Elma Dean (Walker) Strong

Elma Dean (Walker) Strong was welcomed into Heaven on February 25, 2025. She was born on November 6, 1929, in Celina, Tennessee, to Elzy Lee Walker and Pearlie Agnus (Anderson) Walker.

She attended New Hope School in Celina, TN. Elma moved to Tipton in 1948 and married Garlon Calie Strong on April 27, 1950. He passed away on May 10, 1995. Elma retired from Firestone in 1988 with 31½ years and then worked for Pioneer in the Seed Quality Lab for five years. She was a member of the Church of Christ and the URW.

Elma was a very devoted and loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her family and was a very caring friend to those who knew her. Each and everyone knew they were special to her and loved more than anything. If her family told her they loved her more, she would always reply that we couldn’t love her more than she did us because it wasn’t possible. For her, family was always first. She stressed the importance of family, and because of her a strong and united family is left to carry on her legacy.

She loved to cook — the more people the better — and many special gatherings took place in her home. Being from Tennessee, her family enjoyed her southern cooking; she made the best fried chicken and pies. She always enjoyed playing cards with her friends at home, and games were followed by a slice of pie which was really a quarter of a pie rather than a slice. In her 90s, she began playing Bingo and loved it, always looking forward to playing twice a week. When she won, she picked prizes that she could give her family for gifts since she was unable to go Christmas shopping. She loved to travel, especially back to Tennessee, and when she got in the car, she would sing “On the Road Again.” When in Tennessee, she always liked to drive New Hope Road and tell us where all her family had lived along the road and seeing her homeplace.

She made many new friendships at Wellbrooke in Westfield, enjoyed their many activities, attended their Sunday hymn service, and looked forward to field trips on the bus. She liked to always be dressed up with her signature red lipstick and getting her hair done. Her favorite trip was getting vanilla milkshakes at the Twin Kiss in Sheridan. Since she was not able to be home, her family made sure that she felt at home there, and she had visitors every day. She loved watching the birds from her room, and she would always let Danny know when the bird seed was low. The talks we all shared with her during those visits gave us many memories to keep in our hearts. She was strong in faith and lived her life daily to honor God so she would be prepared for her home in Heaven.

Losing a mother is one of the deepest sorrows a heart can know. But her goodness, her caring, and her wisdom live on like a legacy of love that will always be with you. [Author Unknown]

Survivors include: three children, Danny Strong and wife, Terri (Arbuckle), of Cicero, and Debra Biddle and Tammy Gilbert both of Tipton; son-in-law Rick Smith (Shirley Biggers) of Celina, TN; four grandchildren, Teressa (Walker) Blythe, of Celina, TN, Tony Strong and wife, Dulcy, of Parker, CO, Tyson Biddle and wife, Nichole (Brewer), of Tipton, and Trent Biddle and wife, Megan (Bryant), of New Castle, IN; 11 great-grandchildren, Austin Strong, Logan Strong, Christy (Blythe) Helms, Lucy Burkett, Grant Burkett, Carson VanCleave, Madilyn Biddle, Emma Biddle, Kyla Hall, Taylor Biddle, and Kaylie Biddle; three great-great-grandchildren, Brandon Hindsman, Byron Hindsman, and Megan Hindsman; nine step-grandchildren; 20 step-great-grandchildren; five step great-great-grandchildren; and many cousins, nieces; and nephews; and special family members Billy Blythe, David Bricknell, Jack Phillips, Bill Wideman, and Gary Hestand.

A special thank you to home caregiver and friend, Glenda Reeher, and the staff at Wellbrooke of Westfield, who became part of our family. She was called “Mom” and “Grandma” by many and will be missed by her family and circle of friends.

She was preceded in death by: her parents; her husband of 45 years; her daughter, Betty Sue Walker Smith; sisters, Hattie Odle, Selma Spear, Velma Reecer, Mattie Lee Walker, Elsie Bosley, and Dorthy Louise Smith; brothers, Curtis Walker and Willie Mitchell Walker; and late daughter-in-law, Britni Lynn (Wellinger) Biddle.

