Helen W. Brooks, 90, of Bluffton, Ohio, died May 6, 2019, at Hilty Memorial Home in Pandora. She was born on April 18, 1929, in Putnam County to the late Harvey and Minnie (Balmer) Burkholder. On Aug. 14, 1953, she married Gerald “Jerry” Brooks who preceded her in death on Sept. 8, 2014.
Helen was an avid gardener and had a love for art, antiques, classical musical and playing the piano. She enjoyed collecting and was a master canner of produce. Helen enjoyed making and selling pies along with garden and orchard produce at the Bluffton Farmer’s Market.
CLICK HERE for an Icon interview with Dr. Shelly as he reflected on starting his practice in Bluffton in the 1950s.
Howard M. Shelly, M.D., 90, died Saturday, May 4, 2019, at Mennonite Memorial Home in Bluffton. Howard was born Aug. 13, 1928 in Hereford Township, Pennsylvania, to Howard and Emma (Myers) Shelly who preceded him in death.
Harold Frederick Helmlinger, 94, died April 25, 2019, at Birchaven Nursing Home in Findlay. Harold was born March 7, 1925, in Auglaize County, Ohio, to the late Philip and Sophia (Pulfer) Helmlinger. On Jan. 29, 1950, he married Doris Bunn Helmlinger who survives.
Harold graduated from Jackson Center High School. He was a U.S. Navy veteran serving in World War II and was a lifelong farmer. Harold enjoyed spending time with his family and attending his grandchildren's sporting events.
Lois Louise Thompson, 87, died April 25, 2019, at Hilty Memorial Home in Pandora. Lois was born June 5, 1931, in Kenton to the late Dale and Lula (Smith) Cummins. She was married to Roger Thompson who survives in Pandora.
Lois graduated from Indian Lake High School. She had been a homemaker and worked at Konalrad Products in Pandora. Lois was a member of the Pandora Missionary Church.
A public celebration of life reception will be held on Saturday, April 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Inn at Ohio Northern University, Ada, for Thomas E. Coe, 80, who died March 31, 2019.
He was born on Aug. 11, 1938, in Willard, Ohio, to the late James and Corinne (Greer) Coe. On Oct. 17, 1959 Tom married Ann Lowry and she survives in Bluffton.
Former Bluffton resident Eleanor Linden Thurston, 89, of Indianapolis, Indiana, died on April 18, 2019.
Born July 5, 1929, in Normal, Illinois to George W. Linden and Ruth (Lantz)
Linden. Ellie grew up in Bluffton, Ohio, and graduated from Bluffton High
School. She graduated from The College of Wooster, Ohio, and obtained her
master's in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University. As an
Occupational Therapist she helped polio patients in Durham, North Carolina
and Chicago, Illinois.
