Donavon Earl Overmyer

Donavan Earl Overmyer was born on a farm in Starke County in 1924 where his parents and sister had moved after living on the Menser property in Marshall County.

When Donavon was about two years old the family moved to the Russell Heiser farm outside Burr Oak, living there until Donavan as nine years old. In 1933 the family moved into a house built by his fath er on farm land previously purchased west of Burr Oak. Donavon helped haul the lumber for the home by horse and wagon. He grew up on the farm wi th his sister, Margaret and his younger brother, William, and attended Culver Community Schools. His father Dewey, a farmer, is the son of Albert Frank and Della Osborn Overmyer of Starke County. Donavon's mother Mabel, deceased was the daughter of Claude and Bessie Mills, of Camden. Dewey still lives on the family farm.

In 1948 Donavon married Julia McKee of Culver. At the time Donavon was working for Osborn Seed Company of Burr Oak, and Julia worked at the Culver Military Academy, later working for the Culver Citizen. In 1954 they purchased their home at 303 White Street in Culver where they still reside.

Donavon worked in several jobs including hauling sand for Burns Gravel Company, running a trash route, driving a school bus for eight years and working for the town of Culver for several years before deciding to return to farming with his father. After farming for 26 years he sold out and worked at Easterday Construction in Culver for two years before becoming street superintendent for the town of Culver in 1981. He is also fire chief of the Culver Union Township Fire Department, assuming the position in 1973.

His wife, Julia, was born in Fulton County in 1929 and moved to Culver so on after into a house on Davis Street. Her father, a plumber was Courtland Vern McKee, son of James A. and Sarah M. McKee of Leiter's Ford. Her mother was Trula Mae Griffith, daughter of Moses and Alice Griffith of Peru. Her father was a widower with four children; Mary, Annabelle, Harold and Garold, when he met and married her divorced mother, Trula Mae Griffith Nye, with two children, Rosemary (Nye) Cuomo and William Nye. To this marriage was born five children: Betty (McKee) Thomas and Don, Ethel Buchanon. Julia and Vern, Julia's parents, Harold and William are deceased.

Donavon and Julia have five sons: Cortland Vern, married to Carol Hornish of Defiance, Ohio, and live in Michigan; Thomas Earl of Culver, Ned Mills, married to Barbara Halterman of Rochester, and living in Rochester; Brian A., of Culver; and Bret J., twin to Brian, married Catherine Russell of Carmel and living in Westfield.

Their grandchildren are Allisa and Evan (sic Ryan) of Michigan, Joshua of Rochester, and Natalie and Samantha of Westfield. Overmyer - History of Marshall County Indiana Sesquicentennial 1836 - - - 1986. Page 336 Donavan Overmyer Familiy

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Don Overmyer New Chief Donovan Overmyer, life-long Culver resident, has bee elected Chief of the Culver-Union Fire Department, following the resignation of David, Burns. Overmyer, a twenty year veteran of the volunteer fire force, was elected by his fellow fireman early this month. Prior to his appointment as Chief, Mr. Overmyer helf the post of Assistant Chief for over 5 years. The Culver-Union Township Fire Department presently cinsists of thirteen men in addition to the Chief, and five vechiles. DOn Overmyer owns a farm near Culver, and resides there with his wife, Julia, and three of their five children. Another son lives in town, and one is serving in the armed forces. 2 AUg 1973 Citizen

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Donavan Earl Overmyer BIRTH 16 Jun 1924 Culver, Marshall County, Indiana DEATH 2 Feb 1993 South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana, BURIAL Masonic Cemetery Culver, Marshall County, Indiana son of Dewey Overmyer and Mabel D Mills

Donavon E. OVERMYER, 68, of 303 White St., Culver, died at 11:08 a.m. Tuesday in the St. Joseph Medical Center, South Bend.

He was born in Culver to Dewey and Mabel Mills Overmyer and was a lifetime resident of Culver.

He was married Oct. 1, 1948 in Culver to Julia McKEE, who survives.

He was a retired superintendent of the town's street department, a 34-year member of the Culver-Union Township Fire Department of which he was chief for 14 years, a member of the Burr Oak Church of God, and attended the Culver Grace United Church of Christ.

Surviving with the wife are five sons, Courtland, Battle Creek, Mich.; Thomas, Culver; Ned , Rochester; Brett , Arcadia, and Brian, Argos; nine grandechildren, and a brother, William L. Overmyer. A sister, Margaret Feece, preceded in death.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Culver Grace United Church of Christ with Donald WAGNER officiating.

Burial will be in the Culver Masonic Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2-9 p.m. Thursday at Bonine Funeral Home, Culver.

Memorials may be made to the Donavon E. Overmyer Memorial Fund.

married Oct 1 1948 married Julia McKee BIRTH 11 Jul 1929 Culver, Marshall County, Indiana DEATH 22 Jun 2008 Culver, Marshall County, Indiana BURIAL Masonic Cemetery Culver, Marshall County, Indiana daughter of Courtland Vern McKee and Trula Mae Griffith

Julia McKee Overmyer, 78, of Culver, passed away at 3:45PM on June 22, 2008 at Miller's Merry Manor, Culver. Julia was born on July 11, 1929 to Cortland V. and Trula M. (Griffith) McKee. She was married to Donavon Overmyer. He preceded her in death on Feb. 2, 1993. She was a member of the Maxinkuckee Rebeccah Lodge and Grace United Church of Christ. She enjoyed refinishing furniture and knitting comforters. She was once asked to audition for the South Bend Blue Sox. Julia is survived by her loving sons: Cortland "Corky" (Carol) Overmyer of Dorr, MI, Thomas (Diana) Overmyer of Culver, IN, Ned (Barbara) Overmyer of Rochester, IN, Brett (Lisa) Overmyer of Cicero, IN, and Brian (Jodie) Overmyer of Argos, IN; brothers: Vern McKee of Culver and Don McKee of Nappanee, IN; sisters: Mary Powers of Culver and Sadie Fisher of Bremen, IN; 12 g randchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers - Bill Nye, Harold McKee, and Gerald McKee; and sisters - Rosemary Cuomo, Ethel Buchanan, and Betty Thomas.

Donavon Earl Overmyer and Julia Mckee have five sons: 1 Cortland Vern "Corky" Ovemyer
2 Thomas Earl Overmyer
3 Ned Mills Overmyer
4 Brian A.Overmyer
5 Bret J. Overmyer


1 Cortland Vern "Corky" Ovemyer married Carol Hornish of Defiance, Ohio daughter of Richard Hornish and Alba Obenour, live in Door, Michigan

Alissa Overmeyer of Michigan
Ryan Overmeyer of Michigan

2 Thomas Earl Ovemyer of Culver, married Culver, Marshall, Indiana Mary Jane Bach Birth: Illinois daughter of Edwin Louis Bach & Barbara Child, they divorced.

Andrew Ovemyer of Culver

married Diana Cole of Knox, Indiana; they live in Culver, Indiana

Chad Lockridge of Plymouth

3 Ned Mills Ovemyer married Barbara Kay Halterman of Rochester,Indiana; they live in Rochester, Indiana

Joshua Overmyer of Rochester, IN,
Cory Overmyer of North Carolina,
Lindsey Overmeyr of Michigan

4 Brian A. Ovemyer (twin to Brett) married Jodi Hartle of Argos daughter of James Hartle and Jane Ditmire; they live in Argos, Indiana

Braden Overmeyer of Argos, Indiana
Brianna Overmeyer of Argos, Indiana

5 Brett J. Ovemyer (twin to Brian) married Catherine Lynne Russell of Carmel

Natalie Overmyer of Westfield,
Samantha Overmyer of Kentucky

married 2) Lisa Lynn Gochenour of Argos , Indiana daughter of Brent A Gochenour and Linda Kay Gibbons they live in Rochester, Indiana

Mitchell Ovemyer of Ft. Wayne, IN,
Baylee (Bailey) Overmyer of Rochester