Retired Indiana farmer dies unexpectedly William W. Harter, 81 of Cadiz, Ind. died unexpectedly Wednesday afternoon May 2, 2007 at the Henry County Memorial Hospital.
He was born Jan. 12, 1926 in Henry County and was the son of the late Raymond and Mary (Swearingen) Harter.
He was a retired farmer. He was a 1943 graduate of Sulphur Springs High School and the Purdue University School of Agriculture. He proudly served his country in the United States Army during WWII.
Harter was a board member of the Blue River Soil and Water Conservation District, was a past patron of the Sulphur Springs Order of the Eastern Star, a Past Master of the Masonic City Lodge No. 348 of Sulphur Springs, Ind. and was a member of the Henry County Shriners. He was also a board member of the Hancock Telephone Co., a board member of the Production Credit Assoc., a member of Cadiz and Sulphur Springs Lions Club, a past trustee of Harrison Township, a strong supporter of the Henry County Heart Assoc., a member of New Castle TOPs, a member of the New Castle American Legion Post No. 137 and a member of the Family Motor Coach Assoc. He also drove a school bus for several years in the Cadiz and Shenandoah school systems. Harter was also affiliated with the Cadiz Christian Church.
He is survived by two daughters, Deborah (husband, Ronald) Margison of New Castle, Ind. and Billie Ann Harter of Anderson, Ind.; a grandson, Zeb Margison; a sister Carol Ann Kennedy of Middletown, Ind. and a special friend Jackie Joyner of New Castle, Ind. Many special friends and relatives also survive.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Harter in 2002; a son Randy Harter and a sister Ramona Ware.
Funeral services were Saturday, May 5 at the Main and Davis Funeral Home in New Castle, Ind., with Don Cummings and Hugh Lee officiating. Burial followed in the Cadiz Friends Cemetery with full military honors provided by the New Castle American Legion Post No. 137 and the V.F.W. Post No. 1282.
Farm equipment salesman dies at 75
Edison V. “Eddie” Thomas, age 75, of Fairmount, Ind. died Thursday, May 10 at Seton Specialty Hospital in Indi-anapolis, Ind.
He graduated from Fairmount High School in 1950 and served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. He began his career in the farm equipment business in 1948 at the young age of 17 at Felton Supply Co. in Fairmount. He also worked for Union Implement in Jonesboro, Ind. from 1953-55, W.H. Hardy & Son, Anderson, Ind. from 1955-1957 and for Curless Farm Equipment in Fairmount from 1957-1966. Throughout his career, he held many different sales and management positions at New Idea Farm Equipment in Coldwater, Ohio from 1966-84.
He served as president of McHarry, Inc., a division of United Farm Tool from 1970-71. He also worked for Hasty Farm Implement from 1984-87, Fairmount Implement from 1987-90 and Harper Implement from 1990 to 2007. He attended Fairmount Friends Church were he sang in the choir. He was also member and chaplain of American Legion Post No. 313, Fairmount Masonic Lodge No. 635 and served as past president of the Coldwater Chamber of Commerce. He was a Jr. Achievement advisor and officer of the FFA Alumni Assoc. and Toastmasters. Additionally, Thomas received a State FFA Mechanics Award and his State FFA Farmer Degree. In his free time, he enjoyed singing and was a state vocal contest winner.
He was born on Oct. 14, 1931 in Fairmount and is the son of the late Olive Thomas Kemmer.
He married Nelva Jean from Reynolds Ind. in 1953. She preceded in death. He married Roberta “Jeanie” Thomas in 1985. She preceded in death on Nov. 3, 2002.
He is survived by three daughters and one son: Echo Price of Fairmount; Jana (Gary) Weigel of Coldwater, Ohio; Lisa (Herb) Schock of Cincinnati, Ohio; Andrew Todd (Rebecca Machin) Thomas of Howell, Mich. Six grandchildren: Betsy and Alex Schock, Justyn and Jacob Price, Kasey Gerlach, Aaron Weigel and four great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by two sisters: Sarah (Carlton) Smelser of Fairmount and Linda (Monte) Nash of Apex, N.C. Thomas also had a special friend in Linda Hiatt from Fairmount.
Arrangements will be handled by Armes-Hunt Funeral Home, 415 S. Main St., Fairmount, Ind. Visitation was on May 14 with a Legion Memorial Salute at 8 p.m. Funeral Services were Tuesday, May 15 at 10:30 a.m. at the Fairmount Friends Church, 124 W. First Street in Fairmount and at the Fairmount Park Cemetery with Jackie Michaelson officiating. This farm news was published in the May 16, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. |
