Archive - Obituary
February 25th, 2013
Marjorie June Wetzel, 85, formally of rural Smith Township, passed away Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Renaissance Village in Fort Wayne.
Surviving relatives include a son, Robert (Peggy) Wetzel; granddaughters, Christina (Stephen) Peterson and Sherry (Douglas) Adams and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a great-granddaugter, Abigail Susan Adams.
Michael John Tartaglia, 85, a resident of rural Columbia City, passed away at 6:04 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne. Although he had been hospitalized recently, his death was unexpected.
Mr. Tartaglia was born in Chicago on June 2, 1927, a son of Guseippe and Maria (Coppola) Tartaglia, and spent his formative years there.
As a young man he served with the Merchant Marines during World War II, and was later married in Chicago Dec. 19, 1953, to Jeannine M. Hopkins.
Patricia Elaine Myers, 76, a resident of Wolf Lake, died at 9:16 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne where she had been transported from Parkview Noble Hospital.
She was born Sept. 19, 1936, in Tazwell County, Illinois, a daughter of the late Merrill and Dorothy J. (Pierce) Wallace.
She began her schooling in Illinois. She continued her grade schooling at South Whitley. She completed her education at Wolf Lake High School graduating in 1954.
She was a U. S. Postal worker for 33 years, retiring as the Postmaster at Wolf Lake in 1991.
Jo Ellen Adams McConnell, 74, died at 11:05 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 at her home with her caring family surrounding her.
She was born Jan. 13, 1939, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, a daughter of James DuPont and Clarice Vivian (Mink) Adams.
A Whitley County native, she graduated with the Class of 1957 from Columbia City High School, where she participated in speech, band, and was editor of “The Eagle” school newspaper.
Jo Ellen graduated from Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio in 1964, with a B.A. degree in Spanish.
Gerald J. “Jerry” Martin, 91, of Decatur, passed away Friday, Feb. 22, 2013.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joyce Martin, of Decatur; three sons; two daughters; a brother; three sisters; 12 granchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. at Woodcrest Nursing Center and from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Haggard-Sefton & Hirschy Funeral Home with a reciting of the Holy Rosary at 3:30 p.m.
Paul Braddock Sr., 81, of Warsaw, passed away at 6:10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, peacefully in his sleep.
Paul was born in Columbia City Jan. 2, 1932, to John and Elsie (Salesman) Braddock. He married Marilyn Snyder in 1957, and they enjoyed 56 years of marriage together.
Paul worked for Nor Folk Southern for 38 years before he retired. After he retired, he worked at Red Horse Bait Shop where he fixed gas lanterns for people in the community and Jelly Stone Park where he mowed lawns and helped to care for the park.
February 22nd
Linda Jayne (Gates) Vandivier Sabo, 73, succumbed to a long bout with cancer on Wednesday, February 20, 2013, at St. Francis Hospital in Indianapolis.
She was born in Ft. Wayne on April 7, 1940, to Jayne (Sample) and Benton Earl Gates, Sr. and grew up in Columbia City. She graduated from Columbia City Joint High School in 1958.
In 1962, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University, where she studied radio, television and film. There, she was initiated as a member of the Xi Chapter of Chi Omega Sorority.
Garrett (Gary) Combs, Jr., former resident of South Whitley, went to be with the Lord Jan. 12, 2013 at his home in Dearing, Ga. He graduated from South Whitley High School with the Class of 1970.
He was born May 17, 1951, in Hazard, Ky., son of Garrett and Loretta Combs.
February 18th
Ronald O. Eberhard, 70, of Mishawaka, passed away at 1:40 p.m., Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, in his home surrounded by family. Ron was born on Jan. 18, 1943, the son of the late Walter W. and Edith M. (Humbarger) Eberhard.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Sharon K. Eberhard; two daughters, Kimberly K. McGlothlin of Indianapolis and Jacqueline M. (Matthew) Termont of Richmond, Va.; with his first grandchild due in July 2013. He is also survived by a sister, Andrea M. Eberhard of Columbus, Ohio.
Richard D. “Hoss” Hawkins, 74, of South Whitley, died Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 in Winter Haven, Fla. where he resided during the winter months. He had been in failing health.
He was born Aug. 29, 1938, in New Philadelphia, Ohio, a son of the late Clarence Dean and Elizabeth (Hootman) Hawkins. He spent his formative years in New Philadelphia.
On Oct. 12, 1961, he entered the U.S. Army. He became a heavy equipment operator and served during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
