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Ernie Edward Walls
Died: Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Age: 80
Ernie Edward Walls, 80, of Van Wert died at 5:10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2003, at Vancrest Health Care Center, Van Wert.
He was born Jan. 25, 1923, in Lima, the son of the late Manford J. and Effie (Fulkner) Walls. On Nov. 18, 1944, he married Bonita Isabelle Anderson, who preceded him in death on June 23, 2003.
Mr. Walls was a retired truck driver and a realtor for Merl Knittle Real Estate. A 1942 graduate of Hoaglin- Jackson High School, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of Calvary Evangelical Church, Van Wert, American Legion Post 178 in Van Wert and the Van Wert Eagles Aerie.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert W. Walls.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home, Van Wert, the Rev. Raymond E. Feeck of Calvary Evangelical Church officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery, Ridge Township.
Visitation is an hour prior to service time Thursday at the funeral home.
Jesse Lee Searight
Died: Monday, October 20, 2003
Age: 83
CELINA — Jesse Lee Searight, 83, of Celina died at 3:24 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, 2003, at Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater.
He was born April 12, 1920, in Tama, the son of the late James Edward and Bessie Jennie Gordon Searight. On Sept. 14, 1946, he married Mamie Josephine Nuding, who survives.
Mr. Searight, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, retired from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in St. Marys after more than 35 years of service there.
Other survivors include:
Son — Ron (Lisa) Searight of Rockford
Daughter — Jean Ireland of Rockford
Two grandchildren, Brent Ireland and Sheena Searight, also survive.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Frank, Forrest, Fred and Charles, three sisters, Gladys Murlin, Wilma Swander and Margarite Carr, and one grandson.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Mt. Tabor Church of God, Celina, the Rev. Jim Keiser officiating. Burial will be in North Grove Cemetery, Celina, with 
military rites conducted by the Celina Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. today at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home, Rockford, and an hour prior to service Thursday at the church.
David Kennedy Riley
Died: Sunday, October 19, 2003
Age: 56
CELINA — David Kennedy Riley, 56, of Celina died at 2:40 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, 2003, at Ohio State University Hospital.
He was born Feb. 13, 1947, in Celina, the son of the late Roscoe David Riley and Helen (Kennedy) Kennedy. On Aug. 17, 1968, he married Barbara Davis, who preceded him in death.
Mr. Riley was CEO of Community First Bank in Celina.
Survivors include:
Son — Ashley Brian Riley of Owensboro, Ky.
Daughter — Elizabeth Marie (Erik) Riley-Newell of Celina
Sister — Margaret (Ned) Riley Wertz of Dover
One grandchild, Kennedy Elizabeth Newell, also survives in Celina
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Lehman Funeral Home, Celina, Deacon Virgil Lochtefeld officiating. Burial will be in North Grove Cemetery, Celina.
Calling hours are 5-9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Roberta A. Walker
Died: Friday, July 25, 2003
Age: 67
MARBLEHEAD — Roberta A. "Robbi" Walker, 67, of Marblehead, Ohio, and formerly of Bay Village, Ohio, died Friday, July 25, 2003, at her residence.
She was born March 27, 1936, in Van Wert, the daughter of the late Robert S. and Violetta (Todd) Helman. On March 5, 1960, she married Ronald H. Walker, who survives.
Mrs. Walker was an estate liquidator on the west side of Cleveland operating as TWIXT-TWO Liquidators. She was active in the liquidator business along with her daughter-in-law, Kathleen, until her death on Friday. She was considered an expert appraiser in the Cleveland area. She and her two partners opened her first antique store, TWIXT-TWO, in 1967. She loved her work and taught classes in antiques and spoke at many area functions about antiques. She was a member of Alpha-Delta-Pi Sorority, she gave freely of her time to Rose Hill Museum and the Bay Seniors Group. She enjoyed traveling and spending time with her family. Prior to her business career, she taught school in Avon, Olmsted Falls and Strongsville school systems.
Other survivors include her son, Michael S. (Kathleen) of Sheffield Lake, and their children, Colleen, Matthew, Sharon, Michael, Christopher, Patrick and Sarah, and five great-grandchildren; daughter, Janet L. Cox of Fairview Park and her children, Brian, Amanda, Jason and Jack.
Services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at Dwyer Center, 300 Bryson Lane, Bay Village, Ohio 44140, the Rev. Dr. Jack Ziegler officiating.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to Stein Hospice, 1200 Sycamore Lane, Sandusky, OH 44870; Greater Cleveland Alanon Family Group, 75 Public Square, Suite 701, Cleveland, OH 44113; Rose Hill Museum, 27715 Lake Road, Bay Village, OH 44140.
