Obituaries, December 3, 2023
Rosie D. Housley
Rosie D. Housley, age 79, of Kokomo, Indiana passed away on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at Community Howard Regional Health. She was born in Red Bowling Spring, Tennessee to the late Revies and Olen Martha (Jackson) Huntsman on May 31, 1944. She married Kenneth Housley on December 24, 1965 in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and he survives.
Rosie worked for Libby's Canning before working and retiring from Delco Electronics. She was a member of the UAW #292. Rosie a member of Bible Baptist Church. She enjoyed riding and training horses, reading her bible, as well as, fishing, gardening, painting, ceramics, and taking care of her cats and dogs. Rosie also loved her grandchildren very much.
She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Kenneth; three sons, Kenneth Floyd Housley, Lewis Dale Huntsman, and Ernest Richard Smith; grandchildren, Samantha, Levi, Junior, Christina, Kenneth, Katie, and Ernest;13 great-grandchildren; 6 sisters-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death is a brother, Lewis Huntsman; and three brothers-in-law.
There will be a time of visitation for Rosie on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, from 11:00 A.M. until the time of service at 1:30 P.M. at Ellers Mortuary Main Chapel, 725 South Main Street, Kokomo, Indiana 46901. Pastor Dan Murphy will be officiating. Burial will follow to Crown Point Cemetery.
Karen (Miller) Gingerich
Karen (Miller) Gingerich, 71, Kokomo, passed away on Friday, December 1, 2023, at Howard Regional Health Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in South Bend, Indiana, on November 26, 1952.
Karen is a 1971 graduate of Taylor High School. In 1998, Karen married Larry Gingerich, and they resided on their farm together for 25 years.
Over the course of Karen’s life, she was a beautician for many years before working at Eastco and later at Dr. Kuenzli’s office. After working in healthcare for 10 years, Karen retired and began working on the family farm where she lived with her husband, Larry Gingerich, and loving Goldendoodle, RyLee.
Karen was most noted for her sense of family, strength, and strong will. She proved this as she was a Melanoma and Leukemia survivor and a bone marrow transplant recipient. Karen valued life and her faith. She was a member of Bennetts Switch Community Church. She loved her children, grandchildren, sisters, family and friends. Karen loved to cook, play marbles, visit casinos, and travel with her husband and family.
Surviving are her husband, Larry Gingerich; children, Nichole “Nikki” Kite (Josh), Beau White (Jennifer), Melissa Schaefer (Mike), and Melinda (Mike) Nigro; 13 grandchildren, Harvey (Alysse), Hunter, and Hannah Mills, Harrison White, Keagan and Joshie Kite, Abby, Jackson, Jacob, and William Schaefer, and Tyler and Alyssa Sonnefelt, Dom Nigro; father, Richard Miller and step-mother Joan; sisters, Dawn Hostetler, and Melinda Fernung (Kyle); step-sister, Charlotte (Steve) Cragun; “special niece” Angela Edwards, and several other nieces and nephews.
Karen was preceded in death by her mother, Delores “Ann” Brenton and step-father Gilbert; sister, Ricky Ann Miller; brother, Rick Miller Jr.; mother-in-law, Fran Gingerich; sister-in-law, Karen Gingerich; and grandchildren, Madison and Edison Schaefer.
Special thanks go to the Howard Regional Health Hospital PCU nurses for caring for Karen.
Funeral services celebrating Karen’s life will be held at 11:00 am Friday, December 8, 2023, at Bennetts Switch Community Church, 2261 State Rd. 18, Kokomo. Burial will follow in Clymers Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Shirley & Stout Funeral Homes & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.
Frederic Wayne Roberts
Frederic Wayne Roberts, 88, Kokomo, passed away at 5:55 pm on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at Waterford Place. He was born on September 20, 1935, to the late Raymond and Geneva (Smith) Roberts. On April 20, 1963, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, he married Margaret C. Rupchock, and she survives.
Fred graduated from Kokomo High School in 1953. He served in the United States Air Force, where he was stationed in Salina KS with temporary duty in London. He worked for and retired from General Motors (Delco) as a Group Leader in the Radio Repair department. Fred was a member of St. Patick Catholic Church. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed bowling and was a member of a bowling league. Most of all he loved traveling with Marge after his retirement.
Along with his wife, Marge, Fred is survived by his children, Stephen Roberts, and Matthew Roberts; two brothers, David (Karen) Roberts, and Edwin (Sandra) Roberts; and several nieces & nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Carolyn (Otis) Collins.
The family would like to thank the staff at Waterford Place and Compassus Hospice for the wonderful care they provided for Fred.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1229 N. Washington St., Kokomo, with Rev. Fr. Kyle Neterer celebrant. Burial will take place in Kokomo Memorial Park Cemetery, with military rites provided by the United States Air Force and the Kokomo VFW Military Rites Team. Friends may visit with the family from 4 pm to 6 pm on Friday, December 8, 2023, at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home, 1315 W. Lincoln Rd., Kokomo, where the Rosary will be offered at 3:30 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Clare Monastery, St. Patrick Catholic Church, or the Alzheimer’s Association.