Jerry F. Spoon

Jerry F. Spoon, 86, of Van Wert, died at 12:10 p.m. Tuesday, August 12, 2014, at the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

He was born July 27, 1928, in Kirby, the son of the late Raymond W. and Marie Elizabeth (Kurtz) Spoon. On December 27, 1946, at First United Methodist Church in Van Wert, he married Helen Maxine (Bolinger) Spoon, who preceded him in death on December 4, 2012.

Survivors include a daughter, Linda D. (Wayne) Knodel Taylor of Van Wert; three grandchildren, Ryan (Julie) Knodel of Lima, Heidi (Rich) Arney of Van Wert and Justin “JJ” Knodel of Asheville, North Carolina; and two great-grandchildren, Alexa Knodel and Alaina Arney.

Four brothers, Robert J., Raymond V., Carl R., and David R. Spoon; a half-brother, Arthur Albert; and one sister, Virginia Craven, also preceded him in death.

Mr. Spoon had owned and operated the Bon-Ton in Van Wert, then owned and operated with his wife, the Goodyear Shoe Store in St. Marys from 1953-1995, when they retired and moved back to Van Wert.

He was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Van Wert and formerly belonged to Zion Lutheran Church of St. Marys. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran and also belonged to American Legion Post 178 in Van Wert.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 16, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Van Wert, with the Rev. Will Haggis officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert, with graveside military honors performed by the combined honor guard of Legion Post 178 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803, both in Van Wert.

Calling hours are from 4-8 p.m. Friday, August 15, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, and an hour prior to services Saturday at the church.

Preferred memorials: St. Mark’s Lutheran Church or the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center.