Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Elster L. McWha, 92, a resident of Blue Lake near Churubusco and formerly of Huntington, died Wednesday afternoon, July 30, 2008, at Grandview Health & Rehab in Martinsville. He had been in declining health after suffering an apparent stroke in February.

Mr. McWha was born in Kirby, Arkansas on April 29, 1916, a son of Jacob and Sarah Jane (Whisenhunt) McWha, and spent his formative years in Arkansas. He moved to Huntington in 1952 and lived there until moving to his present home on Blue Lake in 1983.

A tool and die maker, he retired from H. K. Porter in Huntington in 1979. He was a member of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, near Churubusco, enjoyed fishing in his leisure time, and was a world-class woodworker. During his years in Huntington, he was active with Huntington County United Way.

His marriage took place on May 22, 1954 in Huntington to Dorothy Shaffer. Mrs. McWha preceded him in death on September 3, 1991.

The surviving relatives include his step-son Indiana State Police Superintendent Dr. Paul (Maralee) Whitesell of Martinsville; a brother William McWha of Hot Springs, Ark; a brother-in-law Basil (Linda) Shaffer of Churubusco; and two grandchildren Lt. Collin Whitesell, USMC, and Allison Whitesell.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Saturday, August 2, 2008, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Larry Smith, pastor of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Friday from 6 to 8 p. m.

Interment will be in Gardens of Memory, Huntington County.

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Mary H. Rollins, 66, a resident of Churubusco and wife of Clyde A. Rollins, died at 5:55 a. m. on Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at her home following an extended illness.

Mrs. Rollins was born in Kendallville on March 1, 1942, a daughter of James and Elizabeth “Betty” (Rodgers) Ohlwine, and spent her formative years in Albion.

On September 15, 1962 she was married in Churubusco to Clyde A. Rollins, and lived all of her married life in Churubusco.

She had previously been employed as a nurses aid at Byron Health Center in Fort Wayne, and retired from their laundry in 2004 after 26 years.

A member of the Gilbert Davis American Legion Post 157 Ladies Auxiliary in Churubusco, she was also a lifetime member and past president of the Churubusco Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Turtle Post 3846 Ladies Auxiliary, and the Columbia City Fraternal Order of Eagles Ladies Auxiliary.

Mary was always known as a very loving, giving and caring person. An avid Bingo player, she loved all kinds of animals, and most especially loved and enjoyed her family and friends.

The surviving relatives include her husband Clyde A. Rollins; her children Rick (Cyndi) Rollins of Churubusco, Vicki (Dave) Hochsteller of Topeka, Sandy (Max) Herendeen and Tammy (Rob) Crooks, both of Columbia City, and Penny (Rick Lemish) Rollins of Churubusco; her father and step-mother James and Betty Ohlwine of Kendallville; two brothers Ed (Ruth) Guthrie of Avilla and Greg (Judy) Guthrie of Kendallville; two sisters Penny (Dave) Dickie and Phyllis (Larry) McGagen, both of Kendallville; 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by a step-mother, two sisters, and a grandson.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. Friday, August 1, 2008, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Pastor Stephen C. Johnson of the Oak Grove Church of God, officiating.

The family will receive friends on Thursday from 2 to 8 p. m. at the mortuary, 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 Humane Society of Whitley County, P. O. Box 245, Columbia City, IN  46725; or to Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home, 5910 Homestead Road, Fort Wayne, IN  46804.

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Gerald L. Bucher, 86, a former resident of rural Churubusco in Allen County and a native of Silver Lake, died at 10:01 p. m. on Saturday, July 26, 2008, at Heritage Park in Fort Wayne. Although he had been in declining health for some time, he had only been seriously ill for the past two weeks.

Mr. Bucher was born on November 21, 1921 at Silver Lake, a son of Harmon O. and Ethel F. (Landis) Bucher, and graduated from Burket High School. As a young man he served in the U. S. Army during World War II, and was married to Georgianna Tibbitts. The couple spent the early years of their marriage in the Akron-area, where he was engaged in farming, and was a truck driver for the Sunoco Oil Company.

In 1963 the couple moved to Allen County, and lived in rural Churubusco until moving into Fort Wayne in 2004. He had been employed as a truck driver for the Gladieux Oil Refinery in Fort Wayne, and retired from Essex in Fort Wayne after 18 years.

