Obituaries

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Samuel L. Smith, 88, of Bluffton died Sept. 29, 2019, at the Mennonite Memorial Home in Bluffton.  Arrangements are incomplete at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.

Was a retired supervisor at Lima Ford Engine Plant

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Bluffton resident Robert "Bob" Lee Blake, 106, died Sept. 27, 2019, at his residence.  Bob was born Aug. 25, 1913 in Van Wert, Ohio, to the late Earl and Della (Hann) Blake.  On July 23, 1933, he married Dorothy Siniff Blake who preceded him in death on Sept. 30, 1994.

Bob retired from Lima Ford Engine Plant where he was a supervisor.  He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Bluffton, enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles. 

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Forrest John (Johnny) Welch, 85, of Fort Mill, South Carolina, formerly of Rawson, Ohio, died Tuesday Sept. 24, 2019, at Pruitt Health, Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Johnny was born April 6, 1934, in Putnam County, Ohio to the late John D. and Mamie (Prowant) Welch the fourth eldest of 13 children. On Oct. 19, 1955, he married Carol (Huls) Welch, in San Leandro, California, who survives in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

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Carol A. Shapter, 74, died Sept. 19, 2019, at Bridge Hospice Care Center in Findlay. She was born July 24, 1945, in Columbus, Ohio, to the late Robert and Lemoyne (Lochner) Crail.  On July 29, 1967, she married James Shapter who survives in Bluffton.

Carol graduated from Lima Senior High School in 1963.  She started working in 1965 for Auto Owner's Insurance in Lima and retired in 2004 where she was a senior underwriter.  Carol had been a paramedic at Elida Fire and Rescue.  She was an avid quilter and belonged to various quilting guilds. 

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Carol A. Shapter, 74, of Bluffton died Sept. 19, 2019, at Bridge Hospice Care Center in Findlay.  Arrangements are incomplete at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.

Visitation and memorial luncheon Sept. 17 at First Mennonite

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Retired Bluffton elementary teacher, Geneva Shetler, 100, died surrounded by family on Sept. 13, 2019, at the Mennonite Memorial Home in Bluffton. 

CLICK HERE for a column "Remembering Geneva Shetler."

Geneva was born on a farm near Archbold, Ohio, and graduated from Archbold High School in 1936. She attended Goshen College, Indiana, where she met her husband-to-be, Luther Shetler.  They were married on Dec. 22, 1940.

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