Obituaries

Feb 26, 2016

Charlotte Marie Melton, 103, of Defiance, passed away on Friday, February 26, 2016 at CHP Defiance Area Hospice Center in Defiance. She was born on September 25, 1912 to Albert and Elsie (Swary) Gustwiller in New Bavaria, Ohio. On June 18, 1942 she married Timothy L. Melton, who preceded her in death on May 17, 2002. Charlotte was a member...

Feb 24, 2016

Sally Ann Bowers Flory, wife of Ronald "Ron" Gene Flory, died Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at Oconee Memorial Hospital in Seneca, South Carolina. A native of Defiance, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Henry Myers Bowers and Helen Romaine Myers.  Mrs. Flory was a retired secretary with Anthony Wayne Elementary School, Flory Brother Builders, and owner, along with...

Feb 23, 2016

Mildred A. Moore Mildred A. Moore, 75, of Defiance, passed away Tuesday, February 23rd, 2016 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born in Cranston, Rhode Island on July 27, 1940. On December 24, 1958 she married Larry Moore, who survives. Mildred had worked at Goldenetz Grocery and Defiance Job & Family Service. Surviving are her husband Larry...

Feb 20, 2016

Johnie Miller, 79, of Defiance, passed away Saturday, February 20th, 2016 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born in Hackelburg, Alabama on March 10, 1936, he was the son of the late Lenard and Lillie (Garrett) Miller. Johnie was the husband of Barbara (Chase) Miller for 60 years. They were married Nov. 25, 1955. He had worked...

Feb 20, 2016

Virginia Rose (Porter) Kern, 90, of Englewood, Florida, passed away suddenly on February 20, 2016.

She was born July 12, 1925, in Delta, Ohio, to the late Ruth (Schubert) and Russell Porter.

She is survived by her children, Carma (Mike) McIntee of Ohio, Barbara (Dwayne) Sawyers of Ohio, Cynthia Kern of Oklahoma, Steven (Kim) Kern...

Feb 19, 2016

Sabrina Lynn Gollihue, 41, of Defiance, passed away on  Friday, February 19, 2016 at her home in Defiance. She was born on July 22, 1974 to James and Maggie (Partin) Gollihue in Defiance. Sabrina was a homemaker, and she loved to fish, hunt, trap, and  enjoyed spend time outdoors. Sabrina will be sadly missed by her mother, Maggie Gollihue of...

Feb 19, 2016

John S. Davis, 79, of Defiance, passed away on Friday, February 19, 2016 at Brookview Healthcare Center in Defiance. He was born on September 15, 1936 to Pearl and Noma (Lantz) Davis in Sherwood, Ohio. He worked at Defiance Precision Products for 32 years, retiring in 1999.  John was a huge fan of Nascar, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Cleveland...

Feb 18, 2016

Paul L. Eis, 86, of Defiance, passed away on Thursday, February 18, 2016 at his residence. He was born on May 10, 1929 to Lester and Mildred (McFetters) Eis in Defiance, Ohio. On June 11, 1949 he married Alverna (Schaffer) Eis, who resides in Defiance. Paul was a member of Restoration Tabernacle Church in Defiance. He worked at S &...

Feb 17, 2016

Henry "Dee" Brown, age 84, of Defiance, passed away Wednesday February 17, 2016 at Defiance Area Hospice. He was a 1954 graduate of Defiance High School, and served in the Army in Korea. He was a millwright at General Motors for 35 years. He was a member of UAW Local #211, Amvets, Sherwood VFW, Defiance Moose, played football for Army...

Feb 17, 2016

Earlene A. Dirr, 99, of Defiance, and formerly of rural Holgate, Ohio, passed away on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at Twin Rivers Rehabilitation Center in Defiance. She was born on April 16, 1916 to Earl and Gladys (Hall) Treece in Putnam County. On June 9, 1947 she married Merl Dirr, who preceded her in death on August 11, 1998. Earlene...

Feb 16, 2016

Richard M. Small Richard M. Small, 91, of Defiance, passed away a Tuesday, February 16th, 2016 at Laurels of Defiance. He was born in Defiance on May 7, 1924. He was the son of the late Roger F. and Ruth (Goldenetz) Small. Surviving are his wife Carolyn, daughters Judy (Herman) Dally and Robyn Small, and his sister Ann Small all...

Feb 15, 2016

River Avery Mahan, a newborn from Defiance, passed away on Monday, February 15, 2016 at the Toledo Children's Hospital. She was born on February 8, 2016 to Austin Mahan and Kayla Matney of Defiance. River will be sadly missed by her family and friends. She is survived by her parents, Austin and Kayla of Defiance, grandfathers, Gregory Mahan of Defiance,...

Feb 13, 2016

Mary M. Mansfield, 91, of Defiance, passed away  peacefully on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at the ProMedica Defiance Regional Hospital, with her family at her side. She was born on May 11, 1924 to Michael and Evelyn (Liska) Breckler in Brooksville, FL. On October 15, 1946 she married Edward V. Mansfield, who preceded her in death on January 17, 1996....

Feb 11, 2016

Betty Jean Whitaker, 74, of Defiance, Oh, passed away peacefully on  February 11, 2016 at the Defiance ProMedica Regional Hospital, with her family by her side. She was born on September 12, 1941 to Robert and Mary Ellen (Baney) Reichenbach in North Baltimore, OH. On August 30, 1986 she married David Wendell Whitaker. Betty and David Wendell would have celebrated...

Feb 9, 2016

Richard D. Sheffel, 57, of Defiance, passed away on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 in Defiance, Ohio. He was born on August 23, 1958 to Richard and Marjorie (Dible) Sheffel in Verona, Pennsylvania. Richard worked as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Cloverleaf Design Group in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and enjoyed golfing. Richard will...

Feb 6, 2016

Joyce Ann Commisso, 73, of Defiance, was reunited with her husband, and her heavenly father on Saturday, February 6th at the Defiance CHP. She was born on April 21, 1942 to Harold and Audrey (Lloyd) Frederick in Defiance, OH. Joyce was a self employed appraiser/real estate agent and owned 5 County Appraisal Services.  Was a Notary Public for the State...

Feb 5, 2016

Mark B. Spacht II, 57, of Defiance, passed away on Friday, February 5, 2016 at Twin Rivers Rehabilitation Center in Defiance. He was born on November 15, 1958 to John and Ilene (Snodgrass) Spacht in Defiance. Mark served our country in the U.S. Army in Germany for many years. He owned and operated a shrimp boat in Florida.. Mark is...

Feb 2, 2016

Vandee Lori (Smith) Dennis Vandee Lori (Smith) Dennis, 59 succumbed after a valiant battle to chronic liver disease on February 2, 2016 at the Cleveland Clinic. She had been married to Jim Dennis for 36 years. together they raised two sons; Andrew and Jack. Vandee graduated from Defiance High School and attended the University of Toledo, The Ohio State University...

Feb 2, 2016

Terry A. Bodenbender, 50, of Defiance, passed away on  Tuesday, February 2, 2016 in Defiance, Ohio. He was born on August 12, 1965 to Jerry and Linda Bodenbender in Defiance. Terry was a graduate of Ayersville High School, and he served our country in the U.S. Navy from 1983 to 1989. Terry was a member of  UAW Local #211, and...

Feb 1, 2016

Althea Louise Koenig of Defiance, loving wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on Monday,  February  1, 2016 at Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.   She was born on October 1, 1928 to Henry and Louise Berning in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.  She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Defiance and was active in its Ladies Aid, Lutheran Women's Missionary League,...