Obituaries

George Miles

March 23, 1939 to October 23, 2011

WINAMAC - George W. Miles, 72, Monterey, passed away at 12:05 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 23, at his residence.

He was born March 23, 1939, in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, to the late Percy Cameron Henry and Louie Ablet Curran Miles.

Survivors include:
Cindy Miles Morris, Daughter
Anne Jeanette Hodson, Sister, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Shirley Sarah Marks, Sister, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
John Curran Miles, Brother, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Timothy Michael Miles, Brother, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Anthony James Miles, Brother, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Jade Hoesel, Bass Lake, Close Friend
3 Grandchildren
1 Great grandchild
Several Nieces and Nephews

He was preceded in death by:
Christopher George Miles, Son
Edward Miles, Brother
Marylou Joyce Wagar, Sister

Mr. Miles moved to the U.S. to join the U.S. Marine Corps. He later became a U.S. citizen. After his discharge from the Marine Corps, he joined the U.S. Army Reserves. He served in the reserves for over 30 years. He  was a retired mechanic at the Amoco oil refinery in Whiting. He was a member of the VFW in Culver,  and the American Legion in Monterey. He enjoyed riding and caring for his horses, Ruby, LuLu and Buddy, plus fishing and square dancing.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m., Friday, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will follow at 4 p.m., (Friday, Oct. 28), at the funeral home, with Pastor Mark Pilger officiating. Military services will be conducted at the funeral home following the funeral service. Burial will be in Victoria Lawn Cemetery, located at St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada on Nov. 4.

Memorial donations may be given to the VFW in Culver, or the Golden Horseshoe and Saddle Club.

Opal Fairchild

February 22, 1922 to October 22, 2011

MEDARYVILLE - Opal Fairchild, 89, of Medaryville, passed away at 11:40 o,n,m Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 at Jasper County Hospital, Rensselaer.

She was born Feb. 22, 1922, in Salyersville, KY, to the late Clark and Middie Johnson Collinsworth. She was married July 7, 1942, in Greenup County, KY, to Roy Fairchild. He survives.

Also surviving are:
Roy Fairchild Jr., Francesville, Son
Estil (Connie) Fairchild, North Judson, Son
Earl (Judy) Fairchild, Knox, Son
Robert Fairchild, Medaryville, Son
Steve Fairchild, Medaryville, Son
22 Grandchildren
34 Great Grandchildren
Anna Powers, Salyersville, KY, Sister

Preceded in death by:
Vickie Fairchild Nelson ,Daughter
Beacher Collinsworth, Brother
Grover Collinsworth, Brother
Gladys Prater, Sister
Rinnis Cooper, Sister
Hugh Fairchild, Grandson
Donna Fairchild, Daughter-in-law

Mrs. Fairchild was a homemaker and had formerly worked at the Medaryville Garment Factory and the Monon Garment Factory. She also had worked at the Kingsbury Ordinance Plant. She was a resident of Indiana for 70 years, coming from Kentucky. She collected antiques and loved dogs.

Friends may call after 11 a.m., Wednesday, at Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel, Medaryville. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m., (Wednesday, Oct. 26), at the funeral home, with Pastor Leonard Allen officiating. Burial will be in Independence Cemetery, Medaryville.

Douglas Russell Dilts

January 12, 1952 to October 15, 2011

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - Word has been received of the death of Douglas Russell Dilts, 59, of Jakarta, who passed away suddenly Saturday, Oct. 15, while in the field working on a community development initiative in Sumatra, Indonesia.

He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on Jan. 12, 1952, to the late Russell Allen and Mary Charlotte Fritz Dilts, who were originally from Winamac. The family moved from Cincinnati to Augusta, Ga., in 1962.

He married Wahyu Setyowati in Solo, Indonesia in 1985 and together they raised five children, Bayu Dilts, Bima Dilts, Sari Dilts, Yudhistira Dilts, and Dewo Dilts. He is also survived by his sisters, Barbara Dilts of San Francisco and Martha Dilts of Seattle, and several first cousins in Winamac.

Mr. Dilts graduated from the Academy of Richmond County, Augusta, in 1970 where he was honored to serve as the Cadet Colonel. He graduated from Stanford University in 1974 and later received his doctorate of education in international education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1988.

After spending a season working on the Alaskan Pipeline to pay off student loans, he first went to Indonesia with Stanford's Volunteers in Asia program in 1975. He then worked for World Education in Indonesia and Thailand. He also led the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Integrated Pest Management System program starting in Indonesia and expanding to 12 Asian countries. Most recently, Mr. Dilts was the regional coordinator for USAID's Environmental Services program in North Sumatra following the 2005 tsunami.

He spent more than 30 years in Indonesia leading development initiatives ranging from adult education to farmer extension to community-based natural resources management. He was known and loved by his friends and colleagues for his unique ability to inspire them to achieve more than they thought possible. He was firmly committed to the rights and dignity of all people, and his work provided voice to millions of farmers and rural poor to organize and achieve a better life.

Mr. Dilts and his wife Wahyu established the Dilts Foundation www.diltsfoundation.org or www.facebook.com/diltsfoundation in 1995 that works with street children and poor urban communities to provide education, employment training, and medical care.

He was buried in the San Diego Hills Cemetery in Karawang, West Java.

Donations to continue his charitable work with children in Jakarta may be sent to:
Barbara Dilts (checks payable to Barbara Dilts)
51 Norwood Avenue
Kensington, CA 94707

Ardella Hunt

March 21, 1935 to October 21, 2011

MEDARYVILLE -Ardella Hunt, 76, of Medaryville, died at 7:50 a.m., Friday, Oct. 21, at Pulaski Memorial Hospital in Winamac.

She was born March 21, 1935, in Longview, IL, to the late Albert Herman and Ann Jeffers Gerike.

Survivors include:
Betty L. Gerike, Medaryville, Sister
William E. "Bill" (Sharon) Gerike, Portage, MI, Brother
JoAnn Gerike, Portage, Sister-in-law
Several Nieces & Nephews

Preceded in death by:
Albert Lee Gerike, Brother
Robin Shidler, Niece
Frank Wall, Nephew

Mrs. Hunt had lived in Westville, for many years before moving to Medaryville in 2001. She was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Westville. She had also been a volunteer at the Westville Fire Department. She liked to spend time with her family and friends.

Friends may call from 1 to 2 p.m., Monday, October 24, at  Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel in Medaryville. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m., (Monday, Oct. 24), at the funeral home with Rev. Tom Dewlen officiating. Burial will be in White Post Cemetery, Medaryville.

Memorial donations may be given to the charity of the donor's choice.

Betty R. Ley

May 21, 1924 to October 9, 2011

MELBOURNE, FLA. - Betty Romaine Capper Ley, 87, of Melbourne, Fla., passed away Sunday morning.

She was born in Chicago on May 21, 1924, the daughter of the late John S. Capper and Romaine Tiffany Capper. She was married to Francis Ley, of Kewanna, for 56 years. He passed away in 2002.

Survivors include four children, Phillip, Elizabeth, Kitty and Kent; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one sister, Virginia Gady Kinsel, of Rochester; and one brother, Tom Capper, of Star City.

She was preceded in death by one sister, Marilyn Heinsen; and one brother, Jack Capper.

Mrs. Ley was a personnel manager for Burdines Department Store in Melbourne for many years. She was a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan, having gone to the last two World Series that the Cubs participated in; in the late 30s and early 40s.

Funeral services were held Friday, Oct. 14 at Ascension Catholic Church in Melbourne, Fla. Internment was at Florida Memorial Gardens.

Sarah E. McClung

July 6, 1918 to October 10, 2011

ROYAL CENTER - Sarah Ellen (Myers) McClung, 93 of Winamac, passed away at 6:05 a.m., Monday, Oct. 10, at Pulaski Memorial Hospital in Winamac.

Born July 6, 1918 in New Castle, she was the daughter of the late Ernest and Essie (Whitlow) Myers. She grew up in Bloomington and was a 1936 Bloomington High School graduate, where she was a member of the National Honor Society. She also attended Indiana University. On June 6, 1940, she married James Max McClung, and in 1947 they moved to Winamac. Mr. McClung preceded her in death on July 28, 1974.

Surviving are daughter, Karen McClung of Winamac, son, Thomas McClung of Tuscon, Arizona, brother, Paul William Myers and wife, Ann of Plainfield, granddaughter, Allison, and great grandchildren, Maggie and Sam. She is also survived by several beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was also preceded in death by 2 brothers.

Mrs. McClung had worked for the Pulaski County Public Library from 1975 until she retired in February 2000. She was active in the Mental Health Association and for many years she had collected, sorted, wrapped and delivered Christmas presents to Mental Health Hospitals. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Bloomington and Winamac where she taught Sunday school and was active in CWF in both places. She was a member of Mother’s Club, the Federated Club for many years and was also a 50-year member of the Order of Eastern Star in Winamac.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Friday (Oct. 21). at First Christian Church in Winamac with Pastor Rick Abbott officiating. A gathering of family and friends will be from 12 to 1 p.m., at the church.

Memorial donations may be made to the Pulaski County Public Library, 121 Riverside Dr., Winamac, IN. 46996 and/or First Christian Church, 106 S. Market St., Winamac, IN. 46996.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Harrison-Metzger & Rans Royal Center Chapel.