Obituaries

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Sara L. Mikesell Stotts, 95, died Sept. 28, 2019, at her residence in Lima. Sara was born Sept. 11, 1924, in Beaverdam to the late Roy and Florence (Walters) Beemer.  She married Richard Mikesell who preceded her in death on Oct. 30, 1971. Sara later married Wilbur Stotts and he preceded her in death.

Sara graduated from Beaverdam High School. She had worked Sylvania Corp. in Ottawa; Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton; and Triplett Corp., Bluffton. Sara was a member of the Beaverdam Church of Christ.

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Samuel L. Smith, 88, of Bluffton died Sept. 29, 2019, at the Mennonite Memorial Home in Bluffton.  Arrangements are incomplete at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.

Was a retired supervisor at Lima Ford Engine Plant

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Bluffton resident Robert "Bob" Lee Blake, 106, died Sept. 27, 2019, at his residence.  Bob was born Aug. 25, 1913 in Van Wert, Ohio, to the late Earl and Della (Hann) Blake.  On July 23, 1933, he married Dorothy Siniff Blake who preceded him in death on Sept. 30, 1994.

Bob retired from Lima Ford Engine Plant where he was a supervisor.  He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Bluffton, enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles. 

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Forrest John (Johnny) Welch, 85, of Fort Mill, South Carolina, formerly of Rawson, Ohio, died Tuesday Sept. 24, 2019, at Pruitt Health, Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Johnny was born April 6, 1934, in Putnam County, Ohio to the late John D. and Mamie (Prowant) Welch the fourth eldest of 13 children. On Oct. 19, 1955, he married Carol (Huls) Welch, in San Leandro, California, who survives in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

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Carol A. Shapter, 74, died Sept. 19, 2019, at Bridge Hospice Care Center in Findlay. She was born July 24, 1945, in Columbus, Ohio, to the late Robert and Lemoyne (Lochner) Crail.  On July 29, 1967, she married James Shapter who survives in Bluffton.

Carol graduated from Lima Senior High School in 1963.  She started working in 1965 for Auto Owner's Insurance in Lima and retired in 2004 where she was a senior underwriter.  Carol had been a paramedic at Elida Fire and Rescue.  She was an avid quilter and belonged to various quilting guilds. 

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Carol A. Shapter, 74, of Bluffton died Sept. 19, 2019, at Bridge Hospice Care Center in Findlay.  Arrangements are incomplete at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.

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