Obituaries

May 26, 2019

Arlene J. Leatherman, 82, of Defiance died Sunday, May 26, 2019, at Community Health Professionals Area Inpatient Hospice Center of Defiance. She was born on May 18, 1937 in Muskegon, MI, the daughter of the late Clyde W. and Nellie R. (Tatro) Strayer. She attended school in Hesperia and Muskegon, MI. On July 13, 1955, she married Kenneth W. (Bill)...

May 26, 2019

Victoria Frances "Fran" Blake, 91, of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Sunday evening, May 26, 2019 at Kingsbury Place in Defiance. She was born on June 22, 1927 to Charles and Geneva (Roberts) Costanza in Chicago, Illinois. In 1945 she married Peter L. Blake, who preceded her in death in 1994. Fran was a member of  Trinity United Methodist...

May 24, 2019

David Lynn "Brownie"  Brown, 63, of Defiance, passed away on  May 24, 2019 at St. Vincent Mercy Hospital in Toledo, OH, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on July 12, 1955 to Paul "Skip" and Ginny (Mingie) Brown in Napoleon, OH.  David worked at the Water Treatment Plant for GM for 45 years.  In April 1990 he...

May 23, 2019

Juan A. "Tiny" Soliz, age 70 of Defiance, passed away on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at his home, surrounded by his family. He was born on April 27, 1949 to Rosendo and Estela (Jimenez) Soliz in Defiance, Ohio. He married Marlene (Bond) Soliz, who resides in Defiance. Juan proudly served our country in the U.S. Marines during the Vietnam...

May 20, 2019

David W. Bennett, age 63 of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 20, 2019 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was born on October 18, 1955 to the late William and Goldie (Ball) Bennett in Defiance, Ohio. Dave was a faithful member of St. John Lutheran Church, and he enjoyed his involvement as an Elder. He...

May 19, 2019

Branden Z. Bakle, age 34 of Montpelier, passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2019 at Community Health and Wellness Center Montpelier Hospital. He was born on January 7, 1985 to Randy and Rita (Baldridge) Bakle in Defiance, Ohio. Branden was a 2003 graduate of Patrick Henry High School. He worked at Campbell Soup Company, Pro Tec Chemical, and Pioneer...

May 19, 2019

Wanda Sue McCoy, age 63, of Continental, passed away on  Sunday, May 19, 2019, surrounded by her family at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on December 16, 1955 to Benjamin and Martha (Gregory) Blankenship in Springfield, Tennessee. Wanda graduated from Paulding High School, loved playing Bingo and cards, and she loved spending time with her...

May 18, 2019

Milo A. Crockett, age 86, of Ayersville, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center,surrounded by his family. He was born on November 25, 1932 to Pliny and Mathilda (Yackee) Crockett in Defiance County, Ohio. Milo was a 1950 graduate of Ayersville High School.  On July 21, 1951 he married Donna (Wolf)...

May 18, 2019

Mary Ruth Henry, age 85 of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at her home. She was born on April 29, 1934 to Irvin and Vella Mae Hickey in Morristown, Tennessee. Mary worked for several years at General Motors until her retirement in 1996. She established and maintained contact with numerous friends and colleagues from her years...

May 18, 2019

Joyce Johnson, of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at Hospice of NW Ohio in Toledo, Ohio.

She was born to Bruce and Harriet (Grommon) Strain 84 years ago. Joyce was a trailblazer, working at Toledo Trust as a trust officer, and retiring in 1999 from The State Bank and Trust Co. of Defiance. But...

May 16, 2019

Paul "Doug" Crocker, 69 of Defiance passed away Thursday, May 16, 2019 in his home.  Doug was born August 25, 1949 in Defiance, Ohio to Doral and Virginia (Endsley) Crocker.  He married Darlene Doenges on July 13, 1985 at North Mt. Zion Church in Continental.

Doug was a 1967 graduate of Defiance High School.  He was employed...

May 16, 2019

Linda Kay Sherry, age 66 of Defiance, passed away on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at her home in Defiance, surrounded by her family. She was born on June 27, 1952 to John and LaDonna (Allen) Smart in Fremont, Ohio. On February 20, 1971 she married Rev. William "Bill" Sherry, who resides in Defiance. Linda was a faithful member of...

May 15, 2019

Ila M. King, 87, of Defiance, passed away onWednesday evening, May 15, 2019 at Kingsbury Place in Defiance. She was born on July 17, 1931 to Guy and Orpha (Summerland) Johnston in North Creek, Ohio. In 1949 she married Frederick G. King, who preceded her in death in 2007. Ila attended Free Christian Church in Continental, and Church of...

May 13, 2019

Antonio V. Martinez, age 85 of Defiance, passed away on Monday evening, May 13, 2019 at Promedica Hospital of Defiance, surrounded by his family. He was born on May 27, 1933 to the late Norberto and Romana (Vasquez) Martinez in Brownsville, Texas. On June 30, 1954 he married Felipa (Cordero) Martinez, who preceded him in death on August 2,...

May 13, 2019

Imogene P. Young Leforgee, age 82, formerly of Defiance, passed away on Monday, May 13, 2019 in Tucson, Arizona. She was born on February 2, 1937 to Russell and Pearl (Sauer) Brecht in Holgate, Ohio. On July 20, 1958 she married Dallas L. Young,  Jr., who preceded her in death on September 23, 1997. On January 15, 2006 she...

May 12, 2019

Deanna L. Culp-Miller, 43, of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, May 12, 2019 at Mercy Defiance Hospital from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. She was born on October 9, 1975 to Dean and Fran (Posey) Culp in Defiance, Ohio. Deanna was a 1994 graduate of Defiance High School, and a graduate of Bowling Green State University. On June...

May 10, 2019

Cynthia Ann Holifield, 60, of Defiance, passed away on Friday, May 10, 2019 at The Toledo Hospital. She was born on June 26, 1958 to John and Shelby (Blevins) Black in Defiance, Ohio. In her leisure time she enjoyed playing bingo. Spending time with her family was always her priority. Cynthia will be sadly missed by her three daughters,...

May 10, 2019

Charlotte E. Warncke, 91, Defiance, passed away Friday, May 10, 2019 at Defiance CHP Inpatient Hospice Center.

Charlotte was born February 4, 1928, in Waterville, Ohio, to John and Ruth (Stebel) Heilmann. She married Raymond E. Warncke on March 28, 1948, at Zion Lutheran Church in Waterville.  Raymond preceded her in death on March 16, 2011. Charlotte...

May 9, 2019

Grace Padrutt Kallay passed away peacefully on May 9, 2019 at Casey's Pond in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Grace was born on August 30, 1925 to Ernest and Alice Gredig Padrutt in Akron, Ohio.  She graduated from Kent State University with a teaching degree in history and accounting.  During World War II, she worked for the Army Map...

May 8, 2019

Kaylee R. Fouty, age 27 of Defiance, passed away on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at her residence in Defiance. She was born on December 7, 1991 to Jeffrey Fouty and Angela (Armbruster) Collins in Defiance. Kaylee was a 2010 graduate of Napoleon High School, and she worked at Defiance Metal Products in Defiance. Kaylee was a talented artist, she...