Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Margaret (Peggy Getts) Whitcomb, formally of Fish Lake in LaPorte Co., Indiana, passed away at 9:09 p.m. on Monday, November 21, 2011 at the Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home, Fort Wayne.

Mrs. Whitcomb was born in South Bend on June 19, 1940, a daughter of Leo E. Lewis and Ester (Bata, Lewis) Hagedorn,  and spent her formative years in South Bend.

On January 11, 1980 she married Fredrick D. Whitcomb, who passed away in 2002, after 22 years of Marriage.

She spent the first 30 years of her career as a Head Chef/Manager and bartender in finer local area restaurants:  Pearls Lilac Room, Stagecoach Inn, Eddie’s, Kay’s Bar, Mott’s Apple Core (Niles, Mi), Orchard Hills Country Club (Buchanan, Mi), The Silver Tower, Notre Dame University Club, Knoll Wood Country Club, and Left Bank Club at Park Jefferson.

In 1981 Peggy went to work as a Home Health Aide at St. Joseph’s Visiting Nurse’s Association. After two years she was promoted to Title XX Coordinator and Homemaker Supervisor. She held that position for nine years. Upon the discontinuing of her position, she became a clinical assistant. In 1992, she transferred to St. Joseph’s Physicians Network CBO working in Accounts Receivable. After 22 years with St. Joseph Regional Center, she retired in 2004.

Peggy enjoyed making small quilts and made several for pregnant co-workers. After she retired, she continued making small patch work quilts and donated them to the Fish Lake American Legion Post 400 for the Veterans Home. She also donated to the Veterans in LaPorte area Nursing Homes.

The surviving relatives include her two daughters Channtee’ (Rodney) Wilson of Churubusco and Cherrann (Lane) Bailey of Orem, UT; a son John Legus Getts; two half sisters Joanne (James) Wright of Buchanan, MI and Elizabeth Hagedorn of South Bend; a half brother Frankie (Diana) Hagedorn of Montrose, MI; two grandchildren and two nephews

At the request of the family there will be no services or calling hours.

Memorial contributions may be made to any Veterans Organization or the Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home, 5910 Homestead Road Fort Wayne, IN 46814

Arrangements are entrusted to Sheets & Childs Funeral Home, Churubusco.

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Cindy C. Crawford, 39, a resident of Churubusco, passed away on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne following a courageous battle with cancer.  She had been in declining health since March.

Cindy was born in St. Petersburg, Florida on November 25, 1971, a daughter of George Edward and Cindy Charmaine (Kerbelis) Palecki, and spent her formative years in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.  She moved to this area 18 years ago, and had lived in Churubusco since 1997.

Until her illness, she had been employed at Symmetry Medical in Warsaw.

The surviving relatives include two sons John A. Bleich III of Fort Wayne and Landon Edward Crawford of Churubusco; three daughters Amanda Charmaine Bleich and Sarah Ann Russell, both of Fort Wayne, and Jamie Grace Crawford of Churubusco; her mother Cindy Bumgardner of Fort Wayne; her former husband Donald J. Crawford of Columbia City;  a brother George Palecki of Jacksonville, Fla; and a sister Elin (Angel) Guzman of Jacksonville, Fla.

She was preceded in death by her father.

At the request of the family, there will be no formal funeral services.  Friends may gather to share and remember at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco from 6 to 9 p. m. on Wednesday, November 23, 2011.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to her children in care of Pat Bleich, 2824 Prairie Grove Dr., Fort Wayne, IN  46809

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

Benjamin I. Harter, 92, a former resident of Churubusco and more recently of Fort Wayne, passed away at 6:45 p. m. on Saturday, November 12, 2011, at Kindred Transitional Care in Fort Wayne.  Although he had been a patient there for the past two months, his death was unexpected.

Mr. Harter was born  on December 16, 1918 in Smith Township near Collins, a son of Arlando and Olive (Sours) Harter, and spent his formative years there.  He was educated at the former Collins School, and graduated from Churubusco High School in 1937.

As a young man he served with the U. S. Army during World War II, and was married in Valparaiso on April 24, 1954 to Velma Jean Kiefer.  The couple lived all of their married life in Churubusco.

He was employed at International Harvester in Fort Wayne for 20 years, retiring from there in 1982.  Mrs. Harter preceded him in death on August 12, 1991, and Mr. Harter moved to Fort Wayne nine years ago.

He was a member of the Churubusco Church of the Nazarene.

