Obituaries

Betty Jane Hofacker, 96, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 25, 2024 at the Country Inn Assisted Living Center in Latty Oh. Betty was born on March 14, 1928 on her parent’s farm in Grover Hill Ohio where she grew up. She is the daughter of the Late Nathan Ringger & Alma Wittmer Ringger. Betty went to the Jackson Township one room school house where she would walk about 2 miles from the farm where she lived until she started high school and graduated from Paulding High School in 1946. Her first job out of school was working as a waitress at Balyeat’s restaurant in Van Wert Ohio in 1947 and Grizzlys in Paulding in 1948. In those days Roller Skating was a popular way to socialize in the community and that is where she met Charles Junior Hofacker of Broughton Ohio, at the Fort Brown Roller Skating Rink. On June 25th 1949 Betty married Charles and they started their family of four children, Mary, Gene, Denny & Ron. They lived in Paulding Ohio on Sugar Street until 1954 when they bought a 40-acre farm but the house burned down in 1956 so in 1957 they bought and moved to their 80-acre farm in northeast Paulding County where they raised their family and resided there for 56 years before she moved to the Country Inn Assisted Living at Latty Ohio in 2013. Thank you to the Country Inn Staff, where she received compassionate and loving care. Betty was a very loving mother staying home most of the time to raise and teach her children how to love one another and teach them the ways of God and Biblical principles for this life and the next. In 1956 Betty and Charles both made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ to be their Savior and Lord. After her children were older, Betty did work part time selling Rawleigh Products from her home, working for Stokley Tomato Factory in Paulding and as a Nurses Aid at a Nursing Home in Defiance. They were members of The Rose Hill Church of God in rural Paulding County since 1956 and were very active ministering

Regina Rene (Goings) Herzig went to be with the Lord on August 23rd, 2024. She was born on May 22, 1972, in Paulding, Ohio to Stanley and Viola (Copeland) Goings.She came into this world with her eyes wide open reaching for the sky.

Robert E. Schaffer, 74, of Cecil, Ohio, passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2024 at Vancrest of Van Wert. He was born on December 30, 1949 to Donald and Margaret (Miller) Schaffer in Defiance, Ohio. On February 26, 1972 he married Pamela Rath who preceded him in death on May 30, 1996. Bob worked at General Motors for several years until his retirement in 2010. He loved racing, playing pool, archery, woodworking and fishing. He enjoyed spending time with family. Robert is survived by his son, Gary (Krystal) Schaffer of Cecil, three grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.

PAULDING, OH: Darwin B. Riley, age 86, passed away on Friday, August 16, 2024 at Parkview Hospital Randallia, Fort Wayne, IN. Darwin was born on June 15, 1938 in Paulding, OH to the late Orville and Valera (Vance) Riley. On September 23, 1961 he married Ursula Goble, who survives. Darwin worked as a self-employed farmer until his retirement in 2018. He was a member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Darwin’s favorite pastimes were horseback riding, farming, and watching all of his grandchildren’s sporting events. Along with his loving wife, Ursula, Darwin is survived by his children: Terry (Stacey) Riley, Paulding, OH; Ryan Riley, Cincinnati, OH; Melinda Riley, Paulding, OH; grandchildren: Jarod Riley, Justin (Courtney) Riley, Dylan Welch, Morgan Riley, Brandon Riley, Leah Riley, Carly Riley; great grandchildren: Cody Riley, Vivienne and Valerie Riley. Darwin is also preceded in death by his daughter, Renee Riley; sisters, Karen Schwab and Marlene Stoller. Funeral service will be at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, August 31, 2024 at the church at St. Paul Cemetery. Burial will follow in St. Paul Cemetery, Paulding Township. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. on Friday, August 30, 2024 at Den Herder Funeral Home. There will also be visitation from 9:00 A.M. until time of services on Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Darwin’s memory to the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) or the Paulding Veteran’s Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be shared at www. denherderfh.com.

VAN WERT, OH: Elizabeth A. “Beth” Smith, age 30, passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at OSU Medical Center, Columbus, OH. Beth was born on November 22, 1993 in Paulding, OH to Paul Smith and Jennifer Luce. She was a waitress at various restaurants. Beth attended Grace Bible Church in Van Wert. She loved music and writing poetry. Beth is survived by her father, Paul (Patty Camposano) Smith, Paulding, OH; mother, Jennifer Luce, Paulding, OH; significant other, Jordan Ricker, Van Wert, OH; children: Xavier Brown, Keanu Ricker, and Zeplynn Ricker, all of Van Wert, OH; sisters: Kim (Tripp) Donegan, Van Wert, OH; Jocelyn Camposano, Toledo, OH; Kirslynn Camposano, Paulding, OH; paternal grandmother, Gwen Wheeler, Latty, OH; maternal grandparents, Lenny (Kathy) Luce, Berne, IN.

PAULDING, OH: Harry F. Gray, age 85, passed away on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at his home in Paulding. Harry was born on November 10, 1938 in Latty, OH to the late Clifford, Sr. and Mae (Leffler) Gray. On November 30, 1957 he married Donna Smith, who preceded him in death in 2015. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army Reserves. Harry retired from Zachrich Trucking as a mechanic. He also worked for Stollers Honey, France Stone Co., Defiance Trucking, and Conrad Trucking. He also baled hay. Harry served with the Paulding Fire Department from 1972-2013. He was a member of the Paulding Nazarene Church. Harry is survived by his son, Michael (Regina) Gray, Latty, OH; daughters: Debora Williamson, Paulding, OH; Dianna (Randall) Cotton, LaGrange, GA; brother, Clifford Gray, Jr., Paulding, OH; sister,

PAULDING, OH: William E. “Bill” Reichard, age 75, passed away on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at Vancrest of Payne, Payne, OH. Bill was born on September 15, 1948 in Fort Wayne, IN to the late Loren and Dorothy (Ritter) Reichard. On December 11, 1983 he married Brenda Lee, who survives. Bill worked as an electrician for 44 years at B.F. Goodrich in Woodburn, IN before his retirement in 2014. For many years, he helped with Youth for Christ. He attended Trinity Friends Church in Van Wert. Bill loved Nascar, football, watching movies, music, eating out, and traveling. Along with his loving wife, Brenda, Bill is survived by his brother, Dennis Reichard, Warren, IN; sister, Alice Reichard, Muncie, IN; two nephews, Aron and Khalid Reichard. Funeral service wasat 12:00 P.M. on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at Den Herder Funeral Home. Private burial will be held at the convenience of the family at St. Paul Cemetery, Paulding Township. Visitation was from 10:00 A.M. until time of services on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made in Bill’s memory to the American Heart Association, Prostate Cancer Foundation, or Gideon’s International. Online condolences may be shared at www. denherderfh.com.