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February 28, 2013

Catherine E. Eiklor

Catherine E. Eiklor, 96 of Milan, passed away Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at Dearborn County Hospital in Lawrenceburg. Catherine was born Sunday, December 24, 1916 in Milan, the daughter of John and Pearl (Blackamoor) Puente. She married Charles Eiklor on May 29, 1934 and he preceded her in death November 5, 1962.

Catherine had worked as a cook and waitress at the former Koeing Hotel, at the Milan Drug Store, and retired from the Jay C store at Milan. She was a member of the St. Charles Catholic Church and loved reading, sewing, and spending time with her family.

Survivors include son Paul (Judy) Eiklor of Milan; daughter Mrs. Jesse (Marian) Mobley of Aurora; sister Adeline Lewis of Milan; four grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and several great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother Eddie Puente and sisters Luella Schwipps and Hazel Steinford.

Jimmy Darrel Jacobs, Sr.

Jimmy Darrel Jacobs, Sr. 57, of Versailles, formerly of North Vernon, passed away Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at South Central Indiana Hospice in Columbus. Funeral services will be held Sat., March 2 at 1 p.m. at Meyers Funeral Home, Batesville. Burial will be in the Salem Cemetery south of Batesville.

Andrea "Drea" C. Reyna

Andrea C. Reyna, "Drea", age 16, passed away Wednesday, February 20 at St. Antonio, Texas in an auto accident. She was born on May 29, 1996 at Scott Air Force Base, IL, the daughter of Tony and Anna (Kohlman) Reyna.

She was a beautiful young lady, inside and out, who loved her family to no end and cherished her time with them. She was proud to fulfill her roles as a daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin, and goddaughter.

She was an amazing person, steadfast in her beliefs, and inspired to be a fashion designer. She loved fashion, athletics, and spending time with her friends.

Andrea was a junior in the Magnet program for Design and Technology Academy at Roosevelt High School. She enjoyed playing on the school's softball team as well as cheerleading for various events sponsored by her high school.

During her summers she volunteered at the HIRED Apprenticeship Program at Ft. Sam Houston.

She was greatly loved and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.

Virginia V. Sparling

Virginia V. Sparling, of Indianapolis, passed away January 30, 2013, at the age of 93.

Virginia served the Indianapolis banking industry for more than 30 years as secretary to the late Frank E. McKinney Sr., chairman of American Fletcher National Bank and past chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Virginia was born May 26, 1919, in Popcorn, Indiana, Lawrence County, to Clarence E. Sparling and Pearl Sparling of Osgood. She was the oldest of three children, who included her brothers Keith E. Sparling and Ronald Sparling.

During her younger years, Virginia was a student at Butler University, but the true adventurer in her took her to Alaska. While there, she worked at a logging camp in Ketchikan.  She attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and was one of three graduates in the class of 1945. Her picture is featured in the book The Farthest North College President by William R. Cashen. The book focused on university President Charles E. Bunnell and the early history of the University of Alaska.

While in Alaska, her friends included hard-boiled detective novelist Dashiell Hammett who was stationed in Alaska during World War II, and served as a correspondent. Hammett was the creator of the characters Sam Spade, The Thin Man and the Continental Op. She remained friends with Hammett after the war.

Known lovingly to her nieces and nephews as "Aunt Gigi," Virginia cherished her family. Memories include crisp two-dollar bills in birthday and holiday cards. She was a long time member of Tri Kappa and the second resident who moved into Riley Towers in 1963 where she lived for 48 years along with being a violinist with the Columbus Indiana Symphony. She loved crossword puzzles, a good martini, the Indiana Pacers and the Indianapolis 500.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Keith. She is survived by her brother Ronald Sparling, son Wesley Sparling; niece Jackie (late husband Michael) Christensen, Anchorage, AK; niece Donna (husband Martin) Flegel, Cocoa, FL; great-niece Karrie (husband David) Hieber and their children: son Ethan Loose and daughter Victoria Scarborough, all of Cocoa, FL; niece Leslie (husband William) Tyler, and their children son Jamie Tyler and daughter Krista Tyler; Krista's children Haylee Tyler, Blake Tyler, Logan Tyler and Nolan Tyler, all of McDonough, GA; nephew William Sparling; nephew David (wife Misty) Sparling and son Scott Sparling.

Marjorie Wilson

Marjorie Wilson, 88, of Versailles, passed away Monday, February 25, 2013 at the Manderley Health Care Center in Osgood. She was born near Shelbyville on August 6, 1924, the daughter of Lowell and Nellie Huber Purcell. She was married to Loyd Wilson on June 17, 1942 and he preceded her in death on December 13, 1988.

