Peru Tribune Obituaries: 2013 Peru Tribune, The (IN) - January 02, 2013 - 4:00 am Ruth Zartman, 90, of Plymouth passed away at 4:40 a.m., Jan. 1, 2013 at Pilgrim Manor in Plymouth. Arrangements are pending at the Good Family Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Rochester. Peru Tribune, The (IN) - Thursday, January 3, 2013 4:00 am Dorothy K. Kelly, 100, of Peru, Ind., passed away on Dec. 23, 2012 at her home. Dorothy moved from her home in Chicago to Peru, Ind. in 1955. She is preceded in death by her husband Paul B. Kelly in May 2000, and her three sisters, Eileen, Lorraine, Genevieve and her three brothers Marshall, John and Earl. She is survived by her three children, Edward Kelly of Peru, Ind., Dolores Doll of Bourbon, Ind., and Marilyn Sullivan, (Mike Sullivan) of Tarpon Springs, Fla., six grandchildren, Kathryn, Patrick, Paul, Sharon, Michael and Susan, 10 great-grandchildren, Kelly, Thomas, PJ, Matthew, Anna, Steven, Shea, Tara, Abigail and Alexis, and two great-great-grandchildren, Karle and Kaylee. She is survived by many nieces and nephews. Dorothy and Paul were married 74 years. Dorothy had an illustrious career as an animal trainer. She trained elephants, seals, mountain lions, bears, goats and dogs. She performed all over the United States with the Shrine Circus. Dorothy also appeared several times on the "Ed Sullivan Show" and the "Bozo Circus" with her elephants. Dorothy made guest appearances on "What's My Line?", "I've Got a Secret" and "To Tell the Truth" and appeared in two movies, "The Wilderness Trail" and "The Little Big Top". Dorothy also appeared on the cover of Life Magazine with her "Pink Elephants". Dorothy and Ed were VIP guests in the Circus City Festival parades yearly. She recently celebrated her 100th birthday on Oct. 13, 2012 with 100 family members and friends. A mass of Christian burial, celebrating the life of Dorothy Kelly, will take place at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013 at St. Charles Catholic Church, 58 West Fifth Street, Peru, Ind., with Rev. Eric Underwood officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Peru. Family and friends will gather from noon to 3 p.m. and 5-8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 4, 2013 and 9-10 a.m. Saturday at the Eikenberry-Eddy Funeral Home, 84 West Main Street, Peru. There will be a prayer service at 8 p.m., Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army. Condolences may be made online at www.eddyfuneralhomes.com. Peru Tribune, The (IN) - Friday, January 4, 2013 4:00 am Della A. Eikenberry, 64, of New Haven, died Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012 at New Haven Care and Rehabilitation Center. Born in Peru, she was the daughter of Winifred Haalck, who survives, and the late Rex Haalck. She was a member of New Haven United Methodist Church, She retired in 2007 from Verizon after 15 years. She was a dedicated and loving mother to her family. She was very involved with the New Haven Girls Softball League, where she held many offices. She was also a member of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, an avid fan of I.U. Basketball and the Chicago Cubs. She loved camping and traveling. She is also survived by her husband of 42 years, Brian; children, Thomas (Brooke) Eikenberry of Fort Wayne, Sara (Corey) Smith and Paige (Mike Reed) Junk both of New Haven; step-son, Chad (Michelle) Eikenberry of Massachusetts; siblings, Sandra (Curtis) Howard of Chili, and Daniel (Joyce) Haalck of Carmel; six grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren. Funeral service was 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012 at the New Haven United Methodist Church, 630 Lincoln Hwy E., New Haven with calling one hour prior to service. Pastor Rick Taylor officiating. Calling was from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, 2012 at E. Harper & Son Funeral Home, 740 St. Rd. 930 E., New Haven. Burial is in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery, New Haven. Preferred memorials are to the American Cancer Society. To share online condolences please visit www.harperfuneralhome.com. Peru Tribune, The (IN) - Saturday, January 5, 2013 4:00 am Marilyn Stretch, 85, Rochester, passed away at Woodlawn Hospital emergency room at 2:09 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. Arrangements are pending at Good Family Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Rochester. Peru Tribune, The (IN) - Monday, January 7, 2013 4:00 am Miriam Fishback Griebel Young passed away Dec. 19, 2012 in St. George, Utah. She was born September 8, 1914 in Peru, Ind. Miriam was a wonderful wife and mother. She was a lifetime member of the St. Jude’s Auxiliary and the UMC Hospital Auxiliary. She was a member of The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. She is survived by her sons: Guy Albert and Terry Allen Griebel; sister, Betty Trent; eight grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, E. Bob Griebel; parents, Etta Mae and Albert Fishback; husband, Edward Young; son, Gary Arlen Griebel; and granddaughters: Jennifer Griebel and Melissa Keesee. Memorial services will take place Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2012 at Palm Mortuary in Las Vegas, Nev. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary. Peru Tribune, The (IN) - Monday, January 7, 2013 4:00 am Vada Irene King Coplen, 93, Akron, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013 at Miller’s Merry Manor, Warsaw. Born Dec. 5, 1919 in Perry Township, Miami County, she was the daughter of Martin Luther and Rosella Barnhisel King. On Sept. 17, 1939 in Crown Point, Ind., she was married to Wayne Devon Coplen, and he preceded her in death on Dec. 22, 2000. She attended the Akron United Methodist Church and was a member of the former Gilead United Methodist Church. Vada was the mother of three children, Judy Kay Harvey, Warsaw; Larry K. Coplen, Warsaw; and Ronald L. Coplen, Akron. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Douglas Neil Harvey and Pamela Sue Harvey; one niece, Roberta Sue Shanks; and one nephew, Richard Carl Lamb. Three sisters, Beulah Lamb, Freida Fawley, and Helen Bernice King preceded Vada in death. Funeral services will take place at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013 at Hartzler Funeral Home, Akron. Burial will be in Gilead Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Gilead Cemetery Association. Arrangements are being handled by Vada’s cousin, Hal W. McClain of McClain Funeral Home, Denver, Ind. The online guestbook can be signed at www.mcclainfh.com. Peru Tribune, The (IN) - Monday, January 7, 2013 4:00 am Virginia M. (Gilbert) Balsbaugh, 94, Denver, Ind., passed away Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013 at Peabody Healthcare Center, North Manchester, Ind. She was born Apr. 7, 1918 near Servia in Wabash County, Ind. to Rev. Elmer H and Ina Arminda (McFarland) Gilbert. Virginia was a member of the Church of the Brethren at Clear Creek and later the First Brethren Church, Mexico, Ind., where she served as deaconess for many years. She married Charles W. Balsbaugh on Dec. 28, 1941 at the Clear Creek Church of the Brethren, Huntington County, Ind. by her father, Rev. Elmer H. Gilbert. Charles preceded her in death on Nov. 27, 2009. Virginia graduated from Chester High School, North Manchester, Ind. in 1936 and received her teaching degree from Manchester College. She received her Master’s Degree in Library Science from Ball State University, Muncie, Ind. in 1961. She taught school at Mexico, Metea, Deedsville and Macy and was the first librarian at North Miami High School, Denver, Ind., retiring in 1973. She was a member of the Pink Ladies, Ind. State Teachers Association, Delta Kappa Gamma, Literary Club and the Women’s Missionary Society. She loved to read, play piano, crochet, sew and play cards. She is survived by three daughters: Jean A. Musselman and husband Donald G., Linda M. Koenig and husband Jack C., and Peggy J. Wellsand and husband William D., all of Denver, Ind.; five grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren; her sister, B. Josephine (Gilbert) Hibbs and husband Orlo, Columbia City, Ind., her sister-in-law, Marguerite A. Buckingham, Warsaw, Ind.; several cousins; and many nieces and nephews. Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, four sisters and two brothers; Ethel M. (Gilbert) and husband Myron E. Hyde, E. Madeline (Gilbert) and husband William M. Walls, M. Louise Gilbert, Arthur R. Gilbert and wife Marsha R. (Pearson), Dorotha P. (Gilbert) and husband J. Eldon Zinsmeister, J. Edward Gilbert and wife Mildred L. (Morris) and her brothers-in-law, Herman L. Buckingham and Jack Hively. Friends may call on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013 from noon until 2 p.m. at the McClain Funeral Home, Denver, Ind. with services at 2 p.m. with Pastor Matthew Haynes officiating. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Mexico, Ind. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Brethren Church in Mexico, Ind. or North Miami High School Library. The online guest book can be signed at www.mcclainfh.com. Peru Tribune, The (IN) - Monday, January 7, 2013 4:00 am Robert O. “Bob” Tipton, 66, passed away at Woodlawn Hospital on Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. Arrangements are pending at the Good Family Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Rochester. Peru Tribune, The (IN) - Monday, January 7, 2013 4:00 am Esther Louise Altman Smoker, 89, North Manchester, formerly Peru, passed away peacefully at 7:20 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, 2013 in her residence at the Peabody Retirement Community. She was born in her parent’s Fulton County home on Dec.