Obituaries

Bluffton HS and Bluffton College graduate

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Ada May Cortner, 86, formerly of Bluffton, died Friday, Oct. 5, 2018, in her home in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida.

She was born May 29, 1932, in Bluffton, to Edna Steiner Oyer and Albert Oyer, who preceded her in death, along with two sisters, Magdalene M. Suter and Lois S. Glendening.

She was married to Carl W. Cortner, who also preceded her in death. She is survived by several cousins in the Bluffton area and by one daughter, Carla McGowan of Garland, Texas.

Ada May graduated from Bluffton High School in 1950 and from Bluffton College in 1954.

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Funeral Services for Avinell Manns will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, at the Price - McElroy Funeral Home, Kenton. Burial will follow in McDonald Fairview Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 10, at the funeral home. 

She died Oct. 5, 2018, at the Cleveland Clinic. She was born on June 11, 1939, in Prestonsburg, Ky., to the late Earl and Vernal (Click) Crisp. On May 9, 1957, she married Virgil Manns and he preceded her in death on Oct. 22, 2009. 

Bluffton College graduate from Berne, Indiana

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Philip David Sprunger, 75, died Oct. 4, 2018, at his residence in Bluffton. Philip was born Oct. 10, 1942 in Berne, Indiana, to the late Donald and Mary Jane (Nussbaum) Sprunger. On July 23, 1966, he married Janice Smith Sprunger who survives in Bluffton.

Philip graduated from Berne French High School, obtained his bachelor's degree from Bluffton College and his master's degree from St. Francis College.  He had been an educator and guidance counselor at Leipsic and Patrick Henry Schools. 

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John A. Miller, 89, died Oct. 1, 2018, at Hilty Memorial Home, Pandora.  John was born Dec. 18, 1928, in Cloverdale to the late Ray and Flossie Jane (Shirey) Miller.  On June 3, 1950, he married Carrie Bauman Miller who survives.

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Joan Elizabeth Wilkins, 88, died Oct. 1, 2018, Bridge Hospice Care Center in Findlay.  Joan was born Aug. 12, 1930, in Benton Ridge to the late Clifford and Lois (Reiter) Niswander.  On Oct. 24, 1952 she married Leland Wilkins and he survives.

Joan graduated from Mt. Cory High School.  She was a homemaker and had previously worked at Triplett Corp., Bluffton, and had owned and operated the Posey Patch in Mt. Cory.  Joan was a member of Mt. Cory United Methodist Church. 

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John W. Allison, 92, died on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018 at 8 a.m. at his residence in Bluffton.

He was born on Oct. 30, 1925, in Williamsburg, Pa., to Wilmer M. and Anna Pearl (Sorrick) Allison who preceded him in death.

On Oct. 25, 1947, John married Charlotte Lynn and she preceded him in death on Jan. 26, 2009.

John retired from the Pennsylvania Electric Co., where he worked as an electrical engineer. He was a U.S. Navy veteran who served during WWII. John previously lived in Inverness, FL and Clearfield, Pa. He was a member of the English Lutheran Church in Bluffton.

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