Velorus “Hangy” Stouder, 94, of Etna Green, Ind., passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at 8:15 a.m. in Golden Years Homestead Nursing Home, Fort Wayne, Ind., with his family at his side.
Velorus was born the son of Clarence and Bertha (Metzler) Stouder on March 1, 1920, at Nappanee, Ind., and was a resident of the Etna Green area all his life. On June 29, 1947, he married Lois I. Drilling; she died Dec. 8, 2001.
He was a graduate of Etna Green High School with the Class of 1938. He was owner of Stouder Grocery Store in Etna Green for many years and a member of the Etna Green Church of Christ where he served as an Elder of the church. Over the years he has been a member of the Etna Green Lions Club and a past President, a volunteer fireman with Etna Township Fire Department, enjoyed playing golf, dancing the night away and even played softball on the Church softball team. Hangy also served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II and was a member of the Bourbon American Legion #424.
He is survived by his two daughters: Marcia and Gary Oxley, Sun City, Ariz.; and Norene and Kirby Stolte, Fort Wayne, Ind.; five grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; two sisters: Gloria and Bill Stackhouse, Charlottesville, Va.; Donna Belle Blackford, Rolling Prairie, Ind.; brothers: James and Serita Stouder, Warsaw, Ind.; Dallas and Mary Stouder, Tippecanoe, Ind.; and Richard and Janet Stouder, Etna Green.
Velorus was preceded in death by his parents; wife: Lois; sister: Marion; and four brothers: Robert, Leonard, Glenn and Cecil.
Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, May 9, at Deaton-Clemens Funeral Home, 115 S. Main St. Bourbon, IN 46504, and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 10, in Etna Green Church of Christ with Pastor Jordan Ickes officiating. Burial will follow in the Etna Green Cemetery at Etna Green with military graveside services by the Bourbon American Legion.
The family requests memorial contributions in his memory to: Golden Years Homestead, 3136 Goeglein Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46815; or Heartland Home Health Care, 1315 Directors Row Suite 120, Fort Wayne, IN 46808; or Etna Green Church of Christ, 206 W. Broadway St. Etna Green, IN 46524.