Merrill,age 83, died from mesothelioma.
His parents were Vern and Pearl (Barnhill) Baker. He was born in rural Lovilia on August 15, 1930. He graduated with the Lovilia class of 1948. Merrill joined the US Army during the Korean conflict and served from 1951-1954.
Following the service, Merrill worked for Maytag in Newton,Iowa from 1955-1985 when he retired. Then he ran his own construction company.
Merrill married Helen Corrick on June 19, 1954. They were blessed with five children, Kevin, Jolinda, Kim, Jeff, and Brian.
He was involved in many community service activities. For many years he donated his time to Lovilia Babe Ruth. Recently he was very involved with the Welcome Home Soldier Memorial.
Merrill is survived by his wife, his five children, and ten grandchildren. He is also survived by three sisters, Norma Barnes, Gayle Hastings, Lola Ivins, and one brother, Don Baker.
Funeral services will be Wed., Mar 12 at Trinity United Methodist Church, Albia, Iowa at 10:30 a.m. Private family burial at Woodlawn cemetery in Lovilia will be at a later date.
Visitation at Tharp Funeral Home, Albia will be Tues., Mar. 11 at noon-8 p.m. Family will be present 4:30 -8 p.m.
Memorials to Welcome Home Soldier or to Lovilia United Methodist Church have been established. May he rest in peace.
Philip A. “Nonny” Papich Died March 8,2014
He was born Nov.16, 1929 and raised in Lovilia and Albia. He served in the U.S. Army 1946-1950 where he was trained in radar mechanics. His career was mostly with military aircrafts in the USA and overseas.
He is survived by one son, Bruce and wife of Colorado and one grandson, Shane also of Colorado. Also surviving is his sister Francine Gansman of Chandler, ID.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Stephana Papich Larson.
Mass of Christian burial will be Thurs, Mar.13 at St. Mary’s Catholic church in Albia at 10:30 p.m. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Albia.
Visitation will be Wed. Mar. 12 from 2-8 p.m. at Tharp Funeral Home. Rosary at 4:30 and wake at 5 p.m. Family present 4-8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers memorials are to St. Mary’s church or the American Legion of Albia. May he rest in peace.
Belated report: Dorothy Anne Papich Crum Died Oct. 10, 2013
Dorothy was the daughter of Stanley Charles Papich and Catherine Jakovich Papich. Most of you remember that Stank and Katie owned Papich grocery store in the Lovilia south end.
Dorothy graduated from Ottumwa Heights Academy and Marycrest College. She worked for the Iowa Dept. of Public Health and as an English teacher. She married Don Crum and shared over 50 years of marriage. They lived more than 40 years in Iowa City, Iowa and were active in many community services.
Dorothy is survived by her son Donald of Rock Island Ill, and her daughter Poppy Anne Carrie Crum of San Francisco, Cal. She has one grandchild, Hanna Vance-Crum of Iowa City. Also surviving is her brother, Stanley D. Papich of Bloomington, N.Y.
May she rest in peace.
Janis Aldridge Named Comm. 1st Credit Union Albia Branch Manager
Janis has worked at the credit union for four years. She has a bachelor of arts degree in business management from William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Janis lives in Lovilia with her husband Jeremy and three sons, Jeremy, Devon and Aiden.
Congratulations on the promotion and best wishes.
New Director of South Central Iowa Solid Waste Commission
Rick Hurt has moved here from Nebraska to take over duties here at the landfill. To learn more about the landfill and it’s services go to wwwsciswa.org
Mark your calendars so you will not miss this day. Oct. 18, 2014, Saturday. This will be the day for the annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day. It will be held in Albia for all Monroe County residents. Time will be announced later.
Sport Blurbs
Sydney Weldon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Doug Weldon, and granddaughter of Bill and Betty Weldon has signed a national letter of intent to play softball for Des Moines Area Communtity College. She was an all state softball player for Albia Comm. High School.
Monroe County Little League’s President this year is Mike Haywood (son of Doran and Jane Haywood of Lovilia) and umpire in chief is Kelly Romanco (son of Tom and Donna Romanco of Lovilia)
Albia Comm. High School wrestling squad made it to state tournament this year. One of the team managers was Cheyenne See, daughter of Todd See and granddaughter of Jean See.
Jer McAninch, son of Kirk and Susan and grandson of Jerry and Camilla Wynn, was on the seventh grade basketball team at Albia that had a 23-1 record. The coach was Farrington, son of Roberta Farrington of Lovilia.
Albia H. S. Boys basketball head to the state tournament. Tanner Wynn, grandson of Jerry and Camilla Wynn is a strong member of the team. Luke and Ryan Sarver, grandsons of Joe and Wanda Flahive, are both part of this winning team. Good luck at state. Also on the team is Lee Curran, grandson of Jim and Shirley Beary.
4-H News
Lisa Etcher: ag. pin and outstanding ag. records award.
Logan Hatfield: horticulture and gardening pin and outstanding award.
Valerie Beary and Joe Beary beef pins and Joe also outstanding beef record award
Valerie Beary and Lisa Etcher : clothing pin award and Valerie Beary outstanding clothing record award
Marty Beary: outstanding senior member award
Lisa Keeton: leader award. she is a leader of the Bluff Creek Progressives