Obituaries

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David Mark Torsell Sr., 91, died at 11:55 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015, at The Hilty Home in Pandora, Ohio.

David was born on Thursday, July 03, 1924, in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, to the late Joseph Francis and Verna (Palmer) Torsell.

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Bertha "Bertie" Evadna Shrider Swank, 100, died Nov. 1, 2015, at Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. 

Bertie was born April 10, 1915, in Allen County on a farm near Lafayette, Ohio, to Charles and Louisa (Ramga) Shrider who preceded her in death.

On July 8, 1943, she married Frederick Andrew Swank who preceded her in death on April 5, 1978.

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William Boyd Watkins, 83, died Oct. 27, 2015, at 10:54 p.m. at Bluffton Hospital.

Boyd was born April 5, 1932, in Bluffton to George and Agnes (Jones) Watkins who preceded him in death.

Boyd worked for the Village of Bluffton for 30 years in the public works department. He was a member of the First Missionary Church, Bluffton, and was an army veteran. 

Survivors include a sister-in-law, Rosezella Watkins of Lima and 17 nieces and nephews.

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Mary Lou Vercler, 87, died Oct. 27, 2015, at Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton after a short illness.

She was born May 12, 1928, on a farm near Kouts, Ind., to the late Alpha and Martha (Zook) Baughman. After graduating from Kouts High School, she attended Ball State University for one year then graduated from Bethel College, Kansas, in 1950 with a degree in English and History. 

She then moved to Bloomington/Normal, Ill., where she was a high school teacher.  It was there she met and subsequently married J. Norman Vercler, a hospital medical technician on Dec. 26, 1951.

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James "Jimmy" L. Koogler, 68, died Oct. 23, 2015, at St. Rita's Medical Center, Lima. 

Jimmy was born Sept. 8, 1947, in Lima to James and Margaret (Hefner) Koogler who preceded him in death.

Jimmy was active the Senior's program at Marimor Industries. He lived at Yale Bloom, Lima. Jimmy enjoyed looking through his magazines and drinking coffee. He loved being with people and never knew a stranger. Jimmy had many friends, caregivers and staff at Champaign Residential Services, Lima and Marimor who  loved him and enjoyed caring for him.

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Bernice L. Criblez, 85, of Bluffton,  died Oct. 22, 2015, at 2:50 p.m. at Richland Manor, Bluffton.  Bernice was born Aug. 3, 1930, in Lima to the late Lew and Martha Lones Hullibarger. On Aug. 8,1948, she married Marion E. Criblez who preceded her in death on May 18, 1998.

Bernice was a bus driver for the Allen East Schools.  She was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, Lafayette, the  Eagles Ladies Auxiliary and  American Legion  Auxiliary both of Wapakoneta and the Farm Bureau. She was a graduate of Lafayette Jackson High School.  

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