Obituaries

Sharron A. McGee

March 26, 1935 to October 26, 2011

FRANCESVILLE - Sharron A. McGee, 76, Francesville, passed away at 3:12 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 26, at Parkview Haven Retirement Home, Francesville.

She was born March 26, 1935, in Francesville, to Walter and Sylvania Rotruck Onken. She married Reece J. McGee on Dec. 2, 1978, in Winamac. He survives.

Also surviving are: 
Lisa A. (Shaker) Cavness Hites, Monon, Daughter
Lydia L. (Tim) Cavness Mounce, Francesville, Daughter
Kaelin C. Shipley, West Lafayette, Step Daughter
Reece Jon (Stacie) McGee, San Marcos, TX, Step Son
Shanna Beth McGee, Cleveland Heights, OH, Step Daughter
Haley Clark, Whiteland, Granddaughter
Heath Mounce, Whiteland, Grandson
Katy Hites, Mocksville, NC, Step Granddaughter
Sarah Watts, Brooklet, GA, Step Granddaughter
Kate Shipley, Indianapolis, Step Granddaughter
Christina Shipley, West Lafayette, Step Granddaughter
Jacob McGee, San Marcos, TX, Step Grandson
Hannah McGee, San Marcos, TX, Step Granddaughter
8 Step Great Grandchildren

Preceded in death by:
Walter "Turk" Onken, Father
Sylvania "Tootie" Rotruck Onken, Mother
Richard Cavness, Former Husband

Mrs. McGee lived most of her life in Francesville and graduated from Francesville High School in 1953. She also graduated magna cum laude from Purdue University with a master's in educational media specialist. 
She was employed in the Francesville school system as a secretary and teacher's aide before graduation. She then became the librarian and media specialist at West Central Schools.

Mrs. McGee was a board member of the Monon Public Library and the Monon Summertime Players. She obtained her private pilot's license in the 1960s and flew for many years. She also was a motorcycle enthusiast and a member of the former Francesville Cyclepaths. She was an avid horsewoman and animal lover. She was also an avid Purdue University fan and member of the John Purdue Club and Purdue Alumni Association.

A private family service will be held at Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel, Francesville. Burial will be  in Roseland Cemetery, Francesville.

Memorial donations may be given to the American Cancer Society.

Nancy L. Thomas

September 1, 1958 to October 22, 2011

ROYAL CENTER - Nancy L. Thomas, 53, of Winamac passed away at 8:45 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 22,  at her residence.

Born on Sept. 1, 1958 in Logansport, she was the daughter of William R. Thomas and Della Schultz.

Survivors include her children, Triston W. Smith and wife Lindsay of Indianapolis, Danielle N. Fisher of Star City and Dillon T. Gilman of Star City, companion, Daniel R. Dillman of Star City, mother, Della Wall of Winamac, sister, LuAnn Wells of Ft. Wayne, brothers, Steve A. Thomas and Ronald W. Thomas both of Winamac, and grandchildren, Kayla Schultz, Brayden Mathias, Miley Smith and Kylie Fisher.

She was preceded in death by her father, William R. Thomas.

Ms. Thomas formerly owned and operated GT’s Bar in Grill in Winamac and until her death was the office manager at Dillman Auto and Tire Service in Winamac. She was a member of Touch of Life Church in Warsaw. She enjoyed gardening, flowers and crafts.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at Harrison-Metzger & Rans Funeral Homes, Royal Center Chapel. A graveside service will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, (Oct. 29) at McKinley Memorial Gardens in Winamac with Pastor Ed Clark officiating.

George Miles

March 23, 1939 to October 23, 2011

WINAMAC - George W. Miles, 72, Monterey, passed away at 12:05 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 23, at his residence.

He was born March 23, 1939, in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, to the late Percy Cameron Henry and Louie Ablet Curran Miles.

Survivors include:
Cindy Miles Morris, Daughter
Anne Jeanette Hodson, Sister, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Shirley Sarah Marks, Sister, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
John Curran Miles, Brother, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Timothy Michael Miles, Brother, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Anthony James Miles, Brother, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Jade Hoesel, Bass Lake, Close Friend
3 Grandchildren
1 Great grandchild
Several Nieces and Nephews

He was preceded in death by:
Christopher George Miles, Son
Edward Miles, Brother
Marylou Joyce Wagar, Sister

Mr. Miles moved to the U.S. to join the U.S. Marine Corps. He later became a U.S. citizen. After his discharge from the Marine Corps, he joined the U.S. Army Reserves. He served in the reserves for over 30 years. He  was a retired mechanic at the Amoco oil refinery in Whiting. He was a member of the VFW in Culver,  and the American Legion in Monterey. He enjoyed riding and caring for his horses, Ruby, LuLu and Buddy, plus fishing and square dancing.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m., Friday, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will follow at 4 p.m., (Friday, Oct. 28), at the funeral home, with Pastor Mark Pilger officiating. Military services will be conducted at the funeral home following the funeral service. Burial will be in Victoria Lawn Cemetery, located at St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada on Nov. 4.

