Obituaries from December 2022

Violet L. Schopmeyer, 91, of Woodbridge, Va., formerly of Greencastle, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022. Born Aug. 8, 1931 in Brazil, she was the daughter of Albert H. and Lessie (Sexton) Schopmeyer. Violet owned and operated Violet’s Beauty Shop in Greencastle for 52 years. She was also the hairdresser for Hickory Creek at Sunset Nursing Home for several years...

Doris Jean McMains, 86, of Greencastle, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022, at her residence. Doris was born in Greencastle on Nov. 3, 1936, the daughter of John LeRoy and Opal Opra (Grimes) Patterson, and was a 1955 graduate of Greencastle High School...

Rhonda L. Evans, age 65, of Cloverdale, went to be with the Lord on Nov. 30, 2022. She was born Nov. 11, 1957, in Greencastle to Ronald and Shirley (Roberts) Heidrick. She married Randy L. Evans on Dec. 24, 1975, and he survives. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...

Jean M. (Padgett) Johnson, 88, of Reelsville, passed away Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. She was born May 31, 1934 in Indianapolis to her parents, Cecil E. and Viola Christine (Ruckriegel) Padgett. She married the late Paul S. Johnson on June 25, 1955. She was a resident of Indianapolis for most of her life and a recent resident of Reelsville since 2016...

Betty Brown, 95, died at the home of her daughter, Vicky Weir, in Greencastle on Dec. 4, 2022. She is survived by four children, John “Mick” Caton of Stilesville, Vicky (Dennis) Weir of Greencastle, Bobbi (Abigail) Caton of Jeffersonville and Baron “Barry” (Ann) Brown of Hillsboro, N.C.; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and sister Joann Jett of Oaklandon...

Zella (Taber) Thomas, 96, of Greencastle, passed away Saturday, Dec. 3 to be in God’s loving hands. She was born on March 14, 1926, to her devoted parents, Harley and Laura Taber, on a farm in the Greencastle area. Zella faced life’s challenges with her genuine Christian faith in God and with a quiet strength and resilience. She graduated from Reelsville High School in 1944 and married James Thomas of Greencastle...

David Allen Miles, 60, of Roachdale, passed away peacefully at home Nov. 29, 2022, after a short battle with cancer and with loved ones by his side. Dave was born July 17, 1962, in Greencastle, to the late Lester Earl Miles Sr. and Anna May Cage Miles...

Garry Lee Lowe, 74, of Fillmore, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. Born September 1, 1948 in Big Rock, Va., he was the son of Victor and Evelyn (Hamilton) Lowe. Garry retired from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department where he served as a civil processing sheriff’s deputy. He had previously worked at Caterpillar in Indianapolis for several years, as well...

Virginia “Ginny” Lorene (Dorsett) Gaston, 93, of Stilesville, passed away Dec. 9, 2022. She was born Aug. 17, 1929, to Thomas C. and Linnie E. (Broadstreet) Dorsett in the town of Broad Park in Putnam County. She graduated from Belle Union High School in 1947 and Ball State University in 1951. She taught in elementary schools in Mooresville, Belle Union and Buck Creek...

Earl “Wayne” Wilson, 88, of Greencastle, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, at The Waters of Greencastle. Wayne was born in Greencastle on April 9, 1934, the son of Alva E. and Gladys Mae (Conwell) Wilson. He was a graduate of Greencastle High School...

Martha “Mae” Wilson, 83, of Avon, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. She was born on May 1, 1939 in Lejunior, Harlan County, Ky., to the late Allie Frances (Husky) and George William Carr. Mae worked for the Avon High School cafeteria, Woodmizer and retired from Public Service Indiana...

Doris “Sue” Lucille Martin, of Fillmore, passed away on Dec. 11, 2022, at Mill Pond Health Campus in Greencastle. She was born June 23, 1932, to Walter Charles and Hazel Fern Boswell. Doris was a homemaker and a member of Fillmore Christian Church and the Fillmore Volunteer Fire Department auxiliary. She was also the “Noodle Queen.”...

Irene Douglas, 89, of Greencastle, passed away Dec. 13, 2022. Irene was born in Somerset, Ky., on Oct. 18, 1933, to the late Ira and Stella (French) Price. She married the love of her life, Marvin Douglas, on April 3, 1953. She was a faithful member of the Knightsville Church of Christ...

Marietta Holtel entered eternal rest on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, after 96 years of living life to the fullest. She was born on May 31, 1926, to Oscar and Zella (O’Hair) Kinsey in Morristown. Marietta grew up on the streets of Morristown with her lifetime friend, Bob Wortman, while her parents opened and operated the well-known Bluebird Restaurant...

Delores Jean Wertz, 94, of Greenwood, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, at Greenwood Meadows. Delores was born in Roachdale on Dec. 3, 1928, the daughter of Donald and Norma (Shoaf) Hyten. She was a 1946 graduate of Roachdale High School. She graduated from Central Business College in Indianapolis...

Fred Carl Moore, 60, of Greencastle, passed away on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, at his residence surrounded by his family. Fred was born in Indianapolis on May 4, 1962, the son of Billy Moore and Betty Lovell, and attended Jennings County High School. Mr. Moore was a Little League umpire for District 7, and was also a baseball and football coach at Christian Park and Community little leagues...

Monica A. (Heck) O’Brien, 75, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, at Ascension St. Vincent, Anderson. She was born on May 10, 1947, in Syracuse, N.Y., the daughter of Emil and Alma (Reschke) Heck. Monica was the owner and operator of Sunshine Janitorial for many years, both in Syracuse, N. Y., and Greencastle...

