Obituaries

Diane Dray, 77, entered eternal life on December 2, 2024. She was the daughter of Charles and Ola (Marshall) Conrad who preceded her in death. Diane was married to Fred Dray who also preceded her in death. 

She is survived by her sister, Charlene (Harold "Bud") King of Bluffton, Ohio; nephew Christopher Lee of Findlay, Ohio; and numerous cousins and friends, including her pet cat, Elvis. Diane grew up in Bluffton, and after graduating college, moved to Spring Arbor, Michigan, where she and her husband established their home. 

Alven Albert Osting, age 93, of Troy, OH passed away on November 30, 2024 at SpringMeade Health Care Center. He was born on November 15, 1931 in Delphos, OH to the late Frank Bernard and Veronica Mary (Elwer) Osting.

Jerry W. Fett, 80, passed away November 25, 2024 at his residence. Jerry was born November 8, 1944 in Bluffton to the late Carl and Geneva (Basinger) Fett. On June 12, 1971 he married Linda (Green) Fett who preceded him in death on December 14, 2009. 

Guy "Gene" E. Miller, 85, passed away November 23, 2024, at the Mennonite Memorial Home.

Guy "Gene" was born December 24, 1938 in Lima to LeRoy and Viola (Burden) Miller who preceded him in death. On November 22, 1985 he married Sharon (Thompson) Miller and she survives.  

Gene was a member of the Lima Baptist Temple and retired from the Dana Corporation after 30 years of dedication. He could always be found tinkering and enjoyed attending auctions.  

Owen D. Ziessler, 83, passed away November 23, 2024, at Willow Ridge - Betty House.

Owen was born February 9, 1941 in Findlay to Winfield and Helen (Beck) Ziessler who preceded him in death. On May 11, 1963 he married Kay (Zimmerly) Ziessler who preceded him in death on January 9, 2023. 

“My one journey is over…my new one begins.”  Fairy I. Parkins, 91 passed away November 20, 2024 at Bluffton Hospital.  

Born during the Depression Era on December 22, 1932 in Findlay to the late Ira and Louisa (Schaaff) Roth, Fairy saw many changes. She saw horse drawn equipment change to tractors, oil lamps to electric, radio to TV and party lines to cell phones. Fairy experienced the atomic age, a man on the moon, sixteen presidents and the growth of the computer age. Growing up on the farm, she was always her Dad’s helper. She carried lanterns to the barn, drove horses to make hay and in 1949, a John Deere Tractor.  

Graduating seventy-five years ago, in 1950, from the first combined class of Cory-Rawson High School, Fairy always let people know that and that the Cory-Rawson colors were green and gold.  She got her first job in 1951 at Woolworth’s Dime Store then became a bookkeeper at Daisy Maid Bread when Edward Parkins was discharged from the Korean Conflict and was hired as a new driver. A love match sparked and on April 22, 1954, she married Edward Parkins who preceded her in death on May 4, 1986 from a battle with cancer. ▶︎

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