Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Donna Gordon Dowell, 89, a resident of Churubusco, passed away at 6:35 a. m. on Monday, July 18, 2011, at Parkview Whitley Hospital in Columbia City.  She had been a patient at The Oaks in Columbia City, and was taken to the hospital one week ago.

Donna was born on September 8, 1921 in Allen County, a daughter of William H. and Myra J. (Worrick) Smith.  She spent her youth in rural Whitley County and graduated from Jefferson Center High School in 1939.

On June 7, 1941 she was married to Junior F. Gordon.  She spent the majority of her adult life in Churubusco and had previously been employed at Blue Bell in Columbia City and also at the former Barnhart Drug Store in Churubusco.  She had worked at Magnavox in Fort Wayne for over nine years, retiring from there in 1981.

She was a member of the Churubusco Church of the Nazarene, and in her leisure time enjoyed her flower garden, crocheting afghans for her family and enjoyed country music.  Above all else, she loved her family.

Mr. Gordon preceded her in death on July 18, 1969.  On April 5, 1970 she was married to Ray W. Dowell.  He died on March 26, 1988.

The surviving relatives include her children Stephen W. (Marilyn) Gordon of South Bend and Brenda (Karl) Palmer of Columbia City; two grandchildren Amy (Joe) Leeuw of Churubusco and Jeremy (Jamie) Palmer of Columbia City; and five great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and two husbands, she was preceded in death by a brother Clyde Smith; and by a sister Betty Schinbeckler.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Friday, July 22, 2011, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Paul D. White, pastor of Churubusco Church of the Nazarene, officiating.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p. m. on Thursday at the mortuary.

Interment will be in the Eel River Cemetery, south of Churubusco.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Churubusco Church of the Nazarene, 1000 W. Whitley St., Churubusco, IN  46723; or to Parkview Home Health & Hospice, 333 N. Oak St., Columbia City, IN  46725

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

William W. Steffey, 85, a resident of rural Avilla and long-time Noble County farmer, passed away at 7:50 a. m. on Friday, July 15, 2011, at Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home in Fort Wayne.

Mr. Steffey was born on April 17, 1926 in Mankato, Minnesota, a son of Vern J. and Maude (Neuhouser) Steffey, and moved to Noble County as a child with his parents in 1929.

He married Mary Leslie in 1957, and spent all of his adult life in Noble County, where he was engaged in farming and also worked as a machinist.

A fan of railroad history, he was a member of the Garrett Railroad Historical Society, collected antique railroad lanterns, and restored the motor car for the Garrett Railroad Museum.

Mrs. Steffey preceded him in death in 1986.

The surviving relatives include his partner Gail M. Olson of Avilla; two children Andrew J. (Jennifer) Steffey of Albion and Cindy (Dan) Chalfant of Land-O-Lakes, Fla; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a brother Warner J. Steffey.

At the request of Mr. Steffey, there will be no services or calling hours.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home, 5910 Homestead Road, Fort Wayne, IN  46814.

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

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

Ray W. McNeal, 78, a resident of Wolf Lake, passed away at 9:00 p. m. on Thursday, July 14, 2011, at North Ridge Village Nursing Home in Albion.  He had been in failing health since earlier this year.

Mr. McNeal was born on May 11, 1933 in Green Township in Noble County, a son of Ernest E. and Mable (Kichler) McNeal and spent his formative years on the family farm there.

During his adult years he had been employed at Dana Corporation, at Northstar, and also worked as a transporter of recreational vehicles.

He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 1906 in Columbia City.  In his leisure time he enjoyed fishing, woodworking, and sharing coffee-time with a host of friends.

On June 21, 1952 he was married in Fort Wayne to Marilyn F. Hopkins.  She preceded him in death on July 29, 1999.

The surviving relatives include his daughters Carolyn (David) Current of Roanoke and Sandy (Larry) Rosenogle of Ligonier; his sister Jean Blotkamp of Albion; four grandchildren Rachel Current, Jacob Current, Joshua (Krista) Rosenogle, and April (Joe) Schultz; and a great-grandson Hunter Rosenogle.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his brothers Tony McNeal and Ben McNeal.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Monday, July 18, 2011, at the Wolf Lake Baptist Church with Pastor Dan Carlson, officiating.

The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2 to 6 p. m. at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubuso, or at the church one hour prior to the service.

Interment will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam.

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

Judith J. Kellogg, 70, passed away at 6:52 p.m. on Tuesday July 12, 2011, at her residence. She had been in decline health since March 26, 2011

Mrs. Kellogg was a daughter of Eric and Dorothy (Branstrator) Lindquist, born in Fort Wayne on August 19, 1940, and graduated from South Side High School.

On September 1, 1959 in Nashville, TN. she married Charles E. Kellogg, Sr. She retired from Lutheran Hospital as a registered nurse in 1999, but continued to work at various clinics in the Fort Wayne area.

Surviving relatives include her husband of 51 years; three sons Charles E. (Maryellen) Kellogg, Jr. of Fort Wayne, David E. Kellogg of Fort Wayne, and Matthew L. Kellogg of Churubusco; a daughter Elizabeth K. Kellogg of Fort Wayne;  a brother Eric (Jackie) Lindquist, Jr. of Fort Wayne; and two grandsons Alex (Traci) & Drew Kellogg both of Fort Wayne.

She was preceded by her parents.

Funeral services will be held at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home on Friday at 12 p.m. with Rev. Lane Burgland, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, officiating.

There will be calling Friday 10 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.

Entombment will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park, Fort Wayne

For those who wish memorials may be directed to Parkview Home Health & Hospice, 2270 Lake Ave. , suite 200, Fort Wayne, IN 46805

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

Anna Belle Fulk, 84, a resident of Kendallville for the past 11 years and formerly of Green Township in Noble County, passed away at 10:30 a. m. on Saturday, July 9, 2011, at her home.  She had been in failing health for the past month.

Mrs. Fulk was born in Noble County on November 6, 1926.  She was raised by her grandmother Carilla Mae Ott and her uncle Carl Ott,  and graduated from Churubusco High School in 1944.  On July 10, 1945 she was married in Fort Wayne to Robert N. Fulk.  The couple moved from their home in Green Township in 1979 to High Lake where they lived until moving to Kendallville in 2000.

Employed at Silgan Plastics in Ligonier for over 20 years, she retired from there in 1989 as head of the tool crib.  She was a member of the Wolf Lake Baptist Church, and  the Francis Vinyard Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary in Kendallville.  A person always ready to go places and do things, she enjoyed sewing, cooking, and hosting family meals.  Most importantly, above all else she loved and cherished her family.

Mr. Fulk preceded her in death on May 23, 2004.

The surviving relatives include two daughters Joy (Tom) Rose of Albion and Connie (Ronald) Castor of Kendallville; a son Steven R. (Teresa) Fulk of Albion; eight grandchildren Rochelle Widman, Nicole Griffis, Stephanie Rose, Travis Fulk, Chad Fulk, Nathan Castor, Miranda Heitz, and Brandon S. Fulk, whom she helped raise; nine great-grandchildren; and several loving nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a brother Milo “Buck” Rider.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Dan Carlson, pastor of Wolf Lake Baptist Church, officiating.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 8 p. m. Tuesday at the funeral home, or one hour prior to the service Wednesday morning.

Interment will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Wolf Lake Baptist Church.

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