Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Dorothy F. Sollars, a resident of Gaston and widow of Joseph P. Sollars, died at 10:04 p. m. Saturday, February 16, 2008 in the emergency room at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie. She had been in declining health for some time, and was taken to the hospital from Muncie Health & Rehabilitation Center, where she had been a patient since July.

Mrs. Sollars was born in Gaston on June 5, 1918, a daughter of widely acquainted Gaston businessman Alva Manfred Rench and Agnes Sarah (Markin) Rench. She moved to Liberty Center as a child with her parents, and spent most of her formative years there. She graduated from Liberty Center High School in 1936, and following her graduation returned to Gaston with her family.

As a young woman she worked in the offices of the former Kennedy Insurance Agency in Muncie, and was married in Gaston on February 23, 1941 to Joseph P. Sollars. The couple spent all of their adult lives in the Gaston community.

A homemaker most of her life, she was a member of the Gaston United Methodist Church. In her leisure time she enjoyed lawn work and gardening, fishing in Minnesota, Bible study, and caring for her church’s alter arrangements.

Mr. Sollars preceded her in death in 1981.

The surviving relatives include her son and daughter-in-law Fred A. and Lisa Sollars of Madison, Conn; her sister and brother-in-law Barbara and Charles E. Childs of Gaston; three grandchildren Christopher Sollars, Jennifer Sollars, and Emily Sollars; a niece, and seven nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by an infant brother Eugene Rench, and by brothers Rex W. Rench and Robert S. Rench.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. Wednesday at the Gaston United Methodist Church with Rev. John Long, officiating.

Interment will follow in the Thompson Cemetery, west of Gaston.

The family will receive friends at the church on Wednesday after 12 noon until the time of the service.

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

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Gaston United Methodist Church.

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Dale “Max” Jackson, age 77, a resident of High Lake nearAlbion died Monday evening February 11, 2008 in the Parkview Whitley Hospital in Columbia City following a brief illness.

He was born July 11, 1930 in Fort Wayne, a son of the late Elga Siefert and Gladys (Rottger) Jackson. As a young man living in Fort Wayne he attended and graduated from North Side High School. Later he owned the Commercial Coatings, Inc. for 20 years where he retired in 1990. He also lived a carneys life for 27 years, with a deep Christian spirit. He love to fish and hunt. At the age of 68 he captured an 8 point buck.

The survivors include his children, Rhonda (John) Bridegan of Churubusco, Kim (Clyde) Lawson of Stoneyfork, Ky., Daniel (Victoria) Jackson of Columbia City, Leslie (Larry) Eckert of Auburn, Debbie (Louis) Arumbula of Fort Wayne, Rebecca (Larry) Stewart of Auburn, one sister Rosemary (Bob) Smith of Fort Wayne; two brothers Paul (Gloria) Jackson of Fort Wayne, Jack (Pat) Jackson of South Carolina; and his companion Mary Cramar of Churuusco.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his son Bruce Jackson; and two daughters Margaret Jackson and Linda Jackson.

Honoring Max’s wishes, there will be no visitation or services. Sheets and Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco has been entrusted with the arrangements

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Frederick E. Born, 76, a resident of Churubusco, died at 1:03 a. m. Tuesday, February 12, 2008, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. He had been in declining health for the past three years, and had entered the hospital on Monday.

Mr. Born was born in Columbia City on May 23, 1931, a son of Joseph E. and Louella (Richey) Born, and spent his formative years there. On November 12, 1949 he was married in Churubusco to Phyllis L. Rollins, and spent all of his adult life in the Churubusco community.

For 18 years he was employed at Great Lakes Distributing (later Simpson Builder’s Supply) in New Haven until the firm closed. He retired in 1993 as a fork lift driver for Holmes & Company, Inc. in Columbia City after 23 years.

Mrs. Born preceded him in death on February 17, 1996.

The surviving relatives include two daughters Carol (Roger) Boggs of Churubusco and Brenda (Charles, Sr.) Johnson of Ossian; two sons Richard (Linda) Born, Sr. of Columbia City and Dennis (Sharon) Born of Churubusco; a brother Louis Born of Columbia City; a half-brother Duane (Barbara) Richey of Fort Wayne; his sister Sharon Alexander; 13 grandchildren, three step-grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a brother Ernest Born.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. Friday at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Timothy Grable, pastor of Sugar Grove Church of God, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Thursday from 4 to 8 p. m.