Survivors include two sons Ronald (Shirley) Wilson of Carmel and Jerry (Janice) Wilson of Versailles; four grandchildren Joshua (Tia) Wilson of Walton, Kentucky, Joanna Wilson of New Orleans, Ronna (John) Fruth of Plymouth, and Renne (Brian) Kilburn of Noblesville; great grandchildren David and Abigail Fruth, and Lauren, Aiden, Emma, and Drake Kilburn; one brother Rufus (Sue) Purcell of Milan; one sister Retha (Ron) Molan of Clinton.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Dorothy Castner, and her brothers Mitchell, Donald, John, and Dick Purcell.

Mrs. Wilson was a 1942 graduate of Versailles High School. She was a former employee of the Versailles town clerk's office, the Tyson Library, and had done babysitting for several families.

Marjorie was a member of the Versailles Church of Christ and the Versailles American Legion Auxiliary.

February 21, 2013

Ellanora Odetta Burton

Ellanora Odetta Burton, 71, of Osgood passed away Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at the Hospice of South Central Indiana in Columbus. She was born near Holton on October 6, 1941, the daughter of Walter and Rhoda Morris Franklin. She was married to Jerry D. Burton on June 26, 1959 and he survives.

Other survivors include two sons, Jerry E. (Connie) Burton of Monticello and Ricky Lee (Rocio) Burton of Lawton, Oklahoma; six grandchildren, two step grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren; one sister, Edythe Hollandsworth of North Vernon; three brothers, Lloyd (Luella) Franklin, Lowell (Kay) Franklin, and Duane (Carole) Franklin all of Holton. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her son Jeff Burton.

Mrs. Burton was a 1959 graduate of Holton High School and was a member of the Osgood First Baptist Church. She was a former employee of US Shoe in Osgood and retired in 2002 after 36 years with Kennedy Car Liner in Shelbyville. Odetta enjoyed quilting, working with her flowers, and fishing.

John Mortimer Hann, Sr.

John Mortimer Hann Sr., 75 of Versailles, passed away Sunday, February 17, 2013 at the Morning Breeze Nursing Home in Greensburg. He was born March 29, 1937 in Ohio. His parents were John Everett and Mary Elizabeth Laake Hann. His mother later married Walter Meyer who then helped raise John.

John received his journeyman's plumber license in the state of Ohio. He worked for Geiske & Laake Plumbing of Ohio and then went to work for Joseph E. Seagram's of Lawrenceburg, where he worked for 22 years until he retired.

Mr. Hann also served in the Army Reserves. He had enjoyed horses, coon hunting, gardening and especially his little Jack Russell dog "Buttons". He will be sadly missed by his family.

Survivors include sons, John Mortimer Hann Jr. & wife Mary of Florence, Russell Theodore & wife Kathy Hann of Milan, Marion Christopher & wife Debra Hann of Versailles; daughter, Melody & husband Brian Schmidt of Versailles; sister, Margaret Mary Lykins of Sunman; half sister, Martha Jean Seymour of Cleves, Ohio; 12 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 21 at 11 a.m. at Neal's Funeral Home, Osgood, with burial in the Old Baptist Cemetery, Harrison, Ohio.

Donald Pilz

Donald Pilz passed away Tuesday, February 19, 2013. Services are pending at Sibbett-Moore Funeral Home, Moores Hill

John M. Starkey

John M. Starkey, 69, of Sarasota, FL, formerly of Milan, passed away Saturday, January 19, 2013.

Funeral services were held Friday, Jan. 25 at Jennings Funeral Home & Crematory in Sarasota, FL. Funeral arrangements were handled by Jennings Funeral Home & Crematory.

John M. Starkey was born in Indiana on December 6, 1943 to Margie and Elwood Starkey.

John leaves behind his wife of 42 years, Dorene Hamilton Starkey; his beloved daughter, Jennifer Lay; son-in-law, John Lay; two amazing grandchildren, Madilyn and Jack Lay; brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Sharon Starkey of Indiana; and brother, Michael Starkey of Sarasota.

John served in the US Navy from 1962-1966 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ranger.

Robert C. "Bob" Weber

Robert C. "Bob" Weber, 89, passed away Saturday, February 16, 2013 at Lutheran Hospital.

Born and raised in Benham, Bob earned his undergraduate degree from Purdue University and his Master's from the University of Michigan. Bob was a botany teacher with the public schools for 38 years, retiring in 1986. He was of one of the founding members of ACRES, Inc., a member of The Fox Island Alliance; The Nature Conservancy; The Audubon Society; The Historic Forks of the Wabash in Huntington, and a sponsor of the Hi-Y at South Side High School.

Bob was an avid photographer, also an avid animal lover, he enjoyed planning and enjoying the many outdoor trips with the YMCA.

