Obituaries

Jack E. Benson, age 69, of Bryan, passed away on Sunday, December 28, 2014 at the Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. Prior to his retirement he had been a transportation specialist in Arizona. Jack was born in Toledo, Ohio on April 8, 1945, the son of Donald E. and Dorothy …

James Raymond “Chubb” Bigley, Jr., age 47, of Pioneer, Ohio passed away suddenly Sunday, December 28, 2014 in CHP Hospital and Wellness Center, Montpelier, Ohio. He was born January 20, 1967 in Toledo, Ohio to James R. Bigley, Sr. and Nancy (Najero) Bigley. He was a master guitar player and …

Ricky Lee “Rick” Fuller, age 54, of Archbold, Ohio, and formerly a longtime resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana, passed away on Friday, December 26, 2014, in his home. Rick was a graduate of Blackford High School in Hartford City, Indiana. He had been employed as an automotive parts counter manager …

Kenneth “Ken” J. Wortkoetter, age 54, of Bryan, Ohio, passed away Friday, December 26, 2014 at Bethesda North Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio following a sudden medical emergency. Ken was the owner of Fun Zone Distributers which had become very successful in the past couple years. He had also worked at …

Louis “Lou” W. Harding, 75, of Pioneer, and formerly of Norwalk, passed away unexpectedly Friday morning as the result of a motor vehicle accident.  He was born on September 4, 1939 in Norwalk, Ohio to William Alonzo and Mary Loretta (Logan) Harding.  Lou proudly served his country in the United States Navy.  On …

Jane E. Bell-Beeker, 77, of Pioneer passed away early Saturday morning at Hillside Country Living in rural Bryan.  She was born on June 26, 1937 in Branch County Michigan to Clark Carydon and Helen Louise (Keith) Sellers.  Jane graduated from the Buckeye School of Nursing in Archbold.  On February 22, 1992 she married …

Mariano “Butch” Gomez, age 66, of rural Wauseon, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday evening December 25, 2014. Butch was born in Texas on January 22, 1948, the son of Francisco and Cleofas Gomez. Surviving is his wife, Barbara (Frame) and his brothers and sisters; Rogelio (Rose) Gomez of Archbold, Richardo …

Berneda P. Beck, age 92, of Archbold, passed away Friday morning, December 26, 2014 at Fairlawn Haven Nursing Home in Archbold, where she had resided the past several years. Prior to her retirement she had worked as a seamstress for the former Archbold Dry Goods Store. Berneda was born in …

Dolores June Robarge, age 84, of Bryan, Ohio, passed away on Wednesday, December 24, 2014, at her home. Dolores was a homemaker and helped her husband for many years with farming. She was a member of the First Brethren Church in Bryan and enjoyed her Sunday School classes there. One …

Allen B. Hootman, age 70, of Evansport, passed away Sunday evening, December 21, 2014 at Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice. Prior to his retirement he worked as a carpenter and also as a machine operator at Napoleon Products and Scranton Machine. Allen was born in Hicksville, Ohio on November 6, 1944, …