Obituaries

Lewis J. Thomas

April 6, 1929 to September 12, 2012

WINAMAC - Lewis John Thomas, 83, of Winamac, died at 4:10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 12, at St. Elizabeth East Hospital, Lafayette.

He was born April 6, 1929, in Winamac. He married Frances M. Lausten in January 1969. She died July 20, 2011.

Survivors include: Several Nieces & Nephews

He was preceded in death by:
Paul Everett Thomas, Father
Doris Lavon Allen Thomas, Mother
Paul Thomas, Brother
Helen Getz, Sister
Lucy Schaeffer, Sister
Hazel Kent, Sister
Gladys Deel, Sister

Mr. Thomas was a member of the Community Seventh Day Adventist Church in Monterey. He was adopted and raised by his grandparents, James and Pearl May Allen Thomas. The only time he left the farm in Winamac was to serve in the Korean War in the early 1950s. He continued to work the family farm until just before his death. He enjoyed servin in his church where he was often the first to visit the sick, offer a ride to the disabled, and pray for those who needed prayer.

Visitation will be after 1 p.m., Sunday, at Community Seventh Day Adventist Church, Monterey. The funeral service will follow at 2  p.m. (Sunday, Sept. 16), at the church with Pastor Bryce Bowman officiating. Burial will be in McKinley Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Winamac

Memorial donations may be given to the Community Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Garold T. Field

April 14, 1930 to September 7, 2012

KEWANNA - Garold T. Field, 82, of Kewanna passed away at 3:50 p.m., Friday, Sept. 7, at his residence, surrounded by his family.

Born April 14, 1930 in Pulaski County, he was the son of the late Elmer and Catherine (Button) Field. On May 27, 1950 he married Betty J. Redlin and she preceded him in death on Sept. 9, 1998.

Survivors include his sons, Neil Field and wife Kelly, Mark Field and wife Karen, David Field and wife Lisa, Gale Field and wife Susan, all of Kewanna; daughters, Rebecca Hott and husband James of Kewanna, Peggy Field of Winamac, Linda Good and husband Chester of Royal Center, Jean Gray and husband Carl of Winamac and Sandra Sutton and husband Robert of Kewanna; sisters, Marilyn Henning and Marjorie Nicolas and husband Joe, both of Winamac; brother, Marshall Field and wife Gloria of Winamac; and good friend, Ruby Cotner of Winamac. He is also survived by 26 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by brother, Harold Field and sister, Evelyn Davis.

Mr. Field was a 1949 North Judson High School graduate. He was a lifetime farmer and businessman. He managed the Farm Bureau Co-op in Star City and owned and operated the Kewanna Feed Mill. He also worked at WalMart in Rochester. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Rochester and was a founding member of the Fulton County Historical Power Show. He enjoyed woodworking, restoring old tractors and going to swap meets.

Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m., Monday,  at Harrison-Metzger & Rans Funeral Home, Kewanna Chapel. The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday (Sept. 11), at the funeral home. Burial will be at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery, Denham.

Memorial donations may be made to the Fulton County Historical Power Show and/or Hope Hospice.

Margaret M. Griggs

November 8, 1926 to September 8, 2012

WINAMAC -  Margaret Mildred Griggs, 85,  of Winamac, died at 2:31 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 8,  at the Rensselaer Care Center in Rensselaer,.

She was born Nov. 8, 1926, in Morton, IL, to the late Frank Joseph and Leona Sarah Dwall Strubhar. She married Gordon Griggs on Nov. 6, 1971 in East Chicago. He survives.

Survivors include:
Sue E. Endress, Sterling, IL,  Daughter
Gordon A. Griggs, Winamac,  Step-Son
Gregory L. Griggs, Conway, AR,  Step-Son
Michael J. Griggs, Titus, AL,  Step-Son
9 Grandchildren
9 Great Grandchildren
2 Great Great Grandchildren
Several Nieces & Nephews

8 Sisters

Mrs. Griggs and her husband  moved to Winamac in 1980. Before moving to Indiana, she had lived in Illinois. She enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles. She was a devoted wife and mother. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.

No services will be held. Frain Mortuary in Winamac is handling arrangements.

Memorial donations made be to St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Winamac.

Karma J. Saltsman

July 20, 1941 to September 6, 2012

MEDARYVILLE - Karma J. Saltsman, 71, Medaryville, passed away at 10:20 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 6, at IU Health Arnett Hospital, Lafayette. 

She was born July 20, 1941, in Salyersville, KY, to the late Virgil and Stella Prater Hughes. She married to Thomas E. Saltsman Sr. on Sept.14, 1958, in the Medaryville Christian Church, Medaryville. He survives. 