We had a song we sang to her nightly, and each night in our hearts we will continue to always “tell you that we love you every single day and night”.

A funeral service celebrating Elma's life will be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 1:00 PM at Taylor & Cowan Funeral Home, located at 314 N. Main St. in Tipton, with Pastor Dennis Johnson officiating. Visitation for family and friends will take place prior to the service from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be held immediately following the service at Tipton's Fairview Cemetery.

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

Richard “Dick” Max Bowlby

Richard “Dick” Max Bowlby, 89, of Tipton, died Thursday, February 27, 2025, at Kokomo Place. He was born in Sharpsville on June 4, 1935, to Maxwell K. and Lulah G. (Pfankuche) Bowlby. He married Emalie Jo Hinds on October 26, 1958. She preceded him in death on June 13, 2015.

Dick retired from Pioneer Hi-Bred in 1998 where he was an Area Man for the Production Plant. He was a 1953 graduate of Sharpsville High School. He was a member of West Street Christian Church, the Shriners, and the Austin Masonic Lodge. Some of Dick’s hobbies include woodworking, trap shooting, hunting, fishing, and training bird dogs. He also was a member of several softball teams.

Survivors include his children Linda Crouch and husband Doug of Tipton and Eric Bowlby of Uniondale, Indiana. His grandchildren include Derek (Kari) Crouch of Kokomo, Adam (Jena) Crouch of Tipton, and Taylor (Erica) Crouch of Edgerton, Wisconsin. Dick has seven great-grandchildren: Kolton, McKenna, Charlotte, Emalie, Brigham, Conrad, and Halsey. He was preceded in death by a son Neil J. Bowlby, his siblings Rita Creason (Sherm), Myron Bowlby (Wilma), and Robert Bowlby (Peg), and his in-laws Sherry Gasho (Jim), Karen Kilfoil (Larry), David Hinds (Nelda), George Hinds (Emma), and Mike Hinds (Janie).

Funeral services will be on Monday, March 3, at 2:00 P.M. at West Street Christian Church with Rev. Ashley Sherard presiding. Visitation will also be at the church on Monday from 11:00 A.M. until service time. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery.

The family would like to thank Kokomo Place for all their care and attention over the past years while Dick was residing in their facility.

Memorial donations may be made to West Street Christian Church 132 N. West Street Tipton, Indiana 46072, or the Parkinson’s Research Foundation, 710 W. 168th Street, New York, New York 10032, or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 681405, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268.

Young-Nichols Funeral home is honored to assist the Bowlby family in their time of need. Online condolences may be made on his obituary page at www.young-nichols.com.

Darwin C. Nelson

Darwin C. Nelson, 80, of Kokomo, passed away at 1:24 p.m., Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at his home. He was born on February 16, 1945, in Estelline, SD, son of Lyle C. and Pearl E. (Veneklasen) Nelson. On January 16, 1966, he married Barbara J. Harmon at Parr Memorial Church in Kokomo, and she survives.

Darwin graduated from Lake Norden High School in Hamlin, South Dakota. He worked on his family’s farm before going into the Air Force where he was a loadmaster and was stationed in Vietnam. He worked in Assembly at Chrysler after his time in the Air Force, retiring in 2004. Darwin enjoyed hunting pheasants and deer along with fishing. He liked to watch NASCAR racing, especially Dale Earnhart.

Along with his wife Barbara, he is survived by his daughter Tina (Chris) Wall, grandchildren Jessica Pennington, Jordon Pennington, and Garrett Swank, great-grandchildren Kane Boller and Journi Johnson, brothers Roger (Pat) Nelson and Larry (Rose) Nelson, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lyle and Pearl.

A graveside service will be held at Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery, Monday, March 3, 2025, at 11 a.m. Military honors will be provided by the United States Air Force and the Kokomo VFW Military Rites Team. Contributions may be made in Darwin’s memory to the Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516 or support.woundedwarriorproject.org. Shirley & Stout Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.

Lowell Nicholas “Sid” Pruitt

Lowell Nicholas “Sid” Pruitt, 46, Kokomo, passed away on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at his home. He was born July 22, 1978, the son of Daniel and Brenda (Gloor) Pruitt.

