Contributed Obituaries
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Obituaries - O
O’DELL, Ralph E. "Butch"Source: unknown
BICKNELL — Ralph E. “Butch” O’Dell, 58, passed away Tuesday, March 28, 2006, in Jeffersonville.
He was born Aug. 22, 1947, in Vincennes. He was raised in Bicknell, the son of Raymond and Edith (Norrington) O’Dell.
He worked as a home repair and painter and served in the U.S. Army.
He is survived by a son and his wife, Tyler VanAllen and Danyelle of Jeffersonville; and their children, Kyler, Tayler, and Hailey VanAllen. He is also survived by his sisters, Shelby Jean Junod of Bicknell, Mary Ellen Adams of Bruceville, and Tresa Baize of Bicknell. A brother, Ted O’Dell of Bicknell, also survives.
A celebration of his life will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Duesterberg-Fredrick Wampler Shaw chapel, 118 Washington St. His brother, the Rev. Ted O’Dell, will officiate. He will be laid to rest at a later date.
Memorial contributions in his memory can be made to the donor’s charity of choice.
- submitted by <unknown>
OCHS, Jimmy
Source: unknown
Jimmy Ochs, 16, 8367 N. Pierce Road, Bruceville, died Wednesday, April 26, 2006, at his residence.
Born Feb. 23, 1990, in Vincennes, he was the son of James and Beth (Zeabart) Ochs.
He was a student at North Knox High School and attended St. John’s Catholic Church. He also played Bruceville baseball.
Survivors include his parents, James and Beth Ochs; a sister, Patricia Ochs of Vincennes; maternal grandparents, Bill and Pat Zeabart of Vincennes; paternal grandmother, Helen Ochs of Washington; uncles and their wives, Rick and Karen Zeabart of Fort Branch, Greg and Terry Zeabart of Vincennes, Diane and Mike Smith of Washington, and Junior and Carol Ochs of Washington.
The funeral will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 803 Main St., by the Rev. David Fleck. Music will be provided by Chris Spurgeon. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Vincennes.
Pallbearers will be Greg Zeabart, Rick Zeabart, Zack Zeabart, Daniel Zeabart, Brad Black and Luke Meeks.
Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Fredrick and Son Funeral Home, 313 Church St.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Parish Improvement Fund or the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation.
Condolences may be sent online at www.fredrickandson.com.
- submitted by <unknown>
OEXMANN, Sharon Marie "Sherry"
Source: unknown
Sharon “Sherry” Marie Oexmann, 62, 9471 S. Decker Road, Decker, died at 1:25 a.m. Monday, Feb. 26, 2007, at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Newburgh.
Born March 23, 1944, in Bloomington, she was the daughter of Clarence “Skelly” and Etheal (Boyer) Smith.
Sherry passed away after a long struggle with cancer. She was a housewife and helped run her family's melon farm. Sherry was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and a kind of friend anybody would want to have. She also drove a school bus for St. Peter Lutheran School and later South Knox school. She was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church where she was active in the church Ladies Guild. Sherry loved spending time at Mariners Cove in Estero, Fla. She enjoyed various sporting events that her children and grandchildren participated in. She sang in the church choir and was a Sunday school teacher at St. Peter Lutheran Church for many years. She also spent a lot of her time sewing and crocheting.
Survivors include her husband, John Oexmann of Decker, whom she married April 25, 1964, in St. Peter Lutheran Church; a daughter, Jean Anne Grunloh and her husband, Ted, of Effingham, Ill.; a son, Gaven Oexmann and his wife, Karen, of Vincennes; four grandsons, Coleton Oexmann, Garrett Oexmann, Nicholas Grunloh and Grant Oexmann; two granddaughters, Lena Grunloh and Bailee Oexmann; two sisters, Beverly Prather and her husband, Shelby, of Port Orange, Fla., and Shirley Smith and her husband, Max, of Decker; and a brother, Gene Smith and his wife, Alice, of Decker.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence “Skelly” and Etheal (Boyer) Smith.
