November 19, 2008
November 18, 2008
Jerry L. Griffin, 66
Jerry L. Griffin, 66, a resident of Harborside Health Care Center in New Haven for the past two years, died Friday evening, November 14, 2008, following an extended illness. Jerry was born February 2, 1942, in Rockwood, Tennessee, a son of the late Fred L. and Ruth (Worley) Griffin.
As a young man he graduated from Portage High School in Portage, Indiana, and soon after, enlisted in the US Army where he was awarded the Sharpshooter (M-14 Rifle) award and attained the rake of Spc.-4.
He had worked for 10 years at Bethlehem Steel and had lived in Marion, Indiana, and Avilla before entering Harborside.
The survivors include his daughter, Barbara L. (Durand) Courtney of Avilla, Indiana, his brothers Larry Griffin of Watervliet, Michigan, and Ronald (Joy Griffin of Valparaiso, Indiana. He is also survived by three grandsons, including Karsten Courtney, Christopher Hardwick and Alex Hardwick.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his son, Robert L. Griffin.
Chapel services will be held on Friday, November 21, 2008, at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel on the grounds of the Marion National Cemetery in Marion, Indiana. Full military honors will be conducted by the US Army Ceremonial Honors Unit.
Arrangements are being handled by Sheets and Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco.
Lucy L. Duncan Shlater, 95
Lucy L. Duncan Shlater, 95, a former resident of Churubusco, died Friday, November 14, 2008 at the Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. 
Lucy was born February 28, 1913. in Eel River Township Allen County, Indiana, a daughter of the late David C. and Blendina (Grayless) Hyndman. She was a graduate of Churubusco High School with the class of 1930, was a member of the New Haven United Methodist Church and was a homemaker.
Her first marriage was to Russell L. Duncan on April 7, 1934, and they lived in Fort Wayne, and New Haven for several years. Russell died in 1985. She was then married to Willis “Bud” Shlater on October 24, 1987, and they moved back to Churubusco, and also lived in Naples, Florida, for a period of time before moving to Fort Wayne in 1996. Mr. Shlater died in 1990.
The survivors include her son John (Gena) Duncan of Fort Wayne; her daughter Susan (Richard) Hill of Leo; her sister Ilene Miller of Fort Wayne; and three grandchildren.
In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers Joseph Hyndman in 1954 and Harold “Spud” Hyndman in 1992; and by her sister Alice Redenbaugh in 1993.
Memorial services for Lucy will be held on Sunday November 23, 2008. at 5:00 p. m. in the reception room of the Georgetown Apartments, 1717 Maplecrest Roadin Fort Wayne. Pastor Marilyn Dunten will officiate, and Mrs. Dee Duncan will be the vocalist. Calling will be from 4:00 p. m. until service time.
For those who wish, memorial contributions may be directed to the New Haven United Methodist Church. Envelopes will be available at the memorial service.
Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco is in charge of the arrangements.
Carl Eugene Knuckles, 82
Carl Eugene Knuckles, 82, passed away at 8:35 a.m. Sunday, November 16, 2008, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. 
Born on February 3, 1926 in Forrest, Livingston Co., Illinois, he was the son of Atson E. and Ollie M. ( Taylor ) Knuckles.
Raised in Illinois, he moved to Allen County, Indiana, and in 1970 relocated to Whitley County.
He attended Lafayette Central High School. From 1952 to 1954, he served in the Korean War.
On November 14, 1954, he married Alice L. Mead in Fort Wayne.
In 1950, he started working for Commercial Motor Freight of Indiana where he retired in 1982 with 32 years of service. His memberships included the American Legion, Roanoke, Eel River Masonic Lodge, South Whitley, Eagles Lodge #1906, Columbia City, Shriners of Fort Wayne and Korean War Veterans Association Indiana Chapter 1 Fort Wayne.
