Milton “Mick” Dean Bevington

Milton “Mick” Dean Bevington, 79, Kokomo, passed away on Wednesday January 24, 2024, in his home. He was born October 23, 1944, in Logansport, Indiana, the son of the late Merrill R. & Allora “Lois” (Givler) Bevington. On January 29, 1966, in West Lafayette, Indiana, he married Patricia A. Mennen, who survives.

Milton was a 1962 graduate of Galveston High School. After high school he attended Purdue University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics 1966. After graduating, Milton served in the Army from 1966 to 1968 and was stationed in Germany. He was in the US Army Marne Glee Club from 1967 to 1968. Milton joined the Air Force Reserves in 1972, serving until his retirement with the rank of Major in 2001. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

Milton was a member of the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church for 53 years. He enjoyed woodworking, reading and Purdue Basketball. He loved Indy car racing, was involved with CART and USAC. Milt and Pat became involved with Hoffman Racing, fielding a car in 1984, Spike Gehlhausen, and Jerry Sneva in 1982.

Along with his wife Pat, Milt is also survived by his sister, Marilyn Hubenthal; sons, Brad (Julia) Bevington and Coley (Sarah) Bevington; grandchildren, Mike Bevington, Alex Bevington, Bayci (Andrew) Ledford, Coley Bevington II, and Allora Bevington; and greatgrandchildren, Cadence, Lennon, Alius, and Delilah.

Milton was preceded in death by his parents; brother, James H. Bevington; and daughter, Darci L. Bevington.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at First Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 2000 W Jefferson St, Kokomo, with Pastor Joyce Harris officiating. Burial will follow in Albright Cemetery with military honors provided by the US Air Force and the Kokomo VFW Military Rites Team. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at First EPC. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Milton’s memory to First EPC. Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.

Annie Dee Brownlow

Annie Dee Brownlow, of Kokomo, passed away on Fri., Jan. 19, 2024. A funeral service will be held for her on Sat., Jan. 27, from noon until 2 p.m. at New Hope Full Gospel Church, 501 N. McCann St., Kokomo. Visitation will take place from 10 a.m. until noon before the service.

Ralph Eugene Scharff

Ralph Eugene Scharff, 92, of Avon Park, Florida passed away January 20, 2024. He was born on January 11, 1932 in Tipton County, Indiana, the son of William J. Scharff and Margaret F. Scharff (Pohle).

Shortly after high school, he married Mary Jo "Jodi" Cox, with whom he had three children Debbie, Jeff and Kim. In 1971 he married Susanne (Huffer) Scharff who preceded him in death in 2020. Ralph graduated from Tipton High School in 1949. He retired from Haynes International of Kokomo in 1992. In 1993, he and Susanne became "snowbirds" and in 2003 became full time Florida residents at Lake Bonnet Village in Avon Park, Florida. Ralph enjoyed golfing and had several holes in one. He was an avid auto racing fan and a long-time member of Hoosier Auto Racing Fans. He also enjoyed riding his motorcycle. Ralph was a long-time member of the Tipton Elks Lodge and formerly served as the Exalted Ruler.

Surviving relatives include his daughter, Debra Williams; stepdaughter, Vickie Hall (John); daughter-in-law, Maryann Scharff; five grandchildren, Brad Williams (Jennifer); Scott Williams; Kurt Scharff (Cheryl); Nicole Eller; Justin Summers (Emily); thirteen great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, son Jeffrey Scharff and daughter Kimberly Summers.

The family would like to thank caregivers Sonia Carter and Linda Cohn for all the care they gave Ralph.

Visitation will be 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home. Funeral services 2:00 PM Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at the funeral home. Entombment will follow at Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery. Share a memory with the family at www.sunsetmemorygarden.com.

Norman Jesse Smeltzer

Norman Jesse Smeltzer, age 92, of Arcadia, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at The Waters of Tipton. He was born in Hamilton County on July 27, 1931, to his parents, Ivan & Jesse (Gasho) Smeltzer. Norman married Phyllis McCullough in 1950, she passed away in 1983. Norman spent many years of his life with sweetheart, Janice McCord, she also preceded him in 2020.

Norman attended high school at Jackson Central, class of 1950. After high school he began working for Delco Electronics, from where he retired.

Norman was an incredible bowler and belonged to the Tipton County Hall of Fame Bowlers. In his free time, he enjoyed mowing the yard and woodworking. He was not one to be idle; one of his favorite pastimes was to simply putter around the house or garage keeping himself busy.

Norman was always a lot of fun and because of that joy he carried with him, people felt naturally drawn to him. He had a great sense of humor and was as patient as the day is long.

He was a wonderful father and stepfather, always loving and treating Janice’s children as if they were his own. His kindness and loving nature will be missed by all that knew him.

Those left to carry on Norman’s legacy of love are his children, Nick Smeltzer (Linda), Marsha Smeltzer; stepchildren, Tammy Tebbe, Michelle Nunemacher (Bob), Rick McCord, Randy McCord; grandchildren, Aubrey Defour, Desiree Caudill, Zach Smeltzer (Kelly), Amanda Smeltzer, Trent Tebbe (Marybeth), Brian Tebbe (Heidi), Sabrina Townsend, Katrina Short (Andrew), Nathan Tebbe (Jen), Clark Tebbe, Jon McCord, Bobby Nunemacher (Heather), Malachy Nunemacher (Kim), Derrik Nunemacher (Susan), Jeremiah Nunemacher (Sophie Rayl), Casey Vonneste; 26 great grandchildren, 11 great-great grandchildren; sisters, Martha Knapp, Mardele McBane, Jane Ann Dellinger; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Norman was welcomed into Heaven by his parents, Ivan & Jesse Smeltzer; daughter Karen; son, Alan Smeltzer; sweetheart, Janice McCord; grandchild, Clay McCord; and siblings, Maxine & Keith Bowser, Charles & Iva Gene Smeltzer, Ivan & Shirley Smeltzer, and Ilene & Red Wolfe.

