Obituaries

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William “Bill” Duane Huff Jr., 81, of Bluffton, died Saturday morning in his home surrounded by his family. Bill was born April 9, 1939, in Akron to the late William Duane and Violet (Campbell) Huff, Sr.  

In 1972, he married Carol Swift. In the 1980s, the Huffs moved to Bluffton and opened Springfield Fireworks. 

Worked for Riley Township and graduated from PGHS in 1984

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David Franklin Welty, 54, died suddenly at his residence on Sept. 15, 2020.  David was born on June 24, 1966, at Bluffton Hospital to Franklin and Bonnie (Radabaugh) Welty.  

David was a 1984 graduate of Pandora-Gilboa High School. He was employed as a rural mail carrier for the Pandora Post Office and also worked for Riley Township. He was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Leipsic. David enjoyed farming, reading and talking with family and friends.

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Pandora native Richard Basinger, died Sept. 4, 2020, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

He was born in Pandora, Ohio, on July 15, 1927.  He worked in his mother, Jeannette Sutter, and father, Ralph Basinger’s greenhouse and florist before he graduating from Pandora High School in 1946.

He joined the U.S. Army Air Force, which then became the U.S. Air Force, and served for over 30 years as a flight engineer in the U.S. Navy Air Reserve.  

Eagle Scout, class valedictorian, SumiRiko Ohio associate

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Taylor Jay Steele, 27, of Bluffton, died Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, at ProMedica Toledo Hospital. He was born June 11, 1993, in Lima, to Steven and Tracy (Mattox) Steele. 

Taylor is survived parents, Steven and Tracy Steele of Bluffton; three sisters, Michaela Steele of Bluffton, Brit (Ryan) Mustard of Bluffton, Kristen (Tony) Martinenza of Jacksonville, Florida, and two nephews, Bradin Mustard and Chase Martinenza.

Taylor was preceded in death by his grandmother Jacqueline Lawniczak, grandfather Marquis Mattox, his Steele grandparents and nephew, Atticus Mustard. 

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Loren D. Core, 75, of Duffield, Virginia, died Sept. 8, 2020. He was the son of G. Richard and Vera Gratz Core whom preceded him in death. He was born Oct. 18, 1945.

Survivors include children, Travis Core of Portland, Oregon, and daughter Amy Ludwig of Arizona City, Arizona, Brian of California, Darran of Washington state, Byron of Snowflake, Arizona, six grandchildren and one great-grand child. Also surviving is a very special friend, Janice Murphy

Was a 4-H advisor for 16 years

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Jerry L. Kiracofe, 77, died Sept. 2, 2020, at Mercy Health - St. Rita's Medical Center, Lima.  Jerry was born April 25, 1943, in Lima to the late Francis and June (Mowery) Kiracofe. On Jan. 7, 1967 he married Judy Cheney Kiracofe who survives.

Jerry graduated from Bath High School and then served in the U. S. Navy for four years.  He was a member of the Pleasant View United Church of the Brethren in Lima.  Jerry owned and operated many businesses in the area and retired from B.P. Chemical where he was an electrician after 34 years.  

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