BLUFFTON - Mary Elizabeth Tonner Murray Webb, 87, of 3102 Oakburough Run, Fort Wayne, died at 8:40 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009, after suffering a stroke.
She was born May 10, 1922, in Bluffton, to Sylvan and Esther Speicher Tonner. On Feb. 10, 1943, she married Jim Murray, who died Jan. 16, 1987. In January 1988, she married Charles Webb, who died in 1997.
She graduated valedictorian of her class in 1940, from Bluffton High School, where she also played in an all-girl accordion band during high school. She graduated from Ball State University with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She taught first grade at Bluffton for 10 years and substituted for many more. She formerly attended First United Church of Christ, Bluffton. In 1959, she moved to Maracaibo, Venezuela, and later became a winter resident of Englewood, Fla., and spent summers at Tippecanoe Lake. She struggled with Parkinson's disease the last 12 years. She continued to split her time between Florida, North Carolina and Indiana until the last two years when she resided at Covington Commons Assisted Living, Fort Wayne.
Surviving are a brother, Paul (and spouse Liz) Tonner, Markle; three daughters: Kay Ann (and spouse Leonardo) Villa Garcia, Raleigh, N.C.; Judy (and spouse Jerry) Anderson, Fort Wayne; and Cathy (and spouse Greg) Grigsby, Bridgton, Maine; a son, Ted (and spouse Shikha) Murray, Bangalore, India; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at The Chapel, Fort Wayne, with Pastor Rick Hawks officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Bluffton.
Calling is one hour prior to the service Saturday at The Chapel.
Goodwin Memorial Chapel, Bluffton, is in charge of arrangements.
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Memorials to Mission of Hope, P.O. Box 325, Lee's Summit, MO 64063-0325.
