Stephen J. Fights, III
June 21, 1928 - November 15, 2008

Upland: Stephen J. Fights III, 80, went to be with his Lord on Saturday, at 12:45 p.m. at the University Nursing Center, Stephen was born in Gaston, the son of the late Stephen and Bernice (Mendenhall) Fights. January of 1948 he married Johanna Neihold, in Vienna, Austria. She preceded him in death in 1951S. He then married Viola M. (Whitworth) on July 23, 1955 at the Pilgrim Holiness Church, Upland. He was a WW II veteran of the Army serving as Staff Sergeant. Stephen has been employed with the Indiana Rendering factory, Matthews, 1949 - 1969, Owens-Illinois, Gas City 1969 - 1982. He then worked for Nekoosa, Gas City 1983 - 1990 when he retired what was then called Georgia-Pacific Corp. Stephen was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene, Hartford City. He grew up in Gaston, lived in Matthews, and in 1960 moved to Upland until his death. He and his first wife had two sons, Konnie J. (Janelle) Fights, Minooka, IL, and a deceased son on Dec. 8, 2000, Palmer J. (Carron) Fights. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Viola, four daughters, Christine (Miles) Stout, University Park, IA, Rosina (Bob) Turner, Gulf Breeze, FL, Twana (John) Krauhs, Missourie City, TX, and Maggie (Larry) Richards, Jonesboro; grandchildren, Chad (Jenni) Fights, Brianne (Adam) Bussell, Derek Fights and his wife, Nicholas Fights, Ben and Luke Cunningham, Becky, Amy and Tim Krauhs, Lee and Matthew Richard; siblings, Grace (Curtis) Randolph, Gerald Fights, Darlene (John) Foster, and Kenneth (Sally) Fights. Memorials may be made to the Nazarene Missionary Society, 1407 W. Water St., Hartford City, IN 47348. Service: 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008 Jones-Smith Funeral Home Upland, Indiana Officiating: Pastor Richard Dickson Interment with Military Rites: Jefferson Cemetery Upland, Indiana Visitation: 4-8 p.m. Friday Jones-Smith Funeral Home 259 N. Main Street Upland, In 46989:

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