Ethelada Shields, a devoted homemaker and matriarch of several generations, has died. She was 101.
Born Aug. 13, 1914, in Mauzy, Rush County, IN, to the late Cary Nickell & Elizabeth Gertrude (Patton) Gray; Ethelada was the youngest of Mr. and Mrs. Gray’s children and was preceded in death by two brothers, Jim Gray (1968), Dr. Cary Patton “Pat” Gray (2002), and one sister Virginia Herlinger (1994). Mrs. Shields’ family traces its heritage in Rush County to 1825; when her paternal great-grandfather moved from Virginia (now West Virginia) to settle in Union Township.
Living for a time in Indianapolis, Mrs. Shields attended Arsenal Tech High School. Later, she returned closer to her family roots and graduated from Fairview High School in 1932. On January, 28, 1940, she married C. Willard Shields; he preceded her in death in 1995. Her eldest son, Charles, also preceded her in death in 2014.
Ethelada had a vibrant and engaging personality; she enjoyed preparing large meals for family, tending flowers, canning fruits and vegetables, needlework, playing cards, discussing politics, historical and current events, and, in later years, caring for her cat. Additionally, Ethelada was an avid traveler who journeyed to many locales and relished visiting historical points of interest. Willard and Ethelada especially appreciated the automotive freedom allotted to post-war members of the Greatest Generation as they often drove cross-country to visit national parks in the Mountain West, or her siblings on the West Coast. Locally, Mrs. Shields was a charter member of the Gingham Gals Home Ec Club, a member of the Priscilla Art and Literary Club, and a member of the Christian Women’s Fellowship. Ethelada was a member of Main Street Christian Church, but also considered herself a Presbyterian at heart.
Those left to cherish her memory include a son Ron (wife Jonita) Shields of Rushville; a daughter-in-law Barbara Shields of Greensburg; four grandchildren, Scott (wife Laura) Shields, Beth (Mrs. Jerry) Mayhugh both of Greensburg, C.J. Shields of Greencastle, IN, and Sarah (Mrs. Michael) Kensicki of Charlotte, NC. Numerous great-grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren also survive.
Graveside services will be held Wednesday, May 11th, at 11:00 AM at East Hill Cemetery in Rushville, with Pastor Richard Ralstin presiding. Arrangements being handled by Todd Funeral Centre & Crematory in Rushville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you contribute to a fund of your choice at the Rush County Community Foundation.
Online condolences at www.toddfuneralhome.com
Born Aug. 13, 1914, in Mauzy, Rush County, IN, to the late Cary Nickell & Elizabeth Gertrude (Patton) Gray; Ethelada was the youngest of Mr. and Mrs. Gray’s children and was preceded in death by two brothers, Jim Gray (1968), Dr. Cary Patton “Pat” Gray (2002), and one sister Virginia Herlinger (1994). Mrs. Shields’ family traces its heritage in Rush County to 1825; when her paternal great-grandfather moved from Virginia (now West Virginia) to settle in Union Township.
Living for a time in Indianapolis, Mrs. Shields attended Arsenal Tech High School. Later, she returned closer to her family roots and graduated from Fairview High School in 1932. On January, 28, 1940, she married C. Willard Shields; he preceded her in death in 1995. Her eldest son, Charles, also preceded her in death in 2014.
Ethelada had a vibrant and engaging personality; she enjoyed preparing large meals for family, tending flowers, canning fruits and vegetables, needlework, playing cards, discussing politics, historical and current events, and, in later years, caring for her cat. Additionally, Ethelada was an avid traveler who journeyed to many locales and relished visiting historical points of interest. Willard and Ethelada especially appreciated the automotive freedom allotted to post-war members of the Greatest Generation as they often drove cross-country to visit national parks in the Mountain West, or her siblings on the West Coast. Locally, Mrs. Shields was a charter member of the Gingham Gals Home Ec Club, a member of the Priscilla Art and Literary Club, and a member of the Christian Women’s Fellowship. Ethelada was a member of Main Street Christian Church, but also considered herself a Presbyterian at heart.
Those left to cherish her memory include a son Ron (wife Jonita) Shields of Rushville; a daughter-in-law Barbara Shields of Greensburg; four grandchildren, Scott (wife Laura) Shields, Beth (Mrs. Jerry) Mayhugh both of Greensburg, C.J. Shields of Greencastle, IN, and Sarah (Mrs. Michael) Kensicki of Charlotte, NC. Numerous great-grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren also survive.
Graveside services will be held Wednesday, May 11th, at 11:00 AM at East Hill Cemetery in Rushville, with Pastor Richard Ralstin presiding. Arrangements being handled by Todd Funeral Centre & Crematory in Rushville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you contribute to a fund of your choice at the Rush County Community Foundation.
Online condolences at www.toddfuneralhome.com
Ethelada Shields, a devoted homemaker and matriarch of several generations, has died. She was 101.
Born Aug. 13, 1914, in Mauzy, Rush County, IN, to the late Cary Nickell & Elizabeth Gertrude (Patton) Gray; Ethelada was the youngest of Mr. and Mrs. Gray’s children and was preceded in death by two brothers, Jim Gray (1968), Dr. Cary Patton “Pat” Gray (2002), and one sister Virginia Herlinger (1994). Mrs. Shields’ family traces its heritage in Rush County to 1825; when her paternal great-grandfather moved from Virginia (now West Virginia) to settle in Union Township.
Living for a time in Indianapolis, Mrs. Shields attended Arsenal Tech High School. Later, she returned closer to her family roots and graduated from Fairview High School in 1932. On January, 28, 1940, she married C. Willard Shields; he preceded her in death in 1995. Her eldest son, Charles, also preceded her in death in 2014.
Ethelada had a vibrant and engaging personality; she enjoyed preparing large meals for family, tending flowers, canning fruits and vegetables, needlework, playing cards, discussing politics, historical and current events, and, in later years, caring for her cat. Additionally, Ethelada was an avid traveler who journeyed to many locales and relished visiting historical points of interest. Willard and Ethelada especially appreciated the automotive freedom allotted to post-war members of the Greatest Generation as they often drove cross-country to visit national parks in the Mountain West, or her siblings on the West Coast. Locally, Mrs. Shields was a charter member of the Gingham Gals Home Ec Club, a member of the Priscilla Art and Literary Club, and a member of the Christian Women’s Fellowship. Ethelada was a member of Main Street Christian Church, but also considered herself a Presbyterian at heart.
Those left to cherish her memory include a son Ron (wife Jonita) Shields of Rushville; a daughter-in-law Barbara Shields of Greensburg; four grandchildren, Scott (wife Laura) Shields, Beth (Mrs. Jerry) Mayhugh both of Greensburg, C.J. Shields of Greencastle, IN, and Sarah (Mrs. Michael) Kensicki of Charlotte, NC. Numerous great-grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren also survive.
Graveside services will be held Wednesday, May 11th, at 11:00 AM at East Hill Cemetery in Rushville, with Pastor Richard Ralstin presiding. Arrangements being handled by Todd Funeral Centre & Crematory in Rushville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you contribute to a fund of your choice at the Rush County Community Foundation.
Online condolences at www.toddfuneralhome.com
Born Aug. 13, 1914, in Mauzy, Rush County, IN, to the late Cary Nickell & Elizabeth Gertrude (Patton) Gray; Ethelada was the youngest of Mr. and Mrs. Gray’s children and was preceded in death by two brothers, Jim Gray (1968), Dr. Cary Patton “Pat” Gray (2002), and one sister Virginia Herlinger (1994). Mrs. Shields’ family traces its heritage in Rush County to 1825; when her paternal great-grandfather moved from Virginia (now West Virginia) to settle in Union Township.
Living for a time in Indianapolis, Mrs. Shields attended Arsenal Tech High School. Later, she returned closer to her family roots and graduated from Fairview High School in 1932. On January, 28, 1940, she married C. Willard Shields; he preceded her in death in 1995. Her eldest son, Charles, also preceded her in death in 2014.
Ethelada had a vibrant and engaging personality; she enjoyed preparing large meals for family, tending flowers, canning fruits and vegetables, needlework, playing cards, discussing politics, historical and current events, and, in later years, caring for her cat. Additionally, Ethelada was an avid traveler who journeyed to many locales and relished visiting historical points of interest. Willard and Ethelada especially appreciated the automotive freedom allotted to post-war members of the Greatest Generation as they often drove cross-country to visit national parks in the Mountain West, or her siblings on the West Coast. Locally, Mrs. Shields was a charter member of the Gingham Gals Home Ec Club, a member of the Priscilla Art and Literary Club, and a member of the Christian Women’s Fellowship. Ethelada was a member of Main Street Christian Church, but also considered herself a Presbyterian at heart.
Those left to cherish her memory include a son Ron (wife Jonita) Shields of Rushville; a daughter-in-law Barbara Shields of Greensburg; four grandchildren, Scott (wife Laura) Shields, Beth (Mrs. Jerry) Mayhugh both of Greensburg, C.J. Shields of Greencastle, IN, and Sarah (Mrs. Michael) Kensicki of Charlotte, NC. Numerous great-grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren also survive.
Graveside services will be held Wednesday, May 11th, at 11:00 AM at East Hill Cemetery in Rushville, with Pastor Richard Ralstin presiding. Arrangements being handled by Todd Funeral Centre & Crematory in Rushville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you contribute to a fund of your choice at the Rush County Community Foundation.
Online condolences at www.toddfuneralhome.com
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