Obituaries

Ruth Z. De La Cruz, passed away peacefully and surrounded by her loving family at Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center on November 11, 2019 and went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus at the age of 85. Born in San Antonio, Texas on April 25, 1934 to her parents Reymundo …

Roberta M. Cook, 82 years, of Arcadia, Florida, went home to her Lord and Savior, Saturday, November 9, 2019 at Evergreen Manor Nursing Home, Montpelier, Ohio.  Roberta was born July 27, 1937, in Mishawaka, Indiana, the daughter of Samuel Smith and Thelma Eldean (Emmert) Platner.  She was a 1955 graduate …

Albert J. “Jim” Coolman, age 87, of Bryan, Ohio, passed away at 9:20 A.M. on Monday, November 11, 2019, at Community Hospitals and Wellness Centers-Bryan. Albert was an Engineer at General Motors in Defiance and retired in 1994 after 25 years of service. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran …

Sue Ellen Speiser, age 70, of Evansport, Ohio, passed away early Sunday morning, November 10, 2019 in her home following a lengthy illness.  She was born in Defiance, Ohio to the late Merle Oakley and Orma Lee (Schlosser) Koeppe.  Sue was a 1967 graduate of Tinora High School.  She married …

Mary Ellen Garley, 74 years, of Sherwood, passed away Saturday, November 9, 2019, while visiting her friend in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Mary Ellen was born March 24, 1945 in Mark Center, Ohio, the daughter of the late Louis and Ann (Nagy) Bryan.  She attended Mark Center and Sherwood Elementary School …

William Andrew “Bill” Johnson, age 85, of rural Delta, passed away Friday, November 8, 2019, in his home. Prior to his retirement in 1983 he had worked for Jeep and the Chrysler Corporation for over 30 years. William was born in Toledo, Ohio, on October 1, 1934, the son of Lewis …

Carol Jean Nixon, 81, of Pioneer, passed away on Friday, November 8, 2019. She was born on February 20, 1938 in Montpelier to Harvey and Helen (Eidenier) Miller. Carol graduated from Pioneer High School and went on to attend Defiance College. On May 15, 1959 she married Andrew “Andy” Nixon in …

Richard Morgan “Smitty” Smith, age 80, of Edgerton, Ohio, passed away at 5:57 A.M. on Saturday, November 9, 2019.  Mr. Smith was a 1957 graduate of Auburn High School in Auburn, Indiana.  He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana University and a Master’s Degree from St. Francis College in Fort …

Loretta M. Schulz, 86 years, of Ney, passed away Wednesday evening, November 6, 2019, at Paulding County Hospital, Paulding, Ohio, with her family by her side.  Loretta was born November 8, 1932, in Grover Hill, Ohio, the daughter of the late Nathan and Alma (Wittmer) Ringger.  She was a 1950 …

Willard “Bill” E. Bartick, 76, of West Unity passed away early Wednesday morning at Community Health and Wellness Centers in Montpelier.  He was born on December 30, 1942 in Corpus Christi, Texas to Harold E. and Doris (Van Scoy) Bartick.  Bill graduated from Montpelier High School in 1961.  He served …