Lowell graduated from Westview Jr.-Sr. High School in Topeka, IN in 1997. In 2001, Lowell received his Bachelor’s degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University. He remained in Florida for eight years after graduating from college, and worked at the Norton Museum of Art. After moving back to Indiana to be closer to his family, he worked at the Kokomo Post Office, then Chrysler in Kokomo for eight years, building friendships everywhere he went with his quiet humor and kindness. He had a special love for animals, especially his cat Leon. This love did not extend, however, to spiders, which were his arch-nemeses. He enjoyed trying new restaurants/foods and loved watching and reviewing movies. Lowell was an avid collector of comics/trading cards/toys and enjoyed being surprised by packages showing up at his house from things he had forgotten he ordered. He loved professional wrestling, stand-up comedians, and live music, and always tried to get good seats for the events he attended, often getting an additional ticket so he could invite along a friend who would enjoy it as well. He loved cheering for the Chicago Cubs, a tradition started with his maternal grandparents, who he lovingly called G-Pa and G-Ma from a young age into adulthood. He loved his family deeply and was fiercely protective of them. In addition to his own interests and hobbies, those who knew him best say that “if Lowell knew you cared about something, he started to care about it, too.”

Lowell is survived by his parents Daniel and Brenda Pruitt, siblings Tisa (Matt) Slabach, Marcus Pruitt, and Taryn (Bryce) Miller, nieces Natalie (Taylor) Rathbun and Hazel Miller, and nephew William Slabach.

Lowell was preceded in death by his grandparents and a dear friend, Joy Ross.

A memorial service celebrating Lowell’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at Stout & Son Funeral Home, 200 E. Main St., Russiaville, with Pastor Ryan Mills officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 1:00 p.m. until the start of the service at the funeral home. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.stoutandson.com.

Rita Carole Johnson

Rita Carole Johnson, 83, Kokomo, passed away on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at Community Howard Regional Health System. She was born in New Castle on September 29, 1941, to the late Elza and Ethel (Upchurch) Arthur.

Rita was a graduate of Chrysler High School. She had previously worked at Head Start in New Castle.

Rita is survived by her children Jennifer (Doug) Melton-Mason, Jeffrey (Dee) Melton, and Jason Melton, grandchildren Justin Melton, Taylor (Hunter) Trobaugh-Musselman, Jamie Melton, Jacob Melton, Jeffrey Melton, and Johnny Melton, and great-grandchildren Declin Musselman and Kian Musselman.

She was preceded in death by her parents, son Jonathon D. Melton, sister Gail Arthur-Wasson, and brother Gary Arthur.

Jennifer wants to say a special thank you to the staff at Brickyard-Sycamore Village Health for the comfort and care they provided for over 12 years.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Stout & Son Funeral Home has been entrusted with cremation. Messages of condolence may be left online at wwwstoutandson.com.

Ernest “John” Krhin, Jr.

Ernest “John” Krhin, Jr., 83, of Greentown, passed away on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at Parkview Randallia Hospital in Fort Wayne. He was born April 15, 1941, in Kokomo, to Ernest John & Louise M. (Hunt) Krhin.

John served in the United States Army during the Vietnam era. His greatest post-service honor and highlight was being a recipient of the Fort Wayne Veterans Honor Flight #30 to Washington, D.C., escorted by his son John. He retired from General Motors in Marion after several years of service. He was an avid painter and artist and enjoyed giving his paintings away as gifts. His favorite things to paint were patriot eagles, Jesus, roses, and a variety of other subjects, all so detailed and diverse. John was a people person who never met a stranger and always had a story to tell. He was grateful to Joy, his loving wife of 24 years, who he loved and adored, and also for his grandparents, Gramps & Nanny, who raised him after his parents died at a young age. They instilled faith and honorable values which he carried throughout his life.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, and sister.

In keeping with John’s wishes, no public services will be held. Cremation has been entrusted to Hasler & Stout Funeral Home in Greentown. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.hasler-stout.com.