Janice A. Vance, 88, of Columbia City, completed her journey to meet with the great spirit at 11:13 p.m. Monday, April 13, 2015. She was born May 9, 1926, in Fort Wayne, a daughter of Ervin and Dorotha (Williamson) Steup. In 1929 she moved to Paulding County, Ohio, to live with her grandmother. On Aug. …read more.

Richard L. Eber, 83, of rural Columbia City, died Monday, April 13, 2015, at his home. He was born March 6, 1932, in Muncie, a son of the late Virgil C. and Clara (Milligan) Eber. He began his elementary education in Selma. The family then moved to Loon Lake and he completed seventh and eighth …read more.

Mary K. Miller, 83, a Columbia City resident, died at 2:45 p.m. Sunday, April 12, 2015, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne. She was born April 23, 1931, in South Whitley, the daughter of Dwight and Martha (Keiser) Hathaway. She graduated from South Whitley High School in 1949 and continued her education at Ball …read more.

Lavonna J. “Bonnie” Best, 83, of Columbia City, died at 3:35 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 2015, at Peabody Home, North Manchester where she was admitted on Friday. She was born Oct. 7, 1931, in South Whitley, a daughter of Franklin W. and Sarah C. (Pritchard) Holler. She graduated as valedictorian of the class of 1949 …read more.

Stanley “Gene” Pepple, 74, of Columbia City, died at 8:30 p.m. Monday, April 6, 2015, at Parkview Whitley Hospital. He was born Aug. 12, 1940, in Noble County, to Lloyd Albert and Mary Jane (Coleman) Pepple. His formative years were spent in the Huntertown area. He graduated from Huntertown High School. On Jan. 13, 1961 …read more.

Robert H. Boggs, 90, of Columbia City, went home to be with Jesus on Sunday morning, April 5, 2015. He was born Feb. 21, 1925, in Allen County, a son of Ozie and Mabel (Goheen) Boggs. As a second grader, his family moved to the Etna area in northern Whitley County. He graduated from Larwill …read more.

Paul J. Fries, 91, a lifelong Columbia City resident, died at 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, 2015, at his home after battling a long illness. He was born Sept. 6, 1923, in Fort Wayne, the third of eight children of Leo J. and Ella Marie (Perry) Fries. He attended Thorncreek Elementary and graduated from Columbia …read more.

Monzelle Williamson, 97, formerly of Larwill, died at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, March 22, 2015, at MillerÂ’s at Oak Pointe, Columbia City, where she had been a resident since Feb. 6. She was born Sept. 18, 1917, in Kimmell, a daughter of Leonard and Bernice (Baker) VanVoorst. Her formative years were spent in Troy Township, Whitley …read more.

Franklin Lawrence Dear, 92, of rural Columbia City, died at 11:35 p.m. Friday, March 20, 2015, at his home. He was born March 12, 1923, in Lewistown, Ohio, a son of Benjamin Franklin and Jennie Florence (Mahan) Dear. At the age of four, his family moved to Indiana. He was educated at the Huffman Grade …read more.

Regan Feist, 58, of Columbia City, died at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19, 2015, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne. She was born June 13, 1956, in Columbia City, to Richard John “Booney” and Edna Gay (Grable) Feist. She graduated from Columbia City Joint High School in 1974 and received an associates degree in …read more.

Tracy Feilding Faulkner, 48, of Montpelier, Va., went home to be with the Lord on March 14, 2015. Tracy, with new legs, is now walking with his Savior Jesus Christ. He is survived by his mother: Vicki Bruce (Danny); his father: Devon Faulkner; sister: Vonda Faulkner Fox (Mark); niece: Devin Fox; and stepbrothers: Danny, David …read more.

Glen E. Reid, 91, of Columbia City, died at 6:05 a.m. Monday, March 16, 2015, at Miller’s Merry Manor where he had been a resident since 2007. He was born Oct. 31, 1923, in Larwill, a son of James W. and Carrie L. (Hosler) Reid. His formative years were spent in Larwill and he graduated …read more.

  InkFreeNews.com continues to prove itself as Kosciusko County’s news leader. In just over a month we have reached 32,000 Facebook likes and continue to grow. We are Kosciusko County’s most liked news source. In the last week the Ink Free News Facebook page has had close to 600,000 page views and over 300 new …read more.

Terry L. Goodrich, 74, of South Whitley, passed away at 2:08 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at his home. He was born Feb. 10, 1941, in Granville, Ohio, a son of the late Robert and Dorothy (Bonnett) Goodrich. His formative years were spent in Granville. The family later moved to Columbia City where he graduated …read more.

Rosalie Kreider, 91, formerly of Cleveland Township, Whitley County, passed away at 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, 2015, at Peabody Home in North Manchester where she became a resident of June 2012. She was born Sept. 1, 1923, in Wabash County, a daughter of Carl and Gladys (Bentz) Wendel. Her formative years were spent in …read more.

Edith Fay Walker, 93, of South Whitley, died at 9:54 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, in the emergency room of Parkview Whitley Hospital, Columbia City. She was born Dec. 9, 1921, in Whitley County, a daughter of Archie and Maggie (Egolf) Coverstone. Her formative years were spent in Thorncreek Township and she completed her education …read more.

Harry P. Chalk, 84, of Columbia City, died at 5:50 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014 at his home. He was born August 1, 1930 in Champaign, Ill., a son of Joseph and Lena (McLaughlin) Chalk. As a young boy, his family moved to Sidney, where he completed his education. On Aug. 9, 1948, he enlisted …read more.

Carolyn Ann Stidham, 65, of Columbia City, died unexpectedly of natural causes at 3:55 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014. She was born Jan. 12, 1949, in Warsaw, a daughter of Roy Elmer and Ruth Joan (Brower) Combs. She graduated from South Whitley High School and Patricia Stevens Air Career College in Chicago. On May 7, …read more.

Alvin Frederick Freeman, 84, of rural Columbia City, died Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014 at his lake home. He was born Jan. 29, 1930, in Kokomo, to Frederick E. and Eva A. (Phelps) Freeman. He attended Larwill High School. On May 7, 1951 he was inducted in the United States Army, earning two Bronze Stars during …read more.

Margaret A. Crouch, 70, formerly of Syracuse, died Friday morning, Oct. 3, 2014 at her son, Stephen’s, home, Matthews, N.C. She was born March 27, 1944, in Huntington, a daughter of James H. and Virginia D. (Binnion) Riordan. Her formative years were spent in the Larwill area. She graduated from Larwill High School and International …read more.

Kathryn Agnes Leffel, 93, of Larwill, Ind., passed away at 5 a.m. Monday, July 14, 2014, at Mason Health & Rehab, Warsaw, Ind., where she had been a resident since March. She was born April 8, 1921, near Raber, Ind., a daughter of Millard and Goldia Agnes (Conner) Kyler. Her formative years were spent in Jefferson Township. …read more.

Elizabeth M. Mallock, 93, of South Whitley, Ind., died at 8:50 a.m. Tuesday, June 24, 2014, at Parkview Huntington Hospital. She had been a resident at Norwood Nursing Center since November 2009. She was born May 31, 1921, in Laketon, Ind., to James Esta and Golda (Rutledge) Price. Her formative years were spent in Laketon. …read more.

Dennis W. Sutton, 61, of Claypool, Ind., passed away at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, 2014, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne, Ind. He was born July 15, 1952, in Fort Wayne, to Richard F. and Alice Rose (Shady) Sutton. His formative years were spent in South Whitley, Ind., and he graduated from South …read more.

Keith A. Peterson, 61, of South Whitley, Ind., passed away Friday, May 16, 2014, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne, Ind. He was born Feb. 26, 1953, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Ernest and Blanche (Mikesell) Peterson. He graduated from East High School, received a band instrument repair degree from VoTech in Red Wing, Minn., …read more.

