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Robert E. McMillen
SOUTH BEND — Robert E. McMillen, 72, of South Bend, died at 4:50am on Saturday, April
28, 2007, in Memorial Hospital.
He is survived by his wife, Theresa (Kotolinski); children: Michael (Lora) McMillen of Plymouth,
Peggy (Randy) Lowery of Nappanee and Penny (Michael) Singleton of Mishawaka; four
grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; brother, Bruce (Beverly) McMillen of South Bend; and
sister-in-law, Mary McMillen of Anderson.
Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 3, 2007 in St. Joseph Funeral Home, South
Bend, where a Rosary will be prayed at 4 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10
a.m. on Friday, May 4, 2007, in St. Casimir Catholic Church.
Burial will follow in Southlawn cemetery, South Bend.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Hospital.
Billy E. Starr
GRANGER — Billy E. Starr, 82, died at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, on Sunday morning,
April 29, 2007. Bill was a resident of Granger since his retirement from Associates Inc. in 1989.
Bill was born in Greenville, Ohio, where he graduated from high school before entering Ohio
State University. A medic in the U.S. Army, he served in the European theater of World War II
and received a Purple Heart in Belgium. He was married
to the former Marilyn Louise Mangas
from 1945 until her death in January, 2006. He worked in the family dairy business in Union City,
Ohio until joining Associates Financial Corp. in 1963, where he spent the remainder of his
working career in Marion, Fort Wayne, South Bend and finally at corporate headquarters in
Chicago in 1984.
Bill was an avid fisherman and enjoyed golf and bridge. He and his son Jeff shared many fishing
trips to the Canadian wilderness. He was loved for his energy, enthusiasm and warmth and will
be so missed. His family has so many wonderful memories of him.
Bill is survived by his daughter, Cathy (Martin B.) Klaus in Cincinnati, Ohio; son, Jeffrey (Jan
Anthony) Starr in Plymouth; four grandchildren: Krista Liotta in Philadelphia, Pa., Marty Klaus in
Warren, Ohio and Alexandria and Garrett Starr in Plymouth. He has three great-grandchildren:
Kate Liotta, and Emily and M. Benjamin Klaus. Also surviving is his brother Eugene (Mary Jean)
Starr in Dayton, Ohio.
A memorial service for Bill will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 2 in the Welsheimer Family
Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road, South Bend, where friends may call one hour prior
to services. Cremation will take place in the Welsheimer Crematory, South Bend.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Regency Place of South Bend for a memorial in
Bill’s name, to be established at a later date, in care of Jeffrey Starr, 1435 N. Michigan, Suite 4A,
Plymouth, IN 46563.
Herman Devane Mathews
ROCHESTER — Herman Devane Mathews of Rochester, 87, died on Monday, April 30.
He is survived by his wife, Charlotte; sons: Charles (Golnaz) Mathews of Fort Wayne and Jim
Mathews and Connie Charles of South Bend; daughters: Anne (Steve) Campbell of Indianapolis,
Jane (Rick) Van Loon of Gaston, Joyce Wagoner of Rochester and Susie (Tony) Terry of
Yorktown; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandson; brother, Ernest (Claire) Mathews of Lakeville;
and sister, Mildred (Harold) Meiser of Rochester.
Visitation is Wednesday, May 2 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Good Family Funeral Home, Rochester,
and one hour prior to services Thursday in the church. Funeral services are Thursday, May 3 at
11 a.m. at the Bethlehem Baptist Church, Rochester.
Burial will be at the Reichter cemetery where military graveside rites will be accorded to him by
the LeRoy Shelton American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Memorial gifts may be made to Hope Hospice of Fulton County or Bethlehem Baptist Church.
David Washburn Reid
ROCHESTER — David Washburn Reid, of Rochester, died on Monday, April 30 at home.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley of Rochester; daughters: Pamela (Keith) Handy of Lafayette,
Carla (Rick) Merrill of Apache Junction, Ariz. And Paula (Richard) Murphy of Rochester; two
grandchildren; six step-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren.
Visitation is Saturday, May 5 from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Good Family Funeral Home,
Rochester.
Funeral services are Saturday, May 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will be at the Goodland cemetery, Goodland. A graveside service will be held on Sunday,
May 6 at 2 p.m.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Lester Lee Williams
PLYMOUTH — Lester Lee “Les” Williams, 79, an area resident most of his life, died of natural
causes in Pilgrim Manor Nursing Home at 5:10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 2, 2007.
Les was born in Newport, Arkansas, on June 19, 1927, the son of Ed F. Williams, a full-blooded
Cherokee Indian and Hildred Scudders Williams.
He was first married
to Maggie Burnham. She died in September of 1961. He was married
in
Plymouth on May 6, 1994, to Linda Rhoades Wilcox.
Retired from Bendix in South Bend, he then worked at Fairmont Homes in Nappanee.
Les loved being a farmer. He enjoyed animals and growing flowers in his garden.
He was a devoted grandfather and adored his grandchildren.
Les is survived by his spouse, Linda, and by his five daughters. They are Linda (Ed) Barcus of
Plymouth, Margaret (John) Holderman of Plymouth, Judie Lamb of Anderson, Karen (Garry)
King of Knox and Connie (Johnnie) Hite of Talma.
Also surviving are three stepdaughters and three stepsons. The step-daughters are: Cindy
(Ron) Burch of Tyner, Pam Pinkowski of Plymouth and Cindy Spence of Culver.
The stepsons are: Steve (Kay) Forsythe of Heber Springs, Ark., David Forsythe of Milford and
David Wilcox of Plymouth.
Nineteen grandsons, 11 granddaughters, numerous great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson
survive as well.
