John Robert Stark, Jr., Dennis James Garst, Peggy Lynn Hufford, Stanley Allen Haynes, Iona Kay (Cadle) Duncan, Deborah Coleen Williams, Paul David Adams, George Brown, Michael Wayne Cloud
John Robert Stark, Jr.
John Robert Stark, Jr, 94, entered Heaven, surrounded by his family, on April 4, 2026, in Walton, KY. He was born in Birmingham, AL, on April 2, 1932, to John Robert, Sr., and Elva (Bence) Stark. He lived a very full life, raising his family in Kokomo, IN, beside his wife of 66 years Martha (Majors) Stark. She entered Heaven 10 years before him on April 26, 2016. He then married Charlotte Schillinger (Morrison) and moved to Spokane Valley, WA, where he spent the last eight years serving on the board at the Spokane Dream Center.
John was a man of God and served his Lord with diligence and joy. A treasured family memory is him reading the Christmas story in Luke 2 before presents were opened on Christmas Eve. That tradition will be continued. It was not uncommon to find him kneeling in prayer in the wee hours of the morning, praying for his family and all he knew, his greatest desire that his family and friends come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. His favorite scripture was “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” Psalm 37:25
John served in the Air Force in the early ‘50s, later graduating from Auburn University. He retired from General Motors in Kokomo, IN, after nearly 30 years of service. After his retirement he spent many hours serving on the Missions Board at First Assembly in Kokomo. He also served on the National Missions Board for the Assemblies of God organization for many years. He enjoyed building a train display in his basement, where he spent many hours, and loved sharing his creation with anyone, especially his granddaughters. The thing he enjoyed most was time spent with his family.
John was preceded in death by his wife Martha, his parents, grandson John Isaac Stark, his brother and sister-in-law Jerry and June Stark, as well as numerous aunts and uncles.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife Charlotte Stark, daughter Suzanne Stark, son John (Teri) Stark, granddaughters Emily (Ethan) Grubaugh, Alexandria (Dennis) Coffey, and Anna Stark; great-grandsons Hayes and Holden Grubaugh and Kellan Coffey; sister Nancy (Francis) Haynes, stepdaughter Jill Schillinger, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A special thank you to Bluegrass Hospice of Northern KY for helping make his last hours comfortable.
A visitation will be held Thursday, April 9, 2026, from 4-7 p.m. at Ellers Mortuary on Webster Street. Funeral Services will be Friday, April 10, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorial contributions be made to the Spokane Dream Center, where he was most recently a member, continuing his service to the Lord. Envelopes will be made available.
Dennis James Garst
Dennis James Garst, 79, of Tipton, Indiana, passed away peacefully on April 6, 2026, with his loving daughter by his side. He was born on August 11, 1946, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Sebastian Garst and Irene (Wright) Garst.
Denny was a proud graduate of Jackson Central High School in Atlanta, Class of 1964. Shortly after, he honorably served his country in the United States Army, carrying with him a strong sense of duty and pride throughout his life.
A dedicated and hardworking man, Denny built a lifelong career as an electrician. After completing specialized training to work on high power lines, he served the community through his work with Tipton Utilities. Denny also stayed quite busy, owning and operating Garst Electric in Tipton. Known by many as a true “workaholic,” Denny took great pride in his craft and the service he provided to others.
On June 10, 1990, Denny married the love of his life Susan (Henderson) Garst. Together they shared many years of love, laughter, and memories until her passing on February 2, 2020. Their bond was one of deep devotion and enduring love.
Denny was a faithful member of East Union Church, where he served as a deacon and lived out his faith through quiet service and dedication. He also completed missionary work in Jamaica and Honduras. Denny found joy in traveling to state parks, spending time outdoors, and most of all, being surrounded by his family. He cherished family reunions and gatherings, and nothing brought him greater happiness than time spent with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Denny will be deeply missed by his loving children Bret Garst (Kristine) and Michele Garst (Kevin); his cherished grandchildren Dakota Garst, Sara Mutter (Jacob), James Garst (Gretchen), David Teboe (Shelby), Cheyenne Teboe (Chris), and Shane Thomas (Olivia); and his treasured great-grandchildren Cainan Mutter, Karson Garst, Chance Garst, Hattie Garst, Ulani Swank, Prudence Swank, Rosalie Swank, baby boy Swank expected in September 2026, Jason Teboe, and Mila Thomas.
