Obituaries

May 12, 2017

Albert "Bud" Ehlinger, 79 Years, of Defiance, passed away on  May 12, 2017 at CHP Hospice in Defiance, OH. He was born on August 14, 1937 to Robert and Dorothy (Schudel) Ehlinger in Defiacne, OH.  Bud was a veteran of the U.S.M.C. serving from 1954 - 1962.  He worked in the Maintenance Department at GM until retiring in1990.  On...

May 11, 2017

Paul William Finnegan, 73, of Gaylord, Michigan, and formerly of Defiance, passed away on Thursday, May 11, 2017 at Mercy Defiance Hospital. He was born on January 26, 1944 to William and Marie (Wilson) Finnegan in Melrose, Ohio. On March 27, 1965 he married Retha (Sherry) Finnegan, who preceded him in death on September 19, 2012. On  June 18,...

May 10, 2017

Janice M. (Winegardner) Mason, 71, Paulding, died at 2:07 a.m. Wednesday. May 10, 2017 at Defiance Regional Hospital. She was born November 20, 1945, in Lima, Ohio. Her parents, Lewis and Bette (Commers) Winegardner preceded her in death. She married Roy Mason Jr. on July 31, 1964. Janice was a housewife and loving mother of three children Julie (Mason) McGough,...

May 10, 2017

Farrell R. Shook, 78, of Defiance, peacefully passed away surrounded by his family on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at Brookview Healthcare Center in Defiance. He was born on August 24, 1938 to  James and Mamie (Williams) Shook in Clinchco, Virginia. On September 13, 1959 he married Marsha (Miller) Shook, who resides in Defiance.

Farrell worked for 42...

May 7, 2017

Herbert J. Fessel Herbert J. Fessel, 85, of Defiance, passed away Sunday evening, May 7th, 2017 at Twin Rivers Care & Rehabilitation Center. He was born in Defiance, Ohio on October 22, 1931, he was the son of the late Harry and Laurina (Goller) Fessel. He was a 1949 graduate of Defiance High School and served in the Navy from...

May 6, 2017

William H. Miller, Jr. William H. Miller, Jr., 90, of Defiance, beloved husband, grandfather, great grandfather, great great grandfather went to be with his Lord and Savior, Saturday, May 6th, 2017. Bill was born in Rossmore, West Virginia on February 12, 1927, he was the son of the late William H. and Emma Jane (Sartin) Miller. He was a member...

May 6, 2017

Ronald E. Gilmore, 62, of Defiance, passed away at his home on Saturday, May 6, 2017. He was born on April 3, 1955 to Harold and Florence (Ramseyer) Gilmore in Fremont, Ohio. On March 12, 1977 he married Kim  (Asher) Gilmore, who preceded him in death on August 25, 2014.  Ron retired from Universal Co-Op in Napoleon, after working...

May 5, 2017

Wayne Cooper, 93 , of Bryan, formerly of Defiance, passed away on  Friday, May 5, 2017 at Fountain Park Assisted Living in Bryan, Ohio. He was born on December 16, 1923 to Paul and Matilda (Watson) Cooper in Defiance County, Ohio. Wayne served our country in the U.S. Army during W.W.II from 1943 to 1946. On November 10, 1951...

May 2, 2017

James Eugene Gee, 59, of Defiance, passed away at his residence on Tuesday, May 2, 2017.

He was born on January 17, 1958 to Eugene and Alice (Hunt) Gee in Defiance. James was a "Master Craftsman" in carpentry, specializing in oak wood, and has made grandfather clocks, furniture, and has built several homes. He enjoyed crossword puzzles,...

May 1, 2017

John Salinas, 79, of Defiance, passed away at his home, surrounded by his loving family on Monday, May 1, 2017. He was born on December 15, 1937 in his home in New Braunfels, Texas, and was the seventh born to Vincent and Tomasa (Cisneros) Salinas. In Texas, on March 6, 1961 he married the love of his life, Mary...

Apr 29, 2017

Jenny Relyea Virginia K. 'Jenny' K. Relyea, 69, of Defiance, passed away Saturday, April 29th, 2017 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born in Defiance, Ohio on September 20, 1947, she was the daughter of the late Glen and Norma M. (Burkhart) Relyea. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, attended St. Mary's Catholic School...

Apr 29, 2017

Peggy Ann Higgins, 84, of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at her residence in Defiance.

She was born on January 10, 1933 to Bevis F. and Odeal (Pollock) Snider in Brunersburg, Ohio. On June 23, 1951 she married James Higgins, who preceded her in death on February 25, 1998. Peggy was a partner and...

Apr 27, 2017

Patricia A. Ryan, 89, of Defiance, passed away on  April 27, 2017 at the CHP In-Patient Hospice Center, Defiance. She was born on June 20, 1927 to Victor and Matilda (Goller) Hoeffel in Defiance, OH. Patricia worked as a hair dresser and was a homemaker.  On April 22, 1950 she married Robert J. Ryan. She was a member of...

Apr 23, 2017

Esther R. Bland, 92 , of Melrose, passed away on Sunday, April 23, 2017 at The Country Inn Enhanced Living Center in Paulding, Ohio. She was born on January 28, 1925 to Frank and Blanche (Wilson) Guyton in Paulding County. On October 1, 1948 she married Arnold C. Bland, who preceded her in death on April 24, 2008. Esther...

Apr 23, 2017

Joni Lynn Klima, 47, of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, April 23, 2017 at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio. She was born on October 5, 1969 to John and Julie (Folk) Smart in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. On October 4, 2002 she married Corey A. Klima, who resides in Defiance.  Joni attended Defiance Christian Church. She was...

Apr 22, 2017

G. Fredrick Connor, 70, of Defiance, passed away suddenly on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Promedica Defiance Regional Hospital. He was born on December 31, 1946 to Richard D. and A. Pauline (Mercer) Connor in Defiance. On December 26, 1980 he married Laura (Rath) Connor, who resides in Defiance. Fred was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church....

Apr 20, 2017

Bessie Mae Sparks-Phillips, 67, of Defiance, passed away on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at her residence in Defiance. She was born on January 26, 1950 to Flavis and Mary (Derry) Sparks in Osceola, Arkansas. She was a former member of Rock of Ages Church of God in Defiance. Bessie enjoyed dancing, gardening, and she loved family activities and events....

Apr 17, 2017

Kathy M. Miller Kathy M. Fey-Hamman Miller, 61, of Defiance, went to her heavenly home surrounded by her family, Monday, April 17th, 2017 at Toledo Hospital. She was born in Lexington Park Naval Base, Maryland on February 22, 1956, she was the daughter of Beulah (Fey) Bryant of Holgate and Dale Fey of Jacksonville, Florida. Kathy was a 1974 graduate...

Apr 15, 2017

Georgia Dillingham, 94, of Perrysburg, formerly of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, April 15, 2017 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Toledo, Ohio. She was born on February 15, 1923 to Orville and Charlotte Mae  (Hollabaugh) McCullough in Defiance. On May 1, 1948 she married Elmo Dillingham, who preceded her in death on April 16, 1982. Georgia and Elmo...

Apr 14, 2017

Gertrude A. Becher, 93, of Defiance, passed away on  Friday, April 14, 2017 at The Laurels of Defiance. She was born on May 5, 1923 to Emery and Ruby (Merz) Diamond in Defiance, Ohio. On June 29, 1946 she married Harold F. Becher, who preceded her in death on September 16, 2005. Gertrude was a member of Ayersville United...