connie Dickman of Napoleon, Melissa (Joe) Burton of Batesville, Jennifer (Mark) Rohls, Deanna (Nick) Borgman, all of Napoleon, Marcy (Dan) Baumer of Batesville; sons, Jeff (Nikki) Dickman, Jim (Kathy) Dickman, John (Kim) Dickman, all of Napoleon, Kevin (Amber) Dickman of Osgood; sisters, Sylvia Fuentes and Shirley Suttmann, both of Batesville; brothers, Richard and Alvin Dickman, both of Batesville; 19 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers Eugene and Herman Dickman.

Visitation will be Monday, April 9, from 4-8 p.m. at the Weigel Funeral Home, Batesville. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 10, at the St. Maurice Church in Napoleon with Rev. John Geis officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by the Prell-Bland American Legion Post #271 and the Batesville VFW Post #3183. The family requests memorials to the St. Maurice Church Building Fund.

Rosetta M.(Rosie) Magner

Rosetta M. (Rosie) Magner, 68, of Dewberry, passed away Monday, April 2, 2012 at her home. She was born at Carrollton, Kentucky on October 12, 1943, the daughter of Walter and Mary Smith Wright. She was married to Gary Smith on February 1, 1964 and he preceded her in death on February 21, 1988. She was married to Mike Magner on December 1, 1990 and he survives.

Other survivors include mother, Mary Wright of Hanover; mother-in-law, Lillie Falch of Dewberry; one son, Sean (Chelsea) Smith of Greensburg; one daughter, Melissa (Tracy) Weatherford of Dillsboro; stepchildren, Michael Magner of Batavia, OH and Josh Davis of Cincinnati, OH; five grandchildren; one sister, Patsy (Bill) Nowland of Martinsville; two brothers, Leslie (Judy) Wright and Michael (Diane) Wright, both of Madison. She was also preceded in death by her father.

Mrs. Magner was a 1961 graduate of Vevay High School and was a member of the Bear Creek Baptist Church in Friendship. Rosie was the Director of Operations for the NMLRA where she was employed for 39 years.

Bertha M. Pfliegel

Bertha M. Pfliegel, 72, of Osgood, passed away Friday, March 30, 2012 at her home. She was born on December 11, 1939 in New Alsace, IN, the daughter of Alfred J. and Bertha Brickler Schaefer Sr. She married Robert G. Pfliegel and he preceded her in death on August 9, 1993.

Survivors include seven brothers, Harry Schaefer of Wiseburg, Raymond Schaefer of New Alsace, Alfred and Robert both of Batesville, Elmer Shaefer of Greenwood, Ralph Schaefer of Lawrenceville, Lester Schaefer of Connersville; sister, Rosemary Conrad of Cincinnati, OH; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by three brothers, John, Eugene and Joe Schaefer.

Bertha was a member of the St. John's Catholic Church, Osgood. She loved the Osgood American Legiona where she had helped with various activities over the years. She also loved her dogs and other animals.