The funeral will be conducted at 10:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 6990 S. Decker Road, by Pastor Nathan Rastl. Burial will be in St. Peter Lutheran Church Cemetery in Knox County.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Goodwin Funeral Home, 524 Broadway St.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter Lutheran Church in Sharon's name.
- submitted by <unknown>
OLIPHANT, Ellsworth
Source: The Vincennes Commercial, 20 Apr 1920, page 1
ELWSORTH OLIPHANT DIED SUNDAY AT BRUCEVILLE
Elsworth [sic] Oliphant, aged 52, a coal miner of Bruceville, died at Bruceville Sunday morning. Funeral services will be held at Bruceville Tuesday afternoon and burial will be made there.
Mr. Oliphant formerly lived at Dugger, Linton and Washington, where he ran a flour mill. He is the father of “Catchy” Oliphant the well known football and baseball player. He lost a son, Glen, about a year ago. Mr. Oliphant’s first wife is buried at Dugger. He leaves at Bruceville a wife and four children. -- Bicknell News.
- submitted by Andrea Rogers-Valen
OLIPHANT, Ellsworth
Source: The Vincennes Commercial, 21 Apr 1920, page 5
Oliphant.
Ellsworth, aged 52 years died at Bruceville Sunday morning at 7 o’clock of pneumonia. Mr. Oliphant lived at Linton and Dugger formerly and own a mill at Washington. He is survived by a widow and two small children at Bruceville and five older children, Elmer Oliphant of West Point, Mrs. H. Smith and Miss Margaret Oliphant of New York City, Mrs. Raymond Butler of Dugger and Mrs. Clarence Stout out of this city. He also leaves a brother, Frank Oliphant and a mother, Mrs. Sarah Ann Oliphant of Bloomfield. Mr. Oliphant lost a son, Glenn, about a year ago and his first wife, Alice Quillen of Dugger is buried at Washington. Funeral services will be held at Bruceville Tuesday afternoon at two o’clock.
- submitted by Andrea Rogers-Valen
OLIPHANT, Mrs. Frank L.
Source: The Vincennes Commercial, 3 Feb 1920, page 5
WELL KNOWN LADY DEAD
Mrs. Frank L. Oliphant Died Sunday Evening at Battle Creek Sanitarium -- Death Came as Shock to Her Many Friends.
At five o’clock, Sabbath evening, at the Battle Creek Sanitarium, Mrs. Frank L. Oliphant of this city passed on to that “undiscovered country, from whose bourn no traveler returns.” The members of her immediate family, Mr. Oliphant and son Earl and wife and daughter, Miss Leona, were at her bedside.
On January 10th, Mrs. Oliphant in company with Miss Leona, left her home at 422 North Fourth street for Battle Creek when she entered the sanitarium for the purpose of having her tonsils removed with the belief that her general health would be benefitted. While recovering from the operation, she was taken with a severe cold and pneumonia resulted.
On Tuesday of last week, Mr. Frank Oliphant, and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Oliphant were called to Battle Creek because of Mrs. Oliphant’s critical condition.
On Wednesday evening, at the union prayer meeting of the First Christian church with the Second church, a close friend of the family stated that a telegram has been received from Mr. Oliphant which gave a ray of hope that her condition was slightly improved.
A host of friends of the family in the community trusted in the belief that the fever would be controlled and health would be restored. The final news on her “passing on” was a shock to every one [sic].
Near the little town of Cincinnati, Green county, Indiana, Nancy Harriet Martindale-Oliphant was born, August 12, 1875. She was the daughter of Raphael and Elizabeth Martindale. Four sisters preceeded [sic] her to the grave. There are four brothers living, H. C. Martindale who lives on Portland avenue of this city, Howard Martindale of Bruceville, Knox county, George Martindale of Cincinnati, Indiana, a village of three or four hundred inhabitants, and Ellsberry Martindale, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, who travels for the Vincennes Bridge Company, and manages the office at Muskogee.
