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.

Feb. 15, 1924 - Feb. 7, 2013

Ted J. Rode, 88, formerly of Landeck, passed away at 2:15 p.m. Thursday at Coldwater Community Hospital in Coldwater, MI.

He was born in Landeck to Sylvester and Leona (Rahrig) Rode, who preceded him in death.

Survivors include his children; one son Tom (Helen) Rode of Van Wert; four daughters, Karen Rode of Coldwater, MI, Jackie (Joe) Wenzlick of Antwerp, Barb Rode of Coldwater, MI and Jane (Bruce) Carpenter of MI; one brother, Sylvester Rode Jr. of Ft. Jennings; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Dennis and Duane Rode; two brothers, Louis Rode and Norbert Rode;  and three sisters, Sylvia Martin, Zita Martin and Audrey Etgen.

Mr. Rode was a farmer and owner of a trucking company. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and bowling. Services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday at Harter and Schier Funeral Home, with Father Chris Bohnsack officiating. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery.

Friends and family may call from 2-8 p.m. on Sunday at Harter and Schier Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Cemetery, American Cancer Society or to the family.

Roger Lawrence Kimmet, 66, of Van Wert, went to be with his Lord and Savior Tuesday at St. Rita’s Medical Center.
He was born in Lima to Lawrence and Bertha (Beining) Kimmet, who preceded him in death.
On May 1, 1971, he was united in marriage with Jan (McCaslin) Kimmet, who survives him in Van Wert.
Survivors also include four children, Bryan Kimmet of Kettering, Nichole (Trevor) Miller of Van Wert, Kristy (Jason) Rager of Crown Point, Ind., and Nathan (Becky) Kimmet of Van Wert; nine grandchildren, Cassie Hale of Middle Point, Dustin Hale of Van Wert, Elizabeth Rager, Carlton Rager, Davison Rager, Claire Rager and Ashton Rager all of Crown Point, Ind., and Brenna and Elise Kimmet of Van Wert; and three siblings, Patricia Williams of Lima, Gary (Pamela) Kimmet of Rochester, N.Y., and Dan (Cindy) Kimmet of Sylvania.
Mr. Kimmet worked at Aeroquip in customer service for 17 years. He also worked in IRA Accounts at First Financial for five years. He was a member of the Van Wert Lions Club and a former member of Van Wert City Pool Board and Knights of Columbus 6034.
Funeral services will begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Calvary Evangelical Church, Pastor Clark Williman officiating. Burial will follow at Woodland Cemetery.
Friends may all from 3-8 p.m. Friday and one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ohio State Ross Heart Hospital, Caring Voice Coalition or Calvary Evangelical Church.
Condolences may be left at bricknerfuneralhome.com or sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Jan. 15, 1930 - Feb. 4, 2013
Martha F. Dickrede, 83, of Delphos, passed away at 9:15 p.m. Monday at Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center.
She was born on Jan. 15, 1930, in Lima to Clarence and Mary (Rode) Hemker, who preceded her in death.
On Aug. 11, 1948, she was united in marriage to Urban Dickrede, who passed away on April 26, 1992.
Survivors include six sons, Gene Dickrede of Delphos, Mike (Vickie) Dickrede of Elida, Tom Dickrede of Lima, Ron Dickrede of Delphos, Dan Dickrede of Ava, Mo., and Bob (Susan) Dickrede of Lima; two brothers, George Hemker of Dayton and Dick (Marilyn) Hemker of Findlay; one sister, Rosie Swick of Defiance; six grandchildren, Stacy Dickrede, Clint (Kaelyn) Dickrede, Kyle (Brittany) Dickrede, Kayla Dickrede, Aaron Dickrede and Ryan Dickrede; nine great-grandchildren; and two stepgrandchildren, Chuck (Tressa) Mulholland and Brent (Angie) Mulholland.
Mrs. Dickrede was preceded in death by a brother, Clarence Hemker; and a son, David Dickrede.
Mrs. Dickrede was a homemaker and worked as a baker for Clyde Evans. Later in her career, she worked for St. John’s Rectory. She was an active member of Delphos St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and the church’s Woman’s Prayer Group. She was extremely devoted to her faith and her church community. Her hobbies included caring for her fruit trees, canning and baking. She especially loved baking angel food cakes.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, with Father Chris Bohnsack officiating. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery.
Family and friends may call from 2-8 p.m. today at Harter and Schier Funeral Home, where a Parish Wake will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Church or Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center.

Aug. 24, 1938 - Feb. 4, 2013
Gerald “Jerry” E. Wallen, 74, of Delphos, passed away at 9:18 p.m. on Monday at Baton Rouge Living Center in Lima.
He was born on Aug. 24, 1938, in Lima to Henry and Ida (Smith) Wallen, who preceded him in death.
Survivors include two sons, Don Wallen Sr. of Delphos and Danny Wallen of Delphos; two daughters, Kathy Gilbert of Delphos and Jana Wallen of Lima; two brothers, Frank (Terry) Wallen of Lima and Syl (Tammy) Wallen of Columbus; five grandchildren, Karen R. Williams of Toledo, Don Wallen Jr. of Delphos, Vanessa and Sandra Wallen of Delphos, Brooke Wallen of Knoxville, Tenn., and Jeremy Wallen of Cincinnati; and six great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by two sons, Gary and Frankie Wallen; and one daughter, Julie Wallen.
Mr. Wallen worked at Unverferth/Kill Brothers. He loved working on vehicles and he enjoyed fishing a great deal.
Services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Harter and Schier Funeral Home, the Reverend David Howell officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
Friends and family may call from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Friday and one hour prior to the service Saturday at Harter and Schier Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.