Hide Article Text (OCR)
William J. Briggs William J. Briggs, 82, Flora, died at 11:15 am, June 30, 2005, at his resi dence. He had been in ill health since February. Mr. Briggs had been an attorney in Flora since 1957, practicing law until Feb. 16, 2005. Born May 21, 1923, in Flora, he was the son of Jesse and Anna Viola Swartzell Briggs. His paternal ancestors were early settlers in Carroll County, with the earliest being in Carroll County prior to 1830. He was also a descen dant of John Hartman, a Revolutionary War veteran. His marriage was to fellow attorney Florence Anne Burchett on Sept. 13, 1958, in Ashland, Ky. The couple shared a law office in Flora, where Mrs. Briggs continues to practice law. Mr. Briggs served as Carroll County prosecuting attorney for two terms, from Jan. 1, 1963, through Dec. 31, 1970. Before returning to Flora, he was employed in the legal department of Ashland Oil Refining Co. While a law student, he authored an article entitled “Payments for Assignment or Cancellation of Contracts as Capital Gain or Ordinary Income.” He had been a mem ber of the Kentucky Law Journal staff and was pub lished in “The Monthly Digest of Tax Articles.” He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from DePauw University in 1949 and his law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1954.. In 1943, he was awarded the American Learned Societies Scholarship to study Turkish Language at Indiana University. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, Mr. Briggs served in the 44th Division, 324th, . Infantry ,,,. Battalion, pany B..He served in the European, the from May 8, 1943, through July 14, 1945. He was wounded on Dec. 11, 1944, while on the way to the Battle of the Bulge near Meyerhoff, France. After being operated on in Aix en Provence, France, he returned to the United States to Charleston, S.C., on Jan. 26, 1945, the same day Franklin Roosevelt died. Mr. Briggs was awarded both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. He was a member of the Flora United Methodist Church, where he served as assistant organist at age 12. He was also a member of Flora Masonic Lodge, FAM, for over 25 years, American Legion Post 222, Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity, and the Carroll County Bar Association. He served as Carroll County Democratic Party Chairman for many years. While a student at DePauw University, he was a founding member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity. Surviving with his wife are a daughter, Caroline Briggs Lowrance, attorney, Lafayette; a son, Winston Briggs, attor ney, Atlanta, Ga.; two grand sons, Austin Thomas Lowrance, Lafayette, and Henry Winston , Briggs, Atlanta, Ga. His parents and a grand daughter, Dabney, Ross Lowrance preceded him in death. Services were held Sunday afternoon at the Briggs resi dence with Pastor Larry DeVos officiating. Burial, with military graveside services, was at Maple Lawn Cemetery, Flora. Baker Funeral Home, Flora, was in charge of arrange ments. Raymond Ball Raymond “Bud” Ball, 87, of Wiggins, Miss., died June 28, 2005. Mr. Ball delivered semitrailers for Monon Trailer before retiring. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Surviving are two sons, Danny Ball (wife: Nancy) of Wiggins and John Ball (wife: Vickie) of Frankfort; a daughter, Penny Thiemann (husband: Jimmy) of Wiggins; and many grandchil dren and great-grandchildren. Services were June 30 in Wiggins with burial at Wiggins Cemetery. Marjorie Draper Trent Marjorie Draper Trent, 80, of 504 Sweetbriar Drive, Chillicothe, Ill., formerly of Flora, died June 15, 2005, at Heritage Manor of Chillicothe. Memorial services will be held in Flora at a later date. Mabel E. Oliver Service for Mabel E. Oliver, 84, of rural Rossville, were held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Pyrmont Cemetery. Pastors Allen Weldy and Chester Martin officiated. She died at 6:45 a.m. June 30, 2005, at Mulberry Health Retirement Community, Mulberry, where she had resided since May 2004. Born July 20, 1920, near Pyrmont in Carroll County, she was the daughter of Floyd and Emma Smeltzer. She had resided in the Rossville and Pyrmont areas all of her life. Her marriage was on Jan. 25, 1941, in Rossville, to I. Arthur Oliver, who died March 27, 1996 Mrs. Oliver had been employed as a secretary at Purdue University in the Audio Visual Production Unit for 18 years, retiring in 1978. She dated from Rossville High School in 1938 and from Lafayette Business College in 1939. She was a former member of Rossville Church of the Brethren and had attended Battleground Bible Church. For several years, Mrs. Oliver and her husband spent their win ters in McAllen, Texas, where she became affiliated with the Community Church in Pharr. Surviving are two sons, Ronald W. Oliver (wife: Nancy) and James A. Oliver (wife: Pam), all of rural Rossville; one sister, Marie Wolf of Lubbock, Texas; five grandchildren, Kellie L. Huffer and Kevin W., Jeffrey A., Brad A., and Darin S. Oliver; and 12 great-grandchildren. Her parents and a sister, Wilma Laprad, preceded her in death. Memorials may be made to Gideons International. Bodine Funeral Home, Rossville, was in charge of arrangements. Earl Wayne Armstrong ‘Earl Wayne Armstrong, 86, of Burlington, died at 4 a.m. July 3, 2005, in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Hospital, Kokomo. Born May 31, 1919, in Kokomo, he was the son of Emmet Charles and Carrie Mae Rogers Armstrong. He was mar ried on June 5, 1947, to Geraldine Snodgrass, who pre ceded him in death in 1989. Mr. Armstrong was retired after owning and operating Armstrong Drilling, Inc., for more than 30 years. A United States Army veteran, he served during World War II. Surviving are three sons, Joseph L. Armstrong (wife: Betty) of Burlington, Rev. John N. Armstrong (wife: Sharon) of Peru, and Rev. Charles E. Armstrong (wife: Colette) of Kokomo; one daughter, Rebecca S. Henry (husband: Craig) of Greentown; long-time compan ion, Nancy R. Cripe of Burlington; four sisters, Nita Mullin of Carmel, Mary Showalter of Marion, and Josephine Gaylor and Betty Lee, both of Kokomo; a stepdaughter, Charlene Coy (husband: Richard) of Fishers; nine grand children; two great-grandchil dren; five stepgrandchildren; and 13 stepgreat-grandchildren. Services will be held,at 10 a.m. today, Wednesday, at Ellers Mortuary, Kokomo. Pastor Steve Cole will officiate and burial will be in Sunset Memory Gardens with Kokomo. VFW military rites. Memorials may be made to the Indiana Grounds © Water Association Scholarship Fund, c/o Ellers Mortuary, 3400 Ellers Mortuary, 3400 S. Webster St., Kokomo, IN 46902. , Ellen L. Hawn Ellen L. Hawn, 87, of Willow Springs, Mo., died on June 30, 2005. Born in Camden on Feb. 18, 1918, she was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Webb Robeson. She married Richard Hawn in Carroll County in 1938, and they later divorced. Mrs. Hawn was a housewife and assisted on the farm. She was the Boone County treasurer for two terms. She was a member of United Methodist Church. Surviving are a daughter, Linda Elijah of Willow Springs and Marilyn Cohee (husband: Mike) Darlington. She was preceded in death by a sister, a son and a daughter. Services were July 2 in Willow Springs with burial at Willow Springs City Cemetery. Lester J. Graybill Lester J. Graybill, 72, of 871 W. 150N, Flora, died at 1:30 a.m. on July 1, 2005, at his residence. Born in Elkhart County on March 30, 1933, he was the son of Daniel and Susan Miller Graybill. He attended Elkhart County schools. His marriage was to Esther I. Ramer in Goshen on May 8, 1955, and she survives. Mr. Graybill owned and operated the Harness Shop at his home, doing leather repair. He was a member of the Old Brethren German _ Baptist Church near Camden. He and his wife moved to Carroll County from the Goshen area in 1988. Surviving with his wife are five sons, Raymond Graybill (wife: Elizabeth) of Athens, Wis., Benjamin Graybill (wife: Lois) of Flora, Virgil Graybill (wife: Virginia) of Camden, Wesley Graybill (wife: Leah) and Rollin Graybill (wife: Mary Jane), both of Delphi; three daugh ters, Regina Brumbaugh (hus band: Denver) of Camden, Vesta Morris (husband: James) of Delphi and Sylvia Morris (husband: Carl) of Flora; a sis ter, Sylvia Lavy of Wakarusa; a brother, James Grayhill (wife: Waneta) of Goshen; 35 grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. Services were Monday in Camden, with burial at Musselman Cemetery in Camden. Abbott Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Dane Holeman Dane Holeman, 20, of Sturgis, Ky., died at 2:08 p.m. on June 29, 2005, at Deaconess “ s Hospital in Evansville, as a result of a one-vehicle automobile acci dent. Dane had a very generous and forgiving heart and a good sense of humor. He was an avid musician. He had a black belt in tae kwon do, a blue belt in judo and a blue belt in jujit su. A 2003 graduate of Union County High School, he played on the Union County soccer team for four years, was on the Union County wrestling team and was a member of the National Honor Society. He was a student at the University of Louisville and a member of the Greek fraternity Sigma Epsilon. He was preceded in death by two grandparents, J.B. Holeman, who died in 1998, and Mary Jane Holeman, who died in 2003. Surviving are his parents, John V. and Teresa Holeman of Sturgis; a sister, Justine Holeman of Sturgis; and two grandparents, Cliff and Jean Thomson of Delphi. Services were July 2 in Sturgis, with burial at Pythian Ridge Cemetery in Sturgis. Memorials may be made to St. Anthony’s Hospice, the Hopkins County Community Clinic or Cumberland Presbyterian Church, via Theresa Holeman, 308 Main St., Madisonville, Ky. 42431.
Newspaper Details
Delphi Carroll County Comet
Delphi, Indiana, US
Wed, Jul 06, 2005
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Lara D.