He is also survived by his siblings Alberta Wisler, Gerald Garst (Jan), and Margaret White (Glenn); his sister-in-law Betty Garst; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends Ronnie Delph and Buddy Trietsch.
Denny was preceded in death by his parents Sebastian and Irene Garst; his beloved wife Susan Garst; his siblings Charles Garst, Keith Garst, and Wuanitta Phifer; and his brothers-in-law Wayne Phifer, Eugene Wisler, and Dana Lockwood.
A funeral service celebrating Denny’s life will be held on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 1:00 PM at East Union Christian Church, located at 1711 E. 296th St. in Atlanta, with Pastor Rex Dunning officiating. Visitation for family and friends will take place prior to the service from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the church. Burial will be held at Union Cemetery in Atlanta immediately following the service.
Taylor & Cowan Funeral Home is honored to serve the Garst family in their time of need.
Peggy Lynn Hufford
Peggy Lynn Hufford of Tipton completed her life’s journey on April 5, 2026; the cherished wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister was 74 years old.
Born in Elwood on February 10, 1952, Peggy was the only daughter of Bill and Ruth Ellis, and she would go on to graduate from Madison Heights High School in 1970. Peggy spent many years working for Nick’s Donuts in Anderson before starting a 19-year career with the Indiana Department of Corrections, from which she retired in 2012. In 2011, she married Ross Hufford, and they shared 14 wonderful years together.
Full of energy and warmth, Peggy was a woman set apart by her big heart and her fun-loving spirit. Along with being a hard worker, she was devoted to her family and making a home for them. You would rarely find her in one place for too long; her passion for being up and doing something was never-ending, especially cleaning, baking, or tending to her flowers in the garden. Peggy was not a homebody, however, and she took that passion with her wherever she went. Shopping and antiquing were among her favorite pastimes, and she enjoyed throwing a line into the water whenever she got the chance. She loved to travel and always welcomed trips to Brown County and Waveland, Indiana, as well as Gatlinburg. In fact, over the course of her life, Peggy was able to visit all 48 contiguous states. But whether she was at home or abroad, one thing remained constant: the television had to be set to the HGTV channel.
Peggy was a special person who left a special mark in the lives of her loved ones. Words could never do justice to what she meant to them, and they will cherish her memory for all time.
Peggy is survived by: husband Ross Hufford; son Dave (Elizabeth) Hewitt; stepsons Ross Hufford III and Joseph (Kim) Hufford; grandchildren Jacquelyn, Cassandra (Niko), Rebecca, and Rae Hewitt; step-grandchildren Kayla Wilson, Jordan Hufford, and Jaedan Hufford; step-great-grandchildren Aiedan, Tesla, Kane, Kinzleigh, Jaxon, and Everleigh; several nieces and nephews; special friends Brenda Henson and Kelly Burton; dogs Yogi and Abby; and Bob the Cat.
Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, as well as step-great-grandson Joey.
Services for Peggy will take place this Friday, April 10, 2026, at Owens Funeral Home, 412 N Harrison St, Alexandria, IN 46001. A public viewing be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and a funeral ceremony officiated by Rev. Roger Brooks will begin at 1:00 p.m. Following the funeral, Peggy will be taken to her final resting place at the IOOF Cemetery in Alexandria.
Family and friends are encouraged to visit Peggy’s memorial page to share condolences; it can be found at www.owensmemorialservices.com
Stanley Allen “Stan” Haynes
Stanley Allen “Stan” Haynes, 66, Kokomo, passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at his residence.
Born November 17, 1959, in Logansport, Indiana, he was the son of Larry Joseph Haynes and Penny (Harrison) Haynes. On July 15, 2011, at New Life Church in Kokomo, Indiana, he was married to Sandra Doss Sensel Haynes, who survives.
Stan was an active member of New Life Church in Kokomo, where he spent many years greeting people every Sunday as they walked through the front door. He graduated from Logansport High School in 1978 and furthered his education at IU-Kokomo, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration. For more than 30 years he worked for Kokomo Pottery Company. He had also worked at the Kokomo Academy and was currently employed at IU Kokomo. He enjoyed riding motorcycles and enjoyed cruising around on his many bikes over the years. He enjoyed going to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and loved the opportunity to ride his motorcycle around the track. He was an IndyCar racing and IU basketball fan who loved feeding his squirrels and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.
