Richard L. Bloom, 65, of Bluffton died Dec. 1, 2010, at his residence following a sudden illness. He was born Aug. 13, 1945, in Lima to Richard F. and Betty Ballinger Bloom. On April 27, 1963 he married Judith Minnig and she survives.
Mr. Bloom retired from Tower Automotive, Bluffton. He was a member of the Bluffton Presbyterian Church where he has served as a deacon. He was a graduate of Bath High School.
Susan "Sue" Jan Bassitt Henline, 61, of Lima died at 3:30 a.m. Nov. 27, 2010 at her residence. She was born Aug. 17, 1949, in Bluffton to Loren "Bill" and Margaret "Peg" Bassitt.
On Oct. 24, 1971, she married Paul Henline and he survives. Mrs. Henline had worked at Trinity Highway Products, Lima as an office/human resources manager. She was a Bluffton High School graduate and received an associate's degree in computer programming from Lima Technical College.
Linda L. Gossard, 70 of Bluffton died at 5:50 a.m. Nov. 27, 2010 at Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. She was born March 6, 1940 in Scott Depot, W.V. to Mervin and Nellie (Bowyer Duncan) Ward. On June 18, 1960 she married Paul Gossard and he survives.
Hazel I. Knepper, 94, of Pandora died Nov. 25, 2010, at the Orange City Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, Debary, Fla. She was born in Pandora on Oct. 10, 1916 to Roy and Carrie Beard Tousley. On Feb. 15, 1938 she married Paul Knepper who preceded her in death on Sept/ 17, 2002. Mrs. Knepper was a homemaker and had worked at the Russell Company, Pandora. She was a member of the Pandora Church of Christ. She enjoyed baking and helping at the church.
Thelma M. (Welty) Bowersox, 83, of Bluffton, formerly of Mt. Cory, died Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010, at the Bridge Hospice Center in Blanchard Valley Hospital.
She was born on Aug. 24, 1927, in Pandora, Ohio, to the late Levi and Golda (Doty) Welty. On June 11, 1948, she married Robert Bowersox at St. John's Mennonite Church in Pandora and they recently celebrated 62 years of marriage.
Rev. Dr. O. Carl Brown, Jr., 91, of Pandora, died Friday, Nov. 12, 2010, after a battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Jared Paul Brown. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Martha Pauline Gerber Brown, sons, David A. Brown (Carol) and Darryl John Brown (Robin) of St. Petersburg, Fla.
He had 8 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Dr. Brown was born in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China to missionary parents.
