Towle, Ella (Reinking)

TOWLE, REINKING

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 2/22/2014 at 18:19:21

The Grinnell (IA) Herald

IN REMEMBERANCE

Mrs. Ella Reinking Towle entered into rest on Christmas night shortly after midnight, at the Des Moines General Hospital and her funeral services were held on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the home of her mother, Mrs. C.D. Reinking, 1308 E. Grand Ave., in Des Moines. She was laid to rest in the cemetery at Des Moines.

Mrs. Towle was a woman of marked abilities which she consecrated freely and utterly to God's work in various departments of effort. While resident in Des Moines in her earlier life she was a member of the First Presbyterian and later of the Central Presbyterian church and began her religious activities with special work in Christian Endeavor. She founded the C.E. Society and the Central church, and was given special honors and a portrait of her unveiled. She also did much C.E. work throughout the State, and though her work in later years lay largely in other lines she was looking forward at the time of her breakdown, to resuming her labors with the C.E. in the state.

In 1894, upon her marriage with Rev. C.A. Towle, State Superintendent for Iowa of the Congregational Sunday School Society, she came to Grinnell to reside, connecting herself with the Congregational church. After the death of Mr. Towle in 1899 Mrs. Towle worked for several years in behalf of orphan children in connection with the Home Finding Society. In 1904 she returned to Grinnell where she has since made her home. During the last twelve years of her life she has been devoted to the cause of Foreign Missions, giving freely of her time and fortune to that cause. She traveled extensively, inspecting Mission Fields and has for the last four years done very effective work as president of the Iowa Branch of the Women's Board of Foreign Missions of the Interior, resigning her work in October last. While she has been failing in health for some time she kept up her work with her Sunday school class until very recently. They sadly miss her now.

Mrs. Towle was pre-eminently a woman of prayer and spiritual aspiration, loyal and devoted to her friends, ever thinking of kindly things to do for others, and of appreciation and encouraging words to speak. To need a friend was the only necessary recommendation to her friendship, and many a discouraged heart has been sped on its way, warmed and renewed by her cordial words and smile.

She will be greatly missed in church community and state.