Interment will be in the Eel River Cemetery, south of Churubusco.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.

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Leona M. Gross, 91, a resident of Churubusco and widow of prominent Smith Township farmer Herbert L. Gross, died at 2:00 a. m. Monday, February 11, 2008, at Regency Place in Fort Wayne following a lengthy illness.

Mrs. Gross was born on July 18, 1916 in Green Township in Noble County at the old Green Center Store, which her parents–John Lawrence and Ella E. (Claxton) Diffendarfer– owned and operated. She spent her formative years in Noble County and graduated from Albion High School in 1934.

On September 23, 1937 she was married in Columbia City to Herbert L. Gross, and spent all of her adult life on the family farm in Smith Township until moving into Churubusco late in life to be near her daughter. As a young woman she was employed at Blue Bell in Columbia City for seven years, and retired in 1981 from Dana Corporation in Churubusco after 17 years.

She had been a member of the former Blue River Church of God for many years, and was currently a member of the Good News Baptist Church in Churubusco. She was also a former member of the Churubusco Literary Club, and Whitley County Homemakers. In her leisure time she enjoyed serving in her church, gardening, and most especially enjoyed her family.

Mr. Gross preceded her in death on April 25, 1998.

The surviving relatives include her daughter and son-in-law Jeanne and Richard Baughman of Churubusco; her sister Bonnie Heintzelman of Fort Wayne; a sister-in-law Irene Diffendarfer of Fort Wayne; and her two granddaughters Melissa Baughman of Churubusco and Lori (Kevin) Haydl of Fort Wayne.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a brother Ronald Diffendarfer in 1984; and by a granddaughter Stacey Baughman in 1972.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. Thursday, February 14, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Edward A. Thompson, pastor of Good News Baptist Church, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Wednesday from 2 to 8 p. m., or one hour prior to the service.

Interment will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Good News Baptist Church, Alzheimer’s Association, or the Churubusco Public Library.

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Deloris A. Melvin, 95, a resident of Gaston and widow of Gerald O. Melvin, died at 4:11 p. m. Thursday, February 7, 2008, at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie. She had been a patient there since Sunday.

Mrs. Melvin was born on June 11, 1912 in Muncie, a daughter of James L. and Elta May (Garner) Clendenin. She spent her formative years in Muncie and graduated from Central High School in 1931. As a young woman she attended nursing school in Brooklyn, New York. She later earned her LPN at Ball Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, and worked in obstetrics for a period.

On September 18, 1932 she was married to Gerald O. Melvin, and had lived at her present home in Gaston since 1941. She had also been employed in the offices of the former Ashland Oil Company in Muncie for several years.

She was a member of the Gaston United Methodist Church, the church’s United Methodist Women’s Hope Circle, and Purity Order of the Eastern Star 126 in Hartford City.

Mr. Melvin preceded her in death on February 11, 1994.

Surviving are her daughter Judy (Larry) Thornburg of Muncie; nine grandchildren Andrea (Michael) O’Quin of Mt. Gilead, Oh., Lisa (Claude) Stump of Arrowsmith, Il., Mike DeHaven of Lynn, Linda (Rigo) Schmelzer of Bloomington, Il., Diane (Alan) Slick of Lynn, Sherry Beshears of Winchester, Mark (Liz) DeHaven of Lynn, Leora (Bryon) Foley of Fishers, and Amelia Thornburg of Smyrna, Ga; 18 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter Linda DeHaven in 1979. Also deceased is her brother George Clendenin; and two sisters Diane Simmons and Elizabeth Northcutt.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p. m. Monday, February 11, at the Gaston United Methodist Church, with the Rev. John Long, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the church on Sunday from 2 to 6 p. m., or one hour prior to the service. Purity Order of the Eastern Star 126 will conduct memorial services at 6 p. m. Sunday at the church.

Interment will be in the family plot at the Jones Cemetery, north of Yorktown.

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

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Gaston United Methodist Church or to the American Cancer Society.

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