SYRACUSE – Devon Eldon Ummel, 87, Syracuse, died of cancer Oct. 16, 2014, at his residence. He was born June 18, 1927, in Nappanee, to Edward and Edith Anglemyer Ummel. On Aug. 31, 1947, he married Fluella Rose Kelley, who preceded him in death. He moved to the local area in 1957. He was a school teacher, coach and athletic director for 33 years, retiring from Wawasee School Corp. in 1984. He was an official for Indy Car Racing and a manufacturer’s representative for racing accessories, retiring in 2003. He served his country in the Army of Occupation in Rome, Italy, during World War II. He was presented the World War II Victory Medal and Army of Occupation Medal. He coached Syracuse High School sports from 1959-1967. He maintained the Syracuse ball diamonds and athletic fields and summer youth leagues. His baseball teams were a perennial powerhouse in the area with a 73-percent winning percentage: summer league county champs four times and runner-up two times; fall league county champs four times and runner-up three times. In 1967 they won the first-ever sectional tournament. He was a member of the Syracuse Calvary United Methodist Church. He was a lifetime member of the NEA and ISTA. He also belonged to the Indy 500 Oldtimers Club. He was a member of the Beaver Dam High School Class of 1945. He graduated from Manchester College in 1951 and earned his master’s degree from Indiana University in 1955. Surviving are two sons, Dallas (and spouse Helen) and Gregory (and spouse Tamra) Ummel, all of Leesburg; two daughters, Teresa (and spouse Tim) Fields, Gales Ferry, Conn., and Linda Ummel, Bloomington; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; three sisters: Joan (and spouse Wayne) Kirkham, Greencastle; Lois (and spouse Arlo) Knouff, Larwill; and Phyllis (and spouse Eldon) Swick, Columbia City. He also was preceded in death by five brothers: Robert Ummel, New Carlisle; Herbert (and spouse Muriel) Ummel, Goshen; Richard (and spouse Jackie) Ummel, Wakarusa; Stanley (and spouse Nancy) Ummel, Angola; and Max Ummel; and one sister, Carol (and spouse Art) Hines, Fort Wayne. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Calvary United Methodist Church, 801 S. Huntington St., Syracuse. Burial is in Syracuse Cemetery. Calling is from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Eastlund Funeral Home, 7458 E. CR 1000N, Syracuse, and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Wednesday at the church. ***** Memorials to Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund, P.O. Box 1810, Warsaw, IN 46581-1810; Kosciusko Home Care and Hospice, 1515 Provident Dr, Warsaw, IN 46580; or Calvary United Methodist Church, 801 S. Huntington St, Syracuse, IN 46567.
