Christena 'Chris' Doyle Trusler Biggs

Christena "Chris" Doyle Trusler Biggs, 77, of Greencastle, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015.

Born May 10, 1937 in Connersville, she was the daughter of Milton Smith and Mary Christena (Carney) Trusler.

She married Dr. C. Daniel Biggs, and he preceded her in death in 1988.

Chris was a graduate of DePauw University with a BA in English literature, 1959 and a MAT in English, 1972.

Chris happily accompanied her husband to Denver, Ind., where he pastored two Methodist Churches in the Denver/Chili circuit.

She taught English (grades 8-12) at Chili High School while they were there from 1959 until 1962.

After the birth of Joseph, they moved to the Logansport area where Dr. Biggs pastored two Presbyterian Churches, Bethlehem and Post Memorial, while he continued his education at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.

After the birth of Shannon, they moved to Brazil, