Georgia Lois Webster

Georgia Lois Webster, 93, of Goshen, died Wednesday, August 22, 2018, at Goshen Hospital.

She was born August 11, 1925 in Wellington, Kansas to Alfred Robb and Georgiana Katharine (Newcomb) Paden.

Wise old ladies gathered ‘round and said, “She’ll never make old bones.”  Growing up, she attended schools in Argonia, Kansas, Sioux City, Iowa, Denver, Colorado, Cincinnati, Ohio and Indianapolis, where she graduated from Broad Ripple High School.

She then attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, majoring in music and art education and graduating cum laude in 1946.  In 1996, she was named a distinguished graduate.

On July 31, 1948 she married Russell Reyburn Webster in Indianapolis.  He died December 8, 1985.

Survivors include three children, Dave (Debbie) Webster of Sharpsburg, Georgia, Elizabeth “Libby” (Richard) Ringel of Stanford, Connecticut and Dr. Daniel Webster of Lubbock, Texas; six grandchildren, Julie, Lisa, Jonathan, Kathy, Nancy and James; six great grandchildren and a sister, Patricia Phillips, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and brother, Douglas Paden.

Mrs. Webster taught art at Broad Ripple High School, Indianapolis, and music and art in the Tipton, Syracuse and Goshen school systems.  For 30 years she stages musicals and art shows, and for 70 years she was involved with church choirs, singing and directing.  The National Art Education Association selected her as one of the top 50 Elementary Art Teachers in the U.S.

From 1965 to 1990, Georgia gave chalk talks in the Michiana area, drawing large chalk pictures while telling a story and singing relevant sons.  The “Sound of Music” was the most requested presentation, which she gave at the Indiana State Teacher’s convention in 1972.

Long time Goshen residents may recall the life-sized papier mache elephant she created for a political parade, as well as other community projects.  She wrote, cast and directed three musicals, for which the First Presbyterian Church opened its doors, and for many years accompanied the “Music Makers”, an instrumental group which performed at many venues.  She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority and Philomathean Club and served as elder, deacon, Sunday school teacher, women’s association moderator and in various other ways at First Presbyterian Church.

In accordance with her wishes, cremation will take place at Yoder-Culp Crematory.

A memorial service will be conducted Saturday, August 25, 2018, at 1 p.m.at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home.

Memorials may be given to Evergreen Place, c/o Greencroft.

Burial will be at a later date in Violett Cemetery.