Shirley R. Epling

 

Shirley R. Epling 79, of Marion, Indiana formerly of Jonesboro, Indiana and Hinton, West Virginia passed away at 9:02 a.m. on Sunday, February 20, 2022, at York Place of Marion. She was born in Marion, Indiana on September 22, 1942, to Raymond and Helen (Pool) Lyons.

Shirley was a graduate of Marion High School. She served in the United States Army. She married Jason E. Epling on March 25, 1967. He passed away on February 24, 2018. She was affiliated with the Pisgah United Methodist Church in Hilldale, West Virginia and the Hanfield United Methodist Church in Marion, Indiana. Shirley was an avid reader. She also enjoyed bird watching and was a member of several bible studies. She enjoyed living in the mountains in WV. 

Shirley is survived by three daughters, Tammie (Greg) Burton of Wylie, Texas, Shannon (Eric) Shilts of Marion, Indiana, and Nicki (Terry) Jackson of Bluffton, Indiana, one brother, Ed Lyons of Marion, Indiana, one sister, Phyllis (Tim) Moss of Wabash, Indiana, six grandchildren, Bryce (Caitlin) Burton, Cassidi Burton, Zach (Morgan) Shilts, Zane Shilts, Lucas Shilts, and Morgan Shivley, and one great-granddaughter, Rylie Shilts. She is proceeded in death by her husband, Jason Epling, one daughter, Kristy Epling and one sister, Marilyn Lyons.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at LaFontaine Christian Church 202 Bruner Pike, LaFontaine, Indiana 46940, with Pastor Brad Wright officiating.  Burial will follow at Grant Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service starting at 12 noon until the time-of-service Saturday February 26, 2022, at the church.

McDonald Funeral Homes, LaFontaine Chapel, 104 South Main Street, LaFontaine, Indiana 46940, have been trusted with Shirley Epling's final arrangements.

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

John Michael Petro

John Michael Petro 75, of LaFontaine, Indiana passed away at 6:31 p.m. on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at Homestead Hospice Home in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was born on October 24, 1946, to Grant and Velma (Berry) Petro in Marion, Indiana.

John was a 1964 graduate of Southwood High School. He served in the United States Army from 1964 to 1967 in the Vietnam War Era and the Cold War Era. He married Sharon Powell on July 2, 1967. She survives. He worked at Stremell and Hill from 1967 to 1968, then at General Motors in Marion for 30 years from 1968 to 1998. He was a former licensed baseball umpire and licensed taxidermist. He was a metal detector enthusiast since 1970. He was a founding member of Metocinyah Long Rifles LaFontaine. Along with his father, he helped establish Mississinewa Battlefield Reenactment. He was also an APA Pool member. He was a member of the Independent Order of Oddfellow Lodge 533 in LaFontaine and UAW member 977. Upon retirement he mowed lawns and along with his brother, he processed firewood in the LaFontaine area. He was a former member of the LaFontaine Fire Department and former Fire Chief. John and his wife owned the LaFontaine Café from 1984 to 1989. He was a part time local Historian. He enjoyed repairing lawn mowers as a hobby.    

John is survived by his wife, Sharon Petro of LaFontaine, Indiana, one son, Josh Petro (Haley Duvall) of Marion, Indiana, one daughter, Tracy (Jerry) Woodward of Greenwood, South Carolina, one grandson, Brandon (Jessica) Woodward, one brother, Joseph (Cheryl) Petro of Wabash, Indiana, one sister, Pam (Jerry) Whitener of LaFontaine, Indiana, three great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He is proceeded in death by his parents, stepfather Tom Pearce, and one granddaughter Tabatha Ann Woodward.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at McDonald Funeral Homes, LaFontaine Chapel, 104 South Main Street, LaFontaine, Indiana 46940, with Pastor Brad Wright officiating.  Burial will follow at LaFontaine IOOF Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. Monday February 21, 2022, at the funeral home

McDonald Funeral Homes, LaFontaine Chapel, 104 South Main Street, LaFontaine, Indiana 46940, have been trusted with John Petro's final arrangements.

Preferred memorials are to LaFontaine IOOF Lodge #533 LaFontaine, Indiana 46940.

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

 

Donald J. Weaver

 

Donald J. Weaver 96, formerly of Fort Meyers Beach, Florida, currently of Wabash, Indiana passed away on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, at Wellbrooke of Wabash. He was born in Grant County, Indiana on February 6, 1926, to Dean W. and Helen (Owings) Weaver.

Donald was a 1944 graduate of Sweetser High School. He was a farmer and worked at Dana in Marion, Indiana. He was in the United States Army. He was a member of the Fort Wayne Shriners and a former member of the LaFontaine Lion’s Club.

Donald is survived by 10 nieces and nephews, one brother, Forrest Weaver of Marion, Indiana, Brother-in-law, Ronald Brewer of Marion, Indiana. He was proceeded in death by his parents, Dean and Helen Weaver, one brother, Wilfred Weaver, three sisters, Roberta Tinkle, Doris Blackburn, and Anna Belle Brewer.

Private graveside services will be at Grant Memorial Park Cemetery in Marion, Indiana.

McDonald Funeral Homes, LaFontaine Chapel, 104 South Main Street, LaFontaine, Indiana 46940, have been trusted with Donald Weaver's final arrangements.

Preferred memorials are to LaFontaine Lion’s Club.

