Obituaries from May 2018

Wanda Ann Ragan, 82, of Crawfordsville, passed away on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 6:59 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Hospital. Wanda was born on April 4, 1936 in Indianapolis to the late Maurice and Mable (Swank) Johnson. She was a graduate of Danville High School...

Sandra Kay Slavens, 75, of Greencastle, passed away April 30, 2018, at her residence with her family by her side. Sandra was born in Indianapolis on Jan. 11, 1943, the daughter of Carl Eugene and Margaret Mae (Cook) Slavens. She was a 1961 graduate of Reelsville High School...

Beatrice May Sweet, 94, of Bainbridge, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by family, on Tuesday, May 1, 2018. She was born May 27, 1923 in Mangum, Ky., the daughter of Mary Dick. Beatrice was a lifelong dairy farmer and homemaker. She worked right alongside her husband, Cleo Estil Sweet...

Donald E. Grine, 83, of West Unity, Ohio, passed away at 9:33 a.m. Saturday, May 5, 2018 at Evergreen Manor Nursing Home, Montpelier, while holding his wife's hand, under the tender care of Heartland Hospice. Donald was born Dec. 2, 1934 in Bryan, Ohio, the son of the late Edward H. and Clara T. (Limbaugh) Grine Sheets...

Dawn Elaine Campbell, 67, of Cloverdale passed away on Thursday, May 3, 2018 at her residence. Dawn was born in Mason County, Ky., on March 6, 1951, the daughter of Berthel and Marian (Robertson) Harper. She was a 1969 graduate of Bainbridge High School...

Jesse A. Evans Jr., 89, a lifelong farmer and Eminence resident, passed peacefully at his home on Sunday, May 6 2018, surrounded by his loving family. He was born Aug. 15, 1928 to the late Jesse and Cressie Iola (Goss) Evans. Jesse was a 1946 graduate of Eminence High School...

Donald Wayne Scaggs, 78, of Brazil, passed away on Monday, May 7, 2018, at his residence. Donald was born in Putnam County on Aug. 8, 1939, the son of Dee and Minnie (Blankenbeckler) Scaggs. He was a graduate of Greencastle High School. Mr. Scaggs proudly served in the United States Army...

Frederick Lee Buttery Sr., 65, Greencastle, passed away on Sunday, April 22, 2018 at 11:23 p.m. at his residence. He went peacefully with his family at his side. He was born Jan. 19, 1953 in Crawfordsville to Woodson and Daisy Buttery of Wallace. He later lived in New Maysville...

Heinz H. Minartz, 81, of Brazil, Ind., passed away on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at the Cloverleaf Health Care Center in Knightsville. Heinz was born in Germany on Nov. 6, 1939. He was a self-employed handyman and worked in the coal mines in Germany before coming to the United States...

Theodore Ray "Ted" Britton grew up in Roachdale, the oldest of five children. He attended as a youth church camp at Hanging Rock Christian Assembly and attended Parkersburg Christian Church, where he was baptized. He graduated from Roachdale High School and was involved in band, sports and 4-H. He graduated Purdue University with B.S. in science and later earned a master's degree in economics...

Richard "Whitey" L. Hood, 84, of Greencastle, passed away on May 7, 2018 at Franciscan Health Lafayette East Hospital. He was born in Bainbridge on Jan. 4, 1934 to the late William Robert and Gladys Marie (Stewart) Hood. Richard graduated from Greene Township High School in Parke County and married Mary Lou (Philpot) Hood, who preceded him in death in 2000...

Geraldine (Aker) Pritchett died April 23, 2018 at Autumn Glen Assisted Living facility, of cancer. She was born Jan. 31,1931 to Dr. Charles L. and Marie B. (Gatewood) Aker in Mooresville. Geri spent many after-school evenings and weekends driving her father to house calls in Putnam County before graduating from Greencastle High School in 1948. She subsequently graduated from DePauw University with a BA in nursing in 1952 and from the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in 1953...

Claudia Fisher, 81, of French Lick, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at her home. She was born in Gary, Ind., on March 7, 1937 to Claude Drake and Helen (Rimmel) Drake. Claudia married E. Harry Fisher on Sept. 8, 1956, and he preceded her in death Dec. 26, 1998...

