Raymond Eblen

Raymond K. "Butch" Eblen, Jr., 60, of Rockford, died Saturday morning at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he had been a patient since last Tuesday. He was born in Celina, Ohio, on February 16, 1955 to Raymond Keith and Betty (Hull) Eblen, both who preceded in death. On August 30, 2014, he married Tami (Ripley) Fickert, and she survives in Rockford. Butch worked for Nupco Plastic Tubing, Inc., where he drove truck and also made drainage tile. He graduated from Parkway High School and then served in the United States Air Force. He loved woodworking and taking photographs of wild animals and birds. He liked hunting and fishing and riding his motorcycle. Butch was a former bowling coach at Plaza Lanes in Celina, Ohio. Surviving in addition to his wife, Tami, are two step-daughters--Elisha (Bart) Kuhn, of Rockford and Taya Wann, of Berne, Indiana; two grandsons, Hunter Germann, of Rockford, and, Jayce Neuenschwander, of Berne, Indiana; one sister, Margaret "Marg" (Eblen) Lindsey, Cincinnati; two brothers-in law, Craig (Rita) Ripley of Willshire, Ohio, and Van (Kelly) Ripley, of Convoy, Ohio; one sister-in-law, Melanie Ripley of Lima, Ohio; and three nieces, three nephews, one great niece, and four great nephews survive as well. His mother and father-in-law, Marlene and Jim Habegger, reside in Decatur, Indiana, and he has an aunt and uncle, Doug and Judy Eblen, who survive in Celina, Ohio. Deceased is a sister, Mary Eblen. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at 12:00 noon at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford. Friends and relatives may call at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon. on Tuesday, prior to the service. Officiating will be Pastor Mark Rutledge. Butch will be cremated and his burial will take place at a later date at the convenience of the family, when they will have private graveside services. Memorials may be directed to the family.