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Obituaries

Frances Buroker 1919 to 2015

L. Frances (Fran) Buroker, 96, formerly of Mount Victory, Ohio, died at 12:49 p.m. Tuesday, Nov.  24, 2015, at Mennonite Memorial Home in Bluffton.

Fran was born May 25, 1919, in Hardin County, Ohio, to William and Maedene (Carr) Dyer. On June 15, 1940, she married Erven W. Buroker, who preceded her in death on Oct. 16, 1998. They were married for 58 years.

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Ernest Fritschi was born in Switzerland

Ernest Fritschi, 89, died Nov. 27, 2015, at 11:45 p.m., at Richland Manor, Bluffton.

Ernest was born Oct. 18, 1926, in Reigoldswil, Canton Basel, Switzerland to Ernst and Hulda (Kleiber) Fritschi who preceded him in death. On Nov. 11, 1955 he married Ruth Winkleman Fritschi who preceded him in death on Aug. 15, 2015.

Ernest had worked as an auto mechanic and later retired from the Lima Ford Engine Plant.  

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James Engle 1958-2015

James E. Engle, 57, died on Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, at 12:58 p.m. at St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima.      

He was born on Feb. 8, 1958 in Lima, Ohio to Phillip E. and Barbara Ann  (Underwood) Engle. His father is deceased and his mother survives in Bluffton, Ohio. He married Tammy J. Watkins on June 15, 2002 and she survives in Gomer.      

James worked at General Dynamics for 33 years as a welder. He was a 1976 graduate of Allen East High School.  He attended the County Line Church of the Brethren of rural Ada.   

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Tammy Persich 1962-2015

Tammy S. Persich, 53, died Nov. 23, 2015, at her Pandora residence.  Tammy was born Jan. 26, 1962 in Steubenville, Ohio, to Lawrence and Barbara (Lathem) Everson who preceded her in death.

Tammy was a homemaker.  

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Christine Purves was a teacher in Bluffton and overseas, involved in many Bluffton University programs

Christine H. Purves, 96 of Bluffton died Nov. 25, 2015. at Willow Ridge, Bluffton. 

She was born Sept. 14, 1919, in Berne, Ind., to Carl and Martha (Baumgartner) Habegger. On Aug. 28, 1943, she married John H. Purves (Jack), who preceded her in death. They were married 58 years. Mrs. Purves graduated from Berne High School and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. She was a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, an honorary music society.

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Betty Cookson was former Senior Citizens director and was active in many community organizations

Betty Jean Cookson, 94, died on Nov. 16, 2015, at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. She was a lifelong resident of Bluffton where she raised her family and served the community. For the past several years, she lived at Maple Crest.

She was born on April 16, 1921, to Hiram and Edna Luginbuhl Neuenschwander (who predeceased her) in Richland Township, Allen County, Ohio. She married Richard R. Cookson on May 9, 1943, and he preceded her in death on Oct. 15, 2012. 

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