Bobbie L. Magness, 84, of Greencastle, went to be with the Lord on Friday, May 11, 2018. He was born Sept. 24, 1933 to the late Claud and Eunice (Jones) Magness. Bobbie married Thelma Carol Rubeck on Oct. 26, 2002, and she survives. He is also survived by his daughters, Barbara (John) Hall, Andrea Magness (Fred), Dana (Jim) Shaw and Jana (Chuck) Haywood; grandchildren Jerry Van Fossan, Kristian Van Fossan, James Shaw, Katie Shaw, Jenna Shaw, Alicia Haywood, Lee Haywood, Luci Peterman and Rebecca Peterman Gardner; great-grandchildren Taylor Jo and Austin Michael Van Fossan.. ...

Rick Ray Sutherland, 54, Greencastle, passed away Saturday, May 12, 2018 at Hendricks County Regional Hospital. Rick was born in Terre Haute on Aug. 3, 1963, the son of Donald Ray and Ellen Kay (McKinley) Sutherland. He was a graduate of Terre Haute South High School...

Robert Lee Keck, 84, of Roachdale, passed away at The Village of Avon on Monday, May 14, 2018. Born Oct. 31, 1933 at Roachdale, he was the son of Estel and Mildred (Spencer) Keck. He graduated from Roachdale High School with the class of 1951. He married Carol (Hays) Keck on Oct. 22, 1954, she survives...

Laura "Romell" Wrightsman, 82, of Russellville, passed away Monday, May 14, 2018 at Asbury Towers, in Greencastle. She was born on Oct. 25, 1935 in Russellville, to the late Oscar and Lillian (Hazlett) Clodfelter. On Oct.13, 1955, she married Danny Wrightsman, he preceded her in death Feb. 24, 2016...

Mary M. Burk, 87, of Greencastle, passed away on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at her residence. She was born March 31, 1931 in Douglas County, the daughter of Claude Douglas and Lillian (Davis) Kellams. She was a graduate of Newman High School, Newman, Ill...

Lilburn (Roy) Hall Jr., 81 of Greencastle, went to be with the Lord Sunday, May 20, 2018. Born May 2, 1937 he was the son of the late Lilburn and Fay (Hatfield) Hall. Roy married Linda Lawson on Aug. 14, 1975, and she survives. Roy was a member of Wellspring Christian Church, an Air Force veteran and loved playing and listening to bluegrass music...

Robert Preston Hershberger, Bob to all who knew him, died on Sunday, May 20 at his home in Greencastle. He was 54. Born in Denver, Colo., Bob loved the outdoors, fishing, traveling, teaching Spanish at DePauw University and leading a myriad of student trips abroad...

Vaughn ("The Boy" or "Bobby") Oscar Leisure, 15, of Stilesville/Belle Union, was prematurely taken from our presence early Saturday morning, May 19, 2018. He was born on Feb. 7, 2003 in Greencastle to Richard Leisure and Roshelle (Rogers) Farthing. Vaughn attended Central Elementary, Mill Creek West, Cascade Middle School and Cascade High School. He achieved many honor grades and academic awards in school...

Thomas Jesse Murphy, of Greencastle, was killed by a gunshot wound on Nov. 20, 1943 at the Tarawa Atoll. Pharmacist Mate 2nd Class Murphy was only 22 years old. Born in 1921 in Greencastle, he was the son of Jesse and Anna Murphy (Vanlandingham). He saw a lot of action during his 17 months in the service, including being on a torpedoed ship in Casablanca in November 1942. He was in the water several hours before being rescued and would be re-assigned many times as he worked around the world...

Mildred Irene Bailey, 87, of Cloverdale, went to be with the Lord Friday, May 25, 2018. Born March 10, 1931 to the late Chester and Susan (Osbourne) Anderson. Mildred married Ora K. Bailey June 25, 1949 he preceded her in death Jan. 9, 2002. She is also survived by her children Gary K. ...

