Columbia City, IN. Obituaries

Feb 10, 2022

Kenneth C. Cozad, 100, formerly of Columbia City, passed away Thursday, February 10, 2022 at his home in Greenwood, Indiana. Born May 15, 1921 in Huntington, he was the son of Fred and Florrie Cozad.

He graduated from Huntington Township High School with the Class of 1939. On June 25, 1943, he married Helen Walker. During WWII,...

Feb 6, 2022

Billy Wood, age 94, of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 7:45 pm on Sunday February 6, 2022, at his residence.  Born on November 11, 1927, in Coesse, IN, he was the son of Harold and Ellen (Judd) Wood.

Billy attended Coesse High School and graduated with the Class of 1946.  On June 28, 1947, Billy married...

Feb 4, 2022

Mary Eileen (Harroff) Gater went to be with the Lord on February 4, 2022, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  She was born March 20, 1935, to Herbert Theodore and Bethel Marie (Pennington, Birchum, Foster) Harroff, in Churubusco, Indiana. She had many fond memories of working in her parents' restaurants while growing up. She graduated from Wolf Lake High School in...

Feb 3, 2022

Jack M. Binkley, age 89, of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 4:40 pm on Thursday February 3, 2022, at Mason Health and Rehabilitation Center, Warsaw.  Born on April 24, 1932, in Columbia City, he was the son of Elvin and Peggy (Ward) Binkley.

Jack was a lifetime Whitley County resident and graduated from Columbia City High...

Feb 3, 2022

David Paul Draper, 72, of Washington Township in rural Whitley County, passed away Thursday, February 3, 2022 at Miller's Merry Manor in Columbia City. Born February 7, 1949 in Huntington, he was the son of Corwin "Corky" Alfred Draper and Margaret Katherine (Weiford) Draper.

He graduated from Huntington High School with the Class of 1967...

Feb 1, 2022

Infant Alexander “Alex” Joel Urban, son of Matt and Hallie (Adams) Urban, was born sleeping in the early hours of Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at Dupont Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Even though Alex was with us a very short time, he was incredibly loved by his parents, Matt and Hallie Urban of Columbia City;...

Feb 1, 2022

Family oriented, loving, and a great sense of humor are just a few things that come to mind when talking about Susan McQueen. She always was caring about others and there for others, but never wanted to burden you with anything. Born October 8, 1947 in Wolf Lake, Indiana at Lucky Hospital, Susan J. Sheets was the first-born child...

Jan 31, 2022

Lewis D. “Bud” Bowie, age 77 of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 10:50 pm on Monday January 31, 2022, at Bethlehem Woods Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Fort Wayne.  Born on May 5, 1944, in Fort Wayne, he was the son of Emmett and Huldah (Ramsey) Bowie.

Bud attended Columbia City Joint High School and graduated with...

Jan 29, 2022

Georgia  M. Lock, age 82, of Larwill, Indiana, passed away Saturday, January 29, 2022 at her apartment in Warsaw. Born December 30, 1939 in Whitley County, she was the daughter of Henry B. and Vera B. (Bills) Cummins.

She graduated from  Larwill High School Class of 1957. On June 6, 1987, Georgia married Larry  C. Lock. For...

Jan 28, 2022

Dr. James A. Stapel, age 73 of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 6:29 pm on Friday January 28, 2022, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne. Born on April 30, 1948, in Muskegon, Michigan, he was the son of Carl and Jean (Jensen) Stapel.

James attended Reeths-Puffer High School in Muskegon and graduated with the Class...

Jan 26, 2022

Laura V. Frey, 90, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Wednesday evening, January 26, 2022 at Parkview Whitley Hospital. Born March 25, 1931 in Floyd County, Kentucky, she was the daughter of Aaron and Addie (Friend) Moore.

She and her family moved to Connersville, Indiana where she attended Fayette County High School. In 1947, Laura married Walter...

Jan 24, 2022

Michael Eric Smith, age 65, of Lakeland, FL, passed away at 4:10 pm on Monday January 24, 2022, at Home with family by his side. Born on Sunday, February 5, 1956, at Sacred Heart Memorial Hospital, Garrett IN, he was the son of Charles E. and Lavonne A. Smith.

Mike grew up in Columbia City, IN and...

Jan 20, 2022

Mary Ellen Kiefer, 80, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away peacefully Thursday, January 20, 2022, surrounded by her family and caring staff at Mason Health Care Center in Warsaw. Born March 25, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois, she was the daughter of James William and Patricia (Strakalaitis) Dunn.

Mary attended Thornton High School and graduated with the Class...

Jan 19, 2022

Infant Toby Tyler Thornsbury Combs, age 6 months of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 10:42 pm on Wednesday January 19, 2022, at Riley Children’s Hospital, Indianapolis, after a courageous fight.

Born on July 10, 2021, in Fort Wayne, he was the son of Misty Thornsbury and Toby Combs, Sr.

In addition to his parents,...

Jan 19, 2022

Jimmie "Jim" Alan Rice, 70, of Columbia City, Indiana, went to his Heavenly home Wednesday evening, January 19, 2022, unexpectedly at his home. Born July 3, 1951 in Fort Wayne at St. Joseph Hospital, he was the son of Merlin Aubrey and Mary (Baker) Rice.

Moving from Waynedale to rural Whitley County near Coesse, Jim attended Coesse...

Jan 15, 2022

Phillip C. Strack, 67, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Saturday, January 15, 2022 at home with family by his side. Born October 17, 1954 in Fort Wayne, he was the son of James and Mary Ellen (Fox) Strack.

He graduated from Columbia City Joint High School with the Class of 1973. Aside from being a farmer,...

Jan 14, 2022

Celinda "Cindy" Land, 78, of Columbia City, passed away Friday, January 14, 2022 at Parkview Regional Medical Center. Born February 26, 1943 in Allen County, she was the daughter of Gerald and Helen (Maggart) Dinius.

A lifelong resident of Columbia City, Cindy attended Columbia City Joint High School and married John E. Biggs, Sr. in 1975. After...

Jan 9, 2022

Deborah S. Holden, 63, of Columbia City, passed away Sunday, January 9, 2022 at Parkview Whitley Hospital.

Deb was born July 3, 1957 and grew up on a farm in Noble County. She worked at the Columbia City Truck Stop until they closed. Deb found relaxation in fishing and loved all animals.

She was quiet...

Jan 8, 2022

Kind, caring, positive, and selfless, are just a few ways to describe Darci Lewis.  A few events that occurred in 1965 include the creation of the Batmobile, Dr. Seuss published ‘Fox in Socks’, Kellogg’s introduced Apple Jacks, and on August 17, 1965, Dennis and Sharon (Peterson) Puckett welcomed the birth of Darci Jo, in Columbia City, Indiana.

...

Jan 7, 2022

Eunice Sheckler, age 82, of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 4:05 pm on Friday January 7, 2022, surrounded by her loving family.  Born on October 12, 1939, in Primrose, Kentucky she was the daughter of Edgar and Effie (Fletcher) Kincaid.

Eunice came to Columbia City at the age of 10 and attended local schools including Columbia...