He was a member of the Ari Church of God, east of Churubusco, the Silver Creek Church of God near Silver Lake and was also a member of the Teamster’s Union.  From 1996 to 2000 he served as senior vice commander of Huntertown Veteran’s of Foreign Wars and was  commander of the post from 2000 to 2002.   In his leisure time he enjoyed fishing, gardening, church activities, and most especially loved and enjoyed his family.

His first wife preceded him in death in 1968. On November 8, 1969 he was married to Mary M. (Wilson) Silverest. She survives in Fort Wayne.

Also surviving are his three sons Roger (Lynn) Bucher of Fort Wayne, Gary (Sue) Bucher of Auburn, and Dennis (Kim) Bucher of Churubusco; seven step-children Marsha (Jerry) Austermann of Lake Orion, Mich., Carolyn Jo Silverest of Fort Wayne, Charles (Stella) Silverest of Forsyth, Mo., Richard C. (Shelby) Silverest of Coats, NC, Thomas C. (Joyce) Silverest of Fort Wayne, Jack L. (Deborah) Silverest of Troy, Ill., and Curtis R. Silverest of Auburn; a sister Donna Belle (Richard) French of Akron; 37 grandchildren and 53 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by three brothers Edward Bucher, Robert Bucher, and Earl Bucher; a sister Mildred Clinker; and three step-daughters Ina May Silverest, Geraldine M. Lyons, and Gloria Galante.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Thursday, July 31, at the Silver Creek Church of God near Silver Lake with Pastors Carroll McNutt and Thomas Craig, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Wednesday from 2-4 and from 6-8 p. m., or at the church one hour prior to the service.

Interment with military graveside rites will be in the church cemetery.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Ari Church of God or Huntertown Veteran’s of Foreign Wars.

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Frederic A. Earnhart, age 74, a lifelong resident of Green Center Twp. Noble County, Indiana died early Monday July 21, 2008 in the Provina Sacred Heart Home in Avilla, Indiana. Mr. Earnhart had been in failing health for about 3 months and entered the nursing home one month ago.

Frederic was born March 16, 1934 in Kosciusko County, Indiana a son of the late Arby Nelson and Mary (Doke) Earnhart. The family moved from Kosciusko County to Green Center in 1936 where Frederic had lived since. As a young man he graduated from Churubusco High School with the class of 1952 and entered the US Army in 1956 and served in the Korean War. There he was a sharpshooter and was awarded the good conduct medal. He retired from the Weese Heavy Equipment Co. in Fort Wayne, Indiana as a mechanic.

His survivors include his brother James (Mary Jane) Earnhart of Albion, In. and his sisters, Martha Smith of Albion, In. and Annamae Earnhart of Churubusco, In. He was preceded in death by his parents and 2 brothers, Gene and Dean Earnhart who both died in 2006.

Funeral services will be held Thursday July 24, 2008 at 10:00 A.M. in the Sheets and Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco, Indiana with Pastor Nancy Furgusson officiating. Burial will follow in the Sparta Cemetery at Kimmell, Indiana. The family will receive friends in the funeral home on Wednesday from 3:00 until 8:00P.M. For those who wish memorials may be directed to the donors choice.

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You are invited to leave a condolence for the family, and may do so by clicking on “Condolence” below.

Oathel S. Yant, 82, a resident of Fort Wayne, died at 10:26 p. m. on Monday, July 14, 2008, at his residence following an extended illness.

Mr. Yant was born on December 3, 1925 in Peru, a son of Charles S. and Lida Mae (Clark) Yant, and was a lifelong resident of Fort Wayne. As a young man he served in the U. S. Navy during World War II, and was married in Fort Wayne on May 20, 1944 to Helen J. Arnold.

In his early years he had been employed as a coal hauler, and was a retired truck driver for Container Corporation of America in Fort Wayne. Following his retirement he worked as a messenger for H&R Block in Fort Wayne, and also as a security guard at Indiana Tech.

He was a member of Peace United Church of Christ, and American Legion Post 82 in Fort Wayne.

The surviving relatives include the widow Helen; three daughters Patricia Rich, Frances Williams, and Gloria (Jessie) Moseley, all of Fort Wayne; a brother George (Lucille) Yant of Fort Myers, Fla; a sister Gertrude Johnson of Doniphan, Mo; six grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter Sara L. Mozingo; and by a son-in-law Robert Rich.

Funeral services with military rites will be held at 1:00 p. m. on Friday, July 18, 2008, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Chaplain Karen Kosberg, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Friday after 11 a. m. until the time of the service.

The family requests memorials be directed to Parkview Home Health & Hospice, 2270 Lake Ave., suite 200, Fort Wayne, IN 46805.

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