Bessie I. Garver

Bessie I. Garver, 88, of Elkhart, died late Saturday evening, January 31, 2009, at Golden Living Center in Elkhart.  She had been ill the past 18 months. She was born on November 8, 1920, in Middlebury, to Levi and Susanna (Kauffman) Schmucker.   She married Richard Earl Garver on January 21, 1947, in Tampa, Florida.  He died July 11, 1979. A lifelong resident of the area, Mrs. Garver was a member of Golden Girls and had a bronze membership in Purdue Extension Homemaker.  She was a homemaker, farmer and caregiver to homebound. She is survived by two sons, James E. (Mary) Garver of Bristol, and Gerald (Reba) Tyson of Andalusia, Alabama; two step-daughters, Beatrice Wren of winter Park, Florida, and Grace Troyer of Sarasota, Florida; six grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Bertha Dickerhoff of Goshen and Matilda (Merwin) Brenner of Dalton, Ohio; and a brother, Glen (Irma Lou) Schmucker of Zionsville, Indiana. She was preceded in death by her husband; a step-son, Clarence Garver; a step-daughter, Gladys Tuylley; three brothers, and three sisters. Friends may call 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, February 3 at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. A 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 4, 2009, funeral service will be conducted at Bristol Church of the Nazarene with Rev. Gary Sheets and Rev. Joe Chapman officiating. Burial will be in Oakridge Cemetery, Bristol. Memorial contributions may be given to the Bristol Church of the Nazarene.