Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Ralph Whaley, 80, a resident of rural Albion, passed away at 9:42 a. m. on Saturday, February 26, 2011, at Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home in Fort Wayne.

Mr. Whaley was born on March 22, 1930 in Toledo, Ohio, and spent his formative years there.   As a young man he served with the U. S. Army, and later reenlisted in the U. S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict.

On July 28, 1951 he was married in Angola to Betty J. Kime.  He spent most of his adult years in Noble Township near Merriam.   For many years he worked as a heavy equipment mechanic.  He later went into management and later became an independent businessman.  He had co-owned and operated Preferred Companies since 1992, where he worked as a consultant.

An active member of the Merriam Christian Chapel, he had served his church  in a variety of capacities, including being a deacon and Sunday School teacher.  In his leisure time he enjoyed motorcycle trips with his wife and assisted her in founding the Fort Wayne Cat Fanciers Association.  He greatly enjoyed going to steam engine shows and was an avid reader.

Mrs. Whaley preceded him in death on February 25, 2009.

The surviving relatives include his daughters Linda (Roger) Wirt of Duchesne, Utah and Rita Whaley of Quito, Ecuador; a brother Burton (Gerrie) Paulson of Toledo; and a sister Barbara (Robert) Sanders of Fremont.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a sister Phyliss Kenyon.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a. m. on Saturday, March 5, 2011, at the Merriam Christian Chapel with Pastor Terry L. Zolman, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service Saturday morning and immediately following the memorial service in the church multi-purpose room.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the Merriam Christian Chapel Missions Fund, 3895 South U. S. 33, Albion, IN  46701.

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

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

Lucy L. “Sis” Ickes, 93, a resident of Churubusco and widow of Churubusco businessman Eugene V. Ickes, passed away at 12:55 a. m. on Saturday, February 26, 2011 at her home.  Although she had been in declining health, her death was unexpected.

Mrs. Ickes was born on August 26, 1917 in LaOtto, a daughter of Peter Charles and Bessie Ann (Rosenogle) Bryie.  She  graduated from LaOtto High School, and was honored as the Onion Queen as a young lady.

On July 4, 1939 she was married in Frankfort, Kentucky to Eugene V. Ickes.  Early in their marriage the couple lived in Blackford County.  They later built a home near Ari, and lived there until moving to their present home south of Churubusco in 1963.

An employee of Dana Weatherhead in Fort Wayne for many years, she retired from there in 1982.

She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Ege, its Rosary Society, and served as a Eucharistic Minister.  She was also a member of the Smith Township Home Demonstration Club, and volunteered at St. Andrew’s Soup Kitchen in New Haven.  In her leisure time she enjoyed cooking and gardening.

Mr. Ickes, former owner and operator of Churubusco Watch for many years, preceded her in death on November 21, 1989.

The surviving relatives include her son and daughter-in-law Terry and Beth Ickes of Fort Wayne; a brother Otho “Pat” (Norma) Bryie of Lakeland, Florida; two grandsons Scott Ickes and David (Melissa) Ickes, both of Fort Wayne; and two great-grandchildren Cassidy Ickes and Mikayla Ickes.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a. m. on Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Ege with Father Danney Pinto, the celebrant.

The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p. m.  The Rosary will be recited at 8 p. m. Tuesday at the mortuary.

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

For those who wish, memorials may be directed for masses or to Heartland Home Health Care & Hospice, 1315 Directors Row, #210, Fort Wayne, IN  46808

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

Edwina L. Feighner, 80, a former resident of Thorncreek Township and more recently of Fort Wayne, passed away at 11:50 a. m. on Friday, February 25, 2011, at Renaissance Village.  She had been a patient there for the past two years.

Mrs. Feighner was born near New Haven on September 8, 1930, a daughter of Howard E. and Emma Lucille (Ladig) Dawkins.  She spent her formative years near New Haven and later in Spencerville and Fort Wayne.

