- Date Of Birth: November 29, 1921
- Date Of Death: January 21, 2021
- State: Illinois
Bertha Louise “Shorty” Ganswind, 99, of Centralia, passed away Thursday, January 21, 2021 at Fireside Nursing Home in Centralia. She was born November 29, 1921 in Centralia, the daughter of William Gale Chasteen and Lucy (Atchison) Chasteen. She married Dewey Smallwood in 1938 and they later divorced.
She married Robert “Buddy” Ganswind on January 24, 1953 and he preceded her in death on August 23, 2020. She was the mother of three children: Bill Smallwood and wife Diane of Noblesville, IN; two daughters: Marilyn (Smallwood) Lollar and husband George of Gulf Shores, AL and Tonia Oberg and husband Bill of Centralia; five grandchildren: Angel Edson and husband Michael, Brett Smallwood, Ric Lollar, Michelle Conway, and Taylor Oberg; six great-grandchildren: Carrie, Daniel, Cory, Ian, Connor, and Ava. Shorty was preceded in death by her parents: William and Lucy Chasteen; husband: Robert “Buddy” Ganswind; three sisters: Doris Taylor, Dortha Sprous, and Juanita Belcher.
Shorty was a loving mother and great cook and loved all of her family dearly. She had a hug for everyone. She loved to bowl and bowled 27 years at Bank’s Bowling Alley. She was an avid Cardinals baseball fan. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Centralia and her favorite time was spending it with her family.
