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| In Memoriam |
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March 22 to May 23
Carl “Eddie” Miller
Friend of the University of SaintF Francis
Carl “Eddie” Miller, 72, died on March 11. He was born on March 3, 1952, in Tipton, Indiana, to the late Carl and Geneva Williams Miller. He attended the Fort Wayne Art Institute and was one of the Dock Street Artists and a longtime member of Artlink. His paintings are included in the permanent collection at the University of Saint Francis, the Midwest Art Museum and in many private collections. He is survived by his nephew Tony Moon; his wife Joy; Christina Winkler; many friends in the Fort Wayne arts community and his Henry’s Restaurant family. He was predeceased by his sister Nancy Moon. Access the obituary.
Patricia Witham ’60, ’67
Patricia J. Witham, 85, of Fort Wayne, died on April 27. She was born on June 23, 1938, to the late Fred D. and Dorothy (Sax) Schoppman. Patricia was a 1956 graduate of Central Catholic High School. She earned a master’s degree in education from St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis). On June 30, 1962, she married the love of her life, Jack R. Witham. He preceded her in death in 2016.
She is survived by her children John (Margaret) Witham, Myra (Jeff) Miller and Homer Witham; seven grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and a sister, Elizabeth Heidenreich. Also preceding her in death was her stepmother, Cecilia Schoppman. Access the obituary.
Carolyn Chapple ’66
Carolyn Louise Chapple, 91, of rural Columbia City, Indiana, died at StoryPoint West on April 13. Born in Peru on April 10, 1933, she was a daughter of the late Oscar and Florence (Burns) Bowen. Growing up in Kosciusko County, she graduated from Burkett High School in 1951. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and a master’s degree in education from St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis). On June 8, 1952, she married Robert Lee Chapple, beginning their 52-year journey together, raising three children. Robert died on Nov. 11, 2005.
She is survived by her children Linda (Greg) Maggert and Gary (Marla) Chapple, both of Columbia City, and Judy Pelance of New Bern, North Carolina; eight grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by brothers Robert and Rex Bowen. Access the obituary.
Martha Klondaris ’69
Martha Elizabeth Cox Klondaris, 97, of Warsaw, Indiana, died on April 11, 2024. She was born on March 1, 1927, in Warsaw. Martha was the only daughter of Lena Sigler and Clarence Edward Cox. She was a lifetime resident of Kosciusko County, where she was a graduating member of the Warsaw High School class of 1945. On Sept. 12, 1948, Martha married the love of her life, Terry John Klondaris. They were blessed with 68 years of marriage before Terry passed away on Dec. 4, 2016.
Martha had a heart for teaching and earned her bachelor’s degree from Stephens College in Missouri and Manchester College in North Manchester. Martha received her master’s degree in elementary education from St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis).
She leaves behind her son Michael (Lena Fermback) Klondaris of Warsaw, Indiana; daughters Cindy (Doug) Hampton of Warsaw and Kristine “Kacy” (Thomas) Arnold of Silver Lake, Indiana; grandchildren Kristine (Clint) Davis, Natalie (Josh) Cole, Kristofer and Hanna Klondaris; and great-grandchildren Jack, Rhett, Annie, Campbell and Luke. Access the obituary.
Charles Albert ’70
Charles W. Albert, 91, of North Manchester, Indiana, died on April 8. The son of Dorland “Pete” and Lois Steele Albert, Charles was born in Mishawaka, Indiana, on Aug. 10, 1932. Charles graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1952 and from Manchester College with bachelor’s degrees in religion, philosophy and education. He also attended Bethany Seminary and then obtained his master’s degree in education from the University of Saint Francis.
The memory of Charles W. Albert will be cherished by his children Pamela (Mike) Hoover of North Manchester, Neal (Nadine) Albert of Middlebury, Indiana, and Julie (Steve) Hartig of Clarkston, Michigan; stepdaughters Susan (Paul) Sagsworth of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Julie (Dean) Eakright of Wabash, Indiana, and Diane (Andrew) Beverly of Warsaw, Indiana; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; seven step grandchildren; three step great-grandchildren; and little brother Philip Young of Dublin, Ohio. Charles was preceded in death by his parents; wife Mary Ann Albert; and siblings Jackie Maes and Norman Keith Albert. Access the obituary.
David Lewis Bell ’70
David Lewis Bell, 76, of Cary, North Carolina, died on May 5. He was born on February 4, 1948, in Pendleton, Indiana. David served as the Southeast Regional Sales Manager in the Farmers Corporate Division.
He graduated from Pendleton High School in 1966. David earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis). David was a deacon at the Presbyterian Church of Dayton, Ohio, enjoyed going on cruises and was an avid fan of the Cincinnati Reds, Durham Bulls and the Raleigh Hurricanes hockey team.
