Barbara Eltzroth, 94, passed away on July 10, 2018 in Marion. She was born on April 29, 1924 to Grant Bedwell and Eva (Keene) Bedwell. She was the happy mixture of a quiet father and a mother who was a character. Barbara was strong, fiercely independent, and proud of her self-sufficiency. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother who dearly loved her family. Barbara was a 1942 graduate of Marion High School and was a lifelong learner. She was an avid reader of each month’s new editions of National Geographic and Smithsonian, and loved to watch Jeopardy and Antiques Roadshow. She married Glen “Bilko” Eltzroth in 1951, and they had two children, David and Philippa (P.J.). She and Glen enjoyed 49 years of marriage before his death in 2000. After David’s death in 1977, she established the David Eltzroth Memorial Fund for Cancer Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Barbara retired from Indiana Bell Telephone after 28 years of service as an operator. She was once honored as the Operator of the Year, and was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America. As an information operator she delighted in telling stories of the odd calls she received such as how long to bake a cake, how long to thaw a turkey, etc., and was usually ready with an answer since she was a very good cook. She was a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, the gift shop at Marion General Hospital, the MGH Auxiliary Board, and the Hostess House. Barbara was very proud to be a ten gallon blood donor. She was active in Sunnycrest United Methodist and love her church family. She was also a member of the Marion Women’s Department Club, and, volunteered for the Crippled Children and Adults Society and Services for the Visually and Hearing Impaired. Barbara loved to fly and had flown in a hot air balloon, the Goodyear blimp, a 1927 Ford Tri-Motor, B-17, B-24, Huey helicopter and several other types of helicopters and private planes. She loved to travel with her husband, and they had visited most of the U.S. and several countries. For many years they enjoyed spending their winters in Scottsdale, AZ. She also loved gray cats, and is survived by her “little gray sweetheart” Smokey. She belonged to several euchre clubs and some of her happiest days were spent having lunch at the Hostess House and playing cards with her friends there. Barbara also loved spending time with her family, especially her grandson, David. She was very patriotic since losing her brother, Philip, in WWII. Barbara dedicated a bronze plaque and fountain in 1996 at the crash site of her brother’s B-24 in Heilbrunn, Austria. She was also on the committee that designed and dedicated the new WWII memorial at the Grant County Courthouse in 1999. Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Glen, her brother Philip Bedwell, and her son David. She is survived by her daughter Philippa (P.J.) Culley and her son-in-law Alan of Marion, and her grandson David Culley of Fishers. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law Fairy Banter, Kate Cruzan and Valeria (David) Webb. The family would like to thank Heart to Heart Hospice for their wonderful care of Barbara. She always said, “I’ve lived a darn good life,” and she did. In Lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to The Hostess House, 23 West 4th St. Marion, IN 46952 or to the Marion-Grant County Humane Society, 505 S. Miller Ave. Marion, IN 46953. Arrangements have been entrusted to College Park Chapel, Armes-Hunt Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 4601 S. Western Ave. Marion, IN 46953. There will be a visitation at the funeral home on Friday, July 13, 2018 from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. There will an hour of visitation before the service from 10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, July 14, 2018, with the funeral service beginning at 11:00 A.M. with Rev. Mark Helm officiating, burial to follow at Grant Memorial Park, Marion, Indiana.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Barbara Eltzroth April 29 1924 July 10 2018 (age 94). Jones-Smith Funeral Home
Death notice for the town of: Upland, state: Indiana