Jon R. Parkins, 56, died on May 13, 2016, at the James Center in Columbus. He was born March 29, 1960, in Bluffton, Ohio, to William H. Parkins and Katherine V. Parkins, both of whom preceded him in death.
Jon graduated from Bluffton High school in 1978, and later attended Malone College on a track scholarship as well as Ohio State University.
He was employed at Tower Automotive of Bluffton. He was a competitive track and field athlete and later coach of men’s track and field, girls’ softball, and both boys’ and girls’ basketball.
Dean D. Dearth, age 83, died on May 13, 2016 at 11:50 PM at Lima Memorial Health System, Lima.
He was born on May 17, 1932, in Orange Township, Hancock County, Ohio, the house he lived in, to J. Kenneth and Mabel L. (Montgomery) Dearth who preceded him in death. On Aug. 26, 1950, he married Sarah B. Willeke and she survives in Ada.
Clarence Martin Kooker, 87, died May 11, 2016, at 5:55 p.m. at Bridge Hospice Care Center, Findlay.
Clarence was born Nov. 14, 1928 in Quakertown, Pa., to Clarence S. and Florence (Bleam) Kooker. After the death of his birth mother, his father remarried and Clarence was raised by Helen (Ahlum) Kooker. On June 30, 1951, Clarence married Mary Nunemaker Kooker who survives.
Clarence graduated from Quakertown High School in Quakertown. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Education from Bluffton College and his Master's degree from Bowling Green State University.
Francis Carl Geiger, 95, died May 12, 2016, at 7:30 a.m. at Hilty Memorial Home, Pandora. Francis was born March 8, 1921, in Pandora to the late Grover and Corinna (Suter) Geiger. On Dec. 15, 1945 he married Mary (Core) Geiger who preceded him in death on Feb. 26, 2016.
Clarence M. Kooker, 87, of Bluffton died May 11, 2016, at Bridge Hospice Care Center, Findlay. Arrangements are pending at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.
L. Eloise Schick, 94, died May 10, 2016, at Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. She was born Jan. 2, 1922 in Allen County, Ohio to the late Chancey J. and Lulu (Doty) Spallinger.
Eloise graduated from LaFayette-Jackson High School in 1939. On June 17, 1941, she married Harold P. Schick. They celebrated over 64 years of marriage before his death on May 6, 2006.
Eloise was a hard working housewife who lived the farm life until moving into Bluffton in the early 1990s.
