BOURBON – Velorus “Hangy” Stouder, 94, Etna Green, passed away at 8:15 a.m. May 7, 2014, at Golden Years Homestead Nursing Home, Fort Wayne, with his family at his side. He was born March 1, 1920, in Nappanee, to Clarence and Bertha Metzler Stouder. On June 29, 1947, he married Lois I. Drilling, who died Dec. 8, 2001. He was a resident of the Etna Green area all of his life. He was a graduate of Etna Green High School with the class of 1938. He was owner of Stouder Grocery Store in Etna Green for many years, and he was a member of the Etna Green Church of Christ, where he served as an elder of the church. Over the years he had been a member and past president of the Etna Green Lions Club and a volunteer fireman with Etna Township Fire Department. He enjoyed playing golf, dancing the night away and even played softball on the church softball team. He also served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was a member of the Bourbon American Legion #424. Surviving are two daughters, Marcia (and spouse Gary) Oxley, Sun City, Ariz., and Norene (and spouse Kirby) Stolte, Fort Wayne; five grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; two sisters, Gloria (and spouse Bill) Stackhouse, Charlottesville, Va., and Donna Belle Blackford, Rolling Prairie; three brothers: James (and spouse Serita) Stouder, Warsaw; Dallas (and spouse Mary) Stouder, Tippecanoe; and Richard (and spouse Janet) Stouder, Etna Green. He was also preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Marion; and four brothers: Robert, Leonard, Glenn and Cecil. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Etna Green Church of Christ with Pastor Jordan Ickes officiating. Burial is in Etna Green Cemetery with military graveside services by the Bourbon American Legion. Calling is from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Deaton-Clemens Funeral Home, 115 S. Main St., Bourbon, and for one hour prior to services Saturday at the church. ***** Memorials to Golden Years Homestead, 3136 Goeglein Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46815; Heartland Home Health Care, 1315 Directors Row, Suite 120, Fort Wayne, IN 46808; or Etna Green Church of Christ, 206 W. Broadway St., Etna Green, IN 46524. Condolences may be sent via deatonclemensfh.com