Darrell Edmond Sandusky, 93, of Roachdale, passed away on the afternoon of Dec. 19, 2022, at Brooke Knoll Village in Avon. He was born on March 7, 1929, in Ladoga to the late Fred and Cecil (Servies) Sandusky. He married Alberta R. Ashley on May 4, 1952, in Indianapolis. She preceded him in death on June 28, 2016...

John Raymond Atkins, 73, of Brownsburg, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. He was born Dec. 2, 1949 in Indianapolis, the son of Joseph and Annett Atkins. John was a 1967 graduate of Greencastle High School and served our country in the U.S. Army and is a Vietnam War combat veteran...

Guinivere (Guin) Maxine Lacey was born in Boswell to Lenore Trueblood. Guin and her brother, Harold, had a modest childhood and in 1945, Guin moved to Indianapolis to take up employment at Indiana Bell. In 1946, Guin met and married James Lacey, and daughter Patricia followed shortly thereafter...

Evelyn F. Hubbard, 88, formerly of Stilesville, passed away Tuesday evening, Dec. 20, 2022 at Mill Pond Health Campus, Greencastle. She was born on May 26, 1934 in Roachdale, the daughter of Johnie Witt and Daisy I. Bell Witt Rhude. She was self-employed as a seamstress and upholsterer. She was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force serving in the Women’s Air Corp...

Emma Jean Wood, 86, Greencastle, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. She was born July 1, 1936, in Groveland, the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Jarnigan) Wood. She was a 1955 graduate of Bainbridge High School. Emma retired from DePauw University, where she worked in food services for 42 years. She was a member of the Hanna Street Baptist Church...

Nita Jo Ann Pieper Spesard, 65, passed away Monday, Dec. 19, 2022, at Asbury Towers after a battle with cancer. She was born in Beech Grove on Nov. 16, 1957, to Judy (Neil) Bishop and Jesse (Gayle) Pieper Sr. She attended North Putnam High School. Nita was full of life and loved the outdoors, crafts and quilting. She will be missed by all...

Alice J. Masten, 88, of Greencastle, passed away unexpectedly at Putnam County Hospital on Dec. 21, 2022. Alice was born south of Bainbridge on Nov. 23, 1934, the daughter of Walter Elsworth and Mary Emma (Sears) Masten. She was a graduate of Bainbridge High School...

Frank W. O’Hair, 86, of Greencastle, passed away peacefully at Asbury Towers on Dec. 22, 2022. Frank was born in Fillmore on Nov. 7, 1936, the son of Gilbert and Mildred O’Hair. He took great pride in saying he was the favorite child, as he was born on his mother’s birthday...

Charles Werner Schmidtke, 41, of Greencastle, died at 8:55 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022 in Columbus. He was born on April 2, 1981, in Fort Wayne to Axel and Kimberly (Flauding) Schmidtke. Charles received his associate’s degree from Universal Technical Institute in Chicago. He was a self employed-contractor and entrepreneur. He enjoyed woodworking, motorcycles, gardening and farming. Charles was an excellent cook and was always interested in new business opportunities...

Danny McKee, 76, of Reelsville, passed away Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. He was born Nov. 25, 1946 in Burnside, Ky., to the late Arthur McKee and Virginia (Sexton)McKee. He married Sandra (Boone) McKee on March 18, 1972 and she survives. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Daniel McKee and his wife Margie, and Lisa McKee and fiancé Michael Perkins; grandchildren, Kendrick McKee and wife Sydney, Kylee Reberger and husband Denver and Lilly McKee; great-grandchildren Owen McKee, Addy Reberger and Evan Reberger; sister-in-law, Karen McKee; and several nieces and nephews.. ...

Retha Mae (Rubeck) Frank, 82, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Dec. 24, 2022. Retha was born to the late Roy “Mac” and Bryl Rubeck on Dec. 12, 1940 in Owen County. Retha was a member of the Jordan Village Presbyterian Church. She worked in her dad’s sawmill after school making chicken coops. ...

Sharon Klepper Walters, 82, passed away on Monday, Dec. 26, 2022 at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital following complications from a recent surgery. Sharon was born on Feb. 5, 1940 in Lawrenceburg, Ind., to Ezra and Kathleen Klepper, and was a graduate of Good Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing in Cincinnati in 1961...

Beverly Jean Saunders, 88, Englewood, Fla., formerly of Greencastle, passed away on Dec. 20, 2022. She was born July 9, 1934 in Greencastle to Russell and Alberta King and graduated from Greencastle High School in 1952. In addition to being a homemaker, she worked as loan clerk at Central National Bank and bookkeeper at Morrison’s Goodyear Tire. She was a charter member of Sherwood Christian Church and active in several ministries along with serving as the church treasurer...

Verlin Earl Cash, 95, of Greencastle, passed away at his residence on Monday, Dec. 26, 2022. Verlin was born in his residence in Fillmore on Oct. 29, 1927, the son of Earl Edgar and Lela (Arnold) Cash. He was a 1945 graduate of Fillmore High School. He attended Ivy Tech for auto body repair and refrigeration...

Jeffrey “Jeff” Gene Elliott, 66, of Bainbridge, passed away peacefully at his home Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022. He was born on Nov. 29, 1956, in Greencastle to the late David and Madonna (Proctor) Elliott. On Dec. 8, 1973, he married Sherry L. (Duncan) Elliott. She survives...

James William DeLaBar Jr., 90, of Fillmore, passed away on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. Jim was born on March 19, 1932 to James W. (Bill) and Marjorie Delabar in Oquawka, Ill. After graduating from Oquawka High School, Jim worked on the family farm and as a heavy equipment operator. ...