Tuesday, Oct. 28

Ralph Hoffman

Ralph E. Hoffman, 84, Berne, brother of a Bryant resident, died Saturday at his home.

A native of Adams County, he was a retired farmer and was also a self-employed plasterer for many years.

He was married in 1939 to Evelyn Biberstein who died in 1997.

Surviving are three sons; two daughters; one brother, Loren Hoffman, Bryant; 17 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren.

Services were held today at the Mt. Hope Church of the Nazarene in Berne. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be made to missions projects at the church or Family Hospice of Northeast Indiana.

Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home, Berne, was in charge of arrangements.

Charlotte Bounds

Charlotte Elizabeth Bounds, 80, a resident of the Christian Care Retirement Community in Bluffton, and a former Pennville resident, died Monday evening at Bluffton Regional Medical Center. She had been in failing health for the past three years.

Mrs. Bounds worked for many years as a computer programmer for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft and then for several years at Franklin Electric in Bluffton.

Born Nov. 24, 1922, in Detroit, Mich., she was the daughter of John and Eunice (Jones) Baxter. She lived in Wells County most of her life, but lived in Pennville for 15 years before moving to the retirement community.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Emmett (Connie) Dawson, Pennville, and Mrs. Ed (Cathy) Jambora, Belchertown, Mass.; one son, Brad Bounds, Frankfort, Ill.; one sister, Gertrude Baxter, Bluffton; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Services are set for 10 a.m. Friday in the Thoma/Rich, Hewitt and Chaney Funeral Home, Bluffton, with Pastor Larry Sprinkle officiating. Burial will be in Elm Grove Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday and one hour prior to services Friday.

Memorials may be made to the Christian Care Retirement Community.

Fidella Kochersperger

Services for Fidella N. Kochersperger, 97, a resident of Americare Living Center of Portland, are set for 1 p.m. Thursday in the Portland Chapel of the Williamson and Spencer Funeral Home with Rev. George Weinman and Pastor Mark Strietelmeier officiating.

Burial will be in the Salamonia Cemetery.

Miss Kochersperger died Sunday at the living center.

A graduate of International Business College, in Richmond, she had worked for International Harvester Co. in Richmond for more than 12 years and for the Department of the Army in the finance center in Indianapolis for 17 years.

She was a member of the Jay County Hospital Auxiliary and the Zion Lutheran Church of Portland. She was a former member of the St. James Lutheran Church in Salamonia.

Born May 2, 1906, in Madison Township, she was the daughter of Charles and Mary Ann (Yeager) Kochersperger.

Surviving are several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until time of services Thursday.

Memorials may be made to the memorial fund of the St. James Lutheran Church in Salamonia or the Zion Lutheran Church in Portland.

Lillie Eakens

Lillie B. Eakens, 91, died Monday evening at the home of her granddaughter at 949 S. Shank St., Portland, following an extended illness.

She had lived in Portland since 2000.

Born May 29, 1912, in Texas, she was the daughter of John and Josie Barnheart. She was married to Elmo Eakens who died in 1978.

Surviving are two daughters, Juanita Gierhart, Portland, and Anita Fontnow, Vidor, Texas; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Portland Chapel of the Williamson and Spencer Funeral Home from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday.

Services and burial will be in Vidor, Texas.[[In-content Ad]]