Also surviving are: 
Thomas E. (Penny) Saltsman Jr., Winamac, Son 
Gary D. (Sandy) Saltsman, Medaryville, Son 
Teresa L. (Tom) Bryant, Winamac, Daughter 
8 Grandchildren 
2 Great Grandchildren 
William Hughes, Medaryville, Brother 
Alva Jean Harris, Logansport, Sister 
Loretta Conrad, Logansport, Sister 
Paul (Donna) Hughes, Disputanta, VA, Brother 
Several Nieces and Nephews

Preceded in death by: 
Benjamin Bryant, Grandson 
James Hughes, Brother 

Mrs. Saltsman was a member of the VFW Women's Auxillary. She was a retired employee of Eaton Controls, following 20 years of service. She also had worked at H & R Block in Winamac. She loved spending time with her family. She also enjoyed gardening and sewing. he was a lifelong resident of Medaryville.

Friends may call after 1 p.m., Saturday, at the First Christian Church, Francesville. A memorial service will follow at 3 p.m., (Saturday, Sept. 8), in the church, with Pastor Todd Masters officiating.

Memorial donations may be given to the First Christian Church, Francesville. 

Margaret A. Falvey Pierce

August 30, 1932 to August 9, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS - Margaret (Peg) Ann Falvey Pierce, 79, of Indianapolis, died unexpectedly on Thursday, Aug. 9, of complications following surgery.

She was born Aug. 30, 1932 in Logansport, Indiana to Richard J. and Ruth A. Shank Falvey. She married Dr. Emmett (Bill) Coin Pierce on June 8, 1954. He died in 2004.

She is survived by her children Lauralee (Peter) Middleton of Kalamazoo, Mark R. Pierce of Cincinnati, William D. Pierce of Indianapolis, Robert E. Pierce of Chicago, Suzanne (Joseph) Rauh of Fishers, Anastasia (Penney) Pierce of Terre Haute, John C. Pierce of Indianapolis and Patrick J. Pierce of Chiang Mai, Thailand; grandchildren Lindsey M. Neal of Grand Rapids, Carrie A. (Mike) Desjardins of Kalamazoo, Thomas Rauh of Indianapolis, Becca Rauh of Denver, CO; step-grandchildren Catelin F. Middleton of Kalamazoo, P. Hyatt Middleton of Hendersonville, NC, and Jevin S. Middleton of Kalamazoo; sisters Kay Lanter of Roanoke, VA, Jo (Abe) Bernstein of Goshen and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her sister Patricia Falvey.

Mrs. Pierce grew up in Winamac. The oldest of four sisters, she attended St. Peter Catholic School in Winamac and was active in 4-H, and the American Legion's Girls State convention in high school. She attended St. Elizabeth School of Nursing in Lafayette, where she earned her RN diploma.  She was a stay at home mother of eight who stayed busy and productive being a Cub Scout den mother, a room mother at Little Flower Catholic School where her children attended. She was a long time member of Little Flower Catholic Church.

She loved backyard birding, cultivating roses, and growing peonies and tomatoes. She loved the abundant forsythias, lilac bushes and redbud tree in her backyard. She was active in the Newman Guild at Butler University, Sertoma Club of East Indianapolis, and The Eastside Orchestra Guild. She had a passion for history particularly Indiana State History. She was a perennial Indy 500 fan, attending the race with her husband and a cadre of friends for several years. She loved swimming, playing tennis, reading historical fiction, and loved traveling all over the world with her husband. 

The funeral services will be at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday (Aug. 14), at Feeney-Hornak Shadeland Mortuary, Indianapolis,  followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Little Flower Catholic Church. Visitation will be Monday, from 4 – 8 pm at the mortuary. Entombment will be at Calvary Cemetery.

Donations may be made in her name to Little Flower Catholic School or Arthriitis Foundation.

Everette Steele

October 20, 1941 to August 27, 2012

KNOX - Everette Steele, 70, of Winamac, passed away Monday, Aug. 27, a Pulaski Health Care Center, Winamac.

Born on Oct. 20, 1941 in Wide Mouth, W. Va., he was the son of the late Cecil and Corby Steele. He married Dorothy Steele on July 2, 1961 in Birmingham, Ala. She preceded him in death.

Survivors include six daughters: Carolyn [Nick] Ress of Star City, Deborah Steele of Winamac, Amanda Steele of Winamac, Tina Finkley of Winamac, Vanessa [Charles] Weaver of Winamac and Candice Steele of Georgia; three sons: Clifford [Toni] Steele of Hammond, Darrell [Dorine] Steele, Sr., of Hammond and Darrell Steele, Jr. of Hammond; two brothers, Clerence Steele of Statesville, N.C. and Don Steele of Dayton, Ohio; a sister, Virgie Wyatt of Steeles, W. Va.; 16 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Lola Lester and Shirley Roberts; and a brother, Luther Steele.

Mr. Steele was a self-employed plumber who enjoyed playing in his band, “Southern Express.”

Funeral services will be held at a later date.

The Braman and Son Memorial Chapel in Knox is in charge of arrangements.