Willis (Bill) Boutwell 1924-2012
Willis (Bill) Boutwell, 87, died at 4:14 a.m. on March 6, 2012, at Hilty Memorial Home, Pandora.
Mr. Boutwell was born May 26, 1924, in Lafayette, Ohio, to John and Ethel Shrider Boutwell, who preceded him in death. On Oct. 16, 1948, he married Wanda Mae Claypool and she survives.
Mr. Boutwell was a member of Riley Creek Baptist Church, Bluffton, where he served as a deacon and as a member of numerous committees.
He was the proprietor of Arthur's Round Table Restaurant in Lima, Ohio from 1949 till 1965. For the next 25 years, he was an investment broker for the Investor's Diversified Financial Services now known as AmeriPrise.
Mr. Boutwell was a 1943 graduate of Ada High School. Following high school, he served in the United States Marine Corp during World War II and the United States Navy Reserves during the Korean Conflict.
He was a member of The American Legion Post 0536 of Gilboa, and The Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 09381, Ada.
Survivors include three daughters: Gay Lee (Ken) Martin of Elletsville, Ind., Elaine (Bruce) Sommers of Delphos, and Patsy (Carey) Arthur of Pandora; nine grandchildren: Bryan (Candie) Burkholder, Chad (Kelly) Burkholder, Tiana Burkholder, Jennifer Leonard, Kristen (T J) Lewis, Shawn (Natalie) Sommers, Chris (Sara) Sommers, Annie (Michael) Gill, and Amle Arthur; thirteen great-grandchildren: Madeleine, Meghan, Kyle, Sierra, Jada, Emileigh, Ellie, Cora, Blake, Brody, Colt, Carli, and Ailey.
Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at Riley Creek Baptist Church, Bluffton. Rev. David Lanquist will officiate. Burial will be in Hasson Cemetery, Van Buren Township with military rites by the Veteran of Foreign Wars Honor Guard.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Bluffton. Memorial contributions may be made to Riley Creek Baptist Church. Online condolences may be expressed at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
Stories Posted This Week
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Friday, September 11, 2026
- Mennonite Home Communities provide backup phone numbers during outage
- Pirate volleyball wins in four vs. Elmwood
- Howard Thornsberry worked in the produce industry
- Pirate girls soccer silenced by Bath
- Pirate boys soccer nipped by Liberty-Benton
- September 11 Bluffton High School athletics lineup, streaming
- Sept. 12 Open Doors offers sneak peek at future Bluffton museum space
- Innovation Forum challenges leaders to think deeper about AI
- Invitation to Sept 15 Bluffton Lions program with Dr. William H. Kose
- Deer archery hunting begins Sept. 12 in Disease Surveillance Area
Thursday, September 10, 2026
- Women in Business program with Positive Nutrition
- It's time for Fall Storytime at the Bluffton Public Library
- Pirate girls golf win vs. Lima Central Catholic
- Pirate boys golf splits NWC tri
- Bluffton PTO is collecting Community Markets receipts
- Richland Twp. trustees hire mower and Zoning Inspector
- Schumacher Homestead plans a farm full of Fall Fest activities
- Hindsight is 20/20: Recent reports for RSV, flu, and COVID-19
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
- Darrell Lee Diller, 92, managed a farming business
- Bluffton alumni will discuss pathways to chaplaincy
- Beaverdam cleanup day is Sept. 12
- Pirate boys golf 3rd at NWC quad
- Pirate volleyball outlasts Arlington
- Pirate girls soccer blanks Crestview
- Pirate boys soccer tie vs. Kalida
- Letter: The future of American agriculture
- Maple Grove Cemetery records now online
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
- Bluffton Historical meets Sept. 9 at the 1899 Depot
- Jerry L. Blosser worked for DTR Industries
- Bluffton Schools cancelled on September 8, cleanup for biodigester malfunction underway
- July 2026 Bluffton Police Dept. activity report
- Hillville Rd. closure on Sept. 8-9
- Lions and friends will count pathway users in September
- Bluffton Ohio Historical Society takes part in Ohio Open Doors, Sept. 12