Shirley Walgamuth, 72, of Leesburg, Ind., passed away July 23, 2014, at her home.

She was born on July 11, 1942, in Chesterton, Ind., to Ray and Mary (Yeiter) Abell. She married Glen Martinsen, who passed away in 1979. She then married Arden Walgamuth in 1989 who also preceded her in 2009. 

She was a lifelong area resident. She retired from the purchasing department at DePuy in Warsaw, Ind.

She had attended the North Webster Church of God as well as the Aboit Lutheran Church and was involved in Gideons International for many years.

Shirley was an incredible mother and grandmother who shared her love of gardening, travel, camping and entertaining with family and friends. She had a knack of making every meal a special event with her homemade ice cream for dessert. She excelled at anything related to crafts, including sewing and woodworking. She regularly donated felted wool hats that she made with loving care to local cancer centers. She enjoyed fishing as much as she could, learning how as a young girl with her father. 

Shirley is survived by her daughter: Tracy (Craig) Williams, Fort Wayne, Ind.; two step daughters: Kristin (David) Prior, Shelburne, Vt.; and Dr. Mary (Gary) Walgamuth, North Webster, Ind.; three grandchildren; sister: Jackie (Gary)  Harvey, Apache Junction, Ariz.; and a sister-in-law: Sue Abell, Centersville, Va.

She was preceded by her two brothers: William and Terry Abell.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 27, at Eastlund Funeral Home in Syracuse. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 28, in the funeral home. Interment will follow at the Stoney Point cemetery in Clunette, Ind.

In lieu of flowers, friends and family may make a memorial donation to the Lupus Foundation of America or the Gideons, P.O. Box 101, Syracuse, IN 46567.