Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home :: Rockford, Ohio

Don Sullivan

admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:08:18 +0000

Don Edward Sullivan, 84, of St. Marys, Ohio, passed away at 3:08 a.m. on Monday, February 20, 2012, at Otterbein Retirement Home, St. Marys, Ohio. He was born in Cass County, Indiana, to Ralph and Margaret (Sharts) Sullivan, on November 18, 1927. On July 3, 1947, he married Marian Alice VanHoesen, and she survives in St. Marys.

Mr. Sullivan was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII and was a farmer. He moved to St. Marys in 2006 from Indiana. He attended Otterbein Community Church, St. Marys, Ohio.

Surviving in addition to his wife Marian are five children: one son, Merle (Frieda) Sullivan of Fulton, Indiana, and four daughters: Alice Lynch, Logansport, Indiana; Carolyn (Michael) Colvin, Flora, Indiana; Donna (Eugene) Field, Peru, Indiana; and Carla (Kenneth) Pond, Rockford, Ohio. Ten grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild also survive.

There will be no visitation or services. Memorials may be directed to Otterbein Benevolence Fund, 11230 St. Rte.364, St. Marys, Ohio, 45885. Arrangements are being handled by Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford, Ohio.

Dorothy Shock

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:12:52 +0000

Dorothy P. Shock, 92, of Rockford, Ohio, died Saturday evening, February 19, 2012, at 7:12 p.m. at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was born on December 10, 1919, near Pennville, Indiana in Jay County, the daughter of Walter C. and Virgie (Champ) Wright. On December 29, 1945, she married Max C. Shock, who preceded in death on October 15, 2009. Dorothy was a homemaker and lived most of her life in Rockford. She was a member of the Rockford United Methodist Church and the church’s Women’s Association.

Surviving is one brother, Royce (Mary Ellen) Wright, of Portland, Indiana and one sister, Velma Hunt, of Caro, Michigan. One brother-in-law Gerald (Sondra) Dickson, of Portland, Indiana also survives, along with nieces and nephews. Deceased are two sisters: Maxine Kessler and Carolyn Sue Dickson.

Services will be held on Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford with Pastor Chip Steffy officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., and on Friday, one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be directed to the church.

Virginia Painter

admin — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 09:45:02 +0000

Virginia M. Painter, 95, of Willshire, Ohio, passed away at 5:45 a.m., Saturday, February 18, 2012, at Colonial Nursing Center, Rockford. She was born on April 8, 1916 in Willshire to Audi F. and Flodeltha (Straubinger) Passwater. At age 2, the family moved to Kansas for Audi’s employment in the oil drilling business. Virginia would visit Willshire every summer, staying with her Straubinger grandparents at the Straubinger Hotel. It was on a visit in 1935 that she met her future husband. On August 10, 1937, she married Cleo Roy Painter, and they began a marriage of 65 years. Cleo proceeded her in death on March 21, 2002.

She had lived in the Willshire area since 1939, when she moved back here from Witchita, Kansas. She was employed by the Rockford Canning Plant, GE of Decatur, and the Willshire-Parkway Public Schools. After 18 years working as a secretary in the school, she retired, and she took up her love of antiques full time. She and Cleo traveled to Florida annually buying and selling antiques. Virginia became an expert on Victorian furnishings and dolls. She gave many lectures and often displayed her large doll collection. She had been very active in the Order of the Eastern Star throughout the area, and was a Past Worthy Matron of the Willshire chapter, and then became a member of the Van Wert chapter, after Willshire and Van Wert chapters merged. She was a member of the Willshire First United Methodist Church; a past president of the Pythian Sisters; and a member of the Willshire Garden Club.

