MARY L. BEERMAN

Mary L. Beerman, 97, of Indian Harbour Beach, Fla., passed away peacefully on Monday, May 17, 2010, at Beachside Assisted Living facility.

Mary was born May 27, 1912, in Birmingham, England. She and her mother, Margaret Sower, immigrated to the United States in 1920 and settled in Spencerville. On June 27, 1937, she married Ernest Beerman, who preceded her in death in 1979.

Mary loved life and her family. She treasured her many great memories of 97 years. After her marriage, she moved to Delphos, where she lived until 1988. She then moved to Florida. Over the years, she loved spending time and fishing in Indian River, Mich. Until recently, she was an avid writer of letters and poems.

Survivors include a daughter, Peg Emrick of Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.; a son, Tom (Marilyn) Beerman of Worthington; four grandchildren, Tim (Suzie) Emrick of Van Wert, Dan (Patty) Emrick of Orlando, Fla., Andy (Thea) Beerman of Park City, Utah, and Jen (John) Bonnice of Oregon (Ohio); and four great-grandchildren, Christy Emrick, Leah Emrick, Ruthie Bonnice and Mariann Bonnice. In Florida, she was very close to the Love, Devries and Zizzo families.

Mary will be returned to Delphos. Funeral services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 23, at Harter and Schier Funeral Home in Delphos.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials: Trinity United Methodist Church in Delphos or Vitas Hospice of Central Florida.

ETHEL FAY TAYLOR

Ethel Fay Taylor, 89, of Van Wert, died at 2:11 p.m. Monday, May 17, 2010, at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert.

She was born February 5, 1921, in Sandusky County, the daughter of the late Lewis and Lucy (Mottinger) Odaffer. On March 27, 1938, she married Glenn Myrle Rickard, who preceded her in death on December 1, 1970. On May 17, 1978, she married Max Taylor, who preceded her in death on February 26, 2002.

Survivors include seven children, Shirley Clark of Ohio City, Don (Darlene) Rickard of Pleasanton, Calif., Bonnie (John) Shaffer and Debbie Hire, both of Van Wert, Sandra (Richard) Shrank of Bristow, Va., Phyllis (Phil) Etzler of Convoy and Terry Rickard of Grover Hill; four stepchildren, Valerie (Gerald) Baker of Beloit, Jacqueline (Bryce) Beckman and Kenneth (Jean) Taylor, both of Van Wert, and Timothy Taylor of Columbia, Tenn.; 17 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

A son, Harold Dean Rickard; six brothers, Russell Odaffer, William Camley Odaffer, Roy Donald Odaffer, Carl Odaffer, Forest Odaffer and Floyd Odaffer; and two sisters, Clara Coil Rogers and Mary Anna Coil, also preceded her in death.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 20, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Pastor Robert Fracke officiating. Burial will be in Tomlinson Cemetery in Mercer County.

The family will receive friends from 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 19, and an hour prior to services Thursday at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials: The Apostolic Church or a charity of donor’s choice.

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

C. PATRICK SHEPARD

C. Patrick “Pat” Shepard, 55, of Oakwood, died Monday, May 17, 2010, at Triumph Hospital at St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima.

He was born June 21, 1954, in Urbana, the son of Charles V. Shepard, who survives in Cloverdale, and the late Thelma M. (Dunham) Shepard. On October 20, 1979, he married Rose Potts, who survives in Oakwood.

Other survivors include his stepmother, Marjorie Shepard of Cloverdale; a daughter, Stephanie (Jason) Roberts of Paulding; one brother, Michael Shepard of Mobile, Ala.; three half-brothers, Howard LaVern (Marilyn) Shepard of Dupont, Fredrick (Rachelle) Shepard of Cloverdale and Forrest (Carrie) Shepard of Lima; and a half-sister, Esther (Kevin) Brown of New Sharon, Iowa.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, May 21, at Rose Hill Church of God, with Pastors David Noel and Ron Hofacker officiating. Burial will be in Sherman Cemetery in Charloe.

The family will receive friends from 2-9 p.m. Thursday, May 20, at Den Herder Funeral Home in Paulding and an hour prior to services Friday at the church.

Preferred memorials: In memory of Pat to Den Herder Funeral Home.

Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.denherderfh.com.

RICHARD L. KIMMEL

Richard L. Kimmel, 72, of Delphos, died at 11 a.m. Monday, May 17, 2010, at the Veterans Administration hospital in Dayton.

He was born February 4, 1938, in Lima, the son of Eulah (VanSchoyck) Dotson, who survives in Lima, and the late Paul E. Kimmel. In 1955, he married Barbara (Jones) Kimmel, who survives in Delphos.

Other survivors include a son, Richard P. (Susan) Kimmel of Delphos; four daughters, Karen (Garry) Cooper of Delphos, Marcia Kimmel and Lora Redmon, both of Lima, and Cheryl Ann (Philip) Steele of Massachusetts; one brother, Larry Kimmel of Lima; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

A brother, Gene, and two grandchildren also preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 20, at Harter and Schier Funeral Home in Delphos, with the Rev. David Howell officiating. The Delphos Veterans Council will perform military rites at the funeral home.

The family will receive friends from 1-3 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials: Dayton VA Hospital.