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Lillian Irene (Koontz) Crates, 89, of rural Arlington, died at 4:15 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29, 2013, in Findlay, Ohio. She was born in Jenks, Okla., on March 19, 1924, to Jasper and Linda (Lugibill) Koontz Dray.

On July 20, 1941, she married Herbert G. Crates and they were married for 67 years until his death on Nov. 8, 2008. They had five children: Sandra (Bruce) Dacre , Delaware, Ohio; Larry (Rindy) Crates, Arlington; Charles Crates, Arlington;  Mary (Tom) Phillips, Climax, Mich.; Jack (Elaine) Crates, Findlay.

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Herbert J. Bormuth, 92, of rural Rawson, died at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013 at the Arlington Good Samaritan Center. He was born on Feb. 28, 1921, to the late Oliver and Alma (Schaller) Bormuth in Van Buren Twp., Hancock County. He married Ruth Ann von Stein on Jan. 11, 1942, and she survives.

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LaVera  Neufeld died on Dec. 1, 2013, at Frieda House, Bluffton, Ohio. She was born Sept. 26, 1927, in Inman, Kan., the second of five children born to Curt and Sarah Androes Regehr. The family moved to Dalhart, Texas, for several years during the Dust Bowl, but later returned to Inman. 

She attended West Eagle and Welcome rural schools, often riding the family horse, Blackie. LaVera and her cousin, Lilly Ann Regehr, were driven to high school by Elmer Neufeld and his brother, Herb.

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Esther P. Luginbuhl, 92, died at Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton on Nov. 28, 2013.  She was born Jan. 30, 1921 in Mount Blanchard to George and Naomi Crawford Shoemaker, who preceded her in death.  On May 16, 1943 she married Delbert Luginbuhl who preceded her in death on Oct. 22, 1987. 

Mrs. Luginbuhl graduated from Pandora High School in 1939. She worked in a variety of places during the years, including Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton University, Urich's IGA, and Triplett Corporation.  She was a member of First Mennonite Church, Bluffton. 

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Esther P. Luginbuhl, 92, of Bluffton died at 8:10 a.m. Nov. 28, 2013, at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton.  Arrangements are incomplete at Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Bluffton.

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Bluffton

Ellen Messing, 78, of Bluffton, died Nov. 21, 2013 at her residence. She was born April 23, 1935, in Ada to the late Rufus G. and Lillian M. Howard Smith. 

She retired from Sprint where she was an operator and dispatcher.  She was a member of the English Lutheran Church, Bluffton and the Ada VFW.  She was a 1953 graduate of Ada High School.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Louis David Brentlinger.

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