The Outlet Summer Program

The Outlet Youth Center is announcing their community summer program for 2023.

The program kicks off from 4-6 p.m. Friday, June 9, in The Outlet Center, 491 Apache Drive,

Library kicks off Summer Program

The Fulton County Public Library is holding their kick off for the Summer Library Program from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, June 5, at the Rochester Branch in the arboretum. Festivities will include games, food, face painting, giveaways and Magician Norman Basile. Bring the whole family to share in this celebration of summer.

This year’s Summer Library Program theme is “All Together Now,” a throwback to the era of The Beatles, Volkswagen buses, tie-dye, and peace and love. Events and activities will include art classes, Cosplay workshops, pottery painting with Tessa Brooks from Elemental Art Studio, pool parties, Silly Safaris, Roz Puppets and Adopt-A-Pet with the Fulton County Animal Center. Summer Library Program runs from June 12-July 21. People of all ages are welcome to sign up beginning June 5. Participants will have the opportunity to win prizes.

Rochester, with a luau party for all youth in Fulton County. All kids, youth and families are invited; come and go for food and activities.

The Outlet Center will host two more events, a backyard cookout from 4-6 p.m. Friday, June 30, and a campfire from 4-6 p.m. Friday, July 21, at their location, and several free events in the community, a painting session from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 17, in the El- emental Art Studio; a movie Saturday, June 24, in The Times Theatre; bowling from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 15, in Country Lanes; then ending the summer with a party at the Rochester City Pool, time and date unavailable at this time.

The scheduled events for the Elemental Art Studio and Country Lanes require pre-registration at theoutletyouthcenter.org, which opens Thursday, June 1.

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O BITUARIES Sharon J. Doege

Former Cromwell Products Employee

Sharon J. Doege, 78, Cromwell, passed away Thursday, May 18, 2023, at Parkview Randallia Hospital in Fort Wayne.

She was born Dec. 7, 1944, to James and Mary (Scott) Gibson in Huntington. On Feb. 23, 1963, she married Orlin Paul Doege in Laud. He preceded her in death in 2010.

Sharon worked for Cromwell Products for 12 years, Monsanto, Family Fare, Magnavox of Fort Wayne and Murphy’s Department Store. She enjoyed camping with her husband and loved her family more than anything.

She is survived by her children, James (Cathy) Doege of Greenville, S.C., Debbie (Joe) Strange of Wesley Chapel, Fla., and William (Adrienne) Doege of Cromwell; grandchildren, Ben, Amber, Alec, Tyler, Sidney, Alexander, Madison, Kennidy and Andrew; three great-grandchildren, Grace, Ihor and Mckenzie; and siblings, Jim Gibson, Tom Gibson, Mary Bennett and Arvilla Hocker.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and siblings, John Gibson, Martha Heiniger and Pat Conrad.

A celebration of Sharon’s life was held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at Stones Hill Community Church, 151 W. Stones Hill Road, Ligonier. Family and friends were received from 4-5:30 p.m. prior to the service at the church.

Memorial donations may be directed to Riley Children’s Hospital or Stone’s Hill Community Church.

Yeager Funeral Home in Ligonier is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.yeagerfuneralhome.com.

Larry V. Gearhart

Owner Of Gearhart Groceries

Larry V. Gearhart, 88, Fulton, passed away at 2:22 a.m. Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at his residence.

He was born Feb. 1, 1935, in Huntington County, the son of Frank and Edna (McPeak) Gearhart. On May 2, 1954, in Akron, he married Donna Becker; she survives.

Larry had been a butcher, owning and operating his own grocery store, Gearhart Groceries in Fulton. Larry later worked for Martin Supermarkets, Kroger Grocery Store and had owned the gas station in Fulton. He had also owned his own antique store, Gearhart Antiques.

In his spare time, he had been a 50-year member of the Fulton Baptist Temple, a 20-year member of the Fulton-Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department and had been a charter member of the Fulton-Liberty Township Lions Club. He enjoyed playing euchre, mushroom hunting, spending time with his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, supporting all their athletic activities and all his relatives from being one of 18 children. He was an avid Notre Dame and Chicago White Sox fan.

Survivors include his wife, Donna Gearhart, Rochester; children, Rick (Amy) Gearhart, Winamac, and Diane Gearhart, Rochester; daughter-in-law, Cheryl Gearhart, Fulton; grandchildren, Tim (Gretchen) Gearhart, Winamac, Jessica Gearhart, Pennsylvania, Kristen Overmyer, Rochester, Brandon (Elvis) Gearhart, Indianapolis, Heath Lee Gearhart, Fulton, and Misty Leann Gearhart, Fulton; eight great-grandchildren; siblings, Dorothy LaVerne Alger, Laketon, Ruth Miller, North Manchester, and Joan Harris, Fulton; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Greg Gearhart; and siblings, Ethel Gearhart, Edith Gearhart, Ray Edward Gearhart, Opal Gearhart, Floyd Charles Gearhart, Leonard Otto Gearhart, Donald James Gearhart, Harold Walter Gearhart, Leo John Gearhart, Sharon E. Meenen, William Eugene Gerhart, Max Junior Gearhart, Dick K. Gearhart and Roger Gearhart.

Funeral services were conducted at noon Friday, May 26, at Zimmerman Bros. Funeral Home, Rochester. Friends visited from 10 a.m. to noon Friday at the funeral home. Burial was in Fulton Cemetery, Fulton.

Memorial contributions may be to the American Diabetes Association, Fulton County Animal Adoption and Education Center or the Fulton-Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.zimmermanbrosfh.com.

Alan D. Bitterling

U.S. Air Force Veteran

Alan D. Bitterling, 79, Rochester, passed away at 9:22 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at his residence. He was born Dec. 24, 1943, in Winamac, the son of Ralph and Helen (Conn) Bitterling. On March 11, 2017, at the Riverview Community Church, he married Carol Ann (Townsend) Bradway; she survives.

Alan graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and had served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. He had worked as administrator for Farmer’s Home Administration, Rensselaer. He had been a member of Riverview Community Church, American Legion and the Eagles Lodge. In his spare time, he enjoyed gardening.

Survivors include his wife, Carol A. Bitterling, Rochester; children, Jennifer (Mike) Skinner, Knox, and Thomas (Andrea) Bitterling, Butler; stepchildren, Dennis (Trey) Castleman, Fremont, Calif., and Debra Tuttle, Rochester; grandchildren, Alexandria (Josiah) Scott, Mishawaka, Victoria Bulick, Pennsylvania, Jordan Bulick, Hamlet, Jesse Skinner, Wisconsin, Hannah Ricketts, Fort Wayne, Chloe Ricketts, Fort Wayne, Brady Bitterling, Butler, Nicholas Bitterling, Butler, Kyle Castleman, Fremont, Calif., Libby Castleman, Fremont, Calif., Daylene (Brett) Byers, Rochester, Scott (Samantha) Tuttle, Rochester, Robert (companion Misty Golden) Tuttle, Rochester, and Lacee (Damien) White, Lakeville; great-grandchildren, Brayden, Alivia and Callen Byers, Eres and Easton Tuttle and Wesley White, and awaiting the arrival of Destin David White, who is due any day; sister, Lona Hoover, Peru; brother, James Bitterling, Bowling Green, Ky.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Emily Jo Bitterling; brother, Robert Ralph Bitterling; stepsons, David Castleman and Donnie Castleman; and son-in-law, David Tuttle.

Funeral services were conducted at noon Saturday, May 27, at Riverview Community Church, 3780 SR 110, Tippecanoe. Friends called from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the church. Burial followed in Bruce Lake Cemetery, Kewanna.

Memorial contributions may be made to Riverview Community Church, Fulton County Animal Adoption and Education Center or Elara Caring Hospice Foundation.

Arrangements by Zimmerman Bros. Funeral Home, Rochester. Online condolences may be expressed at www.zimmermanbrosfh.com.

William Hal Hammel

Former Owner Of Westside Services

William Hal Hammel, 78, Rochester, passed away at 4:05 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka. He was born Jan. 23, 1945, in Marion, Ohio, the son of Hal M. and Violet Pauline (Erny) Hammel. On Dec. 20, 2020, at the Rochester Church of the Nazarene, he married Vicki Runkle; she survives.

Bill had worked for many years in various departments for the former Hammel Motors, Rochester. He later drove for Dean Foods, a school bus for Rochester Community Schools and had owned and operated his own lawn and residential service company, Westside Services. He was a member of Heart to Heart Church of the Nazarene and enjoyed tinkering on anything mechanical, as well as performing auto body repair work. In his leisure time, he enjoyed his time with his two dogs.

Survivors include his wife, Vicki Hammel, Rochester; sons, Kenny Hammel, Rochester, and Eric (Valerie) Hammel, Rochester; stepson, Dustin Overmyer, Rochester; stepdaughters, Jeanette (Dale) Cave, Macy, and Karie Pena, North Judson; mother, Lois Hammel, Rochester; grandchildren, Zachary Hammel, Rochester, and Jakeb Hammel, Rochester; stepgrandchildren, Josh (Hannah) Haimbaugh, Rochester, A.J. Haimbaugh, Leiters Ford, Wade (Becky) Cave, Rochester, and Cassidy (Andrew) Harlen, Rochester; three stepgreat-grandchildren; and siblings, Jon Melvin Hammel, Rochester, Loretta Ann (Tom) Blessing, Goshen, and Michael David Hammel, Rochester.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Graveside services were conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Rochester.

Memorial contributions may be made to Heart to Heart Church of the Nazarene, 1987 Southway 31, Rochester, IN 46975.

Arrangements by Zimmerman Bros. Funeral Home, Rochester. Online condolences may be expressed at www.zimmermanbrosfh.com.

Bradley Neal Crawford

Bradley “Brad” Neal Crawford, 67, Winamac , died at 2:50 a.m. Sunday, May 21, 2023, in his home. He was born on Dec. 13, 1955. On May 30, 2021, he married Beth RuffCrawford, she survives.

He is also survived by a daughter, Florence “Kelsey” Crawford; brother, Keven Crawford, Winamac; sister, Tina (Steve) Knebel, Winamac; Beth’s sons, Jake (Jenna) Ruff, Rochester, and Josh (Hayley) Ruff, Fishers; a grandson; motherin-law, Barbara Halleck, Winamac; brother-in-law, Tom (Tammy) Halleck, Star City; sisters-in-law, Jennifer (Dan) Knebel, Winamac, and Cyndi (Joe) Garnett, Westfield; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Florence Crawford; and father in law, Thomas Halleck, Sr.

Services were held, May 26, in St. Peters Catholic Church, Winamac. Interment took place following the funeral service in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery West, Pulaski.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Fund, P.O. Box 187, Culver, IN 46511.

Condolences can be shared with the family at www.ransfuneralhomes.com.

Linda

M. Prince

Linda M. Prince, 61, Elkhart, died on Saturday, May 20, 2023, in her home.

She was born on Feb. 5, 1962. On Dec. 1, 2001, she married Scott Prince, who survives.

She is also survived by her sons, Terry Briggs (Ashley Stockman), LaPaz, and Gary Briggs Jr., Plymouth; a brother, Patrick Sobieck, Monterey; and a grandson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Betty (Schultz) Sobieck.

Cremation has been chosen and no services are planned.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Deaton-Clemens Van Gilder Funeral Home, Bourbon.

Woodlawn Hospital hosts blood drive June 9

Woodlawn Hospital is hosting a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, June 9. Each donor receives a ticket for admission to Cedar Point, Kings Island or other Cedar Fair theme parks. Donors must be 16 years old or older and have an ID with a birth date. Donors 16 years of age need a guardian-signed permission slip at the time of donation.

Soul’d Out Quartet

Soul’d Out Quartet from Georgetown, Ohio, is performing at 6 p.m. Sunday, June 4, in the Riverview Community Church, 3780 SR 110, Tippecanoe.

The group is comprised of Matt Rankin, Philip Kolb and Jason McAtee. It is a vocal group in the heritage of southern gospel music, but is also a ministry team.

Soul’d Out Quartet travels the country with a mission of evangelism and discipleship to not only win souls for Christ, but also to further strengthen and encourage God’s people to be salt and light to the world