During the month of January, 1899 Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Oliphant were united in marriage and their home was one of joy, love and peace.
Loving tributes and heartfelt gratitude for the life lived among us are spoken by all who knew Mrs. Oliphant. She was a consistent Christian woman, having been a member of the First Christian church of this city since the year 1905, serving faithfully in all of its activities and work. The Mission field, C. W. B. M. Society, Dorcas Society, Ladies’ Aid and Sabbath school were some of the lines of uplift work for the Heavenly Father.
She was a woman who, in her daily life, knew the illimitable worth of Christian truth and Christian living and in the service of her Lord and Savior she “fought the good fight,” she “kept the faith” and “henceforth there is laid up for her a crown of righteousness.
Mrs. Oliphant was president of the Dorcas Society in 1910 and just two weeks ago, in her own home, at the annual meeting with a social following, she was again elected president.
In the C. W. B. M. society, she was on the finance committee and only sickness or absence from the city made her an absentee from any of its meetings. She was vice president of the C. W. B. M. in 1916.
Ten orphan boys in France were supported by her during the world war and her patriotism was unfailing all through the conflict as evidenced by the knitted garments that were the work of her hands and Red Cross work of all kinds.
Mrs. Oliphant belonged to her church, her family and home. A real gentle woman. Holding the hand of the dear Lord, she has reached the Eternal City of which it is written “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
Mrs. George Glover, a neighbor of the Oliphant family, was notified by telegram that the family accompanied by the remains, would arrive at Vincennes Monday evening, at 7:09 in the body taken to the late home of the deceased, direct from the Union Station.
Funeral services will be conducted from the family residence, 422 North Fourth Street, at 3 o’clock Wednesday afternoon. Rev. L. C. Howe and Rev. Oeschger will officiate. Burial will be made in Fairview cemetery.
- submitted by Andrea Rogers-Valen
OLIPHANT, Mrs. Frank L.
Source: The Vincennes Commercial, 4 Feb 1920, page 5
The funeral of Mrs. Frank L. Oliphant will be held at 3 o’clock Wednesday afternoon at the family residence, 422 North Fourth street. Rev. L. C. Howe and Rev. Oeschger will officiate. Burial will be made in Fairview cemetery.
- submitted by Andrea Rogers-Valen
OLIPHANT, Mrs. Frank L.
Source: The Vincennes Commercial, 5 Feb 1920, page 1
MRS OLIPHANT LAID TO REST
Impressive Services Held Over Remains of Prominent Vincennes Woman at 3 O’clock Wednesday Afternoon.
At the family residence of Frank Oliphant, 422 North Fourth Street, Wednesday at 3 o’clock, the last reverent tribute of gratitude, respect and love was paid to Mrs. Frank L. Oliphant by her many friends. A quartet composed of Charles Benham, Mr. and Mrs. William L. TeWalt, and Mrs. Finney Moore, with Mrs. Clarke E. Stewart as accompanist, sang “O Sometimes the Shadows are Deep” and Mrs. TeWalt sang, “Sweet Peace the Gift of God's Love.”
Reverend L. C. Howe used a scripture passage from Acts 9:36, as the text for his remarks, bringing to the minds of all present the glory and reward of Christian service, as exemplified in the Dorcas spirit, and eulogized a Christian mother’s service, the influence of good works and the triumph of Christian faith. He paid tribute to mother-love and the final crown of glory and visions of Heaven as the most precious treasures of the heart. Among the many beautiful truths stated by the pastor were: Death came to Mrs. Oliphant in the radiant glory of immortality, her dying vision saw the celestial city and she exclaimed, “O, How Beautiful.” She was a mother of the noblest type; a wife who loved the dear ones in the home; a friend whose sympathy was ever true; a Christian whose unselfish service won the crown. The sacred memory of her as an inspiration to the soul.
