MENTONE - Richard A. Sponseller, 63, of 7455 W. CR 100N, Warsaw (rural Atwood), died at 12:43 a.m. Dec. 29, 2010, after a nine-month battle with esophageal cancer.
He was born June 19, 1947, in Warsaw, to Robert O. and Ruth M. Hawley Sponseller. On July 26, 1991, in Etna Green, he married Donna Shively Pettit, who survives.
After serving in the U.S. Army he returned home and owned a bulk milk route hauling milk into Milnot, Warsaw. He and his brother started raising ducks for Maple Leaf Farms, which continued for a span of 30 years.
He attended Etna Green Grade School and graduated from Mentone High School in 1966. He served in the U.S. Army and while stationed in Vietnam, he was wounded during a fire fight, receiving a Purple Heart. He was a longtime member of Etna Green United Methodist Church, most recently serving as chairman of the board of trustees. He served on the local Soil and Water Conservation Committee and was a Farm Bureau member.
Also surviving are three children: Kim (and spouse Eric) Waggoner, Etna Green; Chris (and spouse Travena) Pettit, Mentone; and Josh (and spouse Melissa) Pettit, LaPorte; three brothers, Steve (and spouse Jan) Sponseller and Bryan (and spouse Lisa) Sponseller, all of Atwood, and Gary (and spouse Kathy) Sponseller, Etna Green; and 10 grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Etna Green United Methodist Church with Pastor Joe Lampton officiating. Burial will be in Harrison Center Cemetery, Etna Green, with graveside military rites by members of American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, both in Warsaw.
Calling is from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday at King Memorial Home, 101 N. Tucker St., Mentone.
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Memorials may be made to the Etna Green United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 161, Etna Green, IN 46524.
Condolences may be sent via www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com