Samuel Sherm Keirn, 17, of South Whitley, Ind., died peacefully with his mother at his side during a doctor visit in Fort Wayne, Ind., at 11:25 a.m. Thursday, May 8, 2014.He was born Nov. 28, 1996, in Columbia City, Ind., a son of Sherm S. and Diana L. (McNamara) Keirn. He was a lifelong resident of …read more.

Joshua Harold Copp, 35, of rural South Whitley, Ind., passed away early Monday morning, April 14, 2014, due to natural causes. He was born July 2, 1978, in Fort Wayne, Ind., to Jeffrey O. and Connie R. (Johnson) Copp. In 1979, his family moved to Osceola, Ind., from Oakbrook, Ill. In 1985, the family moved …read more.

Mantie L. Furnas, 60, of rural Atwood, Ind., passes away Friday evening, March 28, 2014, at her home. She was born Aug. 12, 1953, in Detroit, Mich., the daughter of Lonnie Vincent and Pearl Mae (Halcomb) Collier. In 1960 her family moved to Shelbyville, Ind., and in 1963 to Columbia City, Ind.. She graduated from …read more.

Hazel C. Fiandt, 84, of Columbia City, Ind., passed away at 2:58 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, in the emergency room of Parkview Whitley Hospital where she was transported earlier. She was born March 17, 1929, in Elk City, Okla., a daughter of Price and Josie (Young) Taulbee. As a young girl, her family moved …read more.

Paul L. Thompson, 79, of rural South Whitley, Ind., passed away at 3:55 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013, at his home. He had been in failing health for the past 2 years. He was born Dec. 5, 1934, in Fort Wayne, Ind., to Chester Arthur and LouEtta (Hinkson) Thompson. His formative years were spent in …read more.

Larry A. Heeter, 69, of South Whitley, Ind., passed away at 2:38 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, 2013, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne, Ind., where he was admitted the Friday before. He was born Sept. 24, 1944, in Huntington, Ind., to Max and Geneva (Stetzel) Heeter. As a young boy his family moved to …read more.

Sue Rose Grossman Marker, 74, formerly of South Whitley, Ind., passed away at 1:53 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013, at Miller’s Merry Manor, Huntington, Ind., where she had been a resident since April 2003. She was born March 18, 1939, in Allen County, Ind., a daughter of William Byron and Marian Emelyn (Enos) Bollinger. A …read more.

Rista Jane MacDonald, 72, of Warsaw, Ind., passed away at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013, at the home of her mother, Juanita Krider, where she had been staying for the past 2 years due to failing health. She was born Oct. 7, 1941, in Wolf Lake, Ind., to Clyde LeRoy and Juanita J. (Friend) …read more.

Jerome ‘Jerry’ M. Wall, 62, of South Whitley, Ind., passed away at 12:24 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne, Ind., where he was admitted on Wednesday. He had been in failing health. He was born Nov. 9, 1951, in Syracuse, N.Y. to  John and Margo (Egan) Wall. He started …read more.

Bennett “Ben” L. Warner, 85, of South Whitley, Ind., died at 6:09 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013, at Parkview Whitley Hospital Emergency Room where he was brought earlier. He was born Sept. 29, 1928, in Kosciusko County, Ind., a son of the late Delbert R. and Jessie A. (Reed) Warner. His formative years were spent …read more.

Wayne R. Pettigrew, 61, of rural Columbia City, Ind., passed away in the afternoon on Monday, Sept. 2, 2013, at his home. He was born Sept. 1, 1952, in Columbia City, to Robert Lavere and Norma Jean (Longsworth) Pettigrew. His formative years were spent in Jefferson Township. He graduated from Columbia City Joint High School. In …read more.

Nancy N. Bollinger, 88, of South Whitley, Ind., died at 5:05 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013, at The Oaks, Columbia City, Ind., where she had been a resident for the past month. She was born Jan. 2, 1925, in Chicago, Ill., a daughter of the late Abraham and Blanche (Myers) Schamoon. She was later adopted …read more.