She is survived by one son, Rex C. Painter of Willshire, Ohio, along with his special friend, Connie Boley of Ohio City; two granddaughters, Lara (Dirk) Scofield of San Diego, California and Rachel Painter, also of San Diego; two great granddaughters, Kelly and Holly Scofield, also of San Diego; and three sister-in-laws, Janet Painter Speelman of Scott, Ohio, Janette Crites Painter of Willshire, Ohio, and Kay Slusher Robbins. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews She will be deeply missed by friends and family, both far and wide.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 23, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford, Ohio, with Pastor Bud Larrimore and Pastor John Goodwin officiating. Burial will be in Willshire Cemetery, Willshire, Ohio. Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. and on Thursday, one hour prior to the service. The Van Wert Chapter of Eastern Stars will hold a service on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to State of the Heart Hospice, Coldwater, Ohio

Brianna Coon

admin — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:59:36 +0000

Brianna Elizabeth Coon, 17, of Rockford, Ohio, died Saturday night, February 4, 2012, after her car went off a rural Putnam County road and into a pond, near Ottoville, Ohio. She was born May 28, 1994, in Van Wert, Ohio, to James F. Coon and Diana (Smith) Rissner. She was a junior at Parkway High School in Rockford, and was also a student at Vantage Vocational School in Van Wert, Ohio. Brianna was a member of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America at Vantage, a member of the Haiti Interact Club, and a member of the Parkway Bowling team. She was employed at the McDonald’s Restaurant on Shannon Street, in Van Wert. She had lived in the area all her life, coming from Willshire, Ohio, in 2005.

Surviving is her mother, Diana Rissner and step father, Jason Rissner of Rockford; her father, James F. Coon of Van Wert; four brothers: Nicholas Coon, Jonathon Stegaman, Zachary and Zavier Rissner, all of Rockford; her paternal grandmother, Lois Coon of Van Wert, her maternal grandmother, Cindy Fox, Lancaster, Ohio, and step grandparents, Henry and Mary Gingrich, Fremont, Indiana. Deceased is her paternal grandfather, Charles Coon, and an aunt, Tracy Coon.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at New Horizons Community Church in Rockford, with Pastor Chip Steffy officiating. Cremation will take place after the services. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and on Saturday, one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be directed to the family for an educational fund for Brianna’s brothers.

Daniel Yoder

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:07:21 +0000

Daniel R. Yoder, 52, Rockford, died Friday, February 3, 2012, at 5:10 p.m. at his home. He was born on September 11, 1959, to Robert and Ruby (Bellamy) Yoder in Celina. On April 18, 1981, he married Jill Crabtree, who survives.

Also surviving are his mother: Ruby (Glenn) Scott, Celina; two daughters: Jessica Yoder, Van Wert, and Erica (Steve) Hays, Rockford; three brothers: Tim Yoder, Cincinnati, Mark Yoder, Celina, and Steve (Laura) Yoder, Rockford; two sisters: Bobbi (John) Stoner, and Jan Yoder, both of Celina; one grandson Rowan Yoder, and one little granddaughter on the way; three brother-in-laws: Steve Crabtree, San Diego, California, Dennis Crabtree, Rockford, and Tim Crabtree, Decatur, Indiana; two sister-in-laws: Sheryl (Barry) Harner, Mendon, and Susan Hull, Rockford, and many nieces and nephews.

Deceased is his father Robert Yoder.

He was a truck driver for numerous companies in the area for the past five years. He worked at Thieman Tailgates, Celina, until 2006. He was a member of Rockford United Methodist Church.

Funeral Services will be Thursday, February 9, 2012, at 11 a.m. at Rockford United Methodist Church, Pastor Chip Steffy officiating. Burial will be held in Swamp College Cemetery, Celina. Viewing will be from 2-8 p.m. on Wednesday, February 8, at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home, Rockford, and on Thursday one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be directed to the Parkway Softball Program.

Robert S. Graham

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:22:40 +0000

Robert S. Graham, 64, of Rockford, Ohio, died at 5:55 p.m. on Friday, January 27, 2012, at the In-Patient Hospice Center in Van Wert, Ohio. He was born on February 9, 1947, in Lima, Ohio, to the late Wilbur and DeVota (Cummins) Graham. He graduated from Parkway High School in 1965, and attended Otterbein College at Westerville, Ohio. On August 23, 1969, he married Carol Baker, and she survives in Rockford.

He was a member of the Rockford United Methodist Church and for 25 years, was a member of the Rockford Quartet. He was employed by Mercer Landmark in Celina, Ohio, where he drove truck.

