Dores Turner Hart

Dores Turner Hart, 91, a longtime resident of Van Wert, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, May 25, 2015, at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert following a brief illness.

She was born in Hammond, Indiana, the daughter of Toby L. and Berneice (Adkins) Turner, who both preceded her in death. She graduated as salutatorian from Hammond High School and attended Valparaiso University on a music scholarship. She was a trained vocalist and performed in Chicago in high school and at university. After raising her children, she matriculated at Defiance College, where she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English literature in 1980. She was a writer and a published poet.

During the 1960s, she was hired as a store manager at the Sears store in Van Wert, and then worked in the Accounting Department of Eaton Corporation. After her retirement, she volunteered at the Van Wert County Chapter of the American Red Cross, the TWIG groups of Van Wert County Hospital and was a longtime member of Calvary Evangelical Church in Van Wert. She also enjoyed gardening and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by six of her eight children, Linda Buchheit of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, John (Marci) Mohr of Stockton, Utah, L. Jeanne (Timothy) Crafton of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Suzi (Dr. James) McCracken of Washington Court House, Chris Welker of Van Wert and James (Rhonda) Mohr of Van Wert. She was predeceased by her daughter, Kathy Joseph, and her son, Joseph Mohr. She has 18 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 29, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory in Van Wert, with the Rev. Clark Williman officiating. Private graveside services will be held at Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert at a later date.

Calling hours are from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, May 28, at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials: Van Wert County Chapter of the American Red Cross or Calvary Evangelical Church.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.alspachgearhart.com.