Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

John Vinogradov, 72, a resident of rural Churubusco, passed away at 5:30 a. m. on Saturday, January 30, 2010, at the family residence in Smith Township following an extended illness.

Mr. Vinogradov was born on April 21, 1937 in New York City, a son of John Peter and Madeline (Sway) Vinogradov.  As a young man he served in the U. S. Navy for 18 years, and had lived in the Churubusco-area since 1965.  He retired as an electronic engineer with Magnavox after 32 years.

A member of the Gilbert Davis American Legion Post 157 in Churubusco, he had formerly served as its finance officer.

On July 7, 1969 he was married in St. Croix to Eunice J. Collier.  She survives.

Also surviving is his son Edward P. Vinogradov of Churubusco; and a grandson Jesse John Vinogradov of Churubusco.

Friends may call at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p. m.

At the request of Mr. Vinogradov, there will be no services.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.

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Ryan E. Hamilton, 34, a former resident of Churubusco and more recently of Fort Wayne, was pronounced dead on arrival on Thursday morning, January 28, 2010, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne after being found unresponsive at his home.

Born in Bluffton on March 21, 1975, he was the son of Robert E. and Sandra J. (Lacoax) Hamilton.  He moved with his family to Churubusco from Uniondale in 1985, and graduated from Carroll High School in 1994.  For the past few years he had been employed by Anthony Wayne Services in Fort Wayne.

The surviving relatives include his father and step-mother Robert E. and Etta Hamilton of Churubusco; his brother Chad Hamilton of Fort Wayne; two step-sisters Paula (Scott) Hunsberger of Churubusco and Erica (George) Gebhart of Albion; two grandmothers Pat Lacoax of Fort Wayne and Jane Hamilton of Bluffton; six nieces and one nephew.

He was preceded in death by his mother Sandra J. (Lacoax) Hamilton on January 25, 1991.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a. m. on Monday, February 1, 2010, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Paul Arnold, pastor of Columbia City United Methodist Church, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Sunday from 2 to 6 p. m., or one hour prior to the service Monday.

Interment will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Muscular Dystrophy Association, Inc., 2869 E. Dupont Road, Fort Wayne, IN   46845.

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

Thomas L. Fletcher, 57, a resident of Churubusco, died at 8:45 p. m. on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.  He had been hospitalized since last Thursday after suffering an apparent brain aneurysm.

Mr. Fletcher was born on November 23, 1952 in Fort Wayne, a son of Jasper S. “Pete” and Mary T. (Gadomski) Fletcher.  A long time resident of Churubusco, he graduated from Churubusco High School in 1972, and as a young man served in Viet Nam with the U. S. Marine Corps.

He had been employed as a sheet metal worker at Schust Engineering in Fort Wayne for 25 years, and was a member of the Gilbert Davis American Legion Post 157 in Churubusco.  He especially enjoyed ‘Busco High School football, the Indianapolis Colts, and also gambling.

He was preceded in death by his father on November 17, 1991.

The surviving relatives include his mother Mary T. Fletcher of Churubusco; his daughters Tonya O’Brien of Fort Wayne, Tracey Bultemeier of Churubusco, Shane (Mitch) Miller of Huntertown, Stacy Simons of Churubusco, and Crystal (Daniel) Wilson of Fort Wayne; two brothers Gerald “Jerry” (Christin) Fletcher of Fort Wayne and Danny (Donna) Fletcher of Albion; four sisters Cindy Fletcher and Cathy (Ralph) Oberholtzer, both of Churubusco, Dee Dee Fletcher of Avilla, and Missy Fletcher of Florida; and ten grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Sunday, January 17, 2010, 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 Saturday from 2 to 8 p. m., or one hour prior to the service Sunday.

Interment will be in the Eel River Cemetery, south of Churubusco, with military graveside rites.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Churubusco Community Park, or to Turtle Days.

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Ruby McCoy, 83, a resident of rural Avilla and widow of Raymond J. “Gene” McCoy, passed away at 12:45 p. m. on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, at the residence of her daughter in Albion.  She had been in failing health for some time, but her death was unexpected.

Mrs. McCoy was born in Rockfork, Kentucky on August 2, 1926, a daughter of Noah and Frances (Conley) Gibson, and moved with her family to Fremont as a teenager. As a young woman she had worked at Warner Gear.

On September 3, 1949 she was married in Noble County to Raymond J. “Gene” McCoy, and spent most of her adult life on the family farm in Green Township.

She enjoyed doing crafts, woodworking, crocheting, making dolls, and sewing.  In addition, she loved to cook and bake, and was well known for her fried chicken and homemade dinner buns.  She loved gardening, and canning her fresh produce.  A lover of country and gospel music, she enjoyed life to its fullest.  Family was very important to her, and she loved visiting with her brothers and sisters.  In addition, her grandchildren were her delight, and she loved to have them around her.

Mr. McCoy preceded her in death on October 21, 1991.

The surviving relatives include her children Larry (Gail) McCoy of Wolcott, and Nancy Nevil and Tony McCoy, both of Albion; and four sisters Helen Zimmerman of Albion, Nella Mae Gibson of Auburn, Della Fay Ruff of Turtle Lake, Wisc., and Rosa Lee Wood of Auburn.  There are 20 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and 56 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter Shirley Lothamer; seven sisters and seven brothers; three grandsons; and a great-granddaughter.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. Saturday, January 16, 2010, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. George Cecil, pastor of Cornerstone Wesleyan Church, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Friday from 2-4 and from 6-8 p. m., or one hour prior to the service Saturday morning.

Interment will be in the family plot at Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam.

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Annabelle L. Shively, 81, a resident of Churubusco and wife of Joe Shively, passed away at 8:35 a. m. on Sunday, January 10, 2010, at Parkview Whitley Hospital in Columbia City. She had been in failing health for some time, and had entered the hospital on Friday.

Mrs. Shively was born on September 18, 1928 in Columbia City, a daughter of Ralph Donald and Faye Bonita (Clawson) Stickler, and spent her formative years there.

On January 4, 1947 she was united in marriage to Joe Shively. The couple spent most of their adult lives on the Shively Family farm in Smith Township, where she assisted her husband in the family farming operation. She was a member of the Blue River Church of the Brethren in Whitley County, where she was active as a superintendent and teacher.  In 2000 she was given the Unsung Hero Award for her selfless church work over the years, and in 2003 she received the Whitley County Heart of Gold Award.

The surviving relatives include her husband Joe, to whom she was married for 63 years; a daughter Robin (Rick) Plasterer of Churubusco; two sons Bradley R. (Deb Jackson) Shively and Byron R. Shively, both of Fort Wayne; her sister Jeanette Zumbrun of Columbia City; and her three beloved grandchildren Emily (K. J.) Mcaleesejergins of Nashville, Tenn., Philip Plasterer stationed in South Korea, and Sarah Shively of Fort Wayne.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. Thursday, January 14,  in the Blue River Church of the Brethren, 3040 E   700 N, with Pastor Craig Alan Myers, officiating.

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

Interment will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Blue River Church of the Brethren Deacon’s Fund.

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To leave an online condolence for the family in Mrs. Shively’s memory, please click on “Condolences” below. . .