Les was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, a daughter, Mary Spore and two sons,
Kenneth and Ricky Williams.
Friends will be welcomed to celebrate Les’ life with his family on Friday, May 4, 2007, from 4 to 7
p.m. in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
Funeral services for Les will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 5, 2007, in the funeral home.
The Rev. Mark Cottrill, pastor of the United Pentecostal Church of Bourbon, will officiate.
Burial will be in the Bremen cemetery, Bremen.
Memorial gifts in Les’ memory may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Roscoe F. Beerwert
CULVER — Roscoe F. Beerwert, 79, of Culver, died at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 3 at Beverly
Living Center, Knox.
He is survived by a brother, William Miller of Elkhart; and sisters: Alice (Don) Lutz of Culver,
Catherine Herrell of Rochester and Frances Smith of Winamac.
There will be no services.
The Bonine-Odom Funeral Home, Culver, is in charge of the arrangements.
Richard James Benefiel
PLYMOUTH — Richard (Dick) James Benefiel, age 74, Plymouth, passed away at his home
Thursday morning, May 3. Born Oct. 24, 1932, in Alexandria, Ind., Richard has spent most of his
life in Plymouth, moving here in 1968. Richard married
Virginia A. (Anthrop), in 1957, at
Lafayette, and she survives.
Richard earned his BA and Masters in Music from the School of Music at Indiana University,
Bloomington. Prior to 1968, Richard was the band director at LaVille High School and in LaPaz.
In 1968, he began his long and rewarding career as the Band Director at Plymouth High School
and Lincoln Junior High until his retirement in 1990. Although music was the vehicle in which he
touched so many lives throughout his career, he valued most his family and his country. He
served in the United States Airforce, where he was stationed in Wichita Falls, Texas, with the
761st Air Force Band. His music career took him numerous places throughout his life and
afforded him the opportunity to meet many people and touch many lives. In 1975, Dick was
honored by Governor Otis R. Bowen as an Indiana Ambassador to Mexico. He inaugurated the
first “Big Red Band” Variety Show in 1977. This weekend marks the 30th anniversary of a
remarkable tradition. In 1986, and then again in 1995, Dick was the Grand Marshal of the
Plymouth Blueberry Festival Parade. Richard served as President of the Plymouth Arts
Commission in 1975-76 and is one of several co-founders of the organization. He is also a past
Commander of the Plymouth American Legion.
Richard attended the First United Methodist Church, was a long-time active member of the
Plymouth American Legion Post #27, and a member of the Masonic Lodge 275 in Alexandria.
Richard was proceeded in death by his parents Herman Benefiel and Thelma Gronback
Benefiel. Surviving is one sister, Reanelle Heritage and husband William of Alexandria; and one
brother, Robert Benefiel and wife Louise of Alexandria. Richard's three children also survive:
Paula Neidlinger, husband Mike, and their two children Alyson and Nicholas of Plymouth; two
sons, David Benefiel of Plymouth; and John Benefiel, wife Barbara, and step-son Aaron of
Lafayette.
Visitation is Sunday, May 6, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Van Gilder Funeral Home at 300 W. Madison St.,
Plymouth.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday, May 7, at 10:30 a.m. at Van Gilder Funeral Home
with Reverend Dean Fager and Sam Boys officiating.
Burial will be at the New Oak Hill cemetery in Plymouth and Military Funeral Honors will be given
to Richard by the American Legion Post # 27 of Plymouth. Memorials are asked to be sent to
Hospice of Marshall County, American Legion Post #27 in Plymouth, and the First United
Methodist Church Music Fund of Plymouth.
Ralph J. Fox
MONTEREY — Ralph J. Fox, 76, of Monterey, died Friday, May 4 at Indiana University Medical Center.
He is survived by his wife, Christine M. Fox of Monterey; daughters: Victoria E. Fox of Vista,
Calif., Ann K. and Dennis Plummer of Post. St. Lucie, Fla., Sarah J. Fox of Kokomo and Angela
and Chuck Arnett of Destin, Fla.; and sons: Ronald J. and Thelma Fox of Leiters Ford and
Randall J. and Arietta Fox of Wesley Chapel, Fla.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Frain Mortuary, Winamac.
Services will be at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Monterey on Wednesday at ‘0 a.m. with the
Rev. Bert Woolson and Father Thomas Fox officiating, with Msgr. Robert Sell III.
Burial will be at St. Anne’s cemetery, Monterey.
Caryl D. Eckert
BREMEN — Caryl D. Eckert, 74, of Bremen, died Saturday, May 5 at ‘0:58 a.m. at St. Joseph
Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka.
On Sept. ‘6, ‘932, he was born to Elmer and Frances (Knepper) Eckert. On Oct. ‘2, ‘963, he
married
Anita Young in Bourbon. She survives.
He was a lifetime area resident and was owner/operator of Delivery Systems of Bremen. Caryl
was also a school bus driver for the Bremen Public Schools for 27 years.
He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Bremen and was a former fireman for
the Lake of the Woods Volunteer Fire Department. He was a U.S. Army Veteran.
Surviving Caryl along with his wife, Anita of Bremen, is one daughter: Beth and Michael Huppert
of Bremen; one son, Michael and Diana Eckert of Indianapolis; five grandchildren: Mitchell and
Chelsea Huppert and Jacob, Luke and Cole Eckert; one sister, Anna Marie and Jay Yarger of
Carmel and one brother, Robert and Janet Eckert of South Bend.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Mishler Funeral Home, Bremen.
Services will be Wednesday at ‘0:30 a.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 323 N.
Montgomery St., Bremen, with the Rev. William Garver officiating.
Burial will be at Bremen cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Grace United Methodist Church or Lake of the
Woods Property Owners Association.