Active pallbearers were Messrs. Frank Nesbitt, Jay Riddle, Charles Wasson, William Johnson, G. R. Alsop and George R. Glover. Honorary pallbearers were Frank Sergeant, Ben Johnson, Omer Free, Albert Michle, R. Henderson and Bert Kingan.
Rev. William Oeschger, a former pastor of the Vincennes Christian church, paid a beautiful tribute to Mrs. Oliphant and said that Vincennes would never be the same to him and Mrs. Oeschger, now that Mrs. Oliphant was no longer present.
Many beautiful flowers paid silent tribute with their fragrance and purity typifying these traits of character in deceased. Especially wonderfully beautiful was a blanket of orchids.
- submitted by Andrea Rogers-Valen
ONKEN, Sharon A.
Source: unknown
Sharon A. Onken, 68, Vincennes, passed away at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2006, at Good Samaritan Hospital with her family at her side.
She was born Jan. 17, 1938, in Terre Haute, the daughter of Raymond and Pearl Isbell.
She was a special education teacher with the Southeastern Special Education and she had worked for over five years at Vincennes University with the Step program. While at VU, she helped develop an adult literacy basic skills course for the department of the U.S. Navy. She held memberships in the National Autism Association, and she had served as president of the Indiana Association for Development Education. She was an avid golfer and enjoyed her passion for adult literacy. She was married to Paul Onken and he preceded her in death in 1998.
Her children and spouses, Liann and Rodney Smith and Doug and Ann Onken, all of Vincennes, survive her. She was blessed with her grandchildren, Jennifer Smith, Bryan Smith, David Onken, Jeffrey Onken and Gabby Onken.
She was also preceded in death by her grandson, Corey Onken.
The funeral will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at the Duesterberg-Fredrick Funeral Home with the Rev. Lester Palmer officiating. She will be laid to rest next to her husband in Memorial Park Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions can be made in her memory to Vincennes University Foundation.
- submitted by <unknown>
ORR, Mary Beckes
Source: The Vincennes Commercial, 7 May 1920, page 1
DEATH CAME SUDDENLY
Mrs. Mary Orr, Widow of the Late James T. Orr, Passed Away Unexpectedly of Apoplexy at Her Home Thursday Afternoon.
Mary Beckes Orr, widow of the late James T. Orr, died at her home, 114 South Fourth street Thursday afternoon. Death was due to apoplexy and almost without warning of any kind, and the announcement of her sudden passing away, came as a great shock to her family and to her many friends throughout the city.
Mrs. Orr, who was passed seventy-four years of age, had been in poor health for several years past, and several months ago, had a serious illness, during which, for a time, her life was despaired of, but she recovered and was seemingly regaining her old time strength.
At noon on Thursday, Mrs. Orr was apparently in her usual health, but about 3:40 o’clock she complained of feeling ill, and she was assisted to her bed and a physician called. A moment or two later she stated that she believed she would be more comfortable in her chair, and she was assisted to her chair, whereupon she again stated she thought that she was going to faint. She was assisted to her bed and almost instantly breathed her last.
The deceased was a member of one of the pioneer and highly respected families of the city, being a daughter of the late Thomas P. Beckes. She was born August 11th, 1845, in this city, and was aged at the time of her death, seventy-four years, nine months and twenty-five days.
In June, 1874 she was united in marriage to the late James T. Orr, who unto the time of his death a number of years ago was one of the leading business merchants of this city. Seven children were born to them, five of whom survive, a daughter Ellen, having died at an early age, and Walter L., having passed away about two years ago. Those surviving are Thomas G., of Newport News, Va., James B., of St. Louis, John E., who resided at home with his mother, Alice C., of New York City, and Robert F., who resided at home. In addition to the children, she is survived by two grandchildren, children of her son, Thomas G., also by three sisters and a brother, Mrs. W. K. Lockwood, Mrs. William Scott, Miss Eunice Beckes and Samuel Beckes, all of Los Angeles, Calif. She was also a sister of Mrs. O. H. Cobb, who died in November, last year, and Mrs. Charles Miller, who died in March last year.
