Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Michael R. Downs, 65, a resident of rural Churubusco and formerly of the Huntertown-area, passed away at 12:43 a. m. on Sunday, April 3, 2011, at Parkview Whitley Hospital in Columbia City shortly after admission.   He had been in failing health for some time.

Mr. Downs was born on November 3, 1945 in Fort Wayne, a son of Archie O. and Clara M. (Wells) Downs, and spent his formative years in the Huntertown-area.  He graduated from Huntertown High School in 1964, and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ball State University.  He was married in Fort Wayne on August 19, 1967 to Patricia W. Fitch, and had lived in rural Allen County until moving to his present home near Churubusco in 2001.

As a young man he was a teacher and coach at St. Peter’s School in Fort Wayne, and for 25 years worked as a sales representative for Hercules Machinery Corporation in New Haven.

He was a member of the Huntertown Lions Club, and was active with the Huntertown Little League program for many years.  In his leisure time he enjoyed fishing, dirt bikes, traveling, and most especially loved and cherished his family.

The surviving relatives include his wife Patricia; two sons Nicholas (Peggy) Downs of Fort Wayne and Dustin Downs of Churubusco; his sister Melody Plummer of Fort Wayne; a niece Melani (Gary) Middaugh of Waterloo; a nephew Matthew (Aimee Nix) Plummer of Churubusco; and three grandchildren Heather Downs, Caitlyn Downs, and Eric Downs.  His parents preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a. m. on Thursday, April 7, 2011, at St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church, 1502 E. Wallen Road, with Msgr. John Kuzmich 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 Huntertown Cemetery.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana, 6316 Mutual Drive, Fort Wayne, IN  46825

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Eleanor E. Galligher, 83, a former resident near Wolf Lake and widow of Kenneth H. “Bud” Galligher, passed away at 1:10 a m. on Saturday, April 2, 2011, at the Provena Sacred Heart Home in Avilla.  She had been a patient there for nearly two years.

Mrs. Galligher was born in Fort Wayne on July 29, 1927, a daughter of Ellsworth and Grace O. (Brinkman) Galbreath, and graduated from Southside High School.

On March 4, 1946 she was untied in marriage in Allen County to Kenneth H. “Bud” Galligher.  The couple lived east of Fort Wayne near Maples before moving to Noble County in 1976.

Employed at Magnavox in Fort Wayne for 20 years, she retired from there in 1986.  She was a member of St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco.

Mr. Galligher preceded her in death on September 17, 2004.

Among the surviving relatives are her children Judy (Stan) Reed of Huntertown, Linda (Bill) Mason of Monroeville, Barbara (Bob) Molessa of Tucson, Ariz., Karen (Jim) Nuttle of Fort Wayne, Patricia (Denny) Oswald of Huntertown, and Kenneth Galligher, Michael (Chris) Galligher, and Steven (Doreen) Galligher, all of Wolf Lake; 23 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers Robert Galbreath and William Galbreath; and by three sisters Violet Pierce, Lillian Remmert, and Ruth Younghans.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 noon on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, at St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco with Father Danney Pinto, the celebrant.

The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Tuesday after 10 a. m. until 11:45 a. m.

Interment will be in Highland Park Cemetery, Fort Wayne.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to St. John Bosco Catholic Church, 220 N. Main Street, Churubusco, IN  46723

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