Surviving in addition to his wife, Carol are two daughters: Traci Graham and Debbie (Bill) VanAtta; one son, Spencer Graham; and two grandchildren, Cody and Jacob VanAtta, all of Findlay, Ohio. One sister, Loretta (David) Frees of Aurora, Colorado also survives.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday, February 5th from 2-8 p.m. and Monday, one hour prior to the service. Services will be held on Monday, February 6th at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home, with Pastor Chip Steffy officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford. Memorials may be directed to the Cancer Association of Mercer County or to the Blanchard Valley Center, 1700 E. Sandusky Street, Findlay, Ohio, 45840.

Arrangements are still incomplete at this time. We will post the visitation and funeral times as soon as they complete.

Keith J. Gehle

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:22:19 +0000

Keith J. Gehle, 66, of Rockford, Ohio, died unexpectedly at 7:27 p.m. on Friday, January 27, 2012, at Van Wert County Hospital. He was born May 19, 1945, in Celina, Ohio, to the late Al and Florence (Leugers) Gehle. He graduated from Marion Local Schools in 1963. On August 27, 1966, he married Margaret M. Homan, who survives in Rockford. In 1976, he founded Gehle Transport, Inc., from which he retired in 2007. With his family and friends, he loved boating, camping, riding his motorcycle, and driving his Corvette. Mr. Gehle was a member of St. Teresa Catholic Church, Rockford. He was a life-time member of the Shanes Aerie #1292 Rockford Eagles; a 25-year member of the Knights of Columbus, Celina; a member of the Moose Lodge in Van Wert and Celina; and a member of the Sons of the Legion, Post #508 in Rockford.

Surviving in addition to his wife, are two sons and two daughters: Steve (Missy) Gehle of Rockford; Jennifer Brandt of Rockford; Jim (April) Gehle of Lawrenceburg, Indiana; and Marie Gehle of Evans, Georgia. He was preceded in death by a son, Allen Gehle. One daughter-in-law, Kim (Ralph) Gehle-Forbes of Salt Lake City, Utah, also survives. Also surviving are one brother, Richard (Kay) Gehle, Lakeland, Florida; three sisters: Audry Jean Meiring, Sharpsburg, Ohio; Betty Nieman, Alexandria, Virginia; and Karen (Chett) Moore, Armona, California; and two sisters-in-law, Anna Maria Gehle, Rome, Italy and Myrna Gigandet, Versailles, Ohio. He was the proud grandfather of 11: Connor, Kaylee, Emily, and Joshua Gehle, of Rockford; Joey and Allison Brandt of Rockford; Trey and Trenton Gehle of Lawrenceburg, Indiana; Tyler Gehle of Evans, Georgia; and Lena Rose and Hayden Forbes of Salt Lake City, Utah. Mr. Gehle’s mother-in-law, Bernie Homan, of St. Henry; six sister-in-laws and two brother-in-laws and their spouses, also survive.

Mr. Gehle was preceded in death by three brothers, Duane, David, and Delaine; one sister, Patty; his father-in-law, Alfred Homan; and three brother-in-laws, Tom Meiring, Frank Nieman, and Jim Foote.

Mass will be held on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Teresa Catholic Church, Rockford with Rev. Ken Alt officiating. Friends may call at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford, on Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and at the funeral home on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. The Rockford Eagles will have a service at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, followed by a short prayer service at 7:30 pm. and memory sharing by family and friends. A private graveside burial will be held for the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to The St. Teresa’s Church or Shane’s Park-Leota Braun Foundation.

Marilyn Helmer

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:05:39 +0000

Marilyn Ann Helmer, 77, of Rockford, Ohio, died Friday, December 30, 2011 at 2:45 pm, at the Laurels of Shane Hill in Rockford, where she had been a patient. She was born November 21, 1934 in Rockford, Ohio, to Floyd and Alta (Fisher) Buck. She married Thomas Helmer, and he preceded in 1990. She was a homemaker and had also worked at businesses in the area, and had lived most of her life in the Rockford area.

