All Obituaries

HARTFORD CITY, IN— Virginia Ruth Fights, 90, passed away Sunday, April 28, 2024 at the University Nursing Center in Upland, from complications of influenza and a long battle with Parkinson’s disease and diabetes. Born in Gaston, on Monday, April 23, 1934 to the late Harry Edward and Addie Matilda (Clark) Maddy, she was a graduate of Gaston High School, class of 1952.  She attended Indiana Business College, which led to her working in the payroll division of Delco...

Charles E. “Butch” Butcher HARTFORD CITY, -- Charles E. “Butch” Butcher, 75, passed away Tuesday morning, April 23, 2024 at the Waters of Dunkirk, after a long illness. Born in Muncie on August 15, 1948, he was the son of the late Albert N. and Mary Mae (Lawhorn) Butcher. A life resident of the area, he married Linda Murrell on July 3, 1970, in Eaton, Indiana and had retired from St. Joe Container/Box USA in Hartford City, after many years of employment. Butch...

On April 7, 2024, David M. Snyder died in Muncie, Indiana. He was 83 years old. David is survived by his wife, Carolee Snyder; children, Kenneth Snyder, Andrea Hough, Alicia Marone, and Nathan Bean; six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren; as well as his sisters, LauraLee Handel of Wilmington, NC and Julie Katte of Sturgeon Bay, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Ruth Snyder of Rochester, IN, and his brother, James Snyder of Johnson City, TN.  David was...

Hartford City, IN Lydia Kay Hyatt, infant daughter of Paul and Karissa Hyatt, died on March 31, 2024 at Riley Children’s Hospital. Lydia was born on March 23, 2024 in Indianapolis to Karissa (Whitesell) Hyatt and her husband, Paul. In addition to her parents, she is survived by her maternal grandparents, Dennis and Lyn Whitesell; paternal grandparents, Kimberly Hyatt (Dereck Rappuhn) and Dan Hyatt; maternal great-grandparents, Ted and Kay Waters; uncles, Logan Whitesell (Kayla) and...

GASTON, IN- Douglas E. “Doug” Rice, 66, died March 29, 2024 at his rural Gaston home.  He was the son of the late Francis C. Rice, Jr. and Patricia A. (Dinkel) Rice. Born in Wabash, Indiana on Aug. 13, 1957, his childhood and formative years were spent in Blackford County, where he graduated from Blackford High School. Doug was a certified mechanic, specializing in diesel engine repair as well as gas engine repair. He leaves behind his only sister, Lisa Lee of Muncie....

Hartford City, IN Frederick Allen Hoffman, 69, passed away at home, surrounded by family, on Saturday, March 23, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer. Fred was born on May 30, 1954 in Madison, Indiana to Herman Sr., and Rozella (Allen) Hoffman. He was a 1972 graduate of Shawe Memorial High School and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resources from Ball State University in 1976. On June 12, 1982, Fred married Sonya Walter in Madsion and together they would raise their...

Timothy Wayne Cook March 23, 1960 – March 18, 2024 Timothy Wayne “Tim” Cook, 63 of Marion, passed away Monday at his home, of natural causes. He was the son of the late Charles and Peggy (Glover) Cook and was a 1978 graduate of Marion Bennett High School. Tim was currently a superintendent contracted with Weiss Construction and helped build several projects including gas stations and car washes. For several years, he was a contractor supervising the building of Aldi...

HARTFORD CITY, IN Patricia Josephine “Pat” or “Jo” Starr, 80, passed away Monday evening at Lutheran Hospital, Ft. Wayne.  Born in Paris, Arkansas on February 28, 1944, she was the daughter of the late Joseph E. and Helen M. (Douglas) Perry. On March 16, 1974, she became the wife of William Keith “Bill” Starr, Jr., to whom she married in Hartford City. Pat/Jo was employed as a surgical technician at Blackford County Hospital many years.  She...

Oreta Jane Ludwig HARTFORD CITY, IN—    Oreta Jane Ludwig, 91, passed away early Monday morning, March 18, 2024 at her home at Creekside addition, in Hartford City.    Born in Selma, on July 15, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Clarence DeVoe and Dorothy Grace (Conrad) Thornburg. She had attained her Associates degree in college and spent her working years as an accountant/bookkeeper.    She was an avid golfer, recording two holes-in-one, in this...

Robert L. Van Horn HARTFORD CITY, IN— Robert L. “Bob” Van Horn, 94, passed away Thursday afternoon, March 14, 2024 in the comforts of his own home. Bob was born in Muncie, on December 12, 1929, one of five children of the late Lester and Mary (Watson) Van Horn.  He was a 1948 graduate of Hartford City High School and proudly served his country in the United States Army, during the Korean War. On June 3, 1951, Bob married Elizabeth E. “Liz” (Brose) in...