Gladys Barnhart

Gladys Lucile Barnhart, 88, a former resident of rural Churubusco in Noble County and widow of widely acquainted Noble County farmer and auctioneer Clarence A. Barnhart, died at 12:12 p. m. on Thursday, June 5, 2008, at the residence of her daughter in Elkhart. She had resided in an assisted living facility and later in a nursing facility in Fort Wayne, before being taken to her daughter's home on Saturday. Mrs. Barnhart was born on February 26, 1920 in Swan Township in Noble County, a daughter of Elmer and Nellie A. (Bosler) Pepple. She spent her formative years in that community, attended the LaOtto School, and graduated from Huntertown High School. On January 1, 1943 she was married to Clarence A. Barnhart, and spent all of her adult life on the Barnhart family farm in Green Township before moving into assisted living. A former employee at the Churubusco School cafeteria, she had also worked at Mutual Security Life Insurance Company in Fort Wayne, and retired as an executive secretary for the Churubusco State Bank in 1985. She was an expert seamstress, had a natural "green thumb," and dearly loved her church and family. She was a charter member and deacon emeritus of the Agape Church of the Brethren, north of Fort Wayne. Mr. Barnhart preceded her in death on June 6, 2002. Among the surviving relatives are her two children Nancy (Bart) Lefever of Elkhart, and William (Kathy) Barnhart of Churubusco; a sister Catherine (Leon) Clingenpeel of Fort Wayne; six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by six brothers and five sisters. Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Monday, June 9, at the Agape Church of the Brethren, 11610 Lime Road, with Pastors Jeff Copp and Tim Scroggs, officiating. The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Sunday from 2 to 7 p. m., or at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in the family plot at Riverview Cemetery, south of Churubusco. The family requests that memorials be directed to Agape Church of the Brethren, 11610 Lima Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46818; or to Care At Home Hospice, 200 High Park Avenue, Goshen, IN 46526. *********************************** To leave a condolence for the family in Mrs. Barnhart's memory, please click on "Condolences" below. . .