The deceased was one of the best known and most highly respected ladies in the city. She was sympathetic and generous in her nature and had a good word for everyone, charitable, and was an exemplary Christian woman who was held in high esteem by all who knew her. She was a most faithful member of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic church, a member of the St. Elizabeth Benevolent society and the Altar Society of that church, and took a prominent part in all church and charitable work. She will be sadly missed, but her good deeds will live long in the memory of all who knew her.
The absent members of the family were notified of the sudden passing of Mrs. Orr, and until the arrival of all of the absent children, arrangements for the funeral will not be made.
- submitted by Andrea Rogers-Valen
ORR, Mary Beckes
Source: The Vincennes Commercial, 9 May 1920, page 1
FUNERAL TO BE HELD MONDAY MORNING.
Funeral services over the remains of the late Mrs. Mary Orr, who died suddenly at her home, corner Fourth and Church street, Thursday afternoon, will be conducted Monday morning at 9:30 o’clock from the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, of which she was a faithful member. This is a change from the previous arrangements, which set the time for the services at 9 o’clock. The remains will be laid to rest in the Mt. Calvary cemetery.
- submitted by Andrea Rogers-Valen
ORR, Mary Beckes
Source: The Vincennes Commercial, 11 May 1920, page 1
FUNERAL OF MRS. MARY ORR
A Solemn Requiem High Mass Was Celebrated Over Remains of Charitable Lady at Cathedral Monday.
Monday, May 10, 1920 a most chaltable [sic] lady was laid to rest in the Mt. Calvary cemetery. With the passing of Mrs. Mary Beckes Orr, Vincennes has lost a citizen who obeyed the scriptural injunction, “Let not your left hand know what your right hand gives.”
The recipients of her good deeds came mourning to her home, young and old, rich and poor, the high and lowly, told of some kindness that have been given and which had brightened life's pathway.
About a year ago Mrs. Orr was seriously ill. Death hovered over her reluctant to depart without her, but so many prayers ascended to heaven’s throne for her recovery that the good Lord loaned her to earthly friends for a brief year.
A solemn Requiem High mass was celebrated by Reverends Father Gregoire, Father Stanton, Father Mullen, Father Vincius, of the Cathedral, Reverends Father Taggart, of St. Francisville, Ill., and Father Duffey, of St. Vincent of the Highlands. The six priests met the remains of Mrs. Orr at the church door and conducted them to the main altar chanting Miserere. The rendition of the Gregorian chant by the Cathedral choir added to the solemnity of the services. At the close of the solemn high mass the officiating clergy again formed a procession with the acolytes escorting the remains to the door, chanting Benedictus. Again at the grave the six joined in the liturgical chant.
The funeral cortege was large. Beside relatives and friends there were members of the various church organizations of which Mrs. Orr had been presiding officer as well as an untiring church worker for many, many years. Home duties and church duties were not neglected for social duties, although she found time to belong to several social clubs. In many hearts there is a lonely void for the friend who has passed the portal that divide life and death. Her children grieve as only the hearts of those who part from a devoted mother can grieve. Beautiful floral tributes were received from friends of Mrs. Orr and the children in this city and in New York and Chicago.
“No single virtue could we commend,
Whether the wife, the mother or the friend;
For she was all, in that Supreme degree,
That, as no one prevailed, so all was she,
She vanished, we can scarcely say she died;
For but one half hour did earth and heaven divide.
She passed serenely with a single breath;
This moment perfect health, the next was death;
One sign did her eternal bliss assure;
So little penance needs when souls are pure.
So softly death succeeded life in her
She did but dream of heaven and she was there.”
