- Date Of Birth: June 14, 1931
- Date Of Death: November 21, 2008
- State: Indiana
Delores I. Whitbeck, 77, of Elkhart, passed away Friday (Nov. 21, 2008) at 4:37 a.m. She was surrounded by her loving family at Elkhart General Hospital following a lengthy illness.
She was born on June 14, 1931, in Elkhart County to Roy L. and Audrey Vivian (Kruse) Free at the home of her mother’s oldest sister, Roberta. On July 17, 1958, she married Robert W. Whitbeck; he preceded her in death on May 12, 1991. A son, Gary Farrell, and her half-brother, Bill Free, also preceded her in death.
After the death of her mother when she was 3, her maternal grandfather Robert E. Kruse, who was an educator in Elkhart County, took upon himself the responsibility of raising her during the Great Depression, along with a host of many loving aunts and uncles. In her youth, Delores enjoyed many outdoor activities, including riding horses, fishing, trapping and camping under the watchful eye of her grandfather. She was an avid gardener and had a green thumb when it came to houseplants. She was also the family oral historian and knew the facts and details that included her husband’s family. Now her daughters have taken an avid interest in family history as well.
After the death of her mother when she was 3, her maternal Grandfather Robert E. Kruse, who was an educator in Elkhart County, took upon himself the responsibility of raising her during the Great Depression, along with a host of many loving aunts and uncles. In her youth, Delores enjoyed many outdoor activities, including riding horses, fishing, trapping and camping under the watchful eye of her grandfather. She was an avid gardener and had a green thumb when it came to houseplants. She was also the family oral historian and knew the facts and details that included her husband’s family. Now her daughters have taken an avid interest in family history as well.
After her retirement, she continued to serve by working in the offices of Heart City Health Care and the Center for Community Justice. She enjoyed traveling, having visited most of the United States and also had two memorable trips to Germany and France to enjoy time with her daughters. Her favorite pastimes included reading Western sagas, watching a “good old movie” and knitting and crocheting, which were of comfort to her as her health gradually declined. Even with her loss of mobility and frequent visits to the doctors and hospitals, she never lost her faith in God and always trusted him to be with her in these trials. She was often quoted as saying “God is so good to me.”
Delores is survived by her loving daughters, Mrs. Rick (Lorraine V. Whitbeck) Huff of Elkhart and Mrs. David (Delrea M. Whitbeck) Pontius, Springfield, Ore., one son, Steven Farrell of Florida; 12 grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. Also half-brothers Roy L. Free and Donald (Sherrie) Free, both of Louisville, Ky.