Bob was a loyal husband, brother, and uncle and he will be dearly missed.

Surviving are his loving wife of 54 years, Mary Janet Weber of Fort Wayne; nephew, Phil Blighton; nieces, Kathy Baker, Mary Sue (Fred) Thompson; 11 great nieces and nephews; several great great and great great great nieces and nephews.

Bob was preceded in death by parents, George and Clara Weber; sisters, Evelyn Werner, Fleta Moody, Lula Blighton; and brother, Jim Weber.

Services were held Tuesday, February 19, at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, with Rev. Paul Offhaus officiating. Burial was in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Fort Wayne.

Memorials may be made to ACRES, Inc., 1802 Chapman Road, Huntertown, IN; South Side High School Foundation; St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church; or Benham Methodist Church, 648 E County Road 650 S, Versailles, IN 47042.  To sign the online guest book, go to www.mccombandsons.com.

Betty June Anderson Whayne

Betty June Anderson Whayne, 84 of Milan, and formerly of Greensburg, passed away Sunday, February 17, 2013. Private services will be held at the convenience of her family at St. Gabriel's Episcopalian Church in Marion, Massachusetts. Memorials may be made to the Activity Fund at Ripley Crossing through the funeral home. Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home, is entrusted with arrangements. Go to www.lawscarrmoore.com to sign the online register book.

February 14, 2013

Stanley Louis"Dip" Ertel

Stanley Louis "Dip" Ertel, 85, of Osgood, passed away Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at his home. His parents were James Henry and Martha Wallpe Ertel. He married Martha Hoff on November 20, 1948 and she survives.

Stanley was a truck driver for Hillenbrand Industries for 24 years and seven years for Baylor Trucking. He was known on the CB radio to his truck driver friends as "Poor Boy". He also had been a farmer for many years.

Stanley was a past director of the Federal Land Bank of Versailles; had also served on the board of directors of the Ripley County Soil & Water Conservation. He and his wife attended St. Maurice Church of Napoleon.

Survivors include his wife; sons, Lee S. and wife Anna Sue Ertel of Seymour, Keith R. and wife Dee Ertel of Osgood, and James A. and wife Deb of Osgood; daughter, Linda M. Ertel of Milan; brother: Robert A. Ertel of Batesville. He was preceded in death by one great granddaughter, Alexa Lynn Ertel, and one brother, Oliver James Ertel.

Visitation and funeral all on the same day at Neal's Funeral Home, Osgood, Saturday, February 16. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 12 noon with funeral following.

William D. Hill

William D. Hill, 89, of Versailles, passed away Monday, February 11, 2013 at his home. He was born near Bryantsburg in Jefferson County on November 17, 1923, the son of William J. and Rosella Yager Hill. He was married to Norma Lee Underwood on June 17, 1950 and she preceded him in death on October 1, 2009.

Survivors include two daughters Jennifer (Greg) McKaufskey of Rantoul, Illinois and Christy Grossman of Versailles; grandchildren Jordan (Heather) Grossman of Casper, Wyoming, Joshua Grossman and his fiancé Chris Clements of Greensburg, Jared Grossman of Madison, Jonathan Grossman of Versailles, Courtney (Brian) Hostetler of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and Christopher Bartlow of Westfield; step-grandchildren Stacy Acton and Jenny McKaufskey both of Illinois; one great-grandson Noah Grossman and one step-great-grandson Trey Smith; one brother John Hill of Versailles; one sister Mary Ruth (Harold) McCreary of Indianapolis. He was also preceded in death by his parents, his son-in-law Ed Bartlow, and his sisters Martha Hooton and Elenora Schuerman.

Mr. Hill was a 1942 graduate of Versailles High School and was an Army veteran of WWII where he served with the 78th Infantry Division in wire and telephone. He had formerly worked at the Nestle Milk Plant in Osgood and had driven a school bus for the Versailles schools.

He retired from the Jefferson Proving Ground in 1982 and owned and operated the Hill Monument Company in Versailles.

Bill was a member of St. John's Catholic Church in Osgood, the Versailles American Legion, and was a former member of the Moose Lodge, Versailles Lions Club, and the Versailles Fire Department.

February 7, 2013

William A. "Bill" Courter

William A. "Bill" Courter, 58, of Aurora passed away Sunday, February 3, 2013. Funeral services will be Friday, February 8, at 12 p.m. at Sibbett-Moore Funeral Home, Moores Hill. Burial will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery at Moores Hill. Visitation will be Friday from 10-12 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Neurofibromatosis Foundation. Sibbett-Moore Funeral Home, Moores Hill is entrusted with arrangements. Visit www.sibbettmoore.com to sign the online guest book.