- submitted by Andrea Rogers-Valen
OSBORNE, William Riley "Sonny," Jr.
Source: unknown
William Riley “Sonny” Osborne Jr., 71, 1202 S. 16th St., Vincennes, died at 7:45 p.m. Friday, March 23, 2007, at GentleCare Nursing Home in Vincennes.
William was born on May 15, 1935, in Knox County, the son of William Riley and Helen (Bobe) Osborne.
William was a farmer and an Air Force veteran. He attended the Central Church of Christ.
Survivors include two daughters, Debra Jo Brock and her husband, Greg, of Tallahassee, Fla., and Tambra Ann Lewis and her husband, Jim, of Vincennes; two sisters, Imo Jeanne Williams and her husband, N. Jack, of Vincennes, and Ann Ready and her husband, Rex, of Vincennes; five grandchildren, Eli Brock, Todd Brock, Kate Ann Le, Ryan Spencer, and Elizabeth Ann Spencer; three great-grandchildren, Justin Brock, Hannah Brock, and Dominick Le; one nephew, Darrell Deem and family; and four nieces, Susan Ziomek and family, Jane Haggard and family, Lynn Gray and family, and Beth Bird and family. He is also survived by Jo Ann Essig of Vincennes.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William Riley and Helen (Bobe) Osborne; and one sister, Caroll Deem.
The funeral will be conducted at 3 p.m. today at Goodwin Funeral Home, 524 Broadway St. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be from noon to 3 p.m. today at the funeral home.
- submitted by <unknown>
OSHA, Andrew W. "Mike"
Source: unknown, 13 Nov 1991
Andrew W. "Mike" OSHA Sr., 84, 703 N. 2nd Street, died at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Good Samaritan Hospital.
He attended school in Washington, and was a member of the Vincennes Masonic Lodge and Hadi Shrine of Evansville.
Since 1955, he operated a television and radio repair shop in Vincennes, and also installed and sold television antennas.
Surviving are his wife, Daisy (Rose) OSHA, whom he married February 2, 1946; a son, Andrew "Bud" OSHA of Washington; two brothers, Ernest OSHA and Woodrow OSHA of Washington and three sisters; Una JARVIS of Phoenix, Arizona, Helen HENSON of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Daisy WARNER of Cedar Lake. A sister and a grandchild are deceased.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Gardner Funeral Home, the Rev. E. T. PERKINS officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.
Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
- submitted by <unknown>
OSTENDORF, Catherine "Betty"
Source: unknown
Catherine “Betty” Ostendorf, 89, died Saturday, Aug. 5, 2006, at Bridge Point Health Campus.
She was born Feb. 20, 1917 in Vincennes to Joseph and Irene Shaw.
She was a 1934 graduate of St. Rose Academy. She married Dr. C. Joseph Ostendorf on Sept. 26, 1953, he preceded her in death on April 13, 1996.
She was a member of the Old Cathedral Catholic Church, the Alter Society and a St. Rose Alumni. She was also a volunteer at Good Samaritan Hospital.
She is survived by a son, David Ostendorf and his wife, Carla, of Indianapolis; daughter, Camille Ulrich and her husband, David, of Fairfield, Ohio; three grandchildren, Jeffrey and Christy Ostendorf of Indianapolis and Megan Ulrich of Fairfield, Ohio; a sister, Dorothy Shaw of Vincennes; three nephews, Stephen Cannon and his wife, Barbara, Richard Cannon and his wife Mary Zoe and John Ostendorf and his wife, Bunny, of Vincennes; one niece, Catheryn “Terry” Hird of Henderson, Ky.
She was preceded in death by three sisters, Helen Shaw, Margaret Daniels and Patricia Cannon.
A funeral mass will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the Old Cathedral Catholic Church.
Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday at the Fredrick & Son Funeral Home, 313 Church St.
Memorial donations may be made to the Old Cathedral Catholic Church Restoration Fund.
- submitted by <unknown>
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