Rachel M. Hotmire was born at home on a farm near Cowan, Indiana on July 1, 1921 and died July 10, 2009 in Ball Memorial Hospital. She was the 4th of 7 children - 4 girls and 3 boys. She graduated from Cowan High School in the class of 1939 and was privileged to attend the 1939 World's Fair in New York City on her senior trip where television, in its infancy, was on exhibition. Rachel married the love of her life, Hal S. Hotmire, on Easter Sunday morning March 24, 1940 at Industry E.U.B. Church in Muncie.
She enjoyed working in retail and had been employed with White's Grocery and Ball Stores, where she was named 1970 Employee of the Year and one of the Top Ten Sales People in 1973. She also was employed at Wiley Interiors, Country Manor and Life Stream prior to retiring in 2007.
Rachel was a member of Normal City United Methodist Church for 54 years.
Her life modeled her Christianity in the giving of herself and her loving kindness to all who knew her. She doted on her family, especially the little children. We, the family, will greatly miss her.
Survivors include her son, Phillip Hotmire (wife-Juanita) of Van Wert, Ohio; her daughters, Beverly Huyck (husband-Richard) and Judith Sutton (husband-Otis) of Muncie; three brothers, Rex Humbarger of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Ross Humbarger of Fairborn, Ohio, and Byron Humbarger of Yorktown. Also surviving are eight grandsons; three step granddaughters; 12 great grandchildren; 7 step great grandchildren with another due in August; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hal Hotmire; her grandma, Nancy Humbarger whom she adored, her parents Allen and Hazel (Ross) Humbarger; a great granddaughter, Lily Hotmire; and three sisters, Miriam Streich, Emogene Smith and Eleanor Hotmire.
Family and friends may call at Parson Mortuary from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday.
Services will be held Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at Parson Mortuary with Reverend Donald Miller officiating.
Burial will follow at Gardens of Memory Cemetery, 10703 N. State Rd 3, Muncie, IN.
Memorials may be sent to the Riley Children's Foundation or Lily E. Hotmire Memorial Fund at the CJ Foundation for SIDS.