Eloise Marie (Sommer-Basinger) Kepner, 87, died Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at Walnut Manor in Walnut, Ill. She was born April 8, 1924, in Bluffton, Ohio, to Walter and Cora Gratz Sommer and married Bryan Basinger in 1942.
She lived most of her life in the Bluffton area, working at Triplett Electrical Instrument Company and the Bluffton Senior Citizen Center.
Willis (Bill) Boutwell, 87, died at 4:14 a.m. on March 6, 2012, at Hilty Memorial Home, Pandora.
Mr. Boutwell was born May 26, 1924, in Lafayette, Ohio, to John and Ethel Shrider Boutwell, who preceded him in death. On Oct. 16, 1948, he married Wanda Mae Claypool and she survives.
Mr. Boutwell was a member of Riley Creek Baptist Church, Bluffton, where he served as a deacon and as a member of numerous committees.
Mary Ellen (Rickly) Reichenbach, 98, died at 10:42 a.m. on Tuesday Feb. 28, 2012, at her residence with her daughter by her side. She was born Feb. 12, 1914, on the family farm in Putnam County to Samuel and Arletta (Huffman) Rickly.
She graduated from Pandora High School in 1932. On July 27, 1934, Mary Ellen married Myron (Mike) Reichenbach and he died on Jan. 13, 1980.
In addition to farming, Mike and Mary Ellen owned and operated Reichenbach's Flowers & Gifts on their farm from 1965 until 1978 when they sold their farm and moved to Bluffton.
Kenneth E. Geiger, 87 of Bluffton died at 10:45 a.m. Feb. 29, 2012, at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. He was born Nov. 17, 1924, in Allen County to Pearl E. and Burdella B. (Amstutz) Geiger. On Nov. 17, 1950 he married Virginia Klingler and she died Nov. 23, 2011.
Mr. Geiger retired as an electrical technician at Triplett Corporation, Bluffton after 42 years and had also worked in maintenance at Bluffton Public Library for 17 years.
Thomas D. Nusbaum, 70 of Bluffton died at 10:20 a.m., Feb. 28, 2012, at Blanchard Valley Hospital, Findlay.
He was born Jan. 28, 1942, in Lima to Elmer and Florence (Krites) Nusbaum who preceded him in death. On June 15, 1963, he married Barbara Shepler and she survives.
He retired from Dana Corporation, Lima. After retirement he was a bus driver for Bluffton Schools. He was a member of the Eagles, Lima. He had been a member of the Bluffton Fire & EMS Departments.
Kenneth E. Geiger, 87 of Bluffton died at 10:45a.m. Feb. 27, 2012, at Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 5 at Ebenezer Mennonite Church, Bluffton. Visitation will be held Sunday from 2-6 p.m. at Chiles-Laman Funeral Home, Bluffton.
