F. Gayle Lanternier, 85, of Bluffton, passed away Thursday morning, March 19, 2026, at Stillwater Hospice Home in Fort Wayne.
Gayle was born on Jan. 24, 1941, in Decatur to Glenn Vernon and Ruhamah (Smith) Custer. She graduated from Decatur High School in 1959, and furthered her education at Mennonite School of Nursing, graduating in 1962. She worked as a registered nurse in surgical nursing for 44 years at Caylor-Nickel Clinic Hospital, retiring in 2006. Gayle was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Bluffton, Tri Kappa and assisted with Mom’s Morning Out for many years. She assisted with Wells County Alternative School for over eight years.
On Oct. 27, 1963, Gayle and Raymond Lanternier were married at Trinity Evangelical United Brethren Church in Decatur by the Rev. Fuhrman Miller and Rev. Rex Custer. They shared 61 years of marriage together before his passing on Jan. 11, 2025.
She is survived by her daughter, Janell S. (Philip) Davis of Eugene, Oregan.
Gayle is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Raymond Lanternier and her son John J. Lanternier on Oct. 14, 2010, and a brother, Thane D. Custer.
A Celebrate of Life Gathering will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. A Tri Kappa Memorial Service will be held at the conclusion of gathering, at 3 p.m. on Saturday, at the funeral home. Private family burial will take place on this date at Elm Grove Cemetery in Bluffton, with Jeff Lemler officiating.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Lemler family of Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends may share online condolences with the family at www.thomarich.com.