The surviving relatives include his children Terry Harter and Larry Harter, both of Fredericksburg, Virg.,  Karen Harter of Phoenix, Ariz., and Stuart (Brenda) Harter of New Haven; and two grandchildren Andrew Harter and Amanda Harter.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a son Kevin Harter; and by a brother Gloster “Mike” Harter.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Friday, November 18, 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 at the funeral home on Thursday from 4 to 8 p. m., or one hour prior to the service Friday morning.

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

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Churubusco Church of the Nazarene, 1000 W. Whitley Street, Churubusco, IN  46723

To leave an online condolence for the family in Mr. Harter’s memory, log on to www.sheetsandchilds.net

Carl McGuire, 92, long time Smith Township farmer and a resident of rural Churubusco, passed away at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, November 6, 2011, at his home, after a long illness.

Mr. McGuire was born on September 15, 1919 in Noble County, a son of Rollin and Orpha (Lindsay) McGuire. He spent his formative years in Noble County, graduating from Albion High School.

While serving in the United States Army during World War II, he married Pauline (Weidman) McGuire in Churubusco on May 8, 1943.

After completing his military duty in 1945 he lived in Green Township before settling at his current farm home in Smith Township in January of 1949. He was engaged in farming there all his adult life.

He is survived by his daughter Patricia McGuire of Churubusco; a daughter – in – law Judy McGuire of Churubusco; a sister Marcelle (Lee) Mahnesmith of Terre Haute; a grandson Stacy (Krista) Holzinger of Churubusco; and two great grandsons Jacob and Logan Holzinger of Churubusco.

Mr. McGuire was preceded in death by his wife on March 5, 2011; a son Jerry McGuire on January 16, 2011; a grandson Chad McGuire on January 27, 2008; three brothers, and one sister.

The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home, Churubusco. Pastor Greg Smith will officiate.

The family will receive friends at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Thursday from 12:00 until the time of service.

Interment will be at Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam.

Memorials may be directed to Parkview Home Health and Hospice, 2270 Lake Avenue,  suite 200, Fort Wayne, IN  46805

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Loreta Halt Hodge, 96, a former resident of Eel River Township in Allen County and more recently of Lakeland, Florida, passed away on Tuesday afternoon, November 2, 2011, at the Palm Terrace Health Facility in Lakeland after an extended illness.

Mrs. Hodge was born on March 12, 1915 in Eaton in Delaware County, a daughter of Sesel and Gladys (Chapman) Castor, and moved to Fort Wayne as a child with her parents.

On September 21, 1935 she was married to Eddie Halt.  The couple spent the early years of their marriage near Collins in Whitley County, and later moved to Eel River Township.  Mr. Halt preceded her in death on June 16, 1971.

She owned and operated the 19th Hole Minerature Golf and Cool Spot Ice Cream for several years, and also worked as a real estate broker.  She originally owned her own real estate office, and later worked as a broker for other agencies, retiring in 1988.

Her second marriage took pace on October 1, 1978 to Charles “Lark” Hodge.  He preceded her in death on May 4, 1997.  She had been a resident of Lakeland since 2003.

She was a member and past worthy matron of Churubusco Order of the Eastern Star 136, and was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary in Garrett and also the Harvest House Group in Garrett.  In her leisure time she was an avid card and Bingo player, and loved dancing.

The surviving relatives include two daughters Kay (Maurice) Hartman of Leesburg, Fla. and Dr. Linda D. (Charles) Castor of Lakeland, Fla; a son Larry T. (Sherry) Halt of Edwards, Mo; a step-son Charles L. Hodge, Jr. of Melbourne, Fla; three sisters Jean (Howard) Hawkins of Pandora, Ohio, Barbara (David) Kiracofe of Sarasota, Fla., and Carol Symonds of Sarasota, Fla; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and two husbands, she was preceded in death by a sister Ruby Castor; three brothers Fred Castor, Paul Castor, and Kenneth Castor; and by a grandson L. T. Halt.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a. m. on Friday, November 11, 2011 at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home, Churubusco.  Rev. Larry Smith, pastor of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, will officiate.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday after 9:30 a. m.  Churubusco Order of the Eastern Star 136 will conduct memorial services at 10:30 a. m. Friday at the funeral home.

Interment will be in the  Riverveiw Cemetery, south of Churubusco.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Trinity United Methodist Church, 715 Cornelia Ave., Lakeland, FL  33815

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