Echo Kettering

Echo Louise Stallter Kettering, 96, of Rockford, Ohio, died at 2:24 p.m.on Sunday, September 16, 2012, at Van Wert County Hospital, Van Wert, Ohio. She was born on December 16, 1915, in Blackcreek Township, Mercer County, Ohio, the daughter of Emmett and Kitty (Wolfe) Stallter. On February 14, 1937, she married C. Ray Kettering, whom she was married to for 71 years, before he preceded her in death on January 18, 2008. She was a homemaker, and lived in the area all of her life. She attended Manley School in Blackcreek Township and graduated from Rockford High School. She was very active in the former First United Methodist Church, now the Rockford United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School Class, was a Jr. High Youth Leader, and held various positions in the Women's Group. She was a former member of The Order of the Eastern Star, Farm Bureau, and Farm Women's Club. Echo is survived by her son, Keith (Kris) Kettering, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; three daughters, Kay (John) Thomas, Rockford, Ohio, Karen (Wayne) Roell, Dale, Indiana, and Kathy McHie, Oakton, Virginia; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Echo was preceded in death, in addition to her husband, Ray, by granddaughter, Amy Osborn, and sisters, Nadine Rohlfing and Donna Pontsler. Services will be held on Friday, September 21, 2012, at 10:30 a.m., at the Rockford United Methodist Church, with Pastor Chip Steffy officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford, Ohio. Friends may call at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford, on Thursday, September 20, from 4-8 p.m., and at the church on Friday, one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be directed to Rockford United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 305, Rockford, Ohio, 45882.