Obituaries

Kris D. Sorensen, 74 of Tipton died at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at home surrounded by his loving family.   He was born on February 24, 1949 in Igloo,…

Ralph Anthony “Tony” Plake was welcomed home by his Heavenly Father at 6:40 a.m. on Thursday, July 6, 2023.  He was born in Indiana on September 27, 1962, to Jack and…

Katherine M. “Kay” Weismiller, 81 of Lebanon passed away on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at Homewood Health Campus in Lebanon.  Kay was born in Indianapolis on October 19, 1941, to Glover…

Pearl Thompson, 99 of Windfall, and formerly of Tipton, passed away at 1:58 a.m. on Tuesday, July 4, 2023 at Century Villa in Greentown.  She was born on May 29, 1924…

Evelyn Rebecca Cherry, 93 of Kokomo, Indiana passed away on Friday, June 30, 2023. She was born in Gallatin, Tennessee on April 26, 1930 to William A. Kendall and Flora B. (Clancy) Kendall. She married Delbert C. Cherry on February 21, 1948. They were married for 63 years when Delbert passed away on October 31, 2011. Evelyn was a member of Kemp United Methodist Church in Tipton, Indiana for 30 years and a member of First United Methodist Church in Okeechobee, Florida for 25 years. Evelyn and her husband were very active in their church, serving as greeters on Sunday. She was a member of Ruth Circle FUMC in Okeechobee and served as Treasurer. Evelyn retired from Delco Electronics in Kokomo in 1983 after 30 years. They built a new home in Okeechobee, Florida where they retired and lived for 25 years before health issues caused them to move back to Indiana. Evelyn was a wonderful cook. She cooked and served all sorts of vegetables grown in the family garden. While living in Florida she liked to cook up crappie and bluegill for friends and family that Delbert had caught in Lake Okeechobee. She was an expert seamstress, making many things over the years for her and her daughters to wear. Evelyn grew up as a child of the Great Depression, making her thrifty and a very hard worker. She took great pride in everything she did. She was the best daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-greatgrandmother, aunt and friend you could ask for. She was kind and generous with herself and her time. Evelyn is survived by daughters, Wanda Abney and husband Butch (Wayne) of Russiaville, Indiana, Loraine Swope of Kokomo; a son, Dewaine and wife Roseanne Cherry of Arcadia, Indiana; a sister, JoEdna Bardonner of Arcadia, Indiana; a sister-in-law Margaret Ann Kendall of Elwood, Indiana; grandchildren, Tom Abney and wife Andrea of Kokomo, Bob Lancette of West Palm Beach, Florida, Chris Lancette and Elesia Ricke of Perrysburg, Ohio, Amity (Cherry) and husband Joel O

Helen T. Matthews, 83 of Tipton passed away on Thursday, June 29, 2023at IU Health Tipton Hospital. She was born in Tipton on May 19, 1940 to A.G. & Berniece (Powell) Tebbe. On October 23, 1958 she married John E. “Smiley” Matthews and he preceded her in death on June 5, 1989. The couple enjoyed 30 years of marriage and raising eight children. Helen worked at for several years at Pioneer in Tipton in the Wheat Lab then later on in life she worked at Miller’s Merry Manor. She was a 1958 graduate of St. Joseph Academy and a lifelong member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Helen also was a member of Daughters of Isabella and an auxiliary member of American Legion Post #46. She never forgot her farming heritage and worked many tractor pulls with her husband Smiley. She is survived by eight children, Theresa Johnson and husband Scott of Jerusalem, William “Willy” Matthews and wife Tabitha of Tipton, Mary Cook and husband Robin of Florida, Dorothy Fakes and husband Del of Tipton, Deborah Bond of Tipton, John Matthews and wife Karen of Millstadt, Illinois, Duane “Sam” Matthews and wife Dee of Pendleton, Indiana, Kyle Matthews and wife Beth of Indianapolis, Indiana; siblings, Robert Tebbe and wife Zonda, Alice Gray, Leona Stout and husband John, Leonard Tebbe and George Tebbe. She was also blessed with 21 grandchildren, Jessica Kirby, Delilah Freeman, Chris Johnson, Craig Johnson, Amber Fryar, Nick Matthews, Megan Matthews, Johnathan Buster, Rebecca Cook, Nathan Cook, Amberly Laird, Isaac McLearran, Brian Matthews, Kade Matthews, Sahmantha Guffey, Gretchen Garst, Delaney Busby, Gavin Busby, Andrew Matthews, Madelyn Matthews, and Kyra Matthews; along with several great and great-great grandchildren. Helen was preceded in death by a grandson, Zack Bond; sisters, Julie Plake and Virginia Baker; a son-in-law, Denny Bond. A mass of Christian burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 8 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Tipton with Rev. Dennis G