Arrangements were handled by Neidecker-LeVeck & Crosser Funeral Home, Peninsula Chapel, Lakeside - Marblehead, Ohio.
Jeanette M. Hamel
Died: Friday, July 25, 2003
Age: 78
ELIDA — Jeanette M. "Jean" Hamel, 78, of Elida died at 12:18 p.m. Friday, July 25, 2003 at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
She was born Oct. 17, 1924 in Ottawa, the daughter of the late Herman and Mary (Palte) Ricker. On Aug. 24, 1946, she married Harold "Shorty" Hamel, who preceded her in death on Sept. 25, 1997.
Survivors include:
Sons — John (Becky) Hamel of Columbus Grove, Donald (Christine) Hamel of Brunswick, Robert (Barbara) Hamel of Ft. Jennings, Michael (Jean) Hamel of Glandorf and James (Kristin) Hamel of Van Wert.
Daughters — Ann Hamel of Indianapolis, Ind., Doris (Mike) Nichols of Ft. Jennings, Elizabeth Paschall of Lincolnton, N.C., and Sandra Hamel of Columbus.
Twenty-three grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren also survive.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Jeanette Hamel; a grandson; and a son-in-law, David Paschall.
Mrs. Hamel was a homemaker.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today at St. Charles Catholic Church in Lima with Father Bill Rose officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery in Glandorf.
James E. Williamson
Died: Friday, July 25, 2003
Age: 72
CECIL — James E. "Jim" Williamson, 72, of Cecil died at 8:12 a.m. July 25, 2003 at Parkview Hospital in Ft. Wayne. He was born June 6, 1931, in Van Wert, the son of the late Gerald C. Williamson and Sarah Anna Blackman.
On Jan. 27, 1951, he married Doris Mohler, who survives. He was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church in Cecil.
Other survivors include two sisters, Mary Weck of Van Wert and Doris Taylor of Ottawa; three sons, Randy, Mark and Brian, all of Antwerp and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, Gene.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 28, 2003, at Antwerp United Methodist Church, the Rev. Charles Schmunk officiating. Friends may call from 2-8 p.m. Sunday at Dooley Funeral Home in Antwerp and one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will take place in the Bethel Cemetery in Cecil.
Karen May Deavel
Died: Friday, July 25, 2003
Age: 63
Karen May (Sowers) Deavel, 63, of Collier Street in Bremen, Ind. died at 5:40 a.m. on Friday, July 25, 2003 at Miller's Merry Manor in Plymouth, Ind. after a lengthy illness. She was born Aug. 17, 1939, in Lapaz, Marshall County, Indiana, to the late Victor O. and Dollie M. (Holland) Sowers.
The family moved to Van Wert in the spring of 1948. Karen attended Van Wert Elementary and High School, graduating with the Class of 1957, where she was active in the choir and band. She was employed 14 years at the former Van Wert National Bank.
As a member of the First Baptist Church in Van Wert, she served as a Sunday School teacher, and worked with the teens in youth fellowship, and was a member of the choir.
On May 15, 1971, she married R. Phil Deavel of Lapaz, Indiana, where they established their home, subsequently moving to their present home in Bremen. She is a member of the Michiana Covenant Church in South Bend, Ind.
She is survived by her husband and two sons, David (Cathy) Deavel of St. Paul, Minn. and Daniel (Jona) of St. Cloud, Minn.; a grandson, Gus, at home in St. Paul and a granddaughter, Lydia, at home in St. Cloud. She is also survived by four brothers, Victor Sowers of Greenville, S.C.; Everett (Roberta) Sowers of Leesburg, Ind.; Blaine (Esther) Sowers of Leo, Ind. and Lowell (Liz) Sowers of South Bend, Ind. She is also survived by a sister, Myrna (Willie) Hernandez of Van Wert; two sisters-in-law, Jeanette Sowers of Ft. Wayne, Ind. and Shirley (Don) Madden of Vacavillo, Calif. Two brother-in-laws also survive, Gary Deavel of Traverse City, Mich. and James (Arlene) Deavel of Auburn, Wash.
Her parents, a sister, Margaret Nicklas and a brother, Marvin Sowers, and two sisters-in-law, Frances Sowers and Deane Marshall preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 28, 2003 at the Grace Fellowship Church in Bremen, with Rev. Peter Wallace officiating. Burial will take place in the Fair Cemetery in Liberty Township, North Liberty. Friends may call from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, July 27 at the Mishler Funeral Home in Bremen and one hour prior to services on Monday at the church. Memorials may be given at the donor's choice.