A memorial service celebrating Norman’s life will be held on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at 1:00 PM at Taylor & Cowan Funeral Home, located at 314 N. Main St. in Tipton with Pastor Mark Knapp officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be held prior to the service from Noon – 1:00 PM.

Taylor & Cowan Funeral Home is honored to serve the Smeltzer family in their time of need.

William "Bill" Henry Name

William "Bill" Henry Name, age 86, of Kokomo, Indiana passed away on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Kokomo to the late Everett Lewis and Rosaline (Kessler) Name on December 4, 1937. Bill married Judy (Scott) Name on November 7, 1970, in Kokomo, and she survives.

Bill worked for Chrysler for 16 years before taking an early retirement to start his own business. Bill was an owner and operator of an asphalt plant and concrete construction. Later, he started another business called Septics R Us in Kokomo. Bill's favorite activity was raising and showing Appaloosa horses. He was the owner of "Kid Color" Appaloosa Superior Halter Champion. Some of his other favorite activities was going to Strawtown Auction and Artie's Tenderloin.

Surviving is his loving wife of 53 years, Judy Name; children, Debbie "Sis" (Dave) Carpenter, William Garth (Lisa) Name, Richard Todd Lasater, Lilah Rose Gilliland, John Edward Lasater, William Jeffrey (Amy) Name, and Jennifer Lynn (Jared) Smith; grandchildren, Joe Stephen Henderson IV, Jacob Gilliland, Ashley Dean Henderson, and Lauren Elizabeth Lasater; and sister, Martha Ann O'Blenis.

Preceding in death is a son, Robert Dean Lasater; his parents; and a brother, Ronnie Name.

The family will have a private celebration of life at a later date.

Phyllis May Deal

Phyllis May Deal passed away January 19, 2024, at the age of ninety. She was born July 22, 1933, to Mary (Kerr) Morris and Everett Morris, Elwood, Indiana.

Phyllis was a long-time resident of Tipton then Kokomo and active in the community. She moved to Century Fields Retirement Community, Greentown in 2022, making new friends and getting involved in activities.

Phyllis retired from Delco Electronics as a line supervisor. She loved life and lived it to its fullest, never missing an opportunity to get out, go, and have fun. She was a skilled ballroom dancer and enjoyed any chance to do the Lindy Hop. Phyllis had an outgoing personality with a voice and laughter that resonated throughout the room. Her self-declared epitaph is “I did it my way.” She was one of a kind.

Phyllis is survived by her son, Robert Deal; daughter-in-law, Melody Deal, California, and faithful friend, Troy Pullen, Russiaville, among others.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Everett Morris; husband, Wilson Deal; son, Richard Deal; long-time companion Gaylord Sheline; dear friend, Beverly Sheline, and countless other friends.

Phyllis will be buried with her family at Fairview Cemetery, Tipton, Indiana.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to We Care of Kokomo, 1700 E. Sycamore Street, Kokomo, Indiana. Hasler & Stout Funeral Home has been entrusted with cremation.

Linda Pearl Nemecek

Linda Pearl Nemecek, 76, Greentown, passed away at 5:25 am Monday January 22, 2024, at North Woods Village in Kokomo. She was born July 7, 1947, in Stanwood, Iowa, the daughter of the late John Ray & Barbara Irene (Treichler) Bails.

Linda was a 1965 graduate of Lincoln High School in Stanwood, Iowa. She worked for Jeffrey E Smith Co. before becoming a live-in nanny for her two granddaughters. Linda was a self-taught seamstress and handmade beautiful baby/doll items including princess dresses. She loved crafting, gardening, music, and reading. Her life was her family, all things Iowa Hawkeyes, George Strait, and snuggling her grand-fur babies.

Linda is survived by her children, Andrew (Tabitha) Nemecek, Greentown and Jennifer (Bob) Brown, FL; grandchildren, Spencer Nemecek, Alexander “AJ” Nemecek, Brandi Brown and Haili Brown; siblings, Robert “Bob” Bails, Springville, IA, Donald “Don” (Diane) Bails, Norway, IA, Charles “Chuck” (Laurie) Bails, Mt. Vernon, IA, Paul (Pam) Bails, Papillion, NE, Mary Ellen Knupp, Vinton, IA, Nancy (L.A.) Forrest, North Liberty, IA, Margaret (Ronnie) Bails, Creedmoor, NC, Bethany (Don) Conkel, Cedar Rapids, IA, and June (Loren) Walshire, Onaga, KS; sisters-in-law, Rosalind Bails and Kathy Bails; and brother-in-law, John “Jack” Voss.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Sarah Menzer, Susan Voss, John “Parker” Bails, James “Jim” Bails, William “Bill” Bails and Richard Bails; brother-in-law, Byron Knupp; and sisters-in-law, Mollie Bails and Karen Bails.

In keeping with Linda’s wishes, no services will be held. Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.