Ellyn “Darlene” Stewart
Ellyn “Darlene” Stewart, 85, Kokomo, IN, passed away on December 18, 2024. She was born on January 23, 1939, in Tipton to the late Ralph Pheanis and Evelyn (Bolton) Johnston. She married the late Richard “Dick” Stewart on May 22, 1960, at the West St. Christian Church in Tipton.
Darlene was born in Tipton and attended Tipton High School where she was active in music and singing. As a teen, after school she enjoyed working in the ticket booth at the Diana Theater. After high school, Darlene remained very active in music, singing in Tipton’s West Street Christian Church’s choir, as well as the choirs at Southside Christian Church and Shiloh United Methodist in Kokomo. Darlene was often invited to perform solos or duets with her husband Richard at church, and she always looked forward to performing in Christmas cantatas each year. She also loved to perform in civic theater and appeared in many musicals at IUK’s Havens Auditorium.
Darlene is survived by her two children, Brian Stewart and Lynne (Stewart) Arnold; and three grandchildren, Cameron Stewart, Megan Arnold, and Addison Stewart. She was preceded in death by twin daughters, Jennifer and Julie Stewart; her parents, Ralph Pheanis and Evelyn Johnston, and her husband Richard.
Per Darlene’s wishes a graveside service for immediate family only will be held at the time of her burial at Fairview Cemetery in Tipton. Young-Nichols Funeral Home is assisting the Stewart with local arrangements. Condolences for Darlene’s family may be left on her obituary page at www.young-nichols.com.
Gregory S. Thoman
Gregory S. Thoman, 69, Kokomo, passed away at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at Ascension St. Vincent, Kokomo. He was born July 8, 1955, in Frankfort, IN, and he was adopted in 1961 by John Edward and Fern (Helm) Thoman.
Gregory graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business. After college, he served in the United States Marine Corps.
He is survived by his brother, Jeff (Amy) Thoman; sister, Kimberly Zook; former wife and close friend, Susie Rosen; nephews, Chris Thoman and Corey Thoman; nieces April Thoman, Shannon Zook, and Cinnamon Zook; as well as several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
In keeping with Gregory’s wishes, he will be cremated with no services planned. Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family with cremation. Messages of condolence may be left at www.shirleyandstout.com.
Thomas “Tom” Adam Paul III
Thomas “Tom” Adam Paul III, 59, of Kokomo, passed away 4:15 a.m. Monday, December 16, 2024, at Aperion Care in Kokomo. He was born in Peru, IN, on December 17, 1964, the son of the late Thomas Earl Paul Jr. and Miami (Johnson) Matteson.
Tom was a graduate of Southwood Junior-Senior High School. He was a tow truck driver and owned a mowing and construction company. He was known as a jack of all trades. He was very handy and was skilled in repairing things or putting them back together. He loved building cars and drag racing cars. He was the king of telling tall tales.
He is survived by his children, Thomas Allen Paul IV (Shelynn), Zach Paul (Erin), Adam Paul; siblings, Eric Paul, Robyn (Nick) Lester; grandchildren, Breanna Lawson, James (Kira) Taylor, Sabrina Taylor, Olivia Taylor, Crystal Snow, Gracelynn Paul; great-grandchildren, Lily Taylor, Corbin Taylor; and a few nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Chris (Melissa) Paul; and a large extended family.
There are no public services scheduled at this time. Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with cremation.
Norman Marshall Peck
Norman Marshall Peck, 71, passed away at 11:20 PM on Monday, December 9, 2024, at Waterford Place in Kokomo, Indiana, eight weeks after suffering a massive stroke. He was born in Fort Pierce, Florida, on September 29, 1953, to the late William and Vivian Peck. He graduated from Sir Francis Drake High School in San Anselmo, California, in 1972, and from Humboldt State University with a B.S. in Forestry in 1986. He married Rita Samols in 1980.
His family moved quite a bit during his early years, and ended up in Marin County, California. Though Norman spent most of the rest of his life in Northern California, he called himself a “cracker,” a native Floridian.
Norman loved his work as a forester and was happiest in his element, the untamed forests of Northern California. In his free time, he backpacked in those forests, sharing many a backpacking adventure with Rita.
Another passion was history. He built an extraordinary library of books on history, especially American history, and political thought. He studied the Founding Fathers and the American Constitution and knew the Constitution well.
He didn’t only read the books; he thought and wrote about what he had read. He may not have looked like an intellectual, especially in his younger years, but he had an extremely sharp, inquisitive mind that grasped complicated concepts. He was an original thinker, definitely followed his own drummer, and enjoyed being an iconoclast.
Norman loved his many kitties over the years, and he greatly enjoyed gardening; of course he grew okra, a Southern staple and his own favorite vegetable.
He also was an avid cyclist. In the photo above, taken somewhere along the Pacific coast in Northern California, he is wearing one of his favorite bicycle jerseys. He was hiking that day, but he often bicycled the Pacific Coast Highway.
His friends knew him for his quirky, often sarcastic, sense of humor, which greatly entertained Rita during their 44 years together. He kept a long list of peculiar words that he hoped to incorporate into a novel about “Mumblin’ Joe Dupré.” Would that he had written that book; it probably would have been hilarious.
His humor transferred into action. Rita will never forget the time he and his friend Michael decided to “ski” the Arcata mudflats, with a predictable outcome (inches of mud accumulated on the bottom of his skis and his friend’s snowshoes, completely bogging them down). Rita never laughed harder than she did that day.
Norman's father and mother, William and Vivian Peck, and his brother Stephen preceded Norman in death. He is survived by his wife, Rita, who will miss him every day; his brother Victor and Victor's wife, Sharon; his sister, Susan; his uncle Victor Johnson; and his aunt Ginger Peck.
In keeping with Norman’s wishes no public services will be held at this time. Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with cremation. Readers are encouraged to visit Norman’s tribute wall at https://www.shirleyandstout.com/obituary/Norman-Peck