Francis U Puthoff

PUTHOFF, Francis U., age 87, of Vandalia, passed away Sunday, April 26, 2009 at his residence. He was born March 2, 1922 in St. Patrick, OH, son of the late Bernard & Bertha (Menker) Puthoff. Francis was an active, loving man who was a retired US Army Lt. Colonel, a teacher, a coach and an insurance salesman. He was a Charter Member of St. Christopher Catholic Church and the St. Christopher Rosary Group, a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Liederkranz, Eintracht, & Edelweiss German Clubs, the American Legion and the Ft. Loramie Historical Society. He was always a man of strong convictions. Dad never faltered in his faith that God would provide. He did not waver from five central themes in his life: free enterprise; catholic faith & education; his German heritage; his family and his military service, especially during WWII. He derived great pleasure from the singing & fellowship of the German Clubs to which he belonged. He was very proud of his German ancestry & spent much time researching those roots. Preceded in death by his wife, Freda A. Puthoff, 1 grandson, Marco Antonio Escalante, and 5 sisters, Norma Jean, Martha Lou & Rita Mae Puthoff, Corrine (Puthoff) Francis & Barbara (Graffam) Thieman, Francis is survived by his children, F. Craig Puthoff of Vandalia, Patricia & Antonio Escalante of Vandalia, Mary Hoffmann of Aurora, CO, Donna & Peter Kitta of Vandalia, Fred & Gayla Puthoff of Wichita, KS and Teresa & Randy Kerr of Granville, OH; his grandchildren, Robert, William & Nicholas Puthoff, Jeremy, Adriana, Elena & Alicia Escalante, Lupe Spence (Rick), Evan, Chad, Kristin, & Candace Hoffmann, Brad Kitta (Jennifer), Brandy & Brianna Kitta, Derek, Justin, Hanna, & Jenna Puthoff, Lauren, Gregory & Melissa Kerr; great-grandchildren, Naiya & Kierra Escalante, Rachael & Rebekah Spence, Chloe Morgan, Kiley Kitta, Hunter McMillion & Sydney Puthoff; 3 brothers, Melvin, Donald & Robert Puthoff; 4 sisters, Vera Woehrmyer, Mary Holthaus, Marjorie Rethman & Bonnie Turner, and his dear friend & prayer partner, Linda Shenk. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am, Thursday, April 30, 2009 at St. Christopher Catholic Church, Vandalia with Fr. Francis Keferl officiating. Burial will follow at Poplar Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Morton & Whetstone Funeral Home, 139 S. Dixie Dr., Vandalia on Wednesday from 5-8 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dayton Liederkranz Turner German Club, 1400 E. 5th St., Dayton, OH 45402. Francis loved to sing, laugh and joke. He loved the company of others and had a smile and kind word for all. Ich liebe dich. Guten nacht.