Paula M. Hallaway

Paula M. Hallaway, 67, a lifetime resident of Wabash, passed away at 6:34 a.m. on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at her residence.  She was born on March 8, 1951 in Wabash to the late Paul N. and Marie (Chapman) Adams.

Paula married James E. Hallaway on March 3, 1973; he passed away on December 1, 1996.  Paula retired from Wabash County Hospital after 38 years of service.

She is survived by son, Shane (Becky) Blanton of Wabash; daughters, Lisa (Barry) Sodervick and Carisa Blanton both of Wabash; step-sons, Randy Hallaway of Alabama and Ricky Hallaway of Wabash; step-daughter, Tina (Mark) Sybrant of Florida; brother, Phil (Donna) Adams of Wabash; sisters, Pamela Sue (Dean) Starkey of Kokomo, Indiana and Dorothy Jean "Dink" Barr of Florida; grandchildren, Niko (Miranda) Macaluso, Marcus (Thomas) Blanton-Schaedel, Christin (Trent) Hoppes, Lakin McCord, Payton Sodervick, Josh (Brittany) Gilleland, Brianna Taylor, and Stephan Taylor, great-grandchildren, Thea Macaluso, Kinsley Hoppes and Aria Disney. Paula is preceded in death by brothers, Donald and Douglas Johnson. 

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 30, 2018 at McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992 with Pastor Tim Webb officiating. Burial will follow immediately at Memorial Lawns Cemetery, Wabash.  Visitation for family and friends will be from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at the funeral home. 

Preferred memorials are to the funeral home to offset funeral expenses. 

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com

Kenneth E. Wright

Kenneth E. Wright, 85, of Wabash, Indiana passed away on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 at Sage Bluff Health and Rehab Center in Fort Wayne.  

Kenneth was born on July 14, 1933 in Wabash, Indiana to Cecil and Dorothy Wright (Schad). He married Pat Persley on February 28, 1958. Kenneth retired from Northern Indiana Veterans Administration in Marion, Indiana. He also served in the United States Army.  

Kenneth is survived by his Wife, Pat Wright, Fort Wayne. Daughter; Michele C. Ilyas (Idrees) of Wabash, Indiana. Son; Michael (Sara) Wright of Wabash, Indiana. Sister; Velma L. Porter (Charles) of Wabash, Indiana. And four grandchildren; Jordan, Liam, Alexander, and Lauren.  He is preceded in death by his Parents.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 11, 2018 at McDonald Funeral Home, 104 S. Main Street LaFontaine, Indiana 46940. Burial will follow at Gardens of Memory in Huntington, Indiana. Visitation for family and friends will be one hour prior to the funeral service. Arrangements have been entrusted to McDonald Funeral Home, 104 S. Main Street LaFontaine, Indiana 46940. 

In lieu of flowers, preferred memorials are to be directed to American Legion Post No. 15 in Wabash, Indiana.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com

Lloyd "Buster" W. Hendry

Lloyd W. "Buster" Hendry, 74, of Wabash, passed away on Friday, August 3, 2018 at his son's home in Roanoke, Indiana.  He was born in Fulton County on January 13, 1944 to the late Wilson G. and Blanche (Fidner) Hendry.  

Buster married Kathleen "Kitty" Patterson on April 16, 1966 and they had a loving, devoted and comical marriage for 52 years.  Buster served in the United States Army National Guard.  He retired from General Tire in Wabash.  Buster was a member of the National Garden Tractor Pullers Association and the United Steel Workers Union.  

Buster was a genius with engines, big or small, and could fix any engine, even when no one else could. He was an avid sports fan.  Buster was a very selfless and humble man and he was devoted to his wife, Kitty and to his family.  

Buster is survived by his wife; sons, Tim (Ashley) Hendry, Roanoke, Ted (Stephanie) Hendry, Fort Wayne; daughter, Dawn (Ken) Koger, Naperville, Illinois; six grandchildren, Deek, Lucy, Kori, Talon, Lily and Jett; sisters, Dorothy Trumbower, Fort Wayne, Carol (Bill) Yocum, Wabash, Margie Crick, and Jeanie (Joe) Daughtery, Wabash.  He is preceded in death by one brother and three sisters. 

Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 at McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992 with Father Tim Wrozek officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Lawns Cemetery in Wabash.  Visitation for family and friends will be on Tuesday, August 7, 2018 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.  

In lieu of flowers, preferred memorials are to be directed to Visiting Nurse Service and Hospice, 5910 Homestead Road, Fort Wayne, IN  46814 or to St. Bernard Catholic Church, 207 North Cass Street, Wabash, IN  46992. 

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com

Gertrude "Chris" Mason

Gertrude "Chris" Mason, 104, passed away on Thursday, August 2, 2018 at Covington Commons Assisted Living in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  

Chris was born on December 25, 1913 in Watseka, Illinois to the late John T. and Lou Rena (Boldman) Walsh.  Her family moved to Wabash in 1927 and she was a 1931 graduate of Linlawn High School.  She married Howard Persley at Wesleyan Methodist Parsonage in Wabash on June 25, 1934; he died August 18, 1949.  She then married Thomas Francis Mason on October 17, 1954 in Yuma, Arizona; he died on October 10, 1994.  Chris retired as a Federal Buyer at the Naval Electronics Lab in San Diego, California.  In 1995, Chris moved back to Wabash.  She attended Wabash Friends Church and was also a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. 

Chris is survived by daughter, Pat (Kenneth) Wright, Fort Wayne; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.  She is preceded in death by her son, Howard E. Persley and by three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. 

A graveside service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, August 6, 2018 at Friends Cemetery, Wabash, with Pastor David Philips officiating.  Arrangements have been entrusted to McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992.  

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com

Connie S. Benson

Connie S. Benson, 71, a lifetime resident of Wabash, passed away on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at her residence. She was born in Wabash on December 6, 1946 to the late John R. and Mary K. (Eltzroth) Dunphy.

Connie was a 1964 graduate of Wabash High School.  She was the former manager of Save On Store for ten years. 

Connie is survived by three daughters, Kelly (James) Hippensteel, Huntington, Shelly (Carl) Bayliss, and Wendy (Ron) Frazier both of Wabash; four grandchildren, Chris Bayliss, Indianapolis, Zac Frazier, Wyatt Frazier, both of Wabash and Taylor Hippensteel, Fort Wayne; and her companion cat, Lucy.  

A Celebration Life will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992. 

Preferred memorials are to be directed to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com

Father Sextus Don

Father Sextus Don, a native of Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), an island country off the southeast tip of India, was born on July 10, 1952 in Negombo, a large Catholic community that goes back to the time of the arrival of the Portuguese in 1500.  Wanting something different, his name was chosen by the family from the list of Popes, Sixtus and Telesphorus.  

As a young boy, he felt the calling to be a priest, often taking the part of a priest in childhood games.  The young Don attended Salesian Minor Seminary in Negombo, Sri Lanka from grade 7 to grade 10.  Then proceeded to India to continue his further studies for almost 10 years.  He was ordained on December 22, 1979, by the late Bishop Frank Marcus Fernando, Bishop of Chilaw in Negombo, Sri Lanka, at the age of 27. 

After his ordination, into the priesthood, Father Don was assigned as Administrator to the Salesian Minor Seminary in Kandy, Sri Lanka from 1979 to 1983.  From 1983 to 1987, he was in Rome, where he worked on his Masters in Science of Education.  In 1987, he was assigned as Rector of the Salesian Minor Seminary of Dankotuwa, Sri Lanka until 1992.

In 1992, Father Don came to the United States and was an Associate Pastor for four years at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Nyack, New York.  With the little Haitian Creole that he learned, he also served the Haitian community.  

Bishop John M. D'Arcy invited Father Don to the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in 1997.  Accepting the invitation, he was immediately assigned as Administrator of St. Paul of the Cross Parish in Columbia City, Indiana serving there for four years.  In late July 2001, Father Don was transferred to St. Bernard Church, Wabash until his death on Saturday, July 28, 2018.  

Father Don is survived by sister, Mariya Don (Tennyson) and their children, Johny, Ajani and Sujani; brother, Navil Don (Minon) and their children, Shean and Niki; brother, Christy Don (Piyanka) and their children, Rosheal and Chirsh; sister Rose Don (Niroshan) and their children, Rayne, Rolina Rolida and Rayen.