She was a member of the Ohio Historical Society, National Archives in Washington, D.C., Ohio Geneological Society, including the Mercer County Chapter, the Holmes County Chapter, and the Tuscararawas County Chapter. She was also the co-founder of the Shanes Crossing Historical Society, Rockford, Ohio. She was also a member of the Rockford United Methodist Church, and had attended church at the St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Celina.

Surviving are two daughters: Elizabeth Miller, Celina, Ohio and Camille (Dr. Frank) Farone, New Castle Pennsylvania, and three grandchildren: William Miller, Alexandra Farone, and Collin Farone.

There will be no visitation or services.

Dorothy Mihm

admin — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 20:08:00 +0000

Dorothy M. (Caywood) Thatcher Mihm, 89, of Rockford, died at 8:20 pm, Sunday, December 25, 2011, at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert. She was born in Liberty Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, on January 23, 1922 to Delmar and Jessie (Huffman) Caywood. On June 28, 1941, she married Robert Harold Thatcher, who preceded in death on February 16, 1978. She then married Robert William Mihm on October 3, 1986. and he preceded in death on October 31, 1999.

She was a homemaker all her life in the area, and also worked at The Dinner Bell Restaurant and at Tu-Way Products, both in Rockford; she volunteered at Shane Hill Nursing Home in Rockford, where she also later was employed as a cook. She was a member of the Olive Branch Church of God and a member of the Women’s Christian Service Council; she played the piano at the church for many years.

Surviving are two daughters: Karen (Donald) Stose of Clayton, Ohio and Gloria Fisher of Rockford, Ohio; 1 sister, Betty Kuhn of Rockford, Ohio; 12 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandson; and 1 daughter-in-law, Sharon Thatcher of Willshire, Ohio. Deceased in addition to her two husbands, is one son Rex Lee Thatcher, one brother, Lowell Caywood, 1 son-in-law, Donald W. Fisher, 2 sisters, Frances Williams and Mary Catherine Caywood, 2 brother-in-laws, James Williams and Frank Kuhn.

Services will be held on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford with Pastor Steve Waterman officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford. Friends may call at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home on Wednesday from 1-3 p.m., prior to the service. Memorials may be directed to Olive Branch Church of God or to Allwood Audubon Center, 1000 Allwood Road, Dayton, Ohio, 45414.

Helen Fleming

admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:18:51 +0000

Helen Louise Fleming, 81, of Rockford, Ohio, died early Wednesday morning, December 21, 2011, at her home, after a lengthy illness. She was born May 13, 1930 to William Henry and Clara Barbara (Merschman) Landwehr near Columbus Grove, Ohio. On October 16, 1948, she married Harold Garwood, who preceded in death on May 16, 1974. On December 5, 1987, she married Norman L. Fleming, who survives at their home outside of Rockford.

She worked at General Electric for 34 years, retiring from there on September 29, 1989. She loved crocheting and making quilts, and was a master jelly maker. She had moved to Willshire in 1948, and lived there until moving to Rockford after her marriage to Norman 24 years ago. She had graduated from Delphos St. John and was a member of St. Teresa Catholic Church, Rockford. She also was a member of the Celina American Legion Auxillary, Post #210.

Surviving in addition to her husband Norman, are 1 son, James (Peggy) Garwood, of Ashland City, Tennessee; 2 daughters, Judy Garwood of Holgate, Ohio, and Joan (Lindain) Brehm of Celina, Ohio; and 1 step-daughter, Laura (Musa) Akel, of Jacksonville, Florida. Also surviving are 7 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, along with 1 brother, Norbert Landwehr of Mendon, Ohio and 1 sister, Alice Youngpeter of Delphos, Ohio. Deceased is 1 sister, Leona Fisher.

Viewing will be held Monday, December 26, from 2-8 p.m. at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home, Rockford. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am on Tuesday, December 27, 2011, at St. Teresa Catholic Church, Rockford, with Rev. Ken Alt officiating. Burial will be in Willshire Cemetery, Willshire, Ohio. Memorials may be directed to State of the Heart Hospice, Coldwater, Ohio, or to the Cancer Association of Mercer County, Celina, Ohio.