MRS. L. D. GARBER

GARBER, GITTINGER, BUNCH, RYAN, DALE, RIDGWAY, STEPHENS, PETERS, FIELD

Posted By: Peggy Ann Peters Jones (email)
Date: 3/15/2002 at 19:55:47

From the Leon newspaper.

Mary Ann GITTINGER in whose memory these lines are written, was born March 16, 1858, at the old GITTINGER homestead in Center township, Decatur county, Iowa; being the third child of Daniel R. and Sarah GITTINGER. The days of her girlhood were all spent in this locality and to the friends who have compiled this obituary, her appearance in those days is still vivid on memory's page though more than fifty years have passed away. As a girl she was honest, intellectual, and religious. In the month of May, 1876, she with her sister Agnes, united with the Brethren church at Franklin. The writer of these lines, who was present at her baptism and also at her marriage, and who has been associated with her church life and know of her family life, in this hour of separation recall with satisfaction, the humility, efficiency and effectiveness with which she went about her duties. She taught school for a short time in her home school and on April 30, 1882, she was united in marriage to Lewis D. GARBER. They settled on the farm where she continued to live until her death which occured February 18, 1924. Here her children were all born, seven girls and one boy, all living except the oldest which died in infancy. All are married except Samuel R., who has always lived with his parents. Those living in this locality are Mrs. Bessie BUNCH; Mrs. Myra RYAN, Mrs. Josephine DALE and Mrs. Georgia RIDGEWAY, Mrs. Lucy STEPHENS and Mrs. Clara PETERS live in Wyoming. Of her brothers and sisters, her four brothers are living; Lewis in Nebraska, Leroy in Kansas and Wm. P. and Frank M. in this county. Her only living sister, is Mrs. Emma FIELD, of Iola, Kansas. She has four sisters dead.

No words of eulogy for her are necessary for the husband whose joys and sorrows and triumphs she shared nor for the children to whom she gave her strength, her love and her counsel, neither by the friends who knew her, for the memory we all retain of her simple faithful life will always remain a loving tribute too sacred and too dear for human words to express.

Funeral services were held at the home on Thursday, Feb. 21st at 11 o'clock, conducted by Rev. O. C. Caskey, of the Brethren church, being very largely attended. Interment was in the Leon cemetery.

Submitted by her granddaughter, Peggy Ann Peters Jones