On December 14, 1946 she was married in Fort Wayne to Harold R. Feighner.  The couple moved to Churubusco from Fort Wayne in 1951 and came to Thorncreek Township in Whitley County in 1959 where they lived for over 40 years until moving to their present home in 2000.

Mrs. Feighner was a homemaker and a member of the Good News Baptist Church in Churubusco.

The surviving relatives include her husband Harold, to whom she was married for over 64 years; two sons Allan R. Feighner of Eagle Point, Oregon and Ronald L. Feighner of Los Angeles; two daughters Shirley (Dennis) Teders of Colorado Springs and Susan Stallard of Fort Wayne; a special sister-in-law Tricia Roberson of Fort Wayne; three sisters Sharon Moenning, Marcia (Dennis) Flennery, and Diane Eller, all of Fort Wayne; two brothers Marvin Dawkins of Fort Wayne and Maurice (Sharon) Dawkins of Ft. Myers, Florida; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother Howard Dawkins.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Tuesday, March 1, 2011, 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 from 4 to 8 p.  m. on Monday, or one hour prior to the service Tuesday morning.

Interment will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association, 6324 Constitution Drive, Fort Wayne, IN  46804; or Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home, 5910 Homestead Road, Fort Wayne, IN  46804

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

Alicia M. Newby, 35, a resident of Churubusco, passed away on Thursday afternoon, February 24, 2011, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne from injuries suffered in an auto accident near Churubusco last week.

Ms. Newby was born on January 3, 1976 in Fort Wayne, and graduated from Peru High School in 1994.

The surviving relatives include her children Dacoda Hughes of Staten Island, NY, Diedre Newby of Churubusco, and Virgil Newby of Peru; her husband Virgil R. Newby of Peru; her father Rodney A. (Kim Romines) Hughes of Churubusco; her mother Christina (Richard) Ruggiero of Staten Island, NY; and her maternal grandparents Corrinne and Curtis Frost of Sun City, Ariz.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a. m. on Monday, February 28, 2011, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Pastor Rick Van Horn, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home after 10 a. m. on Monday until the time of the service.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to her children in care of Whitley County Community Foundation, 400 N. Whitley St., Columbia City, IN  46725

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

Pauline Bair, 89, a resident of rural Churubusco and widow of Ralph L. Bair, passed away at 6:50 p. m. on Sunday, February 20, 2011, at her home following an extended illness.

Mrs. Bair was born near Merriam on April 17, 1921, a daughter of Tonda and Millie (Winebrenner) Keister.  She spent her formative years in that area, and graduated from Wolf Lake High School in 1939.

On March 29, 1941 she was married in Noble County to Ralph L. Bair.  The couple lived most of their married lives in Green Township in Noble County until moving to their present home west of Churubusco in 1993.

As a young woman she had worked at Blue Bell in Columbia City.  A member of the Merriam Christian Chapel, she had served as the church’s janitor for several years, was president of the Sarah Circle, was a member of its Missions Board, sang in the church choir, and was active in the church’s children’s ministries.

She was also a member of the Highlighters Home Demonstration Club.  She enjoyed her flower gardens and crafts, and most importantly loved her family and serving her Lord.

Mr. Bair preceded her in death on January 17, 2003.

The surviving relatives include her children Connie Bair, Keith (Deidre) Bair, and Curt (Diane) Bair, all of Churubusco, and Paula (Bill) Shultz of Albion; a brother Paul E. Keister of Albion; a sister Ilene Zumbrun of Columbia City; a brother-in-law Alton Parker of Albion; three sisters-in-law Nora Jane Bair and Mary Lois Edwards, both of Albion, and Anita Bair of Churubusco; eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a sister Virginia Parker; a sister-in-law Barbara Keister; and a brother-in-law Harold Zumbrun.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Thursday, February 24, 2011, at the Merriam Christian Chapel with Pastor Terry L. Zolman, officiating.

The family will receive friends in the church multi-purpose room on Wednesday from 2 to 8 p. m., or in the church sanctuary one hour prior to the service Thursday morning.

Interment will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the church mission’s fund.

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

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