Carl Calvin Karns

KARNS, Carl Calvin., age 84, of Vandalia, passed away Saturday, May 2, 2009 at Hospice of Dayton after a lengthy illness. He was born November 3, 1924 in Dayton, OH, son of the late Lorin & Lova (Klepinger) Karns. Carl was a U.S. Navy Veteran of WWII, a recipient of the Purple Heart, and was a lifelong farmer who loved the outdoors. He was a 1943 graduate of Vandalia-Butler High School, a member of Polk Grove United Church of Christ, Vandalia Sister Cities, the Vandalia Historical Society, Ducks Unlimited and American Legion Post #668. Carl is survived by his wife, Thelma (Arwine); 2 children, Larry & wife, Linda Karns and Connie Stephens Karns, both of Vandalia; grandchildren, Jonathan Stephens and Christopher & Kristy Stephens, all of Dayton; great-grandchildren, Stone Mihal of Maineville, OH, Sterling Adams of Statesville, NC and Ava Stephens of Dayton; 2 sisters, Joan B. Galloway of Vandalia & Dara J. Taylor of Brookville and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am, Wednesday, May 6 at the Polk Grove United Church of Christ, 9190 Frederick Pike, with Rev. John Fowler officiating. Burial will follow at Poplar Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Morton & Whetstone Funeral Home, 139 S. Dixie Dr., Vandalia on Tuesday evening from 4-8 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Vandalia-Butler Foundation or Hospice of Dayton in Carls memory.