Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Catherine L. Cramer, 91, a resident of Churubusco and widow of Wilbur L. Cramer, died at 5:43 a. m. on Tuesday, October 30, 2007, at the Provena Sacred Heart Home in Avilla following a lengthy illness. She had been a patient at the nursing home for the past four years.

Mrs. Cramer was born in Fort Wayne on June 16, 1916, a daughter of Patrick and Elizabeth (Nolan) Lynch. She spent her early years near LaGrange, and later moved with her family to Avilla, where she graduated from Avilla High School. She also later attended Indiana Business College in Fort Wayne.

On July 2, 1939 she was married in Fort Wayne to Wilbur L. Cramer, and moved to the Churubusco-area in 1948.

She had been previously employed for 30 years at the former Kaplin Furniture in Fort Wayne, and retired as a cook at the Provena Sacred Heart Home. She was a member of St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco, and in her leisure time enjoyed cooking, watching old movies, and was a great fan of Ray Price’s country music.

Mr. Cramer preceded her in death on February 29, 1988.

The surviving relatives include two daughters Monica (Thomas) Lang of LaOtto, and Lisa Miller of Fort Wayne; two sons Michael (Marilyn) Cramer of Huntertown and Dennis Cramer of Churubusco; a sister Patti Haffner of Fort Wayne; six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son Patrick T. Cramer of January 15, 1970; a grandson Brian E. Lang on September 23, 1995; a granddaughter Christina R. Hicks on November 7, 1998; two sisters Mary Stanger and Victoria Wise; and by a brother Lloyd Lynch.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 3 p. m. Friday, November 2, at St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco, with Father Danney Pinto, the celebrant.

The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home on Thursday from 2 to 8 p. m., or one hour prior to the funeral mass. The Rosary will be recited at 8:15 p. m. Thursday at the mortuary.

Interment will be in Ege Catholic Cemetery, Noble County.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Churubusco Public Library, 116 N. Mulberry Street, Churubusco, IN 46723

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Christoper A. Minton, age 32, a lifelong resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana died early Friday morning October 26, 2007 at his residence following an extended illness. He was surrounded by his loving parents, and his most faithful friend, his collie Sallie.  Chris was a graduate of Northrop High School in Fort Wayne with the class of 1994. He enjoyed soccer, putt putt golf, and bowling, and was a member of St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church on Wallen Road.

Christopher was born December 5, 1974 in South Bend, Indiana the son of Ronald “Ike” and Sharon M. (Pranger) Minton. He had worked at Belmont Department Store, Red Lobster, Country Kitchen and Halls Hollywood Restaurants.

Survivors include his parents, Ronald “Ike” and Sharon M. Minton, aunts and uncles, several cousins and his good friend, his collie named Sallie. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Harold and Grace Pranger, Robert and Ruby Minton, aunts and uncles.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday at 10:30 A.M. October 31, 2007 at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church 1502 East Wallen Road in Fort Wayne, Indiana with Father John Kuzmich officiating. Family and friends may call Wednesday at the church from 9:30 A.M. until the time of Mass. The family will also receive friends on Tuesday from 2:00 until 7:00 P.M. in the Sheets and Childs Funeral Home Churubusco, Indiana where a vigil service will be held at 4:30 P.M.

Burial will take place in the Huntertown Cemetery east of Huntertown, Indiana. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Allen County Hospice and Cancer Services 2925 East State Blvd. Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805.

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Violet “Vi” S. Scribner, age 90, died Friday October 26, 2007 at the Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She had formerly lived in rural Churubusco, Indiana and at the Canterbury Health Care since January 2004. Vi was born May 20, 1917 in Egeland, North Dakota, a daughter of Berdon and Inga (Pederson) Grande. She was united in marriage on June 5, 1938 in Devil’s Lake North Dakota to Cecil W. Scribner. He died August 29, 2004.

As a young lady, she attended Manchester College, earned her B.S. degreethere, and later earled her master’s degree from Ball State University. Vi was a special reading teacher for Garrett Elementary School in Garrett for 20 years, where she retired in 1980. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Columbia City, Indiana.

Survivors include her daughter Shirley (John) Souder of Auburn; a brother Arthur (Marie) Grande of Oxnard, California; and five grandchildren.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers Wayne and Gordon Grande; and two sisters Pauline Coe and Ethel Erickson.

