Obituary Listing

Aug 15, 2023

Eugene W. Dow Jr., 64, passed away on Tuesday afternoon, August 15, 2023, at his residence in Bluffton following a short illness.

Eugene was born on May 8, 1959, in Neptune, New Jersey, to Eugene W. Dow Sr. and Shirley M. (Worth) Dow, both parents survive and reside in Forked River, New Jersey.

He was...

Aug 15, 2023

Sharon R. Smith, age 67, of Uniondale, passed away Tuesday morning, Aug. 15, 2023, at her residence, following an extended illness.

Sharon was born in Fort Wayne on Jan. 2, 1956, to David D. and Sarah Larita (Kincaid) Eckelbarger.  She married William "Bill" J. Smith in Bluffton on Apr. 29, 2001; he survives.

Sharon loved...

Aug 13, 2023

Connie J. (Pifer) Paxson left this earth on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023, from Brookdale Assisted Living in Sarasota, Florida.

As the middle child, she was born to parents, Doris Baker & Rodney Paxson of rural Bluffton, and granddaughter of Ira & Edna Baker and Elva & Telfer Paxson, whom now are all deceased.

Surviving siblings...

Aug 7, 2023

Michael "Mike" Randy White, age 63, of Bluffton, passed away Monday afternoon, Aug. 7, 2023, at his residence.

Mike was born in Fort Wayne on Mar. 30, 1960.  He is preceded in death by his mother, Barbara (Booker) DeLong, and his father, James "Jim" White.  Mike was preceded in death by his fiancée, Karen Ann Hostetler on...

Aug 1, 2023

Charlotte "Char" A. Milton, age 78, of Bluffton, passed away Tuesday morning, Aug. 1, 2023, at her residence.

Char was born in Decatur on Aug. 25, 1944, to Albert and Irene (Woods) Powell.  She married Robert "Bob" W. Milton in Fort Wayne on Mar. 17, 1967; he survives.

Char graduated from South Side High School...

Jul 28, 2023

Mary Lynn Lautzenheiser, 96, of Bluffton, passed away Friday evening, July 28, 2023, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Mary Lynn was born in Wells County on May 15, 1927, to Thomas and Thelma (Crowl) Irvin.  She married George Lautzenheiser Jr. in Belton, TX, on Sept. 29, 1945.  George preceded her in death in 2008.

...

Jul 24, 2023

Simon E. "Pete" Heyerly, 96, passed away Monday morning, July 24, 2023, at Christian Care Retirement Community in Bluffton.

Pete was born in Adams County, IN. on July 5, 1927, to Albert and Aldine (Aschliman) Heyerly, both parents preceded him in death.  He married Delores F. (Meyer) on June 3, 1951, in Wells County, she survives in...

Jul 22, 2023

Rex E. Holloway Sr., 76, of Keystone, passed away Saturday morning, July 22, 2023, at the Fort Wayne VA Medical Center.

Rex was born in Bluffton on Sept. 21, 1946, to Ivan and Erma (Emley) Holloway Sr.  He married Patricia "Pat" Gaskill in Reiffsburg on Oct. 5, 1968; she survives.

Rex was a 1966 graduate...

Jul 18, 2023

Benjamin D. Dunsmore, age 38, of Bluffton, passed away Tuesday morning, July 18, 2023, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, following a short battle with cancer.

Ben was born in Bluffton on Aug. 27, 1984, to Dennis and Sandy (Lucabaugh) Dunsmore.  Both parents survive in Kissimmee, FL.

Ben graduated in 2003 from Faith Heritage Christian...

Jul 15, 2023

Wendy S. Myers, 54, resident of Bluffton, passed away Saturday evening, July 15, 2023, at her residence surrounded by her family.

Wendy was born in Ft. Wayne on April 15, 1969, to Steven B. Smethers and Jean Irene (Ferris) Myers, her mother survives in Bluffton. She was a 1987 graduate of Paul Harding High School and attended...

