Ada E. Rumsey

Ada Rumsey will be remembered as a sweet, kind and giving lady. She was a strong lady who also was strong willed. In her 100 years, she saw much change in the world around her. Her parents, William and Hulleta (Kistler) Gilbert moved from Northeast Indiana to Arkansas for an opportunity to farm. On October 10, 1920, they were pleased to announce the birth of their baby girl, Ada E. Gilbert in Lonoke, Arkansas.

As Hulleta’s children started to get close to the age to start school, she wanted to her children to have a good education and the family moved back to Indiana. They settled near Silver Lake before starting a farm in rural South Whitley. Ada attended school in South Whitley and graduate from South Whitley High School with the Class of 1940.

After graduation, Ada worked at General Electric in Fort Wayne when she met Sidney Rumsey. The two would be married in 1947. After Ada gave birth to her daughter Beverly, she became a homemaker and would go on to baby sit numerous children around the Blue Lake area and worked various jobs throughout her life.

As a family they enjoyed camping trips. Ada enjoyed traveling but enjoyed it more if she could be sleeping in her own bed at nights. She looked forward to eating out and having her hair and nails done each week. Ada took great pride in having a well-kept home and it was hard for others to help her clean it to her expectations as she lived on her own.

On Wednesday afternoon, August 25, 2021, Ada Rumsey passed away at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana at the age of 100. She is survived by her children, Beverly Gronau, Theron (Sandra) Rumsey and Caroline Dunn; sisters, Eloise Bolinger, Frances Cottrell, Doris Krider, Helen Bowman, Wanda Stover, Norman Jean Hogan, Gyneth Kethcart and Patricia (Hank) Foy; brother, Donald (Molly) Gilbert; grandchildren, James Widmann, Mark (Pamela) Dunn, Denise (Criss) Mattingly, Robert (Cynthia) Rumsey, Richard (Kerie) Rumsey and Reta (Leon) Reagan; and several great-grandchildren. Aside from her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Phyllis Baker and Mildred Burnett; and brother, Galen Gilbert.

Visitation will be 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, August 29, 2021 at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with Pastor Elizabeth Gilbert officiating. She will be laid to rest beside her husband at South Whitley Cemetery. Memorial donations may be given in memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Visit www.DeMoneyGrimes.com to send Ada's family online condolences or sign the online guest book.

Ada's service may also be watched live at 9:55 a.m. Monday though Facebook on DeMoney-Grimes Live page.