Alex Ray Wentz, 15, of Rohlfs Lane, Niles died at 8:40 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010 at his home; he apparently took his own life.

He was born Nov. 29, 1994 to Jeffery Ray Wentz and Melinda Rose Blackwell. He was a freshman at Niles High School, and had lived his short lifetime in Niles.

Alex attended Sumnerville Bible Baptist Church, where he was active in the youth group.
He was a member of the Niles High School freshman football, basketball and wrestling teams. Alex played trumpet in the Niles High School Marching Band. He also played baseball for the Howard and Oak Manor schools in Niles. He enjoyed writing music and poems, riding dirt bikes and swimming. He was an avid Colts fan.

Alex is survived by his mother, Melinda Rose Blackwell of St. Joseph; father, Jeffery Ray Went of Niles; brothers, Aaron M. Wentz of Niles and Brady Joseph Dlouhy-Blackwell of St. Joseph; sister, Alexie Rose Wentz of Niles; maternal grandmother, Teresa D. Russell; maternal grandfather, Roa L. Blackwell Sr.; paternal grandparents, Collin and Yolanda Wentz; maternal great-grandfather, Earl R. Russell Sr., all of Niles; uncles, Roa L. Blackwell Jr. of Adrian, Mich., Robbie and Rusty Wentz, both of Niles, and Todd Wentz of Seattle, Wa.; aunts, Brandalyn (Labon) Blankenship of South Bend and Shannon Blackwell of Niles.

Services for Alex Ray Wentz will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Hope Community Church in Niles with Pastor Daniel A. Greegor of Sumnerville Bible Baptist Church officiating. Committal will be at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles and one hour prior to services at the church Tuesday.

Contributions in memory of Alex may be made to the Relay for Life of Niles.