Robert F. Bender, 84, of Bluffton died at 3:10 p.m. Dec. 14, 2011 at his residence. He was born Sept. 24, 1927 in Wapakoneta to Frederick Ferdinand and Florence Elizabeth Lamley Bender. On Aug. 24, 1948 he married Jo Ann Brunn and she survives.
Robert and Jo Ann owned A-Z Portion Control Meats of Bluffton. He was a member of Bethel Church of Christ, Ada, and a former board member of the Lima Senior Citizens. He attended Lima Central High School and was a WWII Navy veteran.
The season of college football bowls is soon upon us. The Bluffton Icon will unveil its 2011-12 bowl contest this weekend.
The contest will consist of 29 football bowl games. Starting with the Hawaii Bowl played on Dec. 24 with Nevada versus Southern Mississippi and ending with the BCS National Championship on Jan. 9 with LSU versus Alabama, the contest will offer several Bluffton McDonald's Value Meals as prizes.
The contest will include four tie-breakers in the event of a tie at the end of the contest.
Here's an "it's a very small world" story, if there ever was one. Can any viewer identify what these two men have in common? The Icon spotted this conversation prior to Monday's all-elementary Christmas concert in the BHS gym.
Here's the story behind the photo:
On the left is George Denecker, father of Greg Denecker, Bluffton superintendent. He is talking with Dick Jordan of Bluffton.
What brought you here?
Ed was hired as the first guidance counselor at Apollo Joint Vocational School. We had all of Allen Co to choose from and liked Bluffton. We found a house, bought it and still live in it.
After a serving on Bluffton council since 2002 and as council president since 2004, Fulcomer, Ph. D., who is vice president for enrollment management and student life at Bluffton University, decided to seek the mayoral office of the village following Fred Rodabaugh's announcement last January that he would not seek reelection.
Robert Bender, of Bluffton died away at 3:10 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011 at his residence. Arrangements are incomplete at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.
You can't swim in the Bluffton Community Swimming Pool today, but you can buy a 2012 swimming pass at a reduced rate now until Dec. 31.
Passes purchased in December receive a 10 percent discount (does not apply to a $5 charge for additional children*). The 2012 pool prices follow:
$40 - senior single
$75 - senior couple
$80 - single
$130 - family pass (2 adults and up to 3 children ages 18 in the same household) *Additional passese for children agesa 18 and under can be purchased for $5 each.
Mennonite Memorial Home residents find Christmas all around them this month. The Home is decorated with several Christmas trees on each floor. In addition, countless holiday decorates are scattered throughout the Home to remind residents and employees of the season.
Here is an example of some of the Christmas lights.