Along with his wife Sandra Haynes of Kokomo, survivors include their children Stephanie Bender of Macy, Sarah Haynes of Bunker Hill, Steven (Robin) Sensel of Peru, and Geoffrey (Meggen) Sensel of Lee Summit, Mo.; his father Larry (Brenda) Haynes of Monticello; grandchildren Isabella, Andrew, Alexxis, Collin, Lucy, Tatiaunna, Dezmond, and Bethany; and great-grandson Boston Boyd.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at New Life Church, Kokomo, with Pastor Devin Galloway officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Logansport.
Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday, at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to New Life Church.
McClain Funeral Home, Denver, Indiana, has been entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.mcclainfh.com.
Iona Kay (Cadle) Duncan
Iona Kay (Cadle) Duncan, 70 years old, of Russiaville, passed away Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at her home. She was born in Dayton, OH, on June 23, 1955, the daughter of the late Charles and Arlene (Gandee) Cadle. She was married to Joe Allen Duncan, and he preceded her in death on April 16, 2016.
Iona was a 1973 graduate of Tipton High School. She was employed at K Mart, Kauffman Products in Lebanon, and most recently she worked as a clerk at Carmel’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles from 1997 to 2006. Iona was the most selfless, loving, and giving woman you could ever meet. She put everybody else’s needs before her own. She was the best listener and supporter. Iona was a member of Mount Run Baptist Church in Zionsville and Galilean Missionary Baptist Church in Kokomo. Her favorite hobbies were completing puzzles and word searches. She was a collector of Coca-Cola and Campbell’s soup memorabilia. She adored her pet cat named Mittens.
She is survived by her children Tina (Justin) Wagner and Andrew (Amanda) Duncan; grandchildren Kenley Duncan, Leah Wagner, Isaiah Wagner; nieces and nephews Cayla Cadle (David Chernoske-Velez), Casey Bristol (Josh), Billy Cadle (Brenda), Tim Cadle (Kim), and Heather Baugh (Averill); and sister-in-law Mary Cadle.
She was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Arlene Cadle; husband Joe Duncan; and brothers Gary (Michelle) Cadle and Bill Cadle.
Friends are invited to visit with the family from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Honeycreek Missionary Baptist Church, 250 Nashville St., Russiaville, IN 46979. A Celebration of Life will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the church with Pastor Justin Wagner officiating. Contributions may be made in Iona’s memory to Stout & Son Funeral Home to assist with final expenses. Stout & Son Funeral Home – Russiaville Chapel has been entrusted with arrangements. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.stoutandson.com.
Deborah “Debbie” Coleen Williams
Deborah “Debbie” Coleen Williams of Kokomo, Indiana, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at the age of 75. She was born on December 30, 1950, in Kokomo, the daughter of the late Bryant and Jewell Brooks. On January 18, 1975, she married her beloved husband James Williams, and he survives.
Debbie was a graduate of Kokomo High School. She retired after a dedicated 30-year career with Delco/GM, where she was admired for her work ethic and warmth.
She embraced her role as a bonus mom to Eddie and Bobby Williams and later became the proud mother of her son Scott, who brought immense joy to her life.
An avid reader, Debbie loved collecting Longaberger baskets and Boyd’s Bears. She treasured time spent with her family, friends, and her beloved Jim, always finding joy in the simple moments that made life meaningful.
Debbie is survived by her husband of 51 years Jim Williams; her son Scott Williams and his fiancée Toni Lee; her nieces Donna Shipee and Carman Revils, and many other cherished nieces and nephews; and dear friends, including the Lunch Bunch Crew. She also leaves behind her beloved “babies” Lucy and Jake.
She was preceded in death by her parents Bryant and Jewell Brooks; her brother Willard Brooks; sisters Hilda Shipee, Carolyn Keel, and Norma Beachy; and stepsons Bobby and Eddie Williams.
Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with cremation. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.
Paul David Adams
Paul David Adams, who lived life with a big heart, a quick wit, and a personality that could light up a room, passed away on April 3, 2026, in Peru, Indiana, at the age of 55.
Born on February 22, 1971, in Germany, Paul carried a story that was as interesting as it was full of movement, hard work, and laughter. He was the kind of man who could make a serious day feel a little lighter, mostly because he had a funny way of telling the truth and a loving way of delivering it. He was selfless in the way he showed up for people, loving in the way he cared, and funny in the way he could turn ordinary moments into stories worth repeating. If there was a room that needed energy, Paul usually found it. If there was a job that needed doing, he usually found that, too.
