Geraldine M. Bumbaugh, 98, of east of Leesburg, died at 6:23 p.m. June 17, 2012, in her residence, with her grandsons at her side.
She was born Nov. 5, 1913, in Monroe, Wis., to Herman and Gertrude Dick Dahms. On Oct. 25, 1940, at First Methodist Church, Warsaw, she married George E. “Gordy” Bumbaugh, who died in 2007.
Because her father was an efficiency engineer, the family moved around a lot. She attended schools in Warsaw; Monroe, Wis.; Chicago, Ill.; Ligoner; and eventually graduated from high school in Bluffton in 1932. The year of her graduation was during The Great Depression and her father didn’t have a job, so he leased a filling station where both she and her sister, June, helped on weekends serving free ice cream cones to help drum up business. Earl Conrad of Warsaw suggested her father relocate to Warsaw and open up a public accounting office, which he did. She helped her father part time in his office and also worked at Collins Ice Cream and Beverage Factory as a bookkeeper. While at the factory, she met George and they courted for 3-1/2 years. She was a member of Order of the Eastern Star and a member at large to the Beta Zeta Chapter of Delta Theta Tau Sorority. She and her husband enjoyed delivering Mobiles Meals for years. They also traveled extensively and managed to see every state in the United States, with the exception of New Hampshire and Alaska. She also loved baking cookies for Christmas and had eight to 12 varieties, of which she baked 10 to 12 dozen each, giving them away as gifts to family and friends.
Surviving are an adopted son, Stephen K. Bumbaugh Sr., Charleston, W.Va.; three grandsons, Stephen K. Bumbaugh Jr. and Jimmy D. Womble, Leesburg, and Shane Paige, Warsaw; a granddaughter, Shannon Paige, Logansport; and a sister, June (and spouse Eugene) Fisher, North Manchester. She was preceded in death by an adopted daughter, Sharon (and spouse George) Bumbaugh.
No services or calling are planned.
McMatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, 2290 Provident Court, Warsaw, is in charge of arrangements. ***** Memorials may be made to Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 88, 1620 W. Center St., Warsaw, IN 46580.
Condolences may be sent via www.mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com