Father Don was a dedicated and humble teaching priest and being a Salesian, he had a natural love for children. He revitalized the Jail Ministry and was Chaplain for the Father Petitt Counsel,  Knights of Columbus, Wabash.  

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, August 10, 2018 at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 207 North Cass Street, Wabash, Indiana 46992 with Father Mark Gurtner Vicar General of The Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend, Indiana officiating. Burial will be at Fort Wayne Catholic Cemetery in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Visitation for family and friends will be on Thursday August 9, 2018 at St. Bernard Catholic Church from 2:00 pm until 6:45 pm with a Vigil service and Rosary Service to follow. 

In lieu of flowers, donations are to be made to St. Bernard Church, St. Bernard School or the Sri Lankan Children's Fund. Donations can be sent to St. Bernard's Church, 207 North Cass Street, Wabash, Indiana 46992. 

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com.   

Victor A. Parrett

Victor Asher Parrett, 74, a lifetime resident of Wabash, passed away at 12:53 p.m. on Thursday, July 19, 2018 at Parkview Dupont Regional Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

Victor was born on November 18, 1943 in Wabash, Indiana to the late Jack and Maxine (Draper) Parrett.  He married Cheryl Barnes on June 27, 1965.

Victor served in the United States Army from 1960 to 1962 and was honorably discharged. He retired from the Dana Corporation, Marion, Indiana.  After retirement, he worked for North Central Co-Op, Wabash.  He was a member of the Warsaw Community Church.  Victor was very proud of the fact that he had been sober for 33 years. He enjoyed going to church, reading and cars.  He loved to mow the lawn, doing crossword puzzles and especially loved being with his family.    

Victor is survived by his wife, Cheryl; sons, Christopher (Heather) Parrett, Indianapolis, Fred (Kim) Parrett, Warsaw and Carey Parrett, Wabash; brother, Tom (Vickie) Parrett, Las Cruces, New Mexico; granddaughters, Crystal Parrett, Wabash, Tori Parrett and Nikki Parrett, both of Warsaw; grandson, Blake Parrett, Wabash; and great-granddaughter, Leigha Parrett.  He is preceded in death by daughter, Mia-Maree Burnham. 

Calling hours will be from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 26, 2018 at McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992.  There will be no services.

Preferred memorials are directed to McDonald Funeral Home for the family to offset funeral expenses

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com

Jean M. Smith

Jean M. Smith, 80, of Wabash, passed away at 4:48 p.m. on Sunday, July 15, 2018 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  

Jean was born on August 3, 1937 in Fort Wayne to the late Alton and Viola (Largent) Bauman.  She graduated from Leo High School in Leo, Indiana. Jean worked as a Homemaker and at American Stationary as a supervisor and she was a member of the First Christian Church in Peru, Indiana.

Jean loved her family and friends always putting her family's and friends' needs before her own and she loved all of them unconditionally.  

Jean is survived by one son, Jeffrey (Holly) Smith, Peru; two daughters, Linnett (Jim) Ball, Wabash and Lisa Smith, Fort Wayne; niece, Karen Madsen, California; grandchildren, Jason Vollmuth, Fort Wayne, Lorna Vollmuth, California, Michael (Nicole) Ziner, Kentucky, Stephen (Tarah) Smith, Oklahoma, Gavin (Charissa) Ball, Plymouth, Indiana, Brooke Ball, Wabash, Derek Hughes, Huntington, Caty (Jake) Slusser, Fort Wayne, Emma Winkelman, Fort Wayne and Jordan (Brianne) Smith, Peru and seven great-grandchildren.  Jean is preceded in death by daughter, Julie K. Vollmuth, one brother, and a half-sister. 

A memorial service will be at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 19, 2018 at McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992 with Pastor Kenny Cole officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.  Burial will be at a later date at Leo Cemetery in Leo, Indiana.

Preferred memorials are directed to the Dallas L. Winchester Senior Center, 239 Bond Street, Wabash, IN  46992 or to F.I.S.H. Food Pantry, 770 1/2 West Hill Street, Wabash, IN  46992. 

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com