Mary V. Pothast Deffenbaugh

Former local business woman dies.

Former co-owner of Tri-County, Plumbing, Heating, Hardware, Delphos, died at 6:20 a.m., Saturday, June 16, 2012, at Van Crest of Delphos. She was born August 15, 1918, in Delphos, to Patrick and Frances (Hemker) Hickey, who preceded her in death. She married Firmin B. Pothast, May 1, 1943, who preceded her in death, June 12, 1966. She married A. James Deffenbaugh May 29, 1972, who preceded her in death December 14, 2005. She was preceded in death by siblings: Cyril Hickey, Cletus Hickey, Agnes Kimmet, Margaret Kimmet Benson, and Gerald Hickey. She was also preceded in death by a step-daughter-in-law, Elaine Deffenbaugh.

Survivors include three children and three stepchildren, Lola (Neal) Youngpeter, San Tan Valley, AZ, Millie (Roger) Berger, Findlay, Ohio, Philip (Maryanne) Pothast, Fishers, IN, James T. Deffenbaugh, Newport News, VA., Leann (Tom) Bowers, Niles, MI, and Rev. Joseph P. Deffenbaugh, Pensacola, Fl. She is survived by a sister, Helen Pothast, Delphos, sisters-in-law, Mildred Rayman, Cloverdale, Ohio, Sister Mary Emma Pothast, Tiffin, Ohio, Beverly Hickey, Delphos, and A. Jane Beckman, Delphos, and brothers-in-law, Charles Niedecken and Tom (Mary Ellen) Deffenbaugh, both of Delphos. She has 16 grandchildren, Jamey (Kate) Bowers of Arlington, VA, Lori (David) Youngpeter Wendt of Avon, Ohio, Rene Youngpeter Mueller, Delphos, Joel (Kate) Bowers of Mishawaka, IN, Angie (Matt) Youngpeter Marqueling of Gilbert, AZ, Amy (Scott) Youngpeter Geier of Lima, OH, Kristy Youngpeter of Colorado Springs, CO, Michelle (Joe) Pothast Hunt of Brunswick Hill, OH, Nicholas (Nicole) Berger of Phoenix, AZ, Anthony (Kim) Bowers of Chicago, IL., Andrew Pothast of Canton, MI, Kara (Paul) Bowers Engles of South Bend, IN, Maria (James) Deffenbaugh Burdan of Spotsylvania, VA, Lisa (Vinh) Deffenbaugh Nguyen of Fairfax, VA, Lindsey Pothast of Panama, and Emily (David) Deffenbaugh Hewitt of Huntsville, AL. She also has 15 great-grandchildren: Charlie and Jack Wendt, Brooklyn, Lincoln, Evelyn and Carolyn Mueller, Stephen and Katie Marqueling, Nicholas, Lindsay, TJ, Ethan, and Norah Bowers, and Grace and Liliana Burdan. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Mary began her career engraving and stenciling for Birkmeier Monuments, Delphos. In addition to her work with Tri-County Hardware, she also worked as a bookkeeper for Rental Mart in Lima, Ohio, and Shuman Pharmacy in Canton, Ohio. She loved growing flowers, and had a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Rosary. She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Delphos.

Mass of Resurrection will begin at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, at St. John the Evangelist Church in Delphos, with Fr. Jacob Gordon officiating. Burial will follow in St. John Cemetery.

Visitation will be 4-8 p.m., Monday, at Siferd-Orians Funeral Home, 506 N. Cable Road, Lima, where a Parish Wake service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will also be on Tuesday, from 10-11 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Rita’s Hospice.