Obituaries

Mar 26, 2017

Josiah Okeyo Kawira, 69, of Shirati, Tanzania, passed away Sunday, March 26, 2017 in New Paris.

He was born September 21, 1947 in Shirati, Tanzania to Nashon Kawira Nyambok and Dorka Boya Oliech.

On July 19, 1980 he married Esther Lehman in Goshen.

She survives along with four children, Sara Kawira of New...

Mar 25, 2017

Shirley Elizabeth (Erb) Gingerich, 97, of Goshen, was born to Jacob and Erma (Miller) Erb on December 4, 1919 in rural Johnson County, Iowa.  She was the eldest of four children.

She graduated from Center High School and attended Goshen College where she earned a teaching certificate.  She was a teacher in a one-room school in Iowa,...

Mar 22, 2017

Philip Kilmer, 64, of Goshen, passed away Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at Tidewell Hospice House in Bradenton, Florida.

He was born February 19, 1953 in Goshen to Sanford and Clara Kilmer.

Survivors include his mother, Clara Kilmer of Goshen; two sons, Phillip Justin (Julie) Kilmer of Goshen and Benjamin Kilmer of Los Angeles, California; two...

Mar 21, 2017

Beverly “Joan” Neer, 81, of New Paris, died Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at South Bend Memorial Hospital.

She was born September 24, 1935 in Milford to Forest and Mary (Garrison) Ringler.

On August 10, 1957 she married Donald E. Neer at Syracuse Church of God.

He survives along with three daughters, Angie (Stuart)...

Mar 21, 2017

Emerson E. Blosser, 84, of Goshen, passed away peacefully Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at Goshen Hospital.

He was born July 11, 1932 in Columbiana, Ohio to Samuel and Sadie (Spiker) Blosser.

On August 10, 1968 he married Stella E. Yoder in Goshen.  She died May 7, 2010.

Survivors include a son, Marc (Angie)...

Mar 20, 2017

Virginia Lorene Stalter Kreider was born May 19, 1921 in Chenoa, Illinois, daughter of Daniel D. and Alice (Miller) Stalter, and died on March 20, 2017 at Greencroft in Goshen.

After receiving teacher training at Goshen College, Virginia taught for one year in a one-room school house in Woodford...

Mar 19, 2017

Jim Shrock, 48, of Goshen, passed away Sunday, March 19, 2017 at Courtyard Healthcare where he had been the past three years.

He was born June 14, 1968.

He is survived by his parents, David and Donita Shrock of Goshen; a brother, Wayne Shrock of Goshen; a sister, Samantha Ott of Union, Michigan; seven nieces,...

Mar 18, 2017

Helen Berkey Shank Solander, 96, affectionately called Junebug, of Couer D’Alene, Idaho, passed away Saturday, March 18, 2017 with her loving daughter, Carole, and son-in-law, Bob, by her side.

She was born in Goshen June 25, 1920 to Wilbert and Elva (Berkey) Shank and was raised by various caring family members following her mother’s untimely death.

Mar 18, 2017

Mahlon Graber Jr., 58, of Goshen, died Saturday, March 18, 2017 at Courtyard Healthcare where he had resided the past two years.

He was born January 25, 1959 in Davis County to Mahlon and Mattie (Yutzy) Graber.

Survivors include six sisters, Mary Ellen Bateman, Fern (Tim) Sult, Dorothy (James) Gilbert, Magdelena (Kenneth) Stemen, all of...

Mar 15, 2017

Eugene S. Weaver, 97, of Goshen, passed away March 15, 2017 at The Maples at Waterford Crossing.

Gene was born in Goshen June 24, 1919, on his mother’s birthday, to Frank M. and Hattie (Stealy) Weaver.

He graduated from Goshen High School in 1939 and from Purdue University College of Pharmacy in 1944.

...

Mar 15, 2017

Dallas E. Fox, 81, of New Paris, died Wednesday, March 15, at Goshen Hospital.

He was born March 16, 1935 in Milford to Elmer LeRoy and Pearle (Slabaugh) Fox.

On August 29, 1959 he married Mary Louise Sheets at Bethany Church of the Brethren.

She survives along with three children, Debra Patterson of...

Mar 13, 2017

Mildred Marie Malott, 98, of Goshen, passed away Monday, March 13, 2017 at Greencroft Health care.

She was born June 6, 1918 in LaPorte to William B. and Daisy (Wilder) Leady.

On June 20, 1937 she married Robert L. Baker in Goshen.  They divorced.  She then married Donald Malott on January 18, 1991.  He died...

Mar 11, 2017

Linda Lee Miller, 74, of Goshen, passed away Saturday, March 11, 2017 at Elkhart General Hospital.  She had a stroke February 28th.

She was born January 22, 1943 in Goshen to Roland and Frances (Williamson) Bickel.

On October 26, 1963 she married Walter “Skip” Miller in Goshen.

He survives along with two children,...

Mar 8, 2017

Ted Lakin Garman, 88, of Goshen, passed away Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at Greencroft Healthcare.

Ted was born November 18, 1928 in Goshen to Donald and Hazel (Coulter) Garman.

He lived his entire life in Goshen, graduating from Goshen High School in 1946.  He attended Goshen College and graduated from Indiana University in 1957.  Ted...

Mar 8, 2017

Janette L. Lantz, 71, of Bristol, died Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at Elkhart General Hospital.

She was born October 13, 1945 in LaGrange to Calvin and Sadie (Wallace) Witham.

On October 9, 1965 she married William H. Lantz in Elkhart. He died April 15, 2011.

Survivors include her children, Robbin Ely of Wakarusa,...

Mar 7, 2017

Janice Willbur, 54, of Crystal River, Florida passed away peacefully, Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in South Carolina following a three year struggle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

She was born April 4, 1962 in North Branch, Michigan to Earl and Ellen (Klauka) Walker.

She is survived by her husband, Mark; four children, Nathan Willbur,...

Mar 6, 2017



Janet E. Randolph, 72, of Goshen, died Monday, March 6, 2017 at Greencroft Healthcare.

She was born October 27, 1944 in Goshen to Arthur James and Hazel Virginia (Anderson) McKibbin.

Surviving are three brothers, Richard (Jeri) McKibbin of Eustis, Florida, Charles R. (Andrea) McKibbin of Phoenix and Edward (Kimberly) McKibbin of Elkhart.

...

Mar 3, 2017

Jack Lynn Swihart, 60, died Friday night, March 3, 2017 at the South Bend Hospice House.

He was born June 10, 1956 in Goshen to Norman C. and Barbara (Carpenter) Swihart.

He is survived by his mother, Barbara Jewett of Goshen; a sister, Dawn Jackson of Howe; and step-sister, Pamela Thacker of Fishers.

...

Mar 3, 2017

Kenneth H. Houtz, 79, of Goshen, passed away Friday, March 3, 2017 at Greencroft Healthcare.

He was born November 25, 1937 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania to Harry & Thelma (Boyer) Houtz.

On April 13, 1968 he married Judith Unruh in Harper, Kansas.

She survives along with two daughters, Debra (James) Powell of Goshen and...

Mar 3, 2017

Violet “Jean” Perry, 91, of Goshen, passed away on Friday, March 3, 2017 at Goshen Hospital.

She was born on March 12, 1925 in Elkhart to Joseph V. and Hazel M. (Holderman) Weaver.

On June 8, 1945, she married Robert “Bob” Dale Perry.  He died February 1, 1981.

She is survived by a...