James R. "Rusty" Whipple

James R. “Rusty” Whipple, 55, of LaFontaine, passed away Saturday, August 8, 2015 at Rolling Meadows Nursing Home in LaFontaine. He was born October 23, 1959, in Rushville, the son of James Robert Whipple and Phyllis (Bills) Powers. Rusty is survived by his mother and step-father, Phyllis and Gerald Powers of New Castle; father and step-mother, James Robert and Linda Whipple of Englewood, Florida; sisters, Patricia “Patti” Whipple of Indianapolis and Cindy Whipple of Wesley Chapel, North Carolina; half-sister, Jama St. John and significant other, Dudley Bryan, of Franklin, Georgia; step-brother, Gary Daniel Powers and wife, Jonna, of Shelbyville; step-sister, Mary Elizabeth Ogden of Fort Wayne; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and cousins. A gathering of friends will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. A memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with Elder Dick Webster officiating. Interment will be at East Brook Cemetery in Milroy.