Feb. 27, 1954 - Feb. 15, 2013

Billy “Bill” Joe Stephenson, Jr., 58, of rural Spencerville, passed away at 8:28 a.m. Friday at St. Rita’s Medical Center from complications due to a fall on ice at his work in Delphos on the 28th of January.

He was born Feb. 27, 1954, in St. Marys to Billy Joe and Ruth Evelyn (Glasco) Stephenson, Sr., who survive in Spencerville.

Also surviving are two brothers; Scott O. (Pam) Stephenson of Shawnee and Eric D. (Kathy) Stephenson of Delphos; one sister, Sheila R. Stephenson of Kimball, TN; a niece, Vanessa Stephenson of Spencerville; two nephews; Caleb Stephenson of Spanaway, WA, and Drew Stephenson of Shawnee; and great niece Alex Stephenson.

Mr. Stephenson was employed as a truck driver with the Palmer-Donavin Company in Delphos covering territories in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan for several years. He also worked at Goodyear Tire and Rubber in St. Marys and at Farm Service Company in the Fertilizer Equipment Division in Spencerville.

He was a 1972 graduate of Spencerville High School. He was a member and trustee with the Northwest Ohio Field and Stream Assn. in Spencerville, where he enjoyed cooking meals for their many activities. He also took pleasure in cooking for the Spencerville VFW post. He raised and sold specialty chickens and enjoyed bowling.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Thomas E. Bayliff Funeral Home in Spencerville, with Pastor Robert King officiating. Burial will follow in the Spencerville Cemetery.

Family and friends may call from 2 - 8 p.m. Sunday at Thomas E. Bayliff Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Northwest Ohio Field and Stream Assn.

Louis S. Heitz, 81, of Cridersville, passed away on Friday at St. Rita’s Medical Center.

Arrangements are incomplete at Harter and Schier Funeral Home.

Jan 8, 1920 Feb. 15, 2013

Rod E. Tiernan, 93, of Delphos, passed away Friday at Vancrest Healthcare Center in Delphos.

He was born Jan. 8, 1920, in Sanger, CA, to Rod E. and Viola L. (Stone) Tiernan, who preceded him in death.

He was united in marriage to Betty E. Jones on May 17, 1947, who survives in Delphos.

Mr. Tiernan was a Navy Veteran who served during World War II. He worked at Westinghouse and Fruehauf, both for 15 years. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Hope Masonic Lodge #214, Life Member of the VFW #3035 and Lions Club. He enjoyed fishing and hunting.

Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Monday at Harter and Schier Funeral Home, with the Rev. David Howell officiating. Military Grave Rites will be given by the Delphos Veterans Council at the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date. Family and friends may call from 1-3 p.m. Monday at Harter and Schier Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church Mission Fund.

March 22, 1946 - Feb. 11, 2013
John “David” Whittington, 66, of Gomer, passed away at 1:47 p.m. Monday from a massive heart attack at Lima Memorial Hospital.
He was born on March 22, 1946, in Lima to John and Norma (Notter) Whittington, who preceded him in death.
He was united in marriage to Linda Jane Renner, who survives in Gomer.
Other survivors include a daughter, Cynthia Lynn (Scott) Neubert of Delphos; a sister, Nancy (Larry) Miller of Lima; two grandsons, Evan John Neubert and Alex David Neubert; a sister-in-law, Jill (Arnold) Renner; and three nieces and three nephews.
He was also preceded in death by his grandparents, Thomas and Mabel (Ballard) Whittington, Penegoes, North Wales; great-grandparents, Thomas and Sara Whittington and Richard and Bernice Notter; and brother-in-law, Allen Keith Renner.
Mr. Whittington was a teacher at Perry Local Schools and Delphos Jefferson High School, where he taught science, biology and anatomy and was a guidance counselor. He lectured Indian relic adult education courses at Vantage Vocational School and Science Methods at the OSU Lima Campus. He also served as a student teacher supervisor at OSU Lima campus. He was a harness racing clerk at Shelby, Putnam and Allen County fairs and volunteered as a juvenile probation officer and teacher for the Lima Juvenile Court.
He was a member of the Gomer United Church or Christ, the Ohio State Alumni Association, Allen County Go-Bucks Club and Welsh Society of Northwest Ohio, serving as the current president; past member of the Lima Emergency Planning Commission, National Association of Biology Teachers and Ohio Academy of Science Olympiads at OSU; judged local, regional and state science fairs; and directed marine biology camps on Andros Island, Bahamas. He was awarded the N.W. Ohio Science Teacher of the Year, National Association’s Biology Teacher of the Year, Lima Senior High School Hall of Fame and Honorary Wildcat Award at Jefferson.
Mr. Whittington graduated from Lima Senior High School in 1964, the Ohio State University in 1968 and the University of Dayton in 1972, where he earned his masters degree in guidance.
He enjoyed reading, gardening, harness horse racing, traveling, boxing, gambling and antiquing. He was an avid Indian relic historian and collector.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Gomer United Church of Christ the Rev. David Howell and Brian Knoderer officiating. Burial will follow in the Pike Run and Tawelfan Cemetery in Gomer.
Visitation will be from 3-8 p.m. on Friday at Harter and Schier Funeral Home and one hour prior to services Saturday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Welsh Society of Northwest Ohio.