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

Peggy J. Watson 60, of Wabash, Indiana passed away on Monday, February 14, 2022, at her residence. She was born in Marion, Indiana on December 26, 1961, to Noel and Mary (Jones) Williams.

Peggy married Jerry Lee Watson on November 28, 1987. He survives. Peggy was a volunteer at Helping Hands in Wabash, Indiana, and enjoyed crocheting.

Peggy is survived by her husband, Jerry Lee Watson of Wabash, Indiana, one son, Shawn Watson of Converse, Indiana, two daughters, Mrs. Robert (Jena) Sellers of Indianapolis, Indiana and Desy Watson of Bossier City, Louisiana, one stepson, Joe (Denise) Watson of Lynn, Indiana, one brother, Larry (Eva) Williams of LaFontaine, Indiana, two sisters, Shirley (David) Sarll of Wabash, Indiana, and Patty (Tim) Adkins of Silver Lake, Indiana, and two step grandchildren. She is proceeded in death by her parents and one sister.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 21, 2022, at McDonald Funeral Homes, LaFontaine Chapel, 104 South Main Street, LaFontaine, Indiana 46940, with Tonya Dieffenbach officiating.  Burial will follow at LaFontaine IOOF Cemetery.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service starting at 10 a.m. Monday February 21, 2022, at the funeral home.

McDonald Funeral Homes, LaFontaine Chapel, 104 South Main Street, LaFontaine, Indiana 46940, have been trusted with Peggy Watson's final arrangements.

Preferred memorials are to Helping Hands of Wabash, Indiana.

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

 

Diana Faye Backus

 

Diana Faye Backus, 69, of North Webster, Indiana passed away at 1:36 p.m. on Friday, February 11, 2022, at her residence in North Webster, Indiana. She was born to William and Faye (Collins) Sopher on April 22, 1952, in Wabash, Indiana.

Diana was a 1970 graduate of Wabash High School. She married Dan Backus July 4, 1976. He passed away April 2010. She worked at Jellystone Park Camp Resort in Pierceton, Indiana. Diana loved to go shopping, enjoyed camping, cooking, gardening, and most of all loved her family and her grandchildren, and her sweet dog, Baby.

Diana is survived by her mother, Faye Sopher of Wabash, Indiana, one son, Bret (Jeanna) of Mentone, Indiana, three daughters, Felicia Baker of Syracuse, Indiana, Angela Backus of North Webster, Indiana, and Krista (Luke) Bradley of Rochester, Indiana, 16 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, one brother, Billy Sopher of Wabash, Indiana.  She was proceeded in death by her father, William Sopher, and husband, Dan Backus.

Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 17, 2022, at McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992 with Pastor Brad Wright officiating. Burial will follow at Falls Cemetery in Wabash, Indiana.

Visitation for family and friends will be 2 hours prior to the funeral service from 11-1 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.

McDonald Funeral Homes, Wabash Chapel, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992, have been trusted with Diana Backus’s final arrangements.

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

Dharma Klug

 

Dharma Walls Klug, 23, of Wabash, Indiana passed away at 7:27 a.m. on Monday, February 7, 2022, at her residence. She was born to James and Tiffany (Walls) Badman on June 13, 1998, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Dharma was a 2016 graduate of Wabash High School.

Dharma is survived by her son, Jase Reed of Wabash, Indiana, maternal grandparents, Richard (Kathy) Hubbard of Wabash, Indiana, one uncle, Justin Walls of Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2 brothers, Dylan Klug and Shawn Learned of Wabash, Indiana, 2 sisters, Kadance Klug and Isabelle Learned of Wabash, Indiana. She was proceeded in death by her parents, James and Tiffany Badman, her grandfather, William Klug, and the father of her son, Tre Reed.  

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 12, 2022, at McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992 with Danny Honeycutt officiating. Burial will follow at Falls Cemetery in Wabash, Indiana.

Visitation for family and friends will be 2 hours prior to the funeral service from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.

McDonald Funeral Homes, Wabash Chapel, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992, have been trusted with Dharma Klug’s final arrangements.

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

Raymond Allen Sweet

 

Raymond Allen Sweet, 77, of Peabody, North Manchester passed away at Parkview Regional Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana on February 5, 2022. He was born in Huntington, Indiana on October 3, 1944, to Raymond Edward and Mildred (Stuart) Sweet.

Raymond was a graduate of Manchester College. After college he joined the Peace Corps and served in Ecuador and Ghana, West Africa. He taught Science in Tampa, Florida with the Teacher Corps and later on the Choctaw Indian Reservation in Philadelphia, MS. He was an entomologist and loved collecting and instructing others about the benefits of insects. In retirement he enjoyed gardening, playing chess, watching sports; especially the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, and the Kansas State Wildcats; but most of all he enjoyed cheering on the Manchester Squires’ Wrestling Team. He loved and was appreciative of the family of nurses and caregivers at Peabody in North Manchester.

Raymond is survived by his son, Byron (Dusti) Sweet of Macy, Indiana, and sister, Brenda Dickey of Marion, Indiana. He was proceeded in death by his parents and brother, Larry Sweet.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 11, 2022, at Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery in Huntington, Indiana.

Preferred memorials are to be directed to the Manchester Squire Wrestling Team.

McDonald Funeral Homes, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana, 46992, have been trusted with Raymond Sweets’ final arrangements.

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