Gerald N. "Nate" Bourne

West College Corner, IN Gerald N. “Nate” Bourne, 83, of West College Corner, died April 3, 2012 at his residence. Born in Old Bath to Howard and Blanche Chapman Bourne on December 31, 1928 as the third of three children, he attended school in College Corner and graduated with the Class of 1946. He joined the Air Force in 1948 and served four years in the military. He was a farmer for 30 years and later retired from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources after twelve years. He was well known as a softball pitcher and won numerous awards pitching in Indiana, Ohio, Texas, Wisconsin, and New York. He was inducted into the Ohio Softball Hall of Fame in Butler County in 1990, and is scheduled to be inducted to the Preble County Softball Hall of Fame in May 2012. He was a member of the American Legion, life member of Bath Conservation Club, and Order of Kentucky Colonels. He married Donna Mae Gibson on February 14, 1953. She preceded him in death on February 27, 2007. He is survived by: his four children, Jerrolyn Butterfield Benner, of Oxford, Ohio; Blaine M. Bourne, of Liberty; Janice Breen, of Oxford, Ohio; and Joanita Spitler, of New Paris, Ohio; one brother, Lum Bourne, of Westerville, Ohio; 8 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, a granddaughter, Jill Butterfield, who died in 1996, and a brother, Richard Bourne, who died in 1997. Public visitation will be held from 1 until 3 p.m. Friday, April 6, 2012 at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Baker Chapel, College Corner, Ohio, where memorial contributions may be made to the Jill Butterfield Memorial Scholarship Fund in lieu of flowers. Interment will follow in College Corner Cemetery with Rev. Jason Bantz of College Corner Presbyterian Church officiating. Graveside military honors will be conducted by American Legion Post #122 and VFW Post #1472. For additional information or to send condolences and memories, visit www. ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.