Jul 12, 2023

Betty Jean Murphy Rathbun, 90, formerly of Canton, Missouri, passed away Wednesday morning, July 12, 2023, at home in Bluffton, Indiana, where she had resided for the past 5 1/2 years.

Betty was born on April 18, 1933 in Springfield, Missouri, to Kenneth L. and Thelma L (Kauffman) Murphy. She was united in marriage to Paul V....

Jul 8, 2023

Marcia L. Terhune, age 91, of Bluffton, passed away Saturday morning, July 8, 2023, at Christian Care Retirement Community, where she had been a resident for the past three years.

Marcia was born in Monroe, MI, on Dec. 19, 1931, to Gerald and Margaret (Hagan) Wolfe.  She married Dean O. Terhune at the Epworth United Methodist Church...

Jul 5, 2023

Carolyn G. Springer, age 90, of rural Bluffton, and formerly of Waynedale, passed away Wednesday morning, July 5, 2023, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Carolyn was born in Fort Wayne on May 15, 1933, to Elmer Earl and Helen (Gocke) Reed.  She married Richard W. Hanes in Fort Wayne on Oct. 15, 1949.  He preceded her...

Jun 23, 2023

Carol M. Taylor, 82, of Fort Wayne, and formerly of Bluffton, passed away Friday morning, June 23, 2023, at her residence.

Carol was born in Andrews on Aug. 16, 1940, to Homer Edward James Garrison and Hilda Mae (Ditton) Garrison.  She married Randolph C. Taylor in Andrews on June 1, 1958.  He preceded her in death on...

Jun 22, 2023

Eric D. Haley, 51, of Bluffton, passed away Thursday evening, June 22, 2023, at his residence.

Eric was born in South Bend on Nov. 14, 1971, to Shirley and Nancy (Vanata) Haley.  His mother survives in Deltona, FL.  Eric married Kristie Elliott in New Smyrna Beach, FL, on Mar. 30, 2011; she survives.

Eric was...

Jun 14, 2023

Ola Eugene Vitatoe, 93, resident of Bluffton, Indiana since 2003 passed away June 14, 2023. Eugene was born April 5, 1930, Albany, Kentucky.

Eugene grew up working on the farm in Albany, Kentucky. Eugene plowed many fields walking behind an Old Mule and Plow all day long. Different times before the break of day light Eugene would...

Jun 13, 2023

Karen J. Kaehr, 83, of rural Decatur, passed away Tuesday morning, June 13, 2023, at Christian Care Retirement Community.

Karen was born in Berne on Dec. 5, 1939, to Ellison and Elfrieda (Habegger) Neuenschwander.  She married Richard Kaehr in Adams County on Sept. 11, 1960.  He preceded her in death on Dec. 26, 2021.

A...

May 23, 2023

Wayne A. Hull, age 76, of Ossian, passed away Tuesday morning, May 23, 2023, at Stillwater Hospice Home in Fort Wayne.

Wayne was born in Fort Wayne on Oct. 30, 1946, to L. Harrison and Evelyn (Beck) Hull.  His father survives in Fort Wayne.  Wayne married Shirley A. VonGunten in Fort Wayne on Jan. 21, 1967; she...

May 17, 2023

Charles R. "Charlie" Uptgraft, 84, passed away Wednesday morning, May 17, 2023, at River Terrace Estates in Bluffton.

Charlie was born on July 31, 1938, in Bluffton, IN. to William W. and Elizabeth (Lash) Uptgraft, both parents preceded him in death. He married Dolores D. "Dee" (Smethurst) in Bluffton on January 19, 1963, she survives...

May 16, 2023

Patricia "Pat" R. Barger Mitchel, 88, formerly of Decatur, passed away Tuesday morning, May 16, 2023, at Christian Care Retirement Community in Bluffton, where she had been a resident the last 4 ½ years.

Pat was born on April 12, 1935, in Decatur, IN, to Harold V. and Sara Jane (Kaehr) Barger.  On November 21, 1953, she...