Memorial donations may be given to the VFW in Culver, or the Golden Horseshoe and Saddle Club.

Opal Fairchild

February 22, 1922 to October 22, 2011

MEDARYVILLE - Opal Fairchild, 89, of Medaryville, passed away at 11:40 o,n,m Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 at Jasper County Hospital, Rensselaer.

She was born Feb. 22, 1922, in Salyersville, KY, to the late Clark and Middie Johnson Collinsworth. She was married July 7, 1942, in Greenup County, KY, to Roy Fairchild. He survives.

Also surviving are:
Roy Fairchild Jr., Francesville, Son
Estil (Connie) Fairchild, North Judson, Son
Earl (Judy) Fairchild, Knox, Son
Robert Fairchild, Medaryville, Son
Steve Fairchild, Medaryville, Son
22 Grandchildren
34 Great Grandchildren
Anna Powers, Salyersville, KY, Sister

Preceded in death by:
Vickie Fairchild Nelson ,Daughter
Beacher Collinsworth, Brother
Grover Collinsworth, Brother
Gladys Prater, Sister
Rinnis Cooper, Sister
Hugh Fairchild, Grandson
Donna Fairchild, Daughter-in-law

Mrs. Fairchild was a homemaker and had formerly worked at the Medaryville Garment Factory and the Monon Garment Factory. She also had worked at the Kingsbury Ordinance Plant. She was a resident of Indiana for 70 years, coming from Kentucky. She collected antiques and loved dogs.

Friends may call after 11 a.m., Wednesday, at Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel, Medaryville. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m., (Wednesday, Oct. 26), at the funeral home, with Pastor Leonard Allen officiating. Burial will be in Independence Cemetery, Medaryville.

Douglas Russell Dilts

January 12, 1952 to October 15, 2011

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - Word has been received of the death of Douglas Russell Dilts, 59, of Jakarta, who passed away suddenly Saturday, Oct. 15, while in the field working on a community development initiative in Sumatra, Indonesia.

He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on Jan. 12, 1952, to the late Russell Allen and Mary Charlotte Fritz Dilts, who were originally from Winamac. The family moved from Cincinnati to Augusta, Ga., in 1962.

He married Wahyu Setyowati in Solo, Indonesia in 1985 and together they raised five children, Bayu Dilts, Bima Dilts, Sari Dilts, Yudhistira Dilts, and Dewo Dilts. He is also survived by his sisters, Barbara Dilts of San Francisco and Martha Dilts of Seattle, and several first cousins in Winamac.

Mr. Dilts graduated from the Academy of Richmond County, Augusta, in 1970 where he was honored to serve as the Cadet Colonel. He graduated from Stanford University in 1974 and later received his doctorate of education in international education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1988.

After spending a season working on the Alaskan Pipeline to pay off student loans, he first went to Indonesia with Stanford's Volunteers in Asia program in 1975. He then worked for World Education in Indonesia and Thailand. He also led the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Integrated Pest Management System program starting in Indonesia and expanding to 12 Asian countries. Most recently, Mr. Dilts was the regional coordinator for USAID's Environmental Services program in North Sumatra following the 2005 tsunami.

He spent more than 30 years in Indonesia leading development initiatives ranging from adult education to farmer extension to community-based natural resources management. He was known and loved by his friends and colleagues for his unique ability to inspire them to achieve more than they thought possible. He was firmly committed to the rights and dignity of all people, and his work provided voice to millions of farmers and rural poor to organize and achieve a better life.

Mr. Dilts and his wife Wahyu established the Dilts Foundation www.diltsfoundation.org or www.facebook.com/diltsfoundation in 1995 that works with street children and poor urban communities to provide education, employment training, and medical care.

He was buried in the San Diego Hills Cemetery in Karawang, West Java.

Donations to continue his charitable work with children in Jakarta may be sent to:
Barbara Dilts (checks payable to Barbara Dilts)
51 Norwood Avenue
Kensington, CA 94707

Ardella Hunt

March 21, 1935 to October 21, 2011

MEDARYVILLE -Ardella Hunt, 76, of Medaryville, died at 7:50 a.m., Friday, Oct. 21, at Pulaski Memorial Hospital in Winamac.

She was born March 21, 1935, in Longview, IL, to the late Albert Herman and Ann Jeffers Gerike.

Survivors include:
Betty L. Gerike, Medaryville, Sister
William E. "Bill" (Sharon) Gerike, Portage, MI, Brother
JoAnn Gerike, Portage, Sister-in-law
Several Nieces & Nephews

Preceded in death by:
Albert Lee Gerike, Brother
Robin Shidler, Niece
Frank Wall, Nephew

Mrs. Hunt had lived in Westville, for many years before moving to Medaryville in 2001. She was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Westville. She had also been a volunteer at the Westville Fire Department. She liked to spend time with her family and friends.

Friends may call from 1 to 2 p.m., Monday, October 24, at  Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel in Medaryville. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m., (Monday, Oct. 24), at the funeral home with Rev. Tom Dewlen officiating. Burial will be in White Post Cemetery, Medaryville.

Memorial donations may be given to the charity of the donor's choice.