Monday, February 7

Robert Bragg Sr.
Sept. 2, 1946-Feb. 5, 2011
Robert E. Bragg Sr., 64, 113 Hickory Court, Portland, died Saturday at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis.
Born in Winchester to Eugene and Betty (Maloy) Bragg, he is survived by his wife Pamela (Timmons) Bragg whom he married on June 28, 1985.
He worked as a warehouse manager for D&D Surplus and was an avid bowler.
Surviving besides his wife are three sons, Robert Bragg Jr., Todd Bragg and Coty Bragg, all of Portland; three daughters, Melissa Antras, Winchester, Michelle Sager and Kendra Huftel, both of Portland; two brothers, Steve Bragg, Portland, and Doug Bragg, Markle; two sisters, Vicki Stoner, Union City, and Cathy Hicks, Huntington; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services are Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Baird-Freeman Funeral Home with Pastor Hugh Kelly officiating. Burial will be in Salamonia Cemetery.
Visitation is Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be sent to the Robert Bragg family.
Condolences may be sent to www.bairdfreeman.com.

Dale Smith   
Dec. 23, 1928-Jan. 25, 2011
A memorial service was held Friday for Dale Metz Smith, 82, Deputy. A Portland native, he died Jan. 25 at Ball Memorial Hospital.
Born in Portland to Homer and Gertrude (Metz) Smith, he graduated from Portland High School in 1946.
He is survived by his wife Ruth Geraldine (Wyne) Smith, whom he married on Aug. 12, 1950.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in 1950, a master’s degree from Purdue University in 1952 and a Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1957.
A professor of botany, he taught at the University of Arizona, Tucson, the University of Kentucky at Lexington, the University of Illinois, Champaign, and the University of California, Santa Barbara.
He identified a new species of sunflower, helianthus smithii, which was named in his honor.
He became a professor emeritus after serving as chair of the biology department at UCSB, authored many botanical papers, received the Cooley Award from the American Society of Plant Taxonomists in 1963 and became a Fellow of the Linnean Society in London.
Surviving besides his wife are two daughters, Teresa Lynn Smith Prather, Deputy, and Dr. Gayle Marie Smith Seymour, Conway, Ark.; two sisters, Virginia Ashley, Daleville, and Edith Stowers (husband: Bill), New Burn, N.C.; and four grandsons.
The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory, Washington Street Chapel in Muncie, was in charge of the arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to www.meeksmortuary.com.

Ireda Macy
July 8, 1918-Feb. 2, 2011
Agnes Ireda Macy, 92, Ridgeville, died Wednesday at Randolph Nursing Home, Winchester.
Born in Franklin Township in Randolph County to Eli and Lyra Jane (Addington) Hiatt, she was a 1937 graduate of Ridgeville High School.
She was preceded in death on Jan. 4, 2000, by her husband Marvin Edward Macy, whom she married on Feb. 16, 1938.
In 1965 they bought a hardware store in Ridgeville and were owners and operators for 16 years and were also farmers in the Ridgeville area.
Memberships include First Church of the Nazarene in Winchester and Bearcreek Friends Meeting Church.
Surviving are two daughters, Carolyn Sue Chambers (husband: John), Ridgeville, and Martha Ruth Macy, Fairfield, Ohio; three sons, Gail Edward Macy (wife: Sandra), Clarkston, Mich., Stephen Allen Macy (wife: Bertha), Clearwater, Fla., and Kenneth Armfield Macy, Shoals; 11 grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren and14 stepgreat-grandchildren.
Services are Wednesday at 11 a.m. at First Church of the Nazarene with the Rev. Danny Hines officiating. Burial will be in Reitenour Cemetery, Deerfield.
Visitation is Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at M.J.S. Mortuaries Middleton Chapel, Ridgeville, and one hour prior to services on Wednesday at the church.
Memorials may be sent to Winchester First Church of the Nazarene or Gideons International.

Loa Welker
Dec. 24, 1926-Feb. 3, 2011
Services were held today for Loa Welker, 84, St. Marys, Ohio. The sister of a Portland woman, she died Thursday at her home.
Born in Mercer County, Ohio, to Homer and Lydia (Good) Brookhart, she was preceded in death on March 13, 2009, by her husband Arthur Welker whom she married on March 15, 1947.
Surviving are a son; a daughter; three sisters, including Wanda Ferner, Portland; a brother; four grandsons and nine great-grandchildren.
Miller-Long & Folk Funeral Home in St. Marys was in charge of the arrangements. Burial was in Elm Grove Cemetery, St. Marys.
Memorials may be sent to the Auglaize County Council on Aging in St. Marys.
Condolences may be sent to www.millerfuneralhomes.net.

Michael Gass
Aug. 8, 1953-Feb. 1, 2011
A funeral Mass was held Saturday for Michael A. “Peewee” Gass, 57, Coldwater, Ohio.
The brother-in-law of a Dunkirk woman, he died Tuesday at Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater.
Born in Lima, Ohio, to Richard and Mable (Hicks) Gass, he is survived by his wife Denise (Miller) Gass whom he married on May 4, 1973.
Also surviving are two sons; his mother; two brothers; three sisters; two sisters-in-law, including Deb Bennett (husband: Ed), Dunkirk, and three grandchildren.
Burial was in St. Elizabeth Cemetery in Coldwater, Ohio.
Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Coldwater was in charge of the arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to hogenkampfh.com.

Betty Vannette
Feb. 9, 1926-Feb. 2, 2011
Services were held today for Betty E. Vannette, 84, St. Marys, Ohio. The sister of a Geneva woman, she died Wednesday at her home.
Born in Berne to Jesse and Velma (Habegger) Balsiger, she is survived by her husband Burton L. Vannette whom she married on Feb. 22, 1946.
Surviving besides her husband are a daughter; three sons; a sister, Annabelle Dubach (husband: Wayne), Geneva; two brothers; nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Miller Funeral Home in St. Marys, Ohio, was in charge of the arrangements.
Burial was in Mercer Memory Gardens, Celina, Ohio.
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