Memorial services will be held Saturday November 3, 2007 at 11:00 A.M. in the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home with Rev. Alfred LePage officiating. Burial will follow in the Eel River Cemetery.

The family will receive friends in the funeral home on Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until service time.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Manchester College Foundation. Envelopes will be available in the funeral home.

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John H. “Hank” Malcolm, 87, a former resident of Ari east of Churubusco, died at 9:10 p. m. on Tuesday, October 23, 2007, at the Byron Health Center in Fort Wayne following an extended illness.

Mr. Malcolm was born north of Huntertown on December 3, 1919, a son of Morley and Edna (Pulver) Malcolm. He spent his formative years in Allen County, and graduated from Huntertown High School in 1937. During World War II, he served in the U. S. Army Air Corps.

On August 1, 1942 he was married to Phyllis Sible, and moved to Ari in 1952 where he lived much of his adult life. Mrs. Malcolm preceded him in death on October 1, 1983. He moved to Floral City, Florida in 1983, and was married to Marietta Beckman on November 24, 1984. She also preceded him in death on April 1, 2004. Following her death, he returned to Fort Wayne in 2005.

He had been employed at General Electric in Fort Wayne for 42 years, retiring from there in 1983.

Always a proud American, he was former commander of the Jim Eby Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Post 857 in Fort Wayne. He was also a member of Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Post 4337 in Inverness, Florida, and the Avilla American Legion Post 240.

The surviving relatives include his eight children John L. (Cala Laible) Malcolm of Augusta, Ga., Jerry E. (Vi) Malcolm of Miami, Fla., Karen (John) Von Gunten of Fort Wayne, Jean (George) Alyesworth of Englewood, Fla, Alan (Sherry Slavin) Malcolm of Churubusco, Michael (Margaret) Malcolm of Columbia City, Marsha Jackson of Sarasota, Fla, and Brian Malcolm of Las Vegas, Nev; eight step-children and their families; a sister Jean (Donald) Pontius of Colfax, NC., six grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and two spouses, he was preceded in death by three brothers Donald J. Malcolm, Robert Malcolm, and Maurice Malcolm; and by a sister Marjorie Pool.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. Saturday at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Pastor Dennis Beckner, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Friday from 3 to 7 p. m.

Interment will be in the Eel River Cemetery, south of Churubusco, with military graveside rites by Jim Eby VFW Post 857.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars.

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Clayton L. Gibson, 70, a resident of rural Albion, died at 5:05 p. m. on Monday, October 22, 2007, at the family residence in Jefferson Township. He had been in failing health for the past two and one-half years.

Mr. Gibson was born in Sandy Hook, Kentucky on August 15, 1937, a son of the late Tivis and Grace (Watson) Gibson. He spent his formative years in Kentucky, and graduated from Fleming County High School in 1955.

On September 23, 1957 he was married in New Albany to Ruth Lee Terrell, and moved to Noble County in 1965.

His employment with International Harvester spanned a period of over 30 years. He first worked at the Fort Wayne plant for several years until it closed, and continued working at their Springfield, Ohio plant until retiring in 1997.

He was a member of the Cornerstone Wesleyan Church in Merriam, and greatly enjoyed the fellowship of the church. In his leisure time he enjoyed Indiana University basketball, country music, and attending blue grass festivals. He was an avid gardener, and was a very dedicated family man.

The surviving relatives include his wife Ruth, to whom he was married for 50 years; two sons Logan Gibson of Merriam and Wayne (Holly McDowell) Gibson of Churubusco; two daughters Sharon (Brian) Smith of Kendallville, and Karen (Bob) Koldyke of Albion; a brother Britton (Evie) Gibson of Elliott Co., Ky; eight grandchildren and a great-grandchild Grace Christine.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters Marie and Myrtle; by four brothers Rollie, John, Russ, and Bill; and by four young siblings Beulah, Manie, Hershell, and Junior.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. Thursday, October 25, 2007, at the Cornerstone Wesleyan Church in Merriam with Pastors George Cecil and William Claxton, officiating.

Friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 2 to 8 p. m., or one hour prior to the service Thursday.

Interment will be in the Wolf Lake Cemetery, Noble County.

Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco is in charge of the arrangements.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Cornerstone Wesleyan Church, 4304 S. Oak Street, Albion, IN 46701

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To leave a condolence for the family in Mr. Gibson’s name, please click on to “Condolences” below. . .