Karen D. Hamilton

Karen D. Hamilton, 82, of Wabash, passed away at 1:25 p.m. on June 17, 2021, at Miller's Merry Manor - West in Wabash.  She was born in Teegarden, Indiana, on February 15, 1939, to the late Francis and Pearl P. (Lowery) Kring.

Karen was a 1957 graduate of Tyner High School.  She worked as a nurse’s aide at the Wabash County Hospital and in 1998, she retired after 39 years of service.  Karen was a member of the First Church of God in Wabash. 

Karen is survived by two brothers, Charles A. Kring, of Grovertown, Indiana and Leonard F. (Reva) Kring, of Branson, Missouri.  She is preceded in death by one sister, Evangeline Klingerman.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at McDonald Funeral Homes, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992.  Burial will follow at Tyner Cemetery in Tyner, Indiana.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral services, starting at 9:00 a.m., at the funeral home. 

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

 

Wendell L. Hart

Wendell L. Hart, 80, of Wabash, passed away at 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at his residence.  He was born in Morgan County, Indiana on December 30, 1940, to the late Loren Alvin Hart and Ruby (Tumey) Pryor.  Wendell married Marcia A. Allen on October 30, 1980; she survives.

Wendell served in the United States Marine Corp. He worked as a driver for Mile Post and Renzenberger.  He also was a self-employed carpenter.  

Wendell is survived by two sons, Wendell L. Hart, Jr., and Curtis Hart, both of Spencer, Indiana; two daughters, Arianne (Chris) Hargrove, of Fort Wayne and Dulcie Hart, of Washington, Indiana; four brothers, Dennis Hart, of Arizona, Dave Pryor, Kevin Pryor, and Richard Pryor, all of Martinsville; four sisters, Jenny Knowlton, Wanda Hickman, and Sandra Barnes, all of Martinsville, and Diana Petro, of Monrovia, Indiana; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by two daughters, Kelly Jo Snapp and Angel Allen; three siblings, Mary Jane Hart, Lawrence Pryor and Ida Louise Pryor. 

A public graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at New South Park Cemetery in Martinsville, Indiana.  

McDonald Funeral Homes, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992, has been entrusted with the arrangements of Wendell L. Hart.

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

Gary Albert Rice

Gary Albert Rice, 79, of Marion, Indiana, passed away at 8:11 p.m. on Friday, June 11, 2021, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.  He was born on August 16, 1941, in Wabash, to the late William A. and Dorothy J. (Wortley) Rice.

Gary was a 1959 Wabash High School graduate and a 1961 graduate of Lain Technical Institute.  Gary worked for fifteen years for Chrysler as a Diecast Engineer.  He also worked as a Diecast Engineer Manager for Auburn Diecast in Michigan, Allen Stevens Diecast in Pennsylvania, and Littlers Diecast in Albany.  After retiring as an engineer, he became a licensed relator in Muncie.

Gary was a member of the Society of Die Casting Engineers, Academy of Model Aeronautics, East Central Indiana Robotics of Matthews, Parents without Partners of Marion, Woodcraft Association in Wabash, and Apartment Association of East Central Indiana. He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Wabash and attended Unity Christian Church in Marion.

Gary is survived by his brother, Randall W. (Judy) Rice, of Saint College, Pennsylvania and his companion of the last seven years, Marilyn Bennett, of Marion.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 21, 2021, at McDonald Funeral Homes, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992 with Pastor Kevin Greenlee officiating.  Burial will follow at Speicher Cemetery in Urbana.

Calling for family and friends will be two hours prior to the funeral service, starting at 9:00 a.m., at the funeral home. 

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

Alfredo M. "Al" Rodriguez

Alfredo M. "Al" Rodriguez, 70, of Wabash, passed away at 8:18 a.m. at Parkview Huntington Hospital. 

Al was born on November 29, 1950 in Zapotlanejo, Mexico.  He worked as a chef, starting at Eugenia's at the Honeywell Center and he also worked for Ugaldes.  Al loved cooking, but what was most important to him was his grandchildren and spending time with them.  

Al is survived by one son, Jessie Rameriz; one daughter, Jessica Villanueva, both of Wabash; one sister, Delores Rodriguez, of Mexico and four grandchildren, Makenzie Krieger, Keegan Krieger, Kynlee Rameriz and Ashley Erb.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Linda (Steele) Rodriguez  and one son, Christopher Erb.   

A memorial service will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, June 14, 2021 at McDonald Funeral Homes, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992. 

Friends and family may call one hour prior to the service, starting at 5:00 p.m., at the funeral home. 

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

Beverly J. Howard

Beverly J. Howard, 90, of Marion, Indiana, passed away at 12:29 p.m. on Thursday, June 3, 2021 at Marion General Hospital.  She was born on February 28, 1931, in Wabash, to the late Henry G. and Evelyn (Darby) Rebholz.