David is survived by his high school sweetheart and devoted wife of 57 years, Cheryl L. Bell; his loving son, Bradley David Bell, who was his primary caretaker during his battle with dementia; his daughter, Shannon Bell Grinstead of Broadlands, VA; grandsons Sebastian Bell and Spencer David Bell; and granddaughters Grace and Caroline Grinstead. He was predeceased by his parents, Miriam and Howard Bell of Pendleton, Indiana. Access the obituary.
William Derbyshire ’70
William E. “Bill” Derbyshire, 83, of Fort Wayne, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather died on May 23. Born and raised in Edon, Ohio, he graduated from Defiance College and obtained his master’s degree from St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis). He taught math and coached with Fort Wayne Community Schools at Weisser Park Jr. High, Kekionga Middle School, Elmhurst High School and Blackhawk Christian High School. Bill was a longtime director with the Wildcat Baseball League and served as president of the League.
He was loved and will be sorely missed by his wife Martha of 64 years; sons Bill (Marilyn) Derbyshire and Bob Derbyshire; five grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; and brother John (Sharon) Derbyshire. Access the obituary.
Sr. Helen Travis ’70
Helen Mary Travis was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on May 30, 1934, the daughter of Chester and Mary (McAleavey) Travis. She was the fourth of five children. Helen was a member of St. Matthew’s in South Bend, Indiana, at the time of her entrance into the congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Tipton on September 7, 1950. She received the name Sister Mary Leon at her reception on July 2, 1951. She pronounced first vows on August 15, 1953, and final vows on August 15, 1959.
Sister Helen received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis) in 1970 and her master’s degree from Indiana University in 1972. Access the obituary.
Samuel Steffes ’74
Samuel J. Steffes, 76, of Edon, Ohio, died April 22 at the Evergreen Healthcare Center. Samuel graduated in 1965 from Edon High School in Ohio. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Bowling Green State University, and a master’s degree in elementary education from St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis).
Samuel J. Steffes was born on Nov. 21, 1947, in Edon, Ohio, the son of Basil and Frances (Stoy) Steffes. He married Barbara A. Vince on June 14, 1969, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Blakeslee, Ohio; she preceded him in death on February 5, 2022.
Surviving Samuel are his son James Steffes; daughter Rachel Kaylor; granddaughters Emily Kaylor, Hannah (Heath) Brown, Allison and Ashley Kaylor; sisters Agnes Stoker, Barbara (Joseph) Shankster and Nancy (Ron) Risedorph; brothers Raymond (Barbara) Steffes, John Steffes and George (Barbara) Steffes; sister-in-law Sally Steffes; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Sam was preceded in death by his wife; parents; brothers Joseph, Richard and Clarence; and sister Loretta. Access the obituary.
Elizabeth Ann Bickham ’75, ’80
Elizabeth Ann Bickham, 79, of Hudson, Indiana, formerly of Payne, Ohio, died on May 10. Elizabeth was born in Paulding, Ohio, on October 23, 1944, a daughter of the late L. Evelyn (Enz) and C. Charles Bickham. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in special education at St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis).
Elizabeth was a dedicated special education teacher at Branch Intermediate in Coldwater, Michigan.
She enjoyed snow skiing and was a member of the Fort Wayne Ski Club in her youth. It was her involvement in the club that led her to meet the late William (Bill) Leider. Through this relationship, Elizabeth came to be a devoted Catholic and member of St. Anthony’s church of Angola, Indiana.
She enjoyed cooking and baking and was known to follow recipes to a “T”. She made an amazing German chocolate cake each year for her son’s birthday, which will be dearly missed. In her most recent years, she was a loving grandmother to four grandchildren. She moved from her family homestead in Payne to be with her son and his family. She was very proud of her family and routinely proclaimed how “blessed she was” to be with them on a daily basis.
Elizabeth will be sadly missed by her son, Matthew (Becca) Leider; and her grandchildren, Amaya and Xander Prater, Lincoln and Maxton Leider. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Mary Jo Welch; and lifelong companion, William (Bill) Leider. Access the obituary.
Steve Riley ’82
Steve Riley, 66, died on April 28 at Stillwater Hospice in Fort Wayne. Steve was born in Fort Wayne. He graduated from Northrop High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Saint Francis and a master’s degree in administration from Indiana University. Steve taught and coached at Blackhawk Middle School and Snider High School.
Surviving are his wife, Audrey; his niece who is like a daughter, Alexandra Riley; sisters Terri (Dan) Stemen and Julie (Kevin) Burns; and brother, Scott (Robin) Riley. Also surviving are his other wonderful and beloved nephews and niece, Anthony (Jamie) Paino, Andrew (Erin) Paino, Maggie (Ty Schrock) Paino, Riley Lenaway and Ethan Lenaway. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dave and Sharon Riley. Access the obituary.
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