Karen Sue Gamble

COLUMBIA CITY – Karen Sue Gamble, 78, of Mentone, passed away at 3:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, at Parkview Whitley Hospital, Columbia City.
Born on Jan. 24, 1948, in Warsaw, she was a daughter of the late Marquis Junior Reid and Ruth Cecil Fosnaugh Reid. Growing up in the Larwill area, she graduated from Larwill High School in 1966.
She made her first home in the Larwill area, raising two sons. For the past 22 years, she made her home in Mentone.
For over 30 years, she worked at Zimmer's manufacturing plant in Warsaw.
At home, she enjoyed gardening and caring for flowering bushes passed down from her parents and grandparents. With her skills taught by her parents and grandparents, Karen kept flowers blooming throughout the spring and summer. Installing a raised garden bed to aid in accessibility, she continued to grow traditional tomatoes and cucumbers. In her quiet times, she sewed, painted and baked her delicious brownies and banana bread.
Karen is survived by her sons, Mark Gamble, of Mentone; and Matthew (Joan) Gamble, of Glen Allen, Va.; grandchildren: Nicholas (Marissa) Gamble, Lindsay Gamble, Haley Gamble, Adam Gamble and Isaac Gamble; two great-grandchildren; and siblings, Vicky Linton, of Larwill; and Rick (Debbie) Reid, of Larwill.
The funeral service is 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept 2 at Smith & Son’s Funeral Home in Columbia City. Burial is at the Lakeview Cemetery in Larwill. Visitation is from noon until the service Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorials in Karen’s honor are to St Jude’s Children's Research Hospital or the Animal Welfare League.
Condolences may be sent to www.smithandsonsfuneralhome.com