Born to George and Catherine Shortle, Eb grew up in Tipton, IN, graduating from Tipton HS. He went on to Purdue University where he joined Beta Theta Pi fraternity and was in Naval ROTC. He earned a BS in electrical engineering and was inducted into the electrical engineering and engineering honor societies, Eta Kappa Nu and Tau Beta Pi. After graduation, Eb served 2 years in the US Navy, obtained an MSEE at the University of Michigan, and moved to Seattle to work for Boeing. He met his future wife, Judy Kelchner in a church fellowship group; they married in 1967. After completing his PhD EE at Univ of Washington, his new job at General Research Corporation brought them to Santa Barbara, where their two children, John and Rebecca, were born and raised. Eb worked for GRC for 34 years, ultimately becoming head of the Radar group. Building on the love for the outdoors that developed while in Seattle, Eb took his family on many hiking, camping, backpacking, and skiing adventures throughout the West. He developed great skill as a photographer on these trips, ultimately becoming the unofficial photographer at family gatherings and reunions.

William “Bill” James Griffith, age 35, of Noblesville, was welcomed into Heaven on Thursday, June 22, 2023. He was born on March 23, 1988 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri to his parents, Perry A. Griffith & Cathie (Waeiss) Griffith. Bill graduated from Mount Vernon High School in the class of 2006 and went on to attend Liberty University. He was employed with Martin Marietta as an operator and enjoyed his work. In Bill’s spare time you would have found him fishing, camping, riding his motorcycle (probably with his buddy, Justin), writing poetry, or simply spending time with his dear family, whom he adored. Bill meant so much to so many. He had a gift for seeing the best in people. With his encouraging spirit, he truly invested himself in the lives of others, and loved without condition. His faith was so important to him, and he was a proud member of Mercy Road Church. If you had met Bill even once, you would have probably picked up on his very real and raw nature. He was expressive, sensitive, had a great sense of humor, and was incredibly genuine, (such a rarity in this world today). God gifted Bill with the ability to comprehend the complexity of thoughts, feelings and emotions in such a profound way and then articulate that understanding in his writing. Bill was able to give insight and understanding to many. Whatever role Bill played in your life, (son, brother, boyfriend, uncle, friend, co-worker), he gave his full effort! The goal everyday was to please God in all ways. Bill was a beautiful soul, and if you had the privilege of knowing him count yourself as blessed! Those left to carry on Bill’s legacy of love are his parents, Perry & Cathie Griffith; girlfriend, Gabrielle Grelle; sister, Beth (Justus) Leininger; nephew, Will Leininger; and niece, Clara Leininger. Bill made deep bonds with people; some were blood related, but many were family he chose. This extended family included the Leininger’s, Griffith’s, Grelle’s, Waiss’, Kurtz’s, Page’s, an

Connie Jo Wallpe, 93 of Tipton died Monday, June 5, 2023 at the Waters of Tipton. She was born in Tipton on July 17, 1930 to Cornelius Jackson Fox and Nedra (Shaw) Fox. She married Francis Wallpe and he preceded her in death. Connie was well known in the art world. Her focus was on art, the creation of pieces and the promotion of this important part of culture.