Monday, January 28th, 2013
Louise Shellabarger
Louise Shellabarger, 88, Rockford, died at 7:57 a.m. Jan. 26, 2013, at the Van Wert In-patient Hospice Center, where she had been a patient for the past week.
She was born Rose Louise Rowland on Nov. 9, 1924, in Rockford to Harry and Rosa Bell Gause Rowland. On Nov. 9, 1945, she married Stan Shellabarger, who died Sept. 5, 2012.
Surviving are four sons, Rodney (Dorene) Shellabarger, Van Wert, Craig (Barb) Shellabarger, Celina, Randy (Colleen) Shellabarger, Rockford, and Mike (Angie) Shellabarger, Middlepoint; 14 grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law, Gertrude Rowland of Van Wert and Norma Rowland of Willshire.
Deceased are two brothers, Carl "Bud" and John Rowland, and four sisters, Marie Lehman, Pauline Snyder, Martha Taylor and Betty Reish.
She was a homemaker and lived in Rockford her entire life. She also had worked at Sleppy's 5 & Dime in Rockford. She was a member of the former Rockford Presbyterian Church, where she was a member of the Women's Association. Most recently she was a member of New Horizons Community Church in Rockford. She also had been a member of the Eastern Star in Rockford.
Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford, the Rev. Marvin Schwartz officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford.
Calling is 4-8 p.m. Wednesday and one hour prior to the service Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be directed to New Horizons Church, Rockford, or to the Van Wert In-Patient Hospice Center.
Condolences may be left at ketchamripley.com.
