DONNA BELLE GILLAM

Donna Belle Gillam, age 86, of Roanoke, IN passed away at 11:06 a.m. Monday, March 1, 2010 at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, IN. Born on August 14, 1923 in Whitley County, IN, she was the daughter of Thomas M. and Bertha B. (Geist) Swing.A lifetime resident of the Roanoke, IN area she attended Roanoke High School. On October 21, 1950 she married Gilbert L. "Skip" Gillam in Warsaw, IN. She retired in April, 1987 after twenty years with Coil Engineering and Economy Machine Products in Roanoke. She was a member of the First Brethren Church of Roanoke, IN, a 50 year member of Bethel Rebekah Lodge #382 of Laud, and since 1947, the American Legion Auxiliary of Roanoke.Survivors include her son, David A. (Patsy) Graves of Roanoke, IN; grandson, Tom (Mary) Graves of Columbia City; granddaughter, Lisa (Brent) Sunderland of Columbia City; 8 great grandchildren; 2 sisters, Cynthia Young of Bunker Hill, IN, Aladean Weaver of Roanoke, IN and brother, Dick (Joan) Swing of South Whitley, IN. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Gilbert L. "Skip" Gillam, sisters, Vera Swing and Geraldine Cobbs, and brothers, Sheldon, Lester, Thomas, Edward, Rex and Harry Swing, an infant brother.Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 4, 2010 from 4-8 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City, IN. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 5, 2010 at the funeral home with Pastor Kurt Snyder of First Brethren Church, Roanoke officiating. Burial will follow at Covington Memorial Gardens, Fort Wayne, IN. Memorial gifts may be given in Mrs. Gillam's memory to First Brethren Church, Roanoke, IN. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Please visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences or sign the guest register book.