Mary Elizabeth Lewallen

Mary Elizabeth Lewallen, 80, peacefully passed away Tuesday morning, October 23, at Courtyard Healthcare Center, Goshen following a yearlong decline in health.  She was born on the family farm to Henry and Ruth Spangle October 29, 1937 in Orland, Indiana.  She met the love of her life, Billy Frank Lewallen, as a 14 year old teenager in the pig pen at the Indiana State Fair and they were married four years later, June 2, 1957, at the Congregational Church of Orland.

Mary was well known and respected in every community that she was involved.  She loved her 20 years as a bank researcher and teller at Salem / Trustcorp/ Ameritrust / Society / Key Bank and her eight years working in the Essenhaus bakery.  She was a 10 year 4-H member and competed at the Indiana State Fair multiple times in sewing, beef cattle, and hogs attaining several state champions.   She spent the next sixty years supporting all four children, grandchildren and great children with their 4-H endeavors, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts.  She was also the friendly neighbor lady with the pink shutters on her cute little home on the corner lot in Middlebury.  It is common knowledge that she loved the color pink, Hawaii, and was “mildly” obsessed with Christmas (Santa Claus’ biggest fan).  Her love of fairs never diminished as proven by her attendance at 62 straight Elkhart County 4-H Fairs.  Mary’s favorite activity, however, was being with her family.

Mary was preceded in death by both of her parents, her older brother Maynard Spangle, and her husband; widowed after just 37 years of marriage.  She is survived by her brother, Estel Spangle, 82, of Orland; four children, Mary Dee Shoup of Middlebury, William "Brad" Lewallen of Hamilton, Virgina, Dr. Brent Lewallen and Suzette Awald, both of Goshen; ten grandchildren:  Kayla Minnis of Vicksburg, Michigan, Luke Lewallen of Findlay, Ohio, Chelsea Yoder of Middlebury, David Lewallen of Ashburn, Virginia, Brandan Lewallen of St. Paul, Minnesota, Laura Conn of Hamilton, Virginia, Morgan Nowak of Bristol, Veronica Awald of Elkhart, Calvin Awald of Goshen, and Sylvia Awald of Elkhart; and six great grandchildren.

There will be a memorial service held in Mary’s honor at 1:00 p.m., November 11, 2018, at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen.  This will be followed by a celebration of her life and sharing memories of Mary at the Quality Inn Conference Center, 1930 Lincolnway East, Goshen starting at 2:30 p.m.