The Worthington Times

Ralph P. Mason of Linton, Indiana, passed away late Friday afternoon, June 29, 2007 in Worthington. He was 54 years old, born in Greene County, Indiana, on September 14, 1952, the son of Roy W. and Berneta (Wright) Mason.

He worked as a laborer.

Survivors include a sister, Mary (Mason) Johnson of Vincennes.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Roy Mason; and one sister, Beverly Folsum.

There will be no funeral services and cremation is scheduled.  Anderson-Poindexter Memory Chapel in Linton is in charge of arrangements.

Robert B. Gouckenour of Terre Haute, Indiana died at Wednesday morning, June 20, 2007, in Union Hospital. He was 85 years old, born April 15, 1922, in Coalmont, the son of Fred Gouckenour and Helen McGrew.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a gunner’s mate aboard a PT boat in the Southwest Pacific. His squadron was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for outstanding performance against the Japanese during the Union Peninsula Campaign from October 1943 to March 1944.

He retired as an engineer with Conrail Railroad, after 43 years of service. He attended Bible Baptist Church and was a member of Senior Seekers Bible Study.  He was a member of the American Rifle Association, loved animals and gardening.

Survivors include two brothers, Frederick Gouckenour and wife Mary Lou of Linton, formerly of Worthington, and John “Mac” Gouckenour of Jasonville; nephew, Tony Gouckenour and wife Marilyn of Worthington; several other nieces and nephews; and his best friend, Kathryn Muench of Terre Haute.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Lane Gouckenour; his parents; and one sister, Thelma Morgan.

A funeral service was conducted at Mattox-Ryan Funeral Home in Terre Haute with Pastor Tony Gouckenour officiating. The place of burial was K of P Cemetery in Hymera.

Rev. Donald H. Lincicome of Bloomington, Indiana, passed away Monday evening, June 18, 2007 at Bloomington Hospital.  He was 73 years old, born June 30, 1933 in Monroe County, the son of Leonard and Dorothy (Scott) Lincicome.

Over the years Rev. Lincicome pastored to several churches in the area, with a long term of service as the beloved pastor of the First Baptist Church in Worthington, Indiana.  He was currently serving as an assistant pastor at the Dolan New Prospect Baptist Church.

Rev. Lincicome and his wife of 55 years, Carolyn, presented a music ministry at many churches and they also performed with the Happy Valley - Jack Noel Show on radio, television and county fairs.

Rev. Lincicome had also retired in 1981 from Detroit Diesel Allison Division of General Motors in Indianapolis after 30 years of service.

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Jean (Polley) Lincicome; one daughter, Vicki Jean Hale St. Clair of Worthington; one son, David D. Lincicome of Merrillville; two sisters, Rosemary (Harley) Skirvin of Unionville and Norma (Don) McClary of Unionville; one brother, Eugene (Beatrice) Lincicome of Bloomington; one grandson, Shannon (Lynette) Hale of Worthington; seven great-grandchildren, Xavier, Jackson, Gabriel, Trent, Cole, Skyler and Brooke; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Daniel Lee Lincicome.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 22 at Day Funeral Home with Rev. Shannon Benham officiating, assisted by Rev. Jim Moore and Rev. Roger Helton.  Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 1:00 until 8:00 p.m. and on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service.  The place of burial will be Mt. Gilead Cemetery.

Charles and Hazel Loffland, formerly of Worthington, have both passed away.

Hazel Lee Loffland died on Saturday, March 17, 2007, in Visalia, California. She was 97 years old, born June 14, 1909, in Angora, Arkansas.

Charles Loffland died on Friday, June 8, 2007, in Visalia, California, less than three months after Hazel. He was 99 years old, born May 19, 1908 in Worthington, Indiana.

They were both raised in Worthington and educated at Worthington High School. They were high school sweethearts who married on December 24, 1927 and spent 79 years together before Hazel's death.

They arrived in California in 1937, settling in Tulare County where they raised their family. Hazel was a homemaker and was employed at the Tulare County Clerk's Office for 18 years, retiring in 1972. Charles worked for Southern California Edison Company for 35 years.

Survivors include children Janet Moffett and her husband, Hugh, of Fresno, California, Rita Cooley and her husband, Bill, of Hanford, California, and Charles (Chuck) Loffland and his wife, Donna, of Porterville, California; nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations may be made to Disciples of Christ-Visalia, P.O. Box 7808, Visalia, CA 93290. Arrangements were by Miller Memorial Chapel in Visalia, California.

Jane Love, formerly of Worthington, Indiana, passed away Friday evening, June 8, 2007 at Washington Adventist Hospital in Maryland.

Jane was born Juanita Hemphill in 1915 in Marion, Illinois. According to her life story posted online, she would tell her friends that she lived with her grandparents, as she was ashamed of her parents’ dirt floor shack.

She left home at 17 to join the marathon dances and after working with Red Skelton and Red Buttons developing comedy acts, she married her dancing partner Frankie Wegner on stage in Santa Barbara. They settled in Chicago, where Frankie became a truck driver, and Jane became a manicurist. But when Frankie sold the furniture to pay gambling debts, she left him.

She soon met Earl Love, a returned WW II veteran and artist who worked at the opulent Gunn’s Beauty Salon in Hyde Park. Their marriage lasted nearly 50 years.

In the 1970s they moved to Brown County and joined the art colony there while their son Douglas was attending Indiana University nearby. Jane became proficient in Tole Painting, and supported herself by teaching from her studio in Worthington. After Earl died, Jane moved to Greenbelt, Maryland with her son, Doug.

A memorial service was being planned at the Atholton Seventh Day Adventist Church in Columbia, Maryland, with readings from her memoirs. An art sale is also planned, to share her collection with her friends. She has donated her body to the University of Maryland Medical School in Baltimore.

Stories about her life in and near Worthington are included in a memoir on a Greenbelt, Maryland website - Click here to go there.