Billy A. Chidester, 81, of Bluffton, died at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 21, 2010, at Bluffton Hospital.
He was born June 1, 1929 to Charles and Roberta (Church) Chidester in Cridersville, Ohio. He married Barbara Leigh on April 8, 1951. He later married Thelma Knupp (Feb. 1, 1986) and she died Oct. 4, 2009.
Mr. Chidester retired after 46 1/2 years from the Nickel Plate-Norfolk Western Southern Railroad. He was a member of the Sugar Creek Church of the Brethren, Lima, and was attending College First Church of God, Findlay.
The chorus for Bluffton University's spring Bach Festival will rehearse at 7 p.m. Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 11, in the Gilliom Room of Mosiman Hall on campus. Rehearsals will continue until the festival performance of portions of Bach's "Mass in B Minor," at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 20, in Yoder Recital Hall.
Singers from high school through adults are encouraged to join the chorus, which will be conducted by Dr. Mark J. Suderman, professor of music at Bluffton. Music will be available for singers to borrow at no cost.
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Note: A Bluffton Bike and Pedestrian Pathway Committee, established by Bluffton council, is working to create a pathway, which will eventually encircle the Village of Bluffton. This is the first in a series of feature stories on this project.
History of the Triplett Bike Path
While most residents today take the Triplett Bike Path for granted, efforts that went into that project took over 10 years to complete.
Ken Basinger won the Dec. 18 Pandora 5-K Jingle Bell Run. Basinger was the first of 75 runners to finish. His time was 17:33. Hannah Chappell-Dick was the first female finisher. Her time was 20:40. To view the entire list of finishers open the attachment at the bottom of this story.
Bluffton native Roger G. Bell, 79, of Fairfield Glade, Tenn., died Dec. 19, 2010 at Cumberland Medical Center.
After serving in the United States Army he attended Ohio Northern University followed by working 34 years at RCA/GE in Findlay. He worked as an Engineering Technician.
He was born in Bluffton to Maurice Lowell and Kathryn Jeanette Stratton Bell on Dec. 29, 1930.
He was a member of the Fairfield Glade Community Church.
The Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce unveiled a new telephone number on Dec. 21. The new number: 419-369-2985 ties the chamber into the Village of Bluffton phone system.
The new number marks the final conversion as part of its move into the Bluffton town hall. The chamber has an office on the second floor of the town hall.
Other chamber information remains unchanged:
Mailing address:
Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce
PO BOX 142
Bluffton, OH 45817
The Bluffton Area Ministerial Association's Longest Night service is at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 21, at Emmanuel United Church of Christ.
The service includes scripture, readings, music, candle lighting, prayer, and times of silence to be present with our pain before our loving God. All are welcome to attend.
