All Bluffton Icon News

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Jan Simon displays her Christmas cross-stitch collection in the display case of the Bluffton Public Library. Click for the video.

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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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