Survivors include a son, Leo A. Knuckles of Indianapolis; daughters, Carla L. (Tim) Fulk of South Whitley and Brenda (Bill) Parker of Columbia City; seven grandchildren, Johnny (Jill) Couch, Tristan (Dawn) Boyles, Gary Woodard Jr., Dusty Knuckles, John Knuckles, Mindy Hicks and Crystal Sorg and 17 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Jessie Maitlan of Berne, Betty Bliahue of Bluffton and Shirley Knuckles of Berne.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Alice L. Knuckles, daughter, Diane L. Sorg, grandson, Jeremy Boyles, infant great-grandson, brothers, Medford, Otha and James Knuckles, sisters, Lois "Pat" Clark and Joan Ellis.
Visitation is Wednesday, November 19, 2008 from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. with an 8 p.m. twilight service by the Masonic Lodge at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive Columbia City, IN. Funeral service is Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 1 p.m. at the funeral home with Chaplain Robin LaRue of Heartland Hospice officiating. Memorial gifts may be given in memory of Mr. Knuckles to Shriners Children Hospital. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Please visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences or sign the guest register book.
Grace E. Branning, 80
Grace E. Branning, 80, of rural Larwill, passed away at 12:42 a.m. Sunday, November 16, 2008 at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.
Born on March 22, 1928 in the village of Collins, Whitley County, she was the daughter of Floyd and Mary (Knight) Trumbull.
Raised in Whitley County, she graduated from Collins High School with the Class of 1946. She married Conrad Walter Branning on November 20, 1948, in Columbia City. They moved to the Wawasee area for 1 1/2 years and then returned to Whitley County in 1952 living on CR 750 N and in 1964 she and her family moved to their present farm in Etna-Troy Township. She assisted her husband with the operation of Branning Construction Company. After her husband's death in 1986, she began her service with Parkview Whitley Hospital in the Food Service Department and retired in 1999.
She was a member of the Etna United Methodist Church where she taught Bible School and was also a member of the Etna Women's Club.
Survivors include her children, Sue Schuman and Roger Lee Branning, both of Larwill; five grandchildren including, Candy Pease, Columbia City, Jamie Branning, Columbia City, Courtney Richardson, St. Joe, Missouri, Jarod Schuman, Auburn, and Ryan Schuman, Larwill; 12 great-grandchildren and a sister, Mabel Creech of Churubusco.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Conrad Walter Branning and brothers and sisters including, Pauline Caskey, infant twin sisters, Marie and Helen Trumbull, Howard, Carl, Vaughn, Lewis and Dorothy Trumbull and Charlotte Creech.
Visitation is Wednesday, November 19, 2008 from 2-8 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City, IN. Funeral service is 10 a.m. Thursday, November 20, 2008 at the funeral home with Pastor Karen Biddle of the Etna United Methodist Church and retired Pastor Curtiss Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Grove-Snodgrass Cemetery, Larwill. Memorials may be given in memory of Mrs. Branning to Etna United Methodist Church . Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Please visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences or sign the guest register book.
November 15, 2008
Barbara A. Childs, 82
Barbara A. Childs, 82, wife of Charles E. Childs and long-time Gaston businesswoman, died at 4:40 a. m. on Friday, November 14, 2008, at Muncie Health & Rehabilitation Center in Muncie. She had been in declining health after suffering a stroke over six years ago and had been a patient there for over five years. 
Mrs. Childs was born at Liberty Center in Wells County on June 9, 1926, a daughter of Alva Manford and Agnes (Markin) Rench. She moved to Gaston with her parents at age nine and graduated from Gaston High School in 1944.
After completing her education, she worked as the administrative assistant to O. W. Storer, president of the former Muncie Banking Company. She was later married in Gaston on September 9, 1945, to Charles Edward Childs of Matthews.
The couple spent the first months of their marriage in Columbia, South Carolina, where Mr. Childs was stationed with the U. S. Army. Following his military discharge, the couple returned to Gaston and have been lifelong residents and leaders of that community.
Shortly after returning to Gaston, the couple began working for Barbara’s father at the former A. M. Rench & Sons Lumber Company in Gaston. In 1961, they purchased an interest in the firm and later purchased the entire business in 1983. Together, they operated the Gaston-Rench Lumber Company for over 40 years, retiring in 1989.