Paul was born to Linda and Mark Adams, and family remained one of the most important parts of his life. He is survived by his parents, his sons Austin Adams and Bela Cass, and Brett Adams and Brooklyn Johnson, his daughters Sophie Adams and Lyndsey Adams, his grandchildren Isla Adams and Evren Adams, his brother Jonathon Adams, and many friends who were lucky enough to know him and even luckier if they got to laugh with him. He was preceded in death by his wife of more than 20 years Renee Adams, who passed in 2022. Their years together were filled with love, loyalty, and the kind of partnership that leaves a lasting mark on everyone who sees it.
Paul graduated from high school with the class of 1990, and he carried that milestone with the same steady determination he brought to the rest of his life. He worked as a truck driver, an electrician, and a groundman, and he approached every job with grit, reliability, and the kind of practical know-how that made people trust him immediately. He was the sort of man who could fix what was broken, explain what was confusing, and probably make a joke while doing both. He understood hard work, and he respected the value of showing up, getting it done, and doing it well.
His interests reflected the full personality of a man who knew how to enjoy life without overcomplicating it. He loved surfing at Huguenot Beach in Jacksonville, Florida, where the waves gave him a sense of freedom and the ocean gave him a reason to grin like a kid who had just gotten away with something. He enjoyed fishing, disc golfing, going to concerts, and listening to metal music. He especially appreciated the energy of mosh pits, which says a great deal about both his spirit and his tolerance for chaos. Paul did not merely attend life. He participated in it, loudly and enthusiastically.
Paul was spiritual, and that part of him was woven into the way he treated others. He had a sense that life was bigger than any one moment, and he carried himself with a quiet depth beneath the humor and the mischief. He could be the funniest person in the room and still be the one who noticed who needed help, who needed encouragement, or who simply needed someone to sit beside them and listen. That combination of compassion and comedy is rare, but Paul made it look easy.
Those who knew him will remember his laugh, his loyalty, and his ability to make even an ordinary day feel like a story worth telling later. He had a way of being unforgettable without trying too hard, which is a talent not everyone gets. Paul leaves behind a legacy of love, hard work, humor, and the kind of genuine kindness that cannot be faked. He will be remembered for the way he lived, the way he loved, and the way he could make people smile even when they were trying not to.
City of Firsts Cremation and Funeral Services by Rose and Geiger was entrusted with the arrangements. www.cityoffirstscremations.com
George Brown
George Brown, 79, of Greenwood, passed away on April 3, 2026. He was born on January 2, 1947, in Franklin, Kentucky.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He was a member of the UAW and employed by Chrysler of Indianapolis and Kokomo, Indiana, and then a member of the United Steel Workers union and retired from Diamond Chain of Indianapolis, Indiana.
He enjoyed getting together with family to cook out and sit around and visit. He was very social and had many friends in his neighborhood who dropped in on a regular basis. He also was an animal lover and enjoyed feeding and caring for many cats, and also had various raccoons, opossums, and other animals drop by for snacks. George was happiest when sitting in his living room, drinking coffee, watching current events in the news, and having a good smoke.
He was the son of the late George H. and Georgia L. Brown of Indianapolis, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy E. (McClure) Brown on Feb. 2, 2012, and is survived by four stepchildren Donna (Barnes) Sanford, Keith Barnes, Dawn Barnes, and Kevin Barnes, and all their children and grandchildren. He is also survived by his daughter Lisa (Brown) and husband Robert Danley of Kokomo, Ind., their three children John Danley and wife Angelica (Carter) and granddaughter Daisy of Kokomo, Ind., Kathryn (Danley) Evans and her husband Brandon and grandson Christian Quiruz and granddaughter Lily Evans of Ramstein, Germany, and Brian Danley of Kokomo, Ind.
No formal services will be planned on his request.
Michael Wayne Cloud
Michael Wayne Cloud, 74, Kokomo, passed away on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. He was born in Noblesville, Indiana, on Wednesday, March 12, 1952.
Michael was preceded in death by nine of his siblings and his loving mother. He is survived by his wife of 48 years Connie Cloud. They married on October 14, 1978, and had four daughters: Dana Wasson Trevino, Cathy Tusky (Richard), Ginger McClure, and Beverly Stahl (John). Also surviving are 13 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Michael spent many years working as a skilled plumber and electrician, and owned businesses in automotive repair and general contracting.
We are comforted knowing that Michael is now in the safe and loving arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Per his wishes, there will be no public services.
City of Firsts Cremation and Funeral Services by Rose and Geiger was entrusted with the arrangements. www.cityoffirstscremations.com