Carl Thatcher
October 29, 1921 — May 1, 2011
Carl R. Thatcher, 89, of Van Wert, died at 8:28 p.m. Sunday, May 1, 2011, at the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center.
He was born October 29, 1921, in Jackson Township, Van Wert County, the son of the late Harvey G. and Esther (Baker) Thatcher. He married Eloise (Carlo) Thatcher, who survives in Van Wert.
Mr. Thatcher was a lifetime farmer with his son, Barry, in Hoaglin, Jackson and Ridge townships in Van Wert County. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in the 13th Airborne Division as a paratrooper. He was a life member of American Legion Post 178 in Van Wert and belonged to Willow Bend Country Club. He enjoyed traveling, having visited every state, as well as all Canadian provinces and many countries abroad. He and his wife spent many months in Naples, Fla.
Survivors include two children, Darlene K. Murphy of New Haven, Ind., and Barry (Judy) Thatcher of Van Wert; two brothers, Harvey (Delores) Thatcher of Middle Point and Phil (Bonnie) McClure of Van Wert; three sisters, Becky (Ray) Lautzenheiser of Middle Point, Betty Foust of Van Wert and Donna Johns of Dayton; five grandchildren, Kelly (Kevin) Mahoney of Auburn, Ind., Nikki (Steve) McClain of Fort Wayne, Ind., Tiffany (Preston) Bowen of Southlake, Texas, Kristy (Russell Menyhart) Murphy of Alexandria, Va., and Patrick (Lisa) Murphy of Fort Worth, Texas; and nine great-grandchildren, Clayton McClain, Jack and Daniel Mahoney, Kennedy, Jude and Reese Bowen, Keaton and Peyton Murphy and Margaret Menyhart.
His stepfather Ray McClure, and a brother, Kenneth Thatcher, also preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 5, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory in Van Wert, with the Rev. William Haggis officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert, with graveside military rites performed by the combined honors units of Legion Post 178 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803, both in Van Wert.
Calling hours are from 2-5 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, at the funeral home.
Preferred memorials: St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Van Wert or the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center, c/o Community Health Professionals, 1159 Professional Drive, Van Wert, OH 45891.