Obituaries

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Betty J. Steele Gross, 83, died at 3:50 a.m. Jan. 31, 2013, at St. Rita's Medical Center.

She was born Oct. 26, 1929, in Wapakoneta, to Virgil and Violet Selover Howell, who preceded her in death. She married Paul E. "Bud" Steele, who preceded her in death.

Mrs. Gross retired in 1994 as the blood services director for the Allen County Chapter of the American Red Cross. 

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Mary D. Gossard, 89, died at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 30, 2013, at Otterbein Retirement Community, Cridersville.

She was born Dec. 28, 1923, in Ivel, Ky., to Stonewall J. and Anna Stratton Neeley, who preceded her in death. On April 26, 1945, she married Garfield E. Gossard, who died April 15, 1994.

Mrs. Gossard began her teaching career at Roundhead schools and retired from Upper Scioto Valley schools.

Survivors include two daughters, Patsy McColloch and Karen Quatman; two grandchildren, Vanessa Damshroder and Cameron Quatman; and three great-grandchildren, Georgianna, Elle and Kennedy.

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Lucille Hubbell, 96, died at 9 a.m. Jan. 27, 2013, at Richland Manor Nursing Home, Bluffton.

She was born July 30, 1916, in Ada to Fredrick and Edna Morman Firestone, who preceded her in death. In September 1932, she married John E. Hubbell, who died in August 1962.

Mrs. Hubbell had been a housemother and cook for Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity at Ohio Northern University, Ada, for 32 years.

Survivors include three sons, Tom (Janet) Hubbell, of Ada, Larry Hubbell, of Lakeview, and Fred (Sharon) Hubbell, of Alger; a daughter, Nancy Wagner, of Lima; a sister, Joan (Wes) Broseke, of Kenton; and 12 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

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Vera A. Higgins, 94 died at 7:05 am January 27, 2013 at Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. 

She was born November 19, 1918 in Ada to the late James A. and Freda (Frankhauser) Hauenstein. 

On August 9, 1940 she married Herbert Higgins and he died July 8, 2005. Vera was a homemaker and was a member of Central Christian Church, Lima. 

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Edith M. Daft, 81, of Bluffton, formerly of Ada, died Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 10:05 p.m. at Bridge Hospice Care Center at Blanchard Valley Hospital, Findlay.

Edith was born on October 10, 1931 in Orange Township, Hancock County, Ohio to the Leonard and Flossie (Hartman) Henry, who preceded her in death.

She married J. Robert Daft in 1951. He survives at Maple Crest Retirement Center in Bluffton.

She lived her entire married life on the family farm where she helped with the farming and raised her family. She was a member of the Bethel Church of Christ, where she taught Sunday school for many years and filled other positions. She was a ten year 4-H advisor.

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Phyllis K. Hopson died at 10:10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 at Lima Memorial Health Systems.

She was born Sept. 14, 1950 in Columbus to Kenneth Howard and Harriet Lucille (Winegardner) VanScoy. On Aug. 12, 1967 she married Kenneth D. Hopson Sr. and he survives in Dunkirk.

Also surviving are a son, Kenneth H. (Amber) Hopson of Dunkirk; three daughters, Mary Hopson and Jennifer (Mathew) Wilch, both of Dunkirk and Leasa K. (Scott) Lee of Elida; a brother, Bryan (Marilyn) VanScoy of Findlay; four sisters, Rachel Tidd of Ada, Marty (Randy) Preston of Dola and Paula Harp and Pauline Coldren, both of Kenton; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

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