Verne Bartz

Verne Cadell Bartz, a resident of Van Wert since January 1951, passed away peacefully on Nov. 17, 2014, at Vancrest of Convoy after a brief illness.

He was born on Sept. 11, 1924, in Tully Township, Van Wert County, to the late Frank C. and May Trevlyn (Curtis) Bartz.

On July 27, 1946, he married Marilyn Sue (Edwards) Bartz who survives.

He is also survived by a son: Tom E. (Tammy) Bartz of rural Grover Hill, Ohio; a daughter: Joan K. Bartz of Selah, Washington; a sister: Eudora P. Putman of Fairborn, Ohio; grandchildren: Brandon Bartz and Kristy Grindell; stepgrandchildren: Chad Jay, Matthew Jay and Kristen Maenle; six great-grandchildren; six stepgreat-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

His brother, Curtis V. Bartz, and sisters, Marian E. Carey, Wilma C. Parker, and Lola P. Koenig, and two stepgrandchildren preceded him in death.

Verne retired from the Continental Can Company after 38 years as a machinist. During World War II, he was in the Army Air Corps, stationed at Drew Army Airfield in Tampa, Florida, where he was a B-17 mechanic working on aircraft used for training fighter and bomber crews. He always enjoyed vacations with his family. One of the first was to Florida in 1953, returning to Bradenton and Cocoa Beach for many years. Family travels also included New York, Massachusetts, Texas, Colorado, South Dakota, Utah, Idaho, and points in between. Verne was a founding member of the Grover Hill Lions Club and a lifetime member of the American Legion Isaac Van Wert.

Funeral services will be held at the Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory in Van Wert on Friday, Nov. 21, 2014, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Paul Miller officiating. There will be an hour of visitation prior to the service. Burial will be at Convoy I.O.O.F. Cemetery outside of Convoy, Ohio. Military graveside services will be conducted by combined units of the Van Wert American Legion and VFW posts.

Preferred memorials are to the Salvation Army Food Pantry in Van Wert.