Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Kenneth Leitch, Jr., 83, a resident of Churubusco, died at 9:07 p. m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2009, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.  He had been in declining health for some time.

Mr. Leitch was born on August 5, 1925 in Whitley County, a son of Kenneth P. and Thelma Evangela (Herron) Leitch, and as a young man served during World War II with the U. S. Marine Corps.

A lifelong resident of the Churubusco-area, he retired in 1983 as a machinist with International Harvester in Fort Wayne after 27 years.

He was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Churubusco and the Gilbert Davis American Legion Post 157 in Churubusco.  In his leisure time he enjoyed spending summers in Sarona, Wisconsin, playing golf, target shooting, and gardening.

His marriage took place in Churubusco on June 5, 1963 to Ruth E. Miller.  She survives.

Also surviving are his children Ellen (Gary) Smith of Albion, Valeria (Jerry) Cheek of Auburn, Jeannette (Gary) Petelle of Churubusco, Vickie Leitch of Moore, Oklahoma, Scott (Debbie) Leitch of Churubusco, and Christopher Hardacre of Columbia City; his sisters Arrena Diffendarfer and Janette Johnson, both of Churubusco; two sisters-in-law Mary Jane Leitch of Fort Wayne and Irene Leitch of Arizona; 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers Ross Leitch and Don Leitch.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Monday, February 2, at the Faith Lutheran Church in Churubusco with Pastor Lane Burgland, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Sunday from 2 to 5 p. m., or at the church one hour prior to the service.

Private family interment with military graveside rites will be in Concordia Cemetery, Fort Wayne.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Faith Lutheran Church in Churubusco.

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

Donna M. Cartwright, age 83, a resident since 2007 of the Hickory Creek Nursing Center in Kendallville, Indiana died there Saturday January 24, 2009 following an extended illness. She was a former longtime resident and business professional in LaOtto, Indiana. Donna was born April 13, 1925 in Huntertown, Indiana a daughter of the late Thomas E. and Elnora Mae (Vermillian) Buchanan. She was a graduate of the Huntertown High School with the class of 1943. She was united in marriage on April 20, 1943 in Fort Wayne, Indiana to Robert D. Cartwright who passed away on February 25, 2000. Donna was a bookkeeper for 27 faithful years for the Cartwright Service Station in LaOtto, and served as a precinct committee woman for the Noble County Republican Party, and loved to bowl, travel and cook. She was a member of Sugar Grove Church of God.

Her survivors include, 3 children, Terry (Marsha) Cartwright of LaOtto, Indiana, Jacque (Jesse) Hand of Garrett, Indiana, Richard L. (Barbara) Cartwright of Albion, Indiana also 8 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her brothers and sisters, Charles Forrest “Todd” Buchanan, Katherine L. “Jabe” Lomont, Gerald Dwight “Histy” Buchanan, Mary Rose “Dit” Connell, James L. “Dud” Buchanan, Betty Jean Buchanan; Violet Fern “Boots” Loew, Norma Jean Byerley West, and a grandson Daniel Smith Cartwright.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10:00 A.M. January 28, 2009 in the Sheets and Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco, Indiana with Pastor’s Tim Grable and Chris Mosley officiating. Burial will follow in the Swan Cemetery North of LaOtto in rural Noble County, Indiana. The family will receive friends in the funeral home on Tuesday from 3:00 until 7:00 P.M. and 1 hour prior to the service time on Wednesday. For those who wish memorials may directed to; The Sugar Grove Church of God Building Fund, LaOtto Volunteer Fire Department, or Hichory Creek Nursing Center Activities Fund.

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

Lois Esteline Lothamer, age 85, died Sunday evening January 18, 2009 in the Provina Sacred Heart Home in Avilla following an extended illness.  She had been a patient there for about six years.

Lois was born December 22, 1923 in rural Zanesville, a daughter of the late Valentine and Frieda (Jacobs) Hanauer. Her formative years were spent in Wells County, and as a young girl she attended and graduated from the former East Union High School in Zanesville with the class of 1941.

