William G. Bontrager

William G. Bontrager, 85, of Millersburg, died early Monday morning, March 31, 2008, at his home.  He had been ill three weeks. He was born in Honeyville, Indiana, on June 15, 1922 to Gideon and Fanny (Glick) Bontrager.  He married Mary E. Yoder on October 29, 1966 in Goshen.  She survives. A lifetime resident of the area, Mr. Bontrager worked as an auto mechanic and truck driver for Knepp Sand and Stone retiring in 1984.  He owned B & B Stables – a harness and sulky horse racing business. Mr. Bontrager served under George S. Patton during World War II at the Battle of the Bulge in Germany as a member of the 78th Lightning Division of the Army.  He was a member of the Millersburg American Legion Post #484. He was a member of the Topeka United Methodist Church and the Big Four Harness Racing Association.  He set three world records with his horse, David A, on three different tracks.  He enjoyed working with his horses and in his woodworking shop.  He also had a flying license and enjoyed airplanes. He is survived by his wife, Mary; three daughters, Jan (Ralph) Teel of LaGrange and Cheryl D. (John) Ward and Mickie C. (Kevin) Welch, both of Millersburg; two sons, Ronald (Kathy) Bontrager of Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and Harold Ray Bontrager of Millersburg; ten grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Susie Knepp of Goshen and Lucy Miller of Middlebury. He was preceded in death by a son, Robert Wayne Bontrager; a daughter, Carol Jean Ackerley; two sisters, Ada Musser and Laura Slabaugh; and grandchildren, Christopher, Vickie, Brian and Robert W. Bontrager, Jr., and John Ward III. Friends will be received 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, April 1 and 2, at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home. A 2:00 p.m., Thursday, April 3, 2008, funeral service will be conducted at Eden Worship Center in Honeyville.  Rev. Robert Wyman of Nappanee and Pastor Diana Siegel of the Topeka United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Eden Cemetery, Topeka. Memorials may be made to Care at Home Hospice.