Beverly married Myrval E. Howard on March 24, 1958; he passed away on March 2, 2003.  Beverly retired from Marion General Hospital and then she retired from Walmart. 

Beverly is survived by two sons, David (Linda) Howard, of Marion, and Doug (Shari) Howard, of Greenwood; one brother, Philip (Linda) Rebholz, of Amboy; one sister, Norma Young, of Greenwood; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.  

A private graveside service will be held at LaFontaine IOOF Cemetery. 

McDonald Funeral Homes, Wabash and LaFontaine, have been entrusted with Beverly's arrangements.

Preferred memorials are to the Marion-Grant County Humane Society, 505 South Miller Avenue, Marion, Indiana 46953. 

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

Gene Robert Kaufman

Gene Robert Kaufman, 85, of Andrews, passed away at 12:41 a.m. on Friday, May 7, 2021 at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne.  Gene was born in Huntington, Indiana on February 25, 1936 to Burlin and Josephine (Buse) Kaufman. 

Gene graduated from Huntington High School in 1954 where he wrestled, played basketball, football, track, and golf.

Gene graduated from Hanover College in Madison, Indiana with degrees in education and business.  He was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and played on the golf team.  While attending Hanover, he met, Joby, his wife of 60 years.  He worked as an assistant at Plymouth Country Club the summer after graduation, then returned to Huntington to teach school.  Gene taught bookkeeping, accounting, driver's education and started golf in the county schools.  Gene, Joby, and his parents designed, built, owned, and operated Etna Acres Golf Course for over 60 years.  They created an atmosphere where everyone felt like family. 

He was a proud 51-year member of the PGA of America.  In 2009, he was the recipient of the Indiana PGA Junior Leader Award and was recently chosen as the 2021 Indiana Section PGA Deacon Palmer Award winner.  He was also a Shriner, a member of the Wabash Chapter #90 Eastern Star, and a 50-year member of the Hanna Lodge #61 of Wabash.  

His love for the game of golf was infectious!  He loved to talk golf with everyone and always found time to help someone with their game.  Gene wore many hats at Etna Acres: golf professional, greenskeeper, superintendent, teacher, cook, merchandise salesman, and golf/life therapist...just to name a few.  Gene loved the golf course they created and would sometimes drive around looking at the course, having what he called a "religious experience".  He also loved following Southwood High School athletics, Purdue basketball and football. 

Etna Acres has been the location for numerous golf fundraisers through the years.  In lieu of flowers, if you have participated in one of those outings, please consider a donation to one of the charities.  A couple that he felt most passionate about included the Shriners Hospital and Folds of Honor. 

Joby and Gene raised two daughters at the course; JoDee (Gary) Dale, of Andrews and Jeannie (Bob) Stienke, of Wabash; grandchildren Devin (Kelli) Dale, of Wabash, Dayna Dale, of Andrews, Julia (Andrew) Wegeng, of Indianapolis and Rylan Porter, of Indianapolis.  He is preceded in death by his wife, Joby, who passed on April 16, 2020. 

A celebration of life will be held for both Gene and Joby at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 14, 2021, at the Wabash Friends Church, 3563 South State Road 13, Wabash, Indiana 46992, with Pastor David Phillips officiating.  

Calling hours for friends and family will start at 2:00 p.m. and go until the time of the Celebration of Life at Wabash Friends Church.  

McDonald Funeral Homes, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992, has been entrusted with Gene Kaufman's arrangements. 

Michael T. Booth

Michael T. "Mikey" Booth, Sr., 48, a lifetime resident of Wabash, passed away at 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at his residence.  He was born on April 19, 1973 in Wabash to Paul E. and Sandra S. (McGinnis) Booth.

Mikey worked for many years as an electrician for Pell's Electric in Wabash.  He was a lifetime member and honored wearer of the blue coat, for Fellowship Degree of Honor, of the Wabash Moose Lodge #1175, where he served many seats including governor and as a district secretary.   He was also a former member of the Eagles Lodge in Wabash. 

Mikey loved being outdoors, listening to the old country classics and cookouts.  He especially loved his family and his dog, Spike.

Mikey is survived by his son, Michael T. Booth, Jr., of Arlington, Texas, his mother, Sandra Booth, of Wabash, two brothers, Paul E. Booth, Jr., of Kokomo, and William L. (Sandi) Booth, of Lagro; two sisters, Beverly (Chuck) Boyll, of Wabash, and Lisa (Tim) Davis, of Andrews.  He is preceded in death by his father, Paul.  

There will be a service, held at a later date, at the Wabash Moose Lodge #1195, to be announced later.  

McDonald Funeral Homes, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992 has been entrusted with Mike Booth's arrangements.

Preferred memorials are to McDonald Funeral Homes to help offset funeral expenses. 

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