She had worked for the  General Electric Company from 1941 to 1949, and retired in 1980 from Standard Packing  both in Fort Wayne.   She was united in marriage on June 5, 1948 in North Liberty to her husband of 60 years, Richard L. Lothamer. They moved to Clear Lake near Fremont in 1972 and had lived at their present home in Steuben County since 1994.

The survivors include her husband Richard of Angola; their daughters Linda (Larry) Weatherholt of Churubusco,  and Marge Dahm of Indianapolis; and four granddaughters. Also surviving are two brothers John (Jan) Hanauer of Arizona, and Joe (Barbara) Hanauer of Markle; and her sister Janice Sollberger of Fort Wayne.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and by a brother Richard Hanauer.

Respecting Mrs. Lothamer’s wishes, there will be no calling hours or service.

Sheets and Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco is entrusted with the arrangements.

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

Thomas A. McGuire, age 68, a resident of Albion, Indiana for the past 30 years died Tuesday evening January 6, 2009 in the Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Thomas was born in Churubusco, Indiana on June 20, 1940 a son of the late Clarence E. and Elizabeth E. (Abbott) McGuire. He spent his formative years in Churubusco until moving to Albion. As a young man he served in the U.S. Navy and worked many faithful years as a welder. He was united in marriage on July 6, 1969 to Betty A. Dowe who passed away in 2005. He was a member of the American Legion Post in Albion, Indiana

Survivors include 2 sisters and 2 brothers, L-Dora Johnson of Hillsboro, Ohio, Phyllis (Jack) Herendeen of Albion, Indiana, Richard A. “Pat” (Judy) McGuire of Churubusco, Indiana, and John M. (Susie) McGuire of Hillsboro, Ohio. In addition to his wife, he is preceded in death by his parents, a sister and a brother.

Funeral Services for Thomas will be held on Friday January 9, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. in the Sheets and Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco, Indiana with Pastor Corinne K. Boruff officiating. Burial will take place in the Riverview Cemetery South of Churubusco in rural Allen County, Indiana.

For those who wish memorials may be directed to the Parkview Home Health and Hospice. Envelopes will be available in the funeral home.

Noel E. Jackson, age 76, died Friday January 2, 2009 at his residence in Churubusco, In. He had been ill for an extended period of time. Noel was born in Fort Wayne, In. on December 25, 1932 a son of the late Hugh and Ruth (Krewson) Jackson. He spent his formative years in Fort Wayne, and was united in marriage on January 2, 1951 in Waynedale, In. to Mary E. Peck. He has lived in Churubusco since 2002. He worked as a custodian at Indiana/Purdue University in Fort Wayne with 25 years of faithful service retiring in 1995.

Survivors include his wife Mary E. Jackson of Churubusuco, In, children, Elizabeth “Liz” Rollins of Churubusco, In., Anna (John) Rizzo of Fort Wayne, In. , Donald E. (Erlinda) Jackson of Cincinnati, Oh. Norman Jackson of Huntington, In. Larry (Tawanya) Jackson, Jerry (Paula) Jackson both of Columbia City, In., and Rosemary D. (friend Donald Snyder) Jackson of Mt. Clemens, Mi. He is also survived by 4 brothers and 2 sisters; Hugh Jackson of Duquesne, Pa., Virginia Crick of Fort Wayne, In., Donald Jackson of Oakmont, Ca., James (Ruth) Jackson, Al (Linda) Jackson and Laura Mae (Richard) Schrey all of Fort Wayne, In. and mother-in-law Martha J. Kessler of Auburn, In. and brother-in-law Charles Peck of Bryan, Oh. several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 sons Raymond L. Jackson and Kevin DeWayne Jackson, brothers Bob Jackson, George Jackson and sister Rebecca Tassler.

Respecting Mr. Jackson’s wishes, there will be no calling hours or services. Sheets and Childs Funeral Home of Churubusco, In. were entrusted with the arrangements.

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You are invited to leave a condolence for the family by clicking on “condolence” below.