Virgenna Maxine (Brammer) Boyce, 94, passed away Saturday, May 26, 2018 in Brazil. She was born in Brazil on July 27, 1923 to the late Otis and Mary (Trenary) Brammer. Maxine graduated from Brazil High School in 1941 and married her husband Kenneth Leroy Boyce on Aug. 20, 1941...

Ronald Keith Pettit, 76, of Greencastle, passed away on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. Born May 11, 1942 in Putnam County, he was the son of Harold and Mary (Goodman) Pettit. Ron retired from Bridgeport Brass, where he had worked as a machinist. He was a member of the Moose Lodge and a former member of the American Legion...

John Thomas "Jack" Long, 72, Cloverdale, passed away peacefully Sunday, May 27 with his loving wife of 28 years, Brenda Dwigans Long, by his side. Jack was born Oct. 9, 1945. He served his country in the National Guard. Jack was a member of the Eagles in Greencastle...

William Dunfee, 87, Poland, passed away Sunday May 27, 2018 at his home surrounded by family. He was born on June 30, 1930 in Hammond, Ind., to Russell and Willabell Dunfee. Bill worked as an electrician, and served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War...

Michael "Mike" Gene Cloncs, 55, of Crawfordsville, passed away on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at Franciscan St. Elizabeth in Crawfordsville. He was born Oct. 26, 1962 in Indianapolis to the late Donald and Shirley (Oakes) Cloncs. On May 21, 2008 he married Paula (Browning) Cloncs in Greencastle. She survives...

Janet Kaye Deaton, 65, of Bainbridge, passed away on Monday, May 28, 2018 with family by her side. She was born Sept. 16, 1952 in Greencastle, the daughter of Charles and Doris (Ragsdale) Lyon. She was a 1970 graduate of North Putnam High School. She had attended the Bainbridge United Methodist Church...

Hubert H. "Hugh" Hyten, 79, Crawfordsville, passed away at his home Friday, May 25, 2018. He was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in September 2013 and was under the care of the Franciscan St. Francis Health Center in Indianapolis. "I leave the world a citizen in good standing, having the opportunity for a great education and career to provide for my family. That, along with many lasting friendships, made my life's journey a wonderful experience." -- Hugh Hyten...

Dorothea M. Nelson, 109, formerly of Ladoga, passed away on May 26, 2018 in Sanford, Fla. She was born on Dec. 5, 1908 in Ladoga, Ind., to the late Arthur Monroe and Clara Mae (Morris) Densmore. On May 17, 1933 she married James Harrison ("Peanut") Nelson. He preceded her in death on Dec. 14, 1990...

James "Jim" Eugene Stevens, 71, of Greencastle, passed away on Monday, May 28, 2018 surrounded by family. He was born on Aug. 1, 1946 in Hazard, Ky., to Eugene and Hazel (Turner) Stevens. As a young boy, Jim moved to Southern Indiana where he grew up on a farm with his three brothers...

Bradley Thomas Rector, Brad to all who knew him, passed away on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at his home in Fillmore, surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 47. He was born Aug. 8, 1970 in Bloomington, the son of Tom and Janie Rector...

William E. Blue, 80 years young, succumbed to arthritis, also called stage 4 lymphoma, on Sept. 18, 2017, in his Peoria, Ariz., home, with his family by his side. Maj. William E. Blue (USAF, Ret.) grew up in Roachdale. Maj. Blue was proud of his country and served four years in the U.S. Army and 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. He logged 10,000 flight hours in the KC-135 and 2,000 hours in the C-130 while earning seven air medals...

Earlena (Hedges) Burkhart, 87, of Elberfeld, Ind., passed away at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at Amber Manor in Pike County. Earlena was born Jan. 4, 1931, in Pike County, Ind., the daughter of Buthyl Edgar and Roxie Geneva (McCandless) Hedges...

Larry Dean Servies, 84, of Waveland, passed away Thursday, May 31, 2018 at Franciscan Health, Crawfordsville. He was born Aug. 9, 1933 in Waveland to the late Lawrence and Agnes (Hayes) Servies. Larry was a Waveland High School graduate, graduating in 1951, after which he then graduated from Indiana College of Mortuary Science in 1952...