COLUMBIA CITY – George Easterday Jr., 90, Columbia City, died April 11, 2016, at Parkview Whitley Hospital after being admitted on Wednesday. He was born Feb. 8, 1926, in Noble County, to George S. and Vera N. Bitting Easterday. On Nov. 13, 1949, he was united in marriage to E. Louise Cox, who survives. They made their home on a farm near Coesse until 1954 when they moved to a farm in Washington Township. In October 1981 they moved into Columbia City. He grew up in Whitley County and graduated from Coesse High School in 1944. He was inducted in the United States Navy on June 19, 1944, serving during World War II. He was honorably discharged March 20, 1946. In addition to farming, he worked for Dana Weatherhead from 1952 until his retirement in 1988. A longtime member of Washington Center United Methodist Church, he was a current member of Columbia City United Methodist Church, Whitley County Agricultural Museum and 4-H Learning Center, Farm Bureau and NEO. Also surviving are four sons: David A. (and spouse Joyce) Easterday and Dennis L. ( and spouse Tracy Rumsyre) Easterday, all of Columbia City; Larry W. (and spouse Anne) Easterday, Warsaw; and Steve L. (and spouse Mary) Easterday, Huntington; six granddaughters; two great grandchildren; and a sister, Delight “Dee” LaBarbera, Fort Wayne. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter; a brother, Keith S. Easterday; and three sisters: Beatrice Easterday, Athena Grothaus and Kathryn Harmeyer. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Columbia City United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Eberhard Cemetery. Calling will be after 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the church and from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. ***** Memorials to Riley Children’s Hospital or Columbia City United Methodist Church music fund. Condolences via www.smithandsonsfuneralhome.com.
