Ruby A. Wright

Ruby A. Wright, 93, formerly of LaFontaine, passed away at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 28, 2019 at Ossian Health and Rehabilitation Center in Ossian.  She was born June 11, 1926, in Marion, Indiana, to the late Charles and Alice Ferguson.

Ruby married James E. Wright in 1946; he passed away in 1993.  She retired from Foster Forbes Glass Company in Marion, Indiana and then went to work at Walmart, retiring at the age of 81.  Ruby was a member of the Liberty Baptist Church in Sweetser, Indiana.  

Ruby is survived by three sons, Richard Wright, of LaFontaine, Donald (Cathy) Wright, of Fort Wayne and James (Debbie) Wright, of Mesa, Arizona; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters. 

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 2, 2019 at McDonald Funeral Home, 104 South Main Street, LaFontaine, Indiana 46940.  Pastor Terry Bishir will be the officiant. Burial will follow at Grant Memorial Park in Marion, Indiana.  Calling will be one hour prior to the funeral service starting at 9:30 a.m., at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials are to Heart to Heart Hospice, 7221 Engle Road, Suite 100, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46804. 

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

Dolores Jean Snyder

Dolores Jean Snyder, 89, a lifetime resident of LaFontaine, passed away at 6:55 a.m., on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at Wabash Parkview Hospital.  She was born in LaFontaine, Indiana on October 11, 1929 to the late John S. and Leona (Beidel) Thompson. 

Dolores was a 1947 graduate of LaFontaine High School and attended Fort Wayne Business College.  She married John William Snyder on July 5, 1948; he passed away on December 12, 2014.  Dolores was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and Christian. She was an avid sewer, quilter, gardener and cared for several foster children. 

Dolores was a devoted member of the Boundary Line Church of Christ and currently a member of the Woodland Hills Church of Christ in Marion.  She was a member of Topps Club and the Riverside Home Extension Club.

Dolores is survived by six of her seven children; son, David (Tresa) Snyder, Lenoir City, TN; daughter, Holly Snyder, LaFontaine; daughter, Susan (Keith) Sailors, Wabash; daughter, Jean (Jeff) Whitmer, Wabash; son, Jeff (Bill) Snyder, Sebastopol, CA; daughter, Rebecca (Curtus) Walker, LaFontaine; 18 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; several step-grandchildren; sister, Kay White, Roann and many loving family members.  She was preceded in death by her husband, John; son, Dennis Joe Snyder and brothers, Robert and Richard Thompson.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at McDonald Funeral Home, 104 South Main Street, LaFontaine. Burial will follow immediately at LaFontaine IOOF Cemetery. 

Calling hours will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, July 29, 2019 at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials are directed to Indiana Organ Procurement Association (IOPA), 3760 Guion Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46222 or the charity of your choice.

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

Richard "Alex" Watkins

Richard "Alex" Watkins, 31, of Wabash, was taken suddenly, on Monday, July 15, 2019 at 10:58 p.m.  He was born in Wabash, on January 27, 1988 to Donald and Elizabeth (Wallace) Watkins.

Alex was a 2006 Wabash High School graduate.  He was an avid sports fan, especially when it came to baseball and basketball.  Alex had recently started pitching to his son's t-ball team, which he enjoyed very much and anticipated many seasons to come.  He also enjoyed biking.

Alex was always trying to make everyone around him smile. His sense of humor was one of a kind.  Alex was happy with the simple things in life. Somehow material things were not important to him.  He will be remembered for his love of family, sense of humor and self-assured, free spirit. 

Alex leaves behind many who loved him and is survived by son, Quentin Watkins; parents, Donald and Elizabeth Watkins; two sisters, Katie Watkins and Audra Watkins; nephew Jakobe Hannah; niece, Khloe Hannah; maternal grandparents, Richard and Donna Wallace, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins, all of Wabash.  Alex was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Donald and Loraine Watkins.

Private services, for close family and friends, will be held at a later date.

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

Edison "Dean" Smith

Edison "Dean" Smith, born September 30, 1949 in Floyd County, Kentucky, passed away on July 5, 2019 at 8:20 a.m., at Parkview Randallia Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana, after a short illness with cancer. 

He was the son of Henry and Dulcie Smith, Floyd County, Kentucky, who preceded him in death.

He married Louise (Cooper) Smith on July 20, 1970, who also preceded him in death on February 25, 2007. 

He retired from Wabash Alloys in March of 2005. 

Dean is survived by two half-sisters, Nancy Snavely, of Tennessee, and Diana Parsons, of Indiana.  He is also survived by three brothers, Elmer Griffey, of Wabash, Indiana, Moses Griffey, Ligionier, Indiana and George Griffey, of Prestonburg, Kentucky.  Also surviving are two step-daughters, Mary Frank and Becky Ritter, of Macy, Indiana; one step-son, Tony Nelson, of Wabash, Indiana; one step-granddaughter, Jennie Barshney and six step-grandsons, Lance, Frank Jr., Jason, Chad Nelson, David and John.

He was preceded in death by brothers Henry Griffey, of Clearwater, Florida, Paul Griffey, of Prestonburg, Kentucky, Ester Griffey, of Wabash, Indiana, Ellis Griffey, of Roann, Indiana, and six sisters also preceded him in death, Marie Skeens,of Floyd County, Kentucky, Martha Jane Murpy, of Prestonburg, Kentucky, Ruth Blankenship, of Pikeville, Kentucky, Lydia Dye and Dora Alice Dials, both of Wabash, Indiana.

Dean also leaves a host of nieces and nephews. 

Dean, as the family called him, loved to fish, garden and visit with family.  He attended Christian Heritage Church, of Wabash, Indiana.  He will truly be missed by family and friends. 

Per Dean's request, there will be no viewing or funeral services.  A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Funeral services 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

Thomas R. Nance

Thomas R. "Ray" Nance, 73, of Wabash, passed away at 1:35 a.m., on Sunday, June 30, 2019, at Miller's Merry Manor - East in Wabash.  Ray was born on October 17, 1945, in Illinois, to the late Thomas Nance & Lola Reams.

Ray married Modelle Penix in 1993; she passed away on March 2, 2018. Ray retired from Grandstaff Rendering in North Manchester and then worked for Peabody in North Manchester. 

Ray is survived by step-son, John (Amy) Yoakum, of Wabash; step-daughter, Denise (Lewis) Barr, of Texas; brother, John Reams, of Illinois; sisters, Donna Reams, of Wabash and Patricia Kling, of Wabash; sister-in-law, Alberta Penix, of Wabash; brother-in-law, Danny Slone, of Wabash; step-grandchildren, Bailey and Rylee Yoakum; niece, Karen Myers, of Austin, Texas and nephew, Paul Slone, of Wabash.  He is preceded in death by one brother.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 5, 2019, at McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992. Pastor Ricky Tolley will be the officiant.  Burial will follow at Falls Cemetery, in Wabash.  Friends and family may call one hour prior to funeral services starting at 9:00 a.m.

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