Gale Butcher

Gale L. Butcher, 101, of Rockford, Ohio, died at 3:45 pm, Thursday, December 23, 2010, at Colonial Nursing Center in Rockford, where he was a patient. He was born May 26, 1909 in Jefferson Township, Adams County, Indiana, to Elbridge and Stella (Houser) Butcher. On July 18, 1932, he married Wilma Alt, and she preceded in death on November 27, 1996. Gale was a press man at the former Rockford Press in Rockford, Ohio and at the Decatur Casting Company in Decatur, Indiana. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Liberty Twp., and had lived in Rockford since 1945. Surviving are 3 sons: Dallas ( Marie ) Butcher of Fernandino, Florida, Jack (Lois) Butcher of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Jim ( Donnetta) Butcher of Dayton, Ohio; and 2 daughters: Sheryl ( Jerry) Clay of Mendon, Ohio and Debra (Mike) Schumm, of Rockford, Ohio. Twelve grandchildren, twenty-five great grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren also survive. Deceased are 3 brothers: Clell, Paul, and Walter Butcher; three sisters, Leota Bebout, Jessie Wendel, and Ruth Reef; and 1 grandchild. Services will be held on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at St.Paul's Lutheran Church, Liberty Twp., Wabash Road, Rockford, at 10:00 am with Pastor Randall Swanson officiating. Burial will be in St. Paul's Lutheran Church Cemetery. Friends may call at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford on Tuesday, December 28, from 4-8 pm and at the church one hour prior to the service. [photosmash id=43]