Karl Marvin Scott, 62, of South Bend, Ind., passed away at 11:30 a.m. Monday, June 10, 2013, at Memorial Hospital of South Bend, where he was admitted on Saturday. He was born May 4, 1951, in Columbia City, Ind., a twin son of Adrian Monroe and Lois May (Barnes) Scott. His formative years were spent …read more.

Elkhart Sheriff’s Department Officers of the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department recently investigated the following accident: Saturday, June 1, 3:09 p.m. U.S. 6 and CR 29, north of Syracuse. Drivers: Phillip West, 19, Syracuse; Sandra Donat, 67, Rome City; Nicholas Bradley, 31, Syracuse; Michael Weaver, 21, Syracuse. Injured: Weaver complained of pain to the neck; Ayla …read more.

Nellie Jean Bishop, 89, a former resident of South Whitley, Ind., passed away at 9 a.m. Friday, May 17, 2013, at Timbercrest Senior Living Community, North Manchester, Ind., where she had been a resident since 2010. She was born March 13, 1924, in Fort Wayne, Ind., a daughter of the late Ralph and Sylvia (Ditton) …read more.

Jesse Homer Rollins Sr., 78, formerly of Larwill, Ind., died at 7:55 a.m. Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at Parkview Oaks, Columbia City, Ind., where he had been a resident since 2011. He was born June 17, 1934, in Churubusco, Ind., to Jesse B. and Maude (Owine) Rollins. He married Julia Marie Bohnstedt Watkins. Mrs. Rollins …read more.

Sandra Sue (Wuertley) Harter, 72, a South Whitley, Ind., native, died Friday, April 19, 2013, at her home in New Braunfels, Texas. She was born Dec. 22, 1940, in Huntington, Ind., to John Phillip and Elsie Marcell (Householder) Wuertley. Her formative years were spent in South Whitley. She was employed at Chamberlin Products from 1963 …read more.

Jerry Lee Shaffer, 75, Washington Township, Whitley County, Ind., died at 12:55 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, 2013, at Oakbrook Village, Huntington, Ind., where he had been a resident since April 22, 2009. He was born Sept. 2, 1937, in Whitley County, a son of Landy and Cora (Hennemeyer) Shaffer. His formative years were spent in …read more.

Justin Edward Hinen, 21, of Columbia City, Ind., died early Wednesday morning, March 6, 2013, as a result of a snowmobiling accident north of Columbia City. He was born Jan. 29, 1992 in Columbia City, a son of Jeffery L. and Cynthia A. (Schenkel) Hinen. He graduated from Columbia City High School and just recently …read more.

Mildred L. Judd, 93, a resident of South Whitley, Ind., passed away Saturday morning, March 2, 2013, at her home. She was born on April 8, 1919, in Huntington County, Ind., a daughter of the late Avery and Florence (Keiser) George. On March 25, 1939, she was united in marriage to Lester A. Judd. They made …read more.

Jane G. Stump, 97, a former resident of South Whitley, Ind., passed away early Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, in the Richland Bean Blossom Healthcare Center, Ellettsville, Ind. She was born on Oct. 1, 1915, in Chicago, to C. Vance and Blanche Sines Green. At the age of three, her family moved to South Whitley where …read more.

Mildred L. Sweeden, 82, of South Whitley, Ind., died at 6:50 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, at her home of natural causes. She was born Aug. 27, 1930, in White Pine, Tenn., a daughter of Arthur C. and Flora J. (Mattox) Coleman. Her formative years were spent in Tennessee. On Oct. 3, 1949, she married …read more.

Warsaw Fire Department was called to 732 E. Smith Street at about 11 p.m. Saturday where smoke was reported in one of the units. The structure is a multi-family dwelling with 6 apartments. Fire crews were on scene less than an hour and determined the smoke and small fire was from an overheated aquarium hood. …read more.