Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Elizabeth A. Robinson, 88, a resident of Fort Wayne and widow of Raymond E. Robinson, passed away at 1:48 p. m. on Tuesday, November 29, 2011, at University Park Nursing Home in Fort Wayne.  She had been in declining health for some time, and had entered the nursing home in March.

Mrs. Robinson was born on February 21, 1923 in Fort Wayne, a daughter of Bernard Sidney and Florence Augusta (Smith) Ginther, and spent her formative years in Fort Wayne.  She graduated from Northside High School in 1940, and was married in LaGrange on February 24, 1940 to Raymond E. Robinson.

She lived all of her adult life in Fort Wayne, and was a homemaker for most of that time.  She had also worked part-time for 13 years in the mail room at Parkview Hospital.

She was a member of the Forest Park United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne, its United Methodist Women’s Deborah Circle, and Star of the East Order of the Eastern Star 514 in Fort Wayne.

Mr. Robinson preceded her in death on June 20, 1996.

The surviving relatives include her children Gary A. (Theresa) Robinson, Steven A. (Sharon) Robinson, Bruce E. Robinson, Dennis M. (Julie) Robinson, and Carol Robinson, all of Fort Wayne, Rose (Ray) Grivett of Leo, Janet L. (spouse Drew Boxberger) Robinson of Spencerville, and Patricia (partner Rose Anderson) Anderson of Bloomington; a brother Harold “Harry” (partner Janet McGowan) Ginther of Seattle, Wash; 20 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son David Terry Robinson on September 3, 1992; a daughter Diane Madrid on February 25, 1994; and by a sister Joyce A. Giles on October 17, 2001.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. on Sunday, December 4, 2011, in the Forest Park United Methodist Church, 2100 Kentucky Avenue, Fort Wayne.  Pastor Brenda Ginder will officiate.

The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Saturday from 2 to 8 p. m., or one hour prior to the service at the church Sunday afternoon.  Star of the East Order of the Eastern Star 514 will conduct memorial services at 6 p. m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Interment will be in the Eel River Cemetery, Allen County.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Forest Park United Methodist Church.

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Ruby M. Yoder, 91, a resident of rural Huntertown and widow of Loyal R. Yoder, passed away at 5:10 a. m. on Tuesday, November 29, 2011, at the family residence in Perry Township.

Mrs. Yoder was born in Jackson Township in DeKalb County on July 17, 1920, a daughter of Michael J. and Alice Leora (Carnahan) Shoudel.  She spent her formative years on the family farm in Jackson Township, and graduated from Auburn High School in 1937.

As a young woman she worked in the offices of Messenger Corporation in Auburn, and was married in Huntertown on May 24, 1941 to Loyal R. Yoder.  The couple lived in Auburn for a short period before moving to the Yoder family farm in rural Allen County in 1942.

She assisted her husband in the operation of the family farm for many years, and became the organist of the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco in 1953, where she played for over 50 years.  She also had served as the organist at Klaehn, Fahl, & Melton Funeral Homes in Fort Wayne since 1971.  In addition to the thousands of weddings and funerals she had played for over the years, she taught private piano and organ lessons, and worked for several years at the Hammond Organ Studios in Fort Wayne.

She was a member of the Huntertown United Methodist Church, and had served as its organist since 1947.  She was also a member and organist of the Leo Order of the Eastern Star 278.

Mr. Yoder preceded her in death on January 30, 2001.

The surviving relatives include her children Shirley (Michael) Meighen of Fort Wayne and Dr. Larry Yoder of Goshen; five grandchildren Erika (Tom) Meyer of Huntertown, Laura (Jason) Moshier of Indianapolis, Molly (Brian) Bogs of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Matthew Meighen and Michelle Meighen, both of Fort Wayne; and four great-grandchildren Ruby Meyer, Henry Meyer, Simon Moshier, and Landon Moshier.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law Ilse Yoder; by two brothers Ora Shoudel and Roy Shoudel; and by four sisters Lela Schwartz, Neva Boyce, Gladys Wilcoxson, and Bertha Shoudel.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Friday, December 2, 2011, at the Huntertown United Methodist Church, 16021 Lima Road,  with Pastor Greg Hiatt, officiating.

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

Interment will be in the Huntertown Cemetery.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Huntertown United Methodist Church Missions Fund, 16021 Lima Rd., Huntertown, IN  46748; or to Acres Land Trust, 1802 Chapman Rd., Huntertown, IN  46748.

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Joan R. Sollazzo, 75, a resident of Churubusco and widow of Columbus John Sollazzo, passed away at 10:20 p.m. on Sunday, November 27, 2011 at the Kingston Care Center in Fort Wayne.  She had been a patient there for the past two years.

Mrs. Sollazzo was born in Fort Wayne on January 30, 1936, a daughter of Raymond and Wava (Brandt) Stilwell, and spent her formative years there.

On July 3, 1964 she was married in Fort Wayne to Columbus John Sollazzo.  The couple spent the first months of their marriage in Fort Wayne before moving to Churubusco in 1965.

Always having a love for children, she worked as a licensed day care provider for 30 years.  Later in life she also worked at Shroyer’s Variety & Hardware in Churubusco.

She was a member of the Churubusco Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary Post 3846, and in her leisure time she was a avid gardener.  Most importantly, she loved and cherished her family.

Mr. Sollazzo preceded her in death on October 4, 1997.

The surviving relatives include four children Robert Sollazzo, Jr. and Susan (Pierre) Longardner, both of Churubusco, John R. (Beth) Sollazzo of Columbia City, and Tony (Phyllis) Sollazzo of Clarion, Iowa; a step-daughter Rosalie Sollazzo of Mansfield, Ohio; two sisters Barbara (Lawrence “Bud”) Dennison of Pomona, Calif. and Mary (Jim) Ehinger of Fort Wayne; three brothers Richard (Shirley) Stilwell and James (Pat) Stilwell, both of New Haven, and Don (Debbie) Stilwell of Fort Wayne; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a step-daughter Barbara Prudhome; and by a grandson Jon Longardner.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Wednesday, November 30, 2011, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Lane Burgland, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p. m.

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

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Faith Lutheran Church in Churubusco, or Churubusco Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Post 3846.

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Tom L. Sanders, 79, a resident of rural Churubusco in Noble County, passed away at 6:15 p. m. on Sunday, November 27, 2011, at Kingston at Dupont in Fort Wayne.  He had been in declining health for several years and had been a patient there for the past seven years.

Mr. Sanders was born on December 27, 1931 in Columbia City, a son of Joseph D. and Mary Elizabeth (Magley) Sanders, and spent his early childhood in Fort Wayne.  At age 13 he moved to Smith Township with his parents, and graduat6ed from Churubusco High School in 1950.

Following his high school graduation, he was married on June 17, 1950 in Liberty Center to Bonnie L. Ragan.  The couple spent the first years of their marriage in Churubusco, lived in Fort Wayne for a period, and returned to the Churubusco-area in 1977, living at their present home in Green Township since 1979.

He was employed for 31 years at Indiana & Michigan Electric, and retired as a commercial representative in 1993.  He was a member of Believer’s Bible Fellowship in Churubusco, and Churubusco Lodge 515 F&AM.   In his leisure time he enjoyed motorcycle trail riding, traveling, and most especially loved and cherished his family.

The surviving relatives include his wife Bonnie, to whom he was married for over 61 years; four children Deb (Mike) Waggoner of Churubusco, Bradley E. Sanders of Churubusco, James D. (Rhonda Boyle) Sanders of Fort Wayne, and Curtis (Val) Sanders of Churubusco; a brother Rex W. Sanders of Powell, Wyoming; three sisters Connie Otis of Granada Hills, Calif., Karen (Bob) Wakeland of Columbia City, and Marceille (Roy) Alexander of Fort Wayne; nine grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and many friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers Charles H. Sanders and Harold Sanders.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Saturday, December 3, 2011, at Believer’s Bible Fellowship in Churubusco with Pastor Robert C. Siegrist, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Friday from 2 to 8 p. m., or at the church one hour prior to the service.  Churubusco Lodge 515 F&AM will conduct memorial services at 8 p. m. Friday at the funeral home.

Interment will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Believer’s Bible Fellowship, the Alzheimer’s Association, or Family Hospice & Palliative Care in Berne.

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Donald E. “Dude” Leazier, Jr. , 77, a resident of Elmira, Michigan and a former resident of the Fort Wayne-area, passed away at 4:00 a. m. on Sunday, November 27, 2011, at the home of his daughter in rural DeKalb County.  He had been in failing health for some time, and moved to his daughter’s home one month ago.

Mr. Leazier was born on September 15, 1934 in Fort Wayne, a son of Donald Everett and Goldie (Guisinger) Leazier, Sr., and spent his formative years between Fort Wayne and Michigan.

As a young man he entered the U. S. Navy, and was a 30-year veteran, spending wartime in both Korea and Vietnam.  He was officially retired from military service as a petty officer first-class in 1981.

He was a former member of American Legion Post 499 in Fort Wayne, and in his leisure time he enjoyed outdoor activities including fishing, hunting, and mushroom hunting.  He also enjoyed casino gaming.

The surviving relatives include his four children Goldie (Jeffry) Dimmick of Huntertown, Theresa Leazier of Auburn, Kenneth G. (Cynthia) Leazier of Avilla, and Paula (Carter) Porter of Auburn, with whom he resided.  Also surviving are three brothers Larry (Lucille) Leazier of Bryan, Ohio, Dennis (Barbara) Leazier of Elmira, Mich., and Wayne Leazier of Fort Wayne; 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-granddaughters.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two wives Jesusa “Susie” Leazier and Cecilia Leazier; a brother Harold P. Leazier, and by a sister Barbara Trefny.

There will be a military presentation by the U. S. Navy and the American Legion at 5 p. m. on Wednesday, November 30, 2011, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday from 1 to 5  p. m.

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