In addition to her family and business concerns, her life was marked by the love and support of her local church. She was a member of the Gaston United Methodist Church and the GGG Church School class. She sang in the church choir for many years and had served as the Church School secretary. She was also a member of Purity Order of the Eastern Star in Hartford City.
The surviving relatives include her husband Charles, to whom she was married for over 63 years; a son and daughter-in-law C. Gregory and Dr. Jeanine Childs of Churubusco; three grandsons C. Andrew (Becca) Childs of Indianapolis, J. Perry Childs of Churubusco, and F. Joel Childs of Huntington; and a sister-in-law Esther Rench of Richmond.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers Eugene Rench, Rex A. Rench, and Robert S. Rench; a sister Dorothy F. Sollars; a brother-in-law Joseph P. Sollars; and a sister-in-law Fanniemae Gronendyke Rench.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Monday, November 17, 2008, at the Gaston United Methodist Church, 107 N. Main Street, in Gaston. The Rev. John Long, pastor of the church, will officiate.
The family will receive friends at the church on Sunday from 2 to 5 p. m., or one hour prior to the service.
Interment will be in the Thompson Cemetery, west of Gaston.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to the Gaston United Methodist Church, 107 N. Main St., Gaston, IN 47342; or the Taylor University Department of Music, 236 W. Reade Ave., Upland, IN 46989
Funeral arrangements are being entrusted to the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco.
November 13, 2008
Nicole M. Johnson, 23
Nicole M. Johnson, 23, a resident of Churubusco, died early Tuesday morning November 11, 2008, following a traffic accident on U. S. 33 south of Churubusco. 
Nicole was born December 13, 1984, in Fort Wayne, a daughter of Bruce L. and Terri K. (Schlund) Johnson. She was a graduate of Churubusco High School with the class of 2003.
She had been employed in Fort Wayne by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store for three years and also Logan’s Roadhouse for two years.
She is survived by her parents Bruce and Terri Johnson of Churubusco; her son, Kohen L. Johnson, at home; her maternal grandfather James F. Schlund of Indianapolis; her paternal grandmother Sandra Johnson of Syracuse; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents Bill Johnson and Sharon M. Schlund.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2008, at 5:00 p. m. in the Sheets and Childs Funeral Home with Pastor Rick Van Horn officiating.
The family will receive friends in the funeral home also on Saturday from 1:00 p. m. until service time.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be directed to the savings account in Kohen L. Johnson’s name. Envelopes will be available in the funeral home.
Roger Wayne Crawford, 54
Roger Wayne Crawford, 54, of Dunedin, Florida, died suddenly Monday evening in Dunedin.
He was born October 24, 1954 in Fort Wayne, a son of Cecil and Elnora M. (Gaylord) Crawford Jr. In 1958, his family moved to Union Township from Jefferson Township, Whitley County. In 1969, they moved to Fort Wayne where he attended North Side High School and Elmhurst High School. In 1973, they moved to Loon Lake. 
He began his employment as a cook at S & L Truck Stop before starting a landscaping business in Fort Wayne, later transferring to the St. Petersburg and Tampa, Florida, areas where his landscaping projects included the homes of Lucille Ball, Tony Bennett and Perry Como, several area airports and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Stadium.
For the past five years he was a realtor in the Dunedin, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa areas, receiving Outstanding Realtor awards.
A member of Golds Gym, he was also a lifetime member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Club.
Surviving relatives include two daughters and a son, Taylor Crawford of Pembrooke Pines, Florida, and twins, Kiley and Kegan Crawford of Jenson Beach, Florida; his father, Cecil Crawford Jr. of Loon Lake; a sister, Sheryl (Steve) Hackett of Churubusco; a brother, Ronald (Darlene) Crawford of Pierceton; two nephews and two nieces.
In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by a brother, Ricki Duane Crawford.
The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, November 15, 2008 at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City with Rev. Carroll McNutt officiating. The burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery. The visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
For those who wish, memorials may be made to Bear Lake Church of God Camp.
