La Freda Engle

La Freda M. Engle, 87, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, passed away Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at Heartland of Bellefontaine. She was born July 21, 1924 in Campaign County Ohio, to the late William Lee and Mary Lorena (Taylor) Smith.

In February 1965 her first husband, Robert Yates Topping, preceded her in death. On December 23, 1966, she married Edwin Earle Engle and he preceded her in death November 5, 1999. She was also preceded in death by her siblings, Arthur Lee Smith and Mildred Norton and a stepson, David Engle.

Surviving are her children, William (Karen) Topping, Peggy (David) Ackerman Jr., both of Bellefontaine, and Helen (Harold) Stover of Phoenix, Arizona; step-children, Dean (Sandra) Engle of Springfield, Ohio and Karen McNelly of St. Mary’s, Ohio; 10 grandchildren, several step-grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren and many great-great grandchildren.

La Freda worked for Don’s Hamburger and then for Westinghouse. She was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Bellefontaine, and a former member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post #173. She was also Past President for the Eagles Auxiliary #2166 and a lifetime member and Past President of the V.F.W. #1080.

Pastor Jonathan D. Bull will officiate the 11:00 A.M. funeral service Friday, January 6, 2012 at the Eichholtz Funeral Home in Bellefontaine, where calling hours are from 4 to 7 P.M. Thursday, January 5, 2012 and one hour prior to the service on Friday. Interment will be in the Greenwood-Union Cemetery at a later date.

The family has asked that memorial contributions be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.