The Elkhart Truth Wednesday, May 27, 1981

Topekan Crash Victim
A Topeka man was killed Tuesday when he was involved in a two-car crash at Indiana 5 and C.R. 200 South in Lagrange County.
Merle Swihart, 65, Topeka Route 2, died in route to Lagrange County Hospital as a result of internal injuries suffered in the crash which took place about 7:30 a.m., according to Indiana State police.
Police said Swihart was driving west on CR 200 South, and after stopping his car for a stop sign at Indiana 5, pulled the vehicle into the path of a car driven by Clement Meyer, 65, Decatur.
Meyer was not injured.
Swihart was born September 7, 1915, in Goshen and had lived near Topeka 34 years, coming from Goshen. He was married September 12, 1936, to Marjorie Dunithan, who survives with a daughter, Mrs. Berton (Barbara) Smith, Emmatown; two sons, Noble J., Milford, and Thomas D., Goshen; two foster sons, Larson Costello, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Elias Costello, at home; 14 grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Also surviving are five sisters, Mrs. Wilbur (Edith) Cripe, Hemet, California, Mrs. Owen (Esther) Heeter and Mrs. Harry (Clara) Gunderman, both of Goshen, Mrs. Vail (Ruth). Hazen, DeLand, Florida, Mrs. Merle (Ruby) Kendall, New Paris; three brothers, Floyd, Goshen, Noble, Montrose, Colorado and Donald, Glendora California. A brother, Carl, died in 1966.
Friends may call from 7 to 9 tonight, and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen, where services will be at 10 a.m. Friday. Elders Edward Johnson, Wauseon, Ohio, and Harley Flora, Bryan, Ohio, will officiate. Burial will be in West Goshen Cemetery. He was a member of the Goshen Dunkard Church.
Memorials may be made to the Torreon Navajo Indians, Cuba, New Mexico.