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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1998
Frederick E. Ringle
Tiffin native
Frederick E. Ringle, 81, of Shawnee Manor Nursing Home, Lima, died Friday, Dec. 18, 1998, at the nursing home.
He was born Oct. 4, 1917, in Tiffin, to the late Frederick Giles and Eugneia (Kiskaden) Adams Ringle. On June 19, 1948, he married Katherine C. Phillips, who survives.
Other survivors include: two daughters, Mrs. Fay Gepfrey of Fenton, Mich., and Mrs. Sheila Hogg of Destrehan, La.; five grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and a sister, Ann Price of Prescott, Ariz.
A brother, Alexander Ringle, preceded him in death.
Mr. Ringle was the retired president of Ringle Plating Corp. of Celina. A graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., he served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of World War II as commander in rank and commanding officer of the USS Richard S. Bull and later the USS Edmonds. He was active in church work in several Episcopal and Lutheran churches and sang in various church choirs. He was crucifer, lay reader, lector and Sunday School teacher, and served on the vestries and boards of trustees. He also had memberships in Mercer County Elk's Lodge 2170 and Shawnee Country Club.
The funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Siferd Westwood Chapel, 506 N. Cable Road, Lima, with the Rev. Arthur Wilde and Thomas Lentz officiating. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, Tiffin.
Visitation will be 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 209 W. North St., Lima; Lutheran Social Services; or the oncology unit of St. Rita's Medical Center or St. Rita's Hospice.
Lois Virginia Haines
Florida resident
Lois Virginia Haines, 74, of 18742 Rea Way, Altoona, Fla., died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998.
She was born in Altoona, Fla., and was a lifelong resident of that city.
Surviors include: two sons, Robert and Larry Haines, of Altoona and Williston, Fla., respectively; a daughter, Mary Ellen Johnson of Gainesville, Fla.; seven grandchildren; six great grandchildren; two brothers, Grover Bates of Avon Park, Fla., and Wilbur Bates of Lake City, Fla.; and two sisters, Marjorie Chatham of Altoona and Inez Galloway of Tavares, Fla.
She was a member of First Baptist Church of Altoona and the Florida Hospital Waterman Foundation.
Beyers Funeral Home of Umatilla, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
Marion (Hodges) Drake
Former Tiffin reading teacher
Marion (Hodges) Drake, 88, formerly of Tiffin, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998, at the Hillsdale County Medical Care facility following a long illness with Alzheimer's disease. She was born in Plymouth Township, Ashtabula County, Aug. 26, 1910, the daughter of Lucius and Glendora (Stevenson) Hodges. On June 6, 1934, she married Max Drake, and he survives.
Other survivors include: four sons, David (Margo) Drake of Tiffin, Jim (Sara) Drake of Fairfield Glade, Tenn., Steve (Barbara) Drake of St. Louis, Mo., and Paul (Peggy) Drake of Huron; a daughter, Ellen Drake of Tiffin; a sister, Alice Rushton of Kingsville; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were a twin son, Phillip, who died at birth, andbrothers Arthur and Wilbur.
A lifelong educator, Mrs. Drake graduated from Ashtabula High School and Kent State University. She was a fourth-generation teacher. Her first teaching job was in a one-room school house in Ashtabula County. After raising her family, Mrs. Drake returned to teaching as a reading specialist in the Tiffin public and Catholic schools. She was active in church work, Bible study, women's clubs and garden and Shakespeare clubs.
The Rev. Mark Johnson will officiate the 11 a.m. Monday service at the Hillsdale United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Floral Grove Cemetery, Pioneer.
Friends may call after noon Sunday at the St. John-White Funeral Home, Reading. The family will receive friends that evening from 7-9 p.m.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Assoc. or the Hillsdale United Methodist Church.
Billy L. Spitler
Father of area residents
Billy L. Spitler, 65, of 8351 S. SR 53, McCutchenville, died Friday, Dec. 18, 1998, at the Cleveland Clinic.
He was born Oct. 27, 1933, in Wyandot County, to Noah L. and Gladys T. Spitler. He married Donna M. Koby Dec. 1, 1956, in Tiffin.
Survivors include: his mother; his wife; three sons, Thomas L., Tracy R. and Todd W. Spitler of Loveland, Ohio, Colorado Springs, Col., and Findlay, Ohio, respectively; a daughter, Mrs. Robert (Tina) Decker of Weston, Ohio; three grandchildren; and four sisters, Alice Shrode of Tiffin, Mrs. Eugene (Joyce) Holmer of Republic, Mrs. Eugene (Maxine) Philbrook of Cardington, Ohio, and Peggy Spitler of McCutchenville.
His father and brothers Ray and Tom Spitler preceded him in death.
Mr. Spitler was retired from the Farmers' Commission Co. of Upper Sandusky. A Navy veteran, he was a member of St. Nicholas Church of Frenchtown and the New Riegel American Legion.
A memorial Mass will take place at a later date. The body was donated to Cleveland Clinic Foundation for the Advancement of Medical Science.
Memorials may be made to the Leukemia Society of America, 2 Gateway Center, 13 N., Pittsburgh, Pa., or the above foundation.