Honestly, finding a specific notice in The Lima News lima ohio obituary section shouldn't feel like a part-time job. But if you’ve ever tried to hunt down a cousin's service details or trace a great-grandfather's life story through the archives, you know it gets complicated. Fast.
The Lima News has been the heartbeat of Allen County since 1926. It's where the community goes to say goodbye. But between the digital paywalls, the Legacy.com integrations, and the microfilm at the library, it’s easy to get lost.
Whether you're looking for someone who passed away this morning or eighty years ago, here is how you actually find what you're looking for without losing your mind.
Where the Obituaries Actually Live Online
Most people start by Googling a name. That's fine. But if you want the most accurate, up-to-date listings, you basically have three main hubs.
First, there is the official LimaOhio.com website. They have a dedicated obituary tab. It’s clean, it’s updated daily, and it’s the direct source. However, they often partner with Legacy.com.
If you go the Legacy route, you’ll find the "Obituaries of the Week." It’s a bit more social. You can see how many "memories" have been shared—like Sharon DePalma having 12 memories or Steven Fought having 11. It’s a nice way to see the community impact, not just a wall of text.
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The Library Secret (It's Free)
If you are hit with a paywall or can't find an older record, the Lima Public Library is your best friend. Seriously. They maintain an index of every obituary that appeared in The Lima News from 1933 to right now.
You can email them at ref@limalibrary.com. If you have the full name and a rough date, they’ll check for you. They allow up to five requests for free. If you’re a local and walk in, copies are only 20 cents. Or just bring a flash drive and save it for free.
Recent Passings in January 2026
Life moves fast in Lima. Just this week, we've seen notices for several long-time residents.
- Betty Jean Rager, 96, passed on January 13. She was a Gomer High grad from way back in '46.
- Robert L. Day Jr. of Cridersville passed the same day at 83.
- Ben Floyd Reeder, a Lima Senior High alum, passed at 62 on January 10.
- Rebecca Keith, 69, who loved "playing in the dirt" in her garden, passed at Lima Memorial on January 7.
These aren't just names. They are the people who worked at Elida Road Hardware, served in the National Guard, or spent decades at Peterson Construction. Seeing these names in the The Lima News lima ohio obituary section is how we keep the local history alive.
How to Submit an Obituary (and What it Costs)
If you're on the other side of things—the one writing the notice—it can be stressful. You're grieving and suddenly you're an editor.
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The Lima News starts their obituary pricing at roughly $39 via the Legacy platform. But here’s the catch: that's the base. If you want a photo (and you usually do), or if the life story is particularly long, the price climbs.
Quick Submission Tips:
- Deadlines: They usually need everything by mid-afternoon for the next day's print.
- Verification: They won't just take your word for it. They’ll need the name and phone number of the funeral home or crematory to verify the death.
- The "In Lieu of Flowers" bit: If you want donations to go to a specific charity, double-check that the mailing address is 100% correct. You'd be surprised how often people get that wrong.
Digging Into the Deep Archives
Maybe you aren't looking for a recent death. Maybe you're doing genealogy.
The Lima News archive is a goldmine because, back in the day, these notices were basically local diaries. They didn't just list survivors; they listed where people worked, what clubs they belonged to, and sometimes even who visited them from out of town.
GenealogyBank and Ancestry have digitized a lot of this from 1898 through the late 70s. But fair warning: the "computer-generated index" isn't perfect. If the original paper was wrinkled in 1922 when it was scanned, the search might miss it.
Try searching for just the last name and a year range. Or, if you’re looking for a woman from the 1940s, search for her husband's name. It’s annoying, but back then, she might have been listed only as "Mrs. John Smith."
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Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't just trust the first result you see on a random "Find a Grave" site. Those are often user-submitted and full of typos.
Always cross-reference. If the The Lima News lima ohio obituary says one thing and a gravestone says another, look for the funeral home record. Places like Chamberlain-Huckeriede or Hogenkamp Funeral Homes often keep their own digital archives that go back a few years. These are usually more detailed than the short "death notice" in the paper.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are currently searching for a loved one or trying to document family history in Lima, here is the most efficient path forward:
- For recent deaths (last 2 weeks): Go directly to the LimaOhio.com obituary section. It's the most current.
- For "memories" and photos: Check the Legacy.com portal for The Lima News. This is where people post digital flowers and notes.
- For historical research (1933–Present): Email the Lima Public Library reference desk. They are faster and more accurate than most paid search engines.
- For submission: Call 419-223-1010 (option 6). Don't wait until the last minute, or you'll miss the print cycle for the weekend.
- For hard-to-find ancestors: Search by the husband's name or even just initials if the full name isn't popping up in the digital archives.
The Lima News remains the primary record of life and death in Allen County. Using these tools correctly saves you time and, more importantly, ensures that the person you're looking for isn't forgotten.