Thelma Irene Garton, 77, passed away Monday, December 7, 2009 at Provena Heritage Village in Bourbonnais, IL.
She was born October 28, 1932 in Muncie, IN the daughter of Joseph R. and Elizabeth Jane (Jackson) Harris. Irene met her soul mate and husband, Frank Garton in 1950, while still in school, and they were married January 7, 1956 at Muncie Southside Church of the Nazarene.
She attended Ball State University and after her children were born she finished her college degree in elemtery education at Southern Illinois University.
She was devoted to her family and was a lifetime lover and encourager of children and adults a like. Together with her husband they were members of College Church of the Nazarene in Bourbonnais and ministered to several churches including Central Christian Church in Bourbonnais, Three Rivers Church of the Nazarene in MI, Ossian Church of the Nazarene in IN, Wellston Church of the Nazarene in MO and Sugar Grove Church of the Nazarene in In.
Irene was an educator at the Kankakee Area Career Center in the early childhood development deptartment for over 20 yrs, the director of the daycare at the YWCA in Bourbonnais and during her time at Three Rivers Church of the Nazarene, she was the director of the Little People's Place Daycare.
Mrs. Garton is survived by her husband, Rev. Dr. Franklin Garton of Bourbonnais; daughters Mary Garton-Langellier (Sidney) of Beach Park, IL, Joy Garton Krueger (Warren) of West Lafayette, IN; grandchildren Lisa Harrington (T.J.) of Minneapolis,MN., Lindsay Endress(Troy) of Heyworth, IL, Aubrianna Krueger of West Lafayette, IN; great grandchildren Izabelle Endress, Collin Harrington and Tate Endress; sisters Beulah Anderson of Muncie, IN, Ruby Kennedy of Muncie, IN, Ivonne Grubbs of Muncie, IN; brother in law Harold Garton (Sharen) of Muncie, IN; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, mother and father in law Jack and Mary (Cook) Garton, brothers in law Gordon Anderson and Vernal Grubbs and niece Penny Garton.
Celebration of Life services will be held Friday December 11, 2009 at College Church of the Nazarene at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be Monday December 14, 2009 at the Gardens of Memory Cemetery in Muncie, IN.
Visitation will be at Central Christian Church Thursday December 10, 2009 from 4-7 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. hymn sing as well as Friday December 11, 2009 at College Church of the Nazarene from 9-10 a.m. until the celebration of life service.
Visitaion will also be held at the Garden View Funeral Home, 10501 N. State Rd 3, Muncie, IN, Monday, December 14, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. until the 1:00 p.m. service.
Memorials may be made to Rev. Dr. Franklin and Irene Garton Scholarship at Olivet Nazarene University, Provena Heritage Village, Central Christian Church or College Church of the Nazarene.