December 2013

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Julie Anne Osborn Betts, 58, of Findlay, died at 3:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, at Blanchard Valley Hospital, Findlay. 

She was born on Aug. 4, 1955, to the late John F. and Marjorie (Phillips) Osborn in Columbus. She married Stephen C. Betts and they later divorced.

She is survived by her sons: Christopher D. Betts of Delaware, Ohio and John S. Betts of New York, N.Y.; daughter, Elizabeth J. Betts of Louisville, Ky.; brother, John P. (Donna) Osborn of Columbus; sister, Nancy J. (Stephen) Jacoby of Columbus; and by four nieces.

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Sarah Ginther, 36, died Dec. 21, 2013, at OSU Medical Center, Columbus. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. John Mennonite Church, Pandora. 

Visitation will be Thursday from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at the church. Arrangements are incomplete at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton

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Mary Jane McDowell, 84, of Bluffton and formerly Columbus Grove, died at 10:46 p.m., Dec. 18, 2013, at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton, Ohio.

She was born Feb. 16, 1929, in Columbus Grove to Ralph O. and Florence E. (Ury) Roberts, who preceded her in death.

She married B. Milton McDowell on July 9, 1948, and he also preceded her in death on June 30, 2011.

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Dorothy E. Fittro Storer Yant, 87 died Dec. 21, 2013. at Wapak Manor. She was born Nov. 6, 1926, in Lynchburg, Ohio, to the late Roy A. and Edna (Monce) Fittro. On April 11, 1945, she married Leo Storer and he died Dec. 3, 1979. She then married Lawrence Yant, Jr. on Dec. 12, 1981 and he died June 10, 2000.

She retired from Hayes-Albion, Spencerville, Ohio. She also had worked at White Cottage Rentals, Lima for 40 years. She was a member of the Bluffton Senior Citizens and was an auxiliary member for United Transportation Union. She was a graduate of Wilmington High School.

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Velma Katherine (Emmert) Kingsley, 97, died at 7 a.m. on Dec. 20, 2013, at Frieda House, Bluffton, Ohio. She was born Sept. 30, 1916, to the late John and Grace (Plank) Emmert in Topeka Ind.  On Sept. 1, 1940, she married Leonard D. Kingsley who died on June 5, 2012.

Her early teaching career was interrupted by her whole-hearted embrace of motherhood; she later home-schooled some of her eight children when the family lived in Kupang, Timor, Indonesia. 

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The good news: The rain stopped and the flooding has peaked. The bad is that many residents in low lying areas of Bluffton are pumping basements.

On Sunday morning there was no official number of flooded residents and, while flooding was serious, it did not reach heights of recent floods.

Here are alerts from the Bluffton police department:

6 a.m. Sunday - Closed Streets as of 6 a.m. Sunday:

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With flooding expected in the Findlay area, the American Red Cross of Hancock, Seneca and Wyandot Counties will be opening an Evacuation Center on Sunday morning. 

The Evacuation Center will open at 11 a.m. Glenwood Middle School, 1715 N. Main St. in Findlay.  People coming to the Evacuation Center should park behind the school and use the rear entrance to the building.  Food will be available at the center.  Red Cross disaster responders will evaluate the flood situation on Sunday evening and consult with Findlay City officials to decide if an overnight shelter will be needed.

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At 10:39 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 21, the Bluffton police department issued the following statement:

"The non-emergency number to reach the Bluffton command center is 419-369-2967." Contact us if you need assistance

At 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, the Bluffton police department issued the following statement:

"Police are recommending residents in low areas move vehicles to higher ground. Riley Creek is at its limits now.

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Here is a partial list of Bluffton congregations with Christmas Eve services. Some congregations have provided additional information about their services. Those are found in separate stories in the "Church" fold. The Icon has links to those stories, where indicated.

Churches that have not provided Christmas Eve information may send information to: [email protected]. (Watch for updates)

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES IN BLUFFTON

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Velma K. Kingsley, 97, died Dec. 20, 2013, at Willow Ridge - Frieda House, Bluffton.  Arrangements are incomplete at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.

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