Ward F. Guinther, 57 died at 1:42 p.m. March 26, 2013. at his residence surrounded by his family following a seven month battle with cancer. He was born April 15, 1955, in Sturgis, Michigan, to the late Jack and Betty (Gill) Guinther. On May 13, 1999 he married Charity L. Michel who survives.
Mr. Guinther was an over the road truck driver most recently for Woods Brothers Trucking. Ward was an U.S. Army veteran.
Bertha E. Scoles, 97, died March 24, 2013, at her residence. She was born in Belvidere, Ill., on Feb. 24, 1916, to the late Orville and Marry (Masse) Coulter. She married Cleo Garau and he preceded her in death. On Nov. 24, 1965 she married Gerald Scoles and he died Dec. 31, 1995.
Mrs. Scoles retired from Triplett Corp., Bluffton and was a farmer’s wife. She was a member of First Missionary Church, Bluffton.
Survivors include a nephew and caregiver Randy Scoles of Bluffton; several other nieces and nephews; and a sister Priscilla Birdwell of Zanesville, Ohio.
A memorial service for John E. Lancaster, 40, of Beaverdam and formerly of Mt. Victory, will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Schindewolf Stevens Stout Funeral Home at 200 E. Columbus St. in Kenton by the Rev. Harrison Underwood.
Friends may call 1-4 p.m. Sunday.
He died Saturday, March 16, 2013 at Park City, Kansas. He was born April 23, 1972, in Michigan to Donald and Barbara (Freeman) Lancaster. On Nov. 4, 199,5 he married Carita Downey and she survives.
Elisabeth Gratzer, 98, died at 2:15 p.m. March 20, 2013 at Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. She was born June 26, 1914 in Hamburg, Germany, to the late Franz and Elisabeth (Riess) Andres.
She retired as an auditor for a department store in Hamburg, Germany, prior to coming to the United States. She became an American Citizen in 2000. She was a member of First Mennonite Church, Bluffton.
