Elmer F. Raver, age 86 of Oldenburg, died Monday, April 11, 2016 at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. Born July 30, 1929 in Franklin County Indiana, he is the son of Eleanor (Nee: Harmeyer) and Walter Raver. He married Anna Mae Vogel April 15, 1967 at St. Joseph’s Church in North Vernon. Elmer served in the army during the Korean War and after the service came home to farm and also drove a school bus 15 years for the Batesville Schools. Elmer was a long time member of the Franklin County Farmers Mutual Company, serving as president for 20 years. He was also a long time board member of the Farmers & Merchants State Bank in Oldenburg and the Rush-Shelby County REMC, Holy Family Church, the Knights of St. John’s Commandry #220 in Oldenburg as well as a life member of both the Batesville V.F.W. Post #3183 and the Prell-Bland American Legion Post #271.
If you didn’t know Elmer, it was only because he hadn’t met you yet. He liked talking with people and would strike up a conversation with anyone he’d meet. He also loved to read. He would read the paper from front to back in addition to enjoying non-fiction. According to his family he had no use for tractors that weren’t Farmall’s or vehicles that weren’t Chrysler’s. They also indicated he had a weakness for cherry pie and could entertain you with stories from his childhood and his time in the service. Elmer was also proud to support the St. Labre Indian School in Montana and looked forward to the newsletters so he could keep up with their progress.
He is survived by his wife Anna Mae; daughters Diane Raver of Batesville, Elaine Spaulding of Indianapolis, Theresa Williams of Greensburg, Monica Livers of Oldenburg, Mary Mulcahy of Evansville, Indiana; sons Carl of Oldenburg, Joe of Batesville; sisters Mary Jane Klene of Indianapolis, Charlene Reidenbach of Brookville; twenty two grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Visitation is Thursday, April 14th, from 4 – 7 p.m. at the Weigel Funeral Home. Funeral services are 10 a.m. Friday, April 15th at Holy Family Church with Rev. David Kobak O.F.M. officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with military rites conducted by the Batesville V.F.W. and the Prell-Bland American Legion. The family requests memorials to Oldenburg Academy or the Margaret Mary Health Foundation.