Devon ‘Eldon’ Ummel, 87, of Syracuse, Ind., passed away on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014, at his home.

He was born on June 18, 1927, in Nappanee, Ind., to Edward & Edith (Anglemyer) Ummel.

He married Fluella Rose Kelley on August 31, 1947. They moved to the local area in 1957.

He was a school teacher, coach, and athletic director for 33 years, retiring from Wawasee School Corporation in 1984. He was an official for Indy Car Racing and manufacturer’s representative for racing accessories, retiring in 2003. He served his country in the Army of Occupation in Rome, Italy during World War II. He was presented the World War II Victory Medal and Army of Occupation Medal.

He coached Syracuse High School sports from 1959 to 1967. He maintained the Syracuse ball diamonds and athletic fields and summer youth leagues. His Baseball teams were a perennial powerhouse in the area with a 73 percent winning percentage: Summer League County Champs four times; runner up two times; Fall League County Champs four times; runner up three times. In 1967 they won the first ever Sectional Tournament.

He was a member of the Syracuse Calvary United Methodist Church. He was a lifetime member of the NEA and ISTA. He also belonged to the Indy 500 Oldtimers Club. He was a member of the Beaver Dam High School Class of 1945, graduated from Manchester College in 1951 and earned his masters degree from Indiana University in 1955.

Surviving are two sons: Dallas (Helen) Ummel and Gregory (Tamra) Ummel, both of Leesburg; two daughters: Teresa (Tim) Fields of Gales Ferry, Conn., and Linda Ummel, Bloomington; 13 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren; three sisters: Joan (Wayne) Kirkham, Greencastle; Lois (Arlo) Knouff, Larwill; and Phyllis (Eldon) Swick, Columbia City.

He is preceded by his wife; parents; five brothers and one sister; brothers: Robert Ummel, New Carlisle, Herbert (Muriel) Ummel, Goshen, Richard (Jackie) Ummel, Wakarusa, and Stanley (Nancy) Ummel of Angola; sister: Carol (Art) Hines, Fort Wayne.

Visitation will be held at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21, and 9 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 22, at Eastlund Funeral Home 7458 E 1000 N. Syracuse. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at Calvary United Methodist Church, 801 S Huntington St, Syracuse. Burial will be at Syracuse Cemetery.

Memorials may be sent to: Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund PO Box 1810 Warsaw, IN 46581-1810, Kosciusko Home Care and Hospice 1515 Provident Dr, Warsaw, IN 46580 or Calvary United Methodist Church 801 S Huntington St, Syracuse, IN 46567