KENNETH ‘BILL’ JEROME

Kenneth “Bill” Jerome, 82, of rural Convoy, died at 5:45 p.m. Friday, June 25, 2010, at the Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center.

He was born December 10, 1927, in Van Wert County, the son of the late Kenneth P. Jerome and Anna Oval Waldron (Roy) Leiter. On April 20, 1963, he married Eula Rose (Barkley) Jerome, who survives at the residence.

Mr. Jerome was a 1945 graduate of Convoy (Crestview) High School and was a longtime teacher at local schools. In 1946, he enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was assigned to Fort Jackson, S.C., where he was a company clerk and worked in the finance department. After returning from military service, he worked in industry for a few years. In 1958, he enrolled at Defiance College and graduated in 1962 with a bachelor’s degree in education. While at Defiance College, he was president of his class his junior and senior years, a member of the Hour Glass Theater, Kappa Sigma fraternity, Student Council and the Defiance College Student Association.

In 1962, he began teaching at Lincolnview Local Schools, where he taught all junior high subjects and was baseball and basketball coach. He also earned his master’s degree from Indiana University in 1966.

In 1967, he was teacher and coach at Crestview North Elementary School and a year later became principal at Crestview North, as well as transportation officer, attendance officer and high school athletic director. In 1987, he became principal at both Crestview North and South schools. He retired in 1990 after 23 years at Crestview and was the first Convoy (Crestview) graduate to retire from Crestview Local Schools as an administrator.

Memberships include the Van Wert Area Elementary Principals Association and the Ohio Elementary Principals Association. He was a member of Countryside Chapel United Methodist Church, where he served as a Sunday school teacher and led other youth activities.

His hobbies include antique cars, all sport activities, swimming, old music, old movies, his apple orchard, carpentry work and travel. He also enjoyed Van Wert Civic Theatre and was an avid Ohio State University sports fan.

In addition to his wife, survivors include two brothers, Jerry (Fran) Jerome of Brethren, Mich., and Newton Jerome of Omer, Mich.; three sisters, Patty J. Ferris of Avilla, Ind., and Linda Sue (Larry) Robeson and Jill (Don) Amweg, both of Van Wert; his mother-in-law, Gladys Barkley of Convoy; three brothers-in-law, Harold (Marie) Barkley and Max (Nancy) Barkley, both of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Mervin (Arlene) Barkley of Scott; a sister-in-law, Carol Cavanaugh of Convoy; and a special caregiver, Lou Combs of Convoy, as well as several nieces and nephews.

A brother, Jackie Wayne Jerome, also preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 30, at Countryside Chapel United Methodist Church in rural Van Wert County, with the Rev. Wayne Kargas officiating. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery in Convoy, with graveside military rites performed by the combined honors units of American Legion Post 178 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803, both in Van Wert.

The family will receive friends from 2-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 29, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert and an hour prior to services Wednesday at the church.

Preferred memorials: Countryside Chapel United Methodist Church or the American Heart Association.

Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at cowanfh@yahoo.com.

LUCILLE M. CONWAY

Lucille M. (Roeder) Conway, 104, of Delphos, died at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 25, 2010, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Delphos.

She was born August 17, 1905, in Allen County, the daughter of the late Fred and Lula (Roberts) Roeder. On August 21, 1926, she married Frank Conway, who preceded her in death in December 1972.

Survivors include a sister, Vera Chiles of Delphos and several nieces and nephews.

Two brothers, Ralph and Emmett Roeder; and three sisters, Cathryn Carroll, Helen Stager and Lillian Niles, also preceded her in death.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 29, at Harter and Schier Funeral Home in Delphos, with the Rev. Harry Tolhurst officiating. Burial will be in Bluelick Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 2-6 p.m. Monday, June 28, at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials: First United Presbyterian Church in Delphos.