Theodore Diller was a tomato farmer
Theodore "Ted" Marvin Diller, 88, died May 8, 2018, at Blanchard Valley Hospital, Findlay. Ted was born Nov. 17, 1929, in Allen County, Ohio to the late Archie and Velma (Miller) Diller. On February 19, 1954, he married Joan VanMeter Diller who survives in Bluffton.
Ted was a graduate of Pandora High School, attended Bluffton College and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Ted was a member of Grace Mennonite Church in Pandora and past member of the Rufus Putnam Masonic Lodge in Columbus Grove.
He was a tomato farmer and was heavily involved and known world-wide in restoring antique vehicles, was a member of several automobile clubs, was an avid hunter, accomplished athlete in high school, college and played semi-pro football.
Survivors also include four children, Cynthia Mueller of Bluffton, Rachel (Rick) Schleucher of Celina, Ohio, Teddy H. (Beth) Diller of Pandora, Sarah Diller-Steiner of Saranac Lake, New York; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Peter H. (Marilu) Diller of Gilboa, Darrell L. Diller of Santa Barbara, California; and two sisters, Clarabeth Bixel and JoAnna (Bill) Croft both of Bluffton.
Ted was preceded in death by a grandson, Peter Mueller; a son-in-law, Bart Steiner and three sisters, Jean Suter, Cathryn "Cassie" Kiene and Rachel Rosette Diller.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 12, at Grace Mennonite Church in Pandora. Pastor Matthew Yoder officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Pandora. Visitation will be Friday from 2- 8 p.m. at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bluffton Sportsmen's Club.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
Stories Posted This Week
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Monday, October 5, 2026
Sunday, October 4, 2026
- Bluffton Fire Dept. extricates passenger following I-75 crash
- Crumrine leads October 8 Watercolor Workshop
- MCHO opportunities to trick or treat, donate candy
- ALA Banned Books Week
- Pirate boys soccer blanked by Celina
- Hancock Public Health confirms measles case in Findlay
- Timeline for October 10 Dillinger robbery reenactment and motorcycle show
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Friday, October 2, 2026
- John "Jack" Palte, 88, was a farmer
- Nature walk at university Nature Preserve, Oct. 3
- ICYMI: September 2026 Bluffton Icon Highlights
- Walking through Autumn series brings hikers to Bluffton
- Pirate volleyball win vs. Spencerville
- Pirate boys soccer ties Ottawa-Glandorf
- Pirate girls soccer loss vs. Toledo St. Ursula
- Can you bake a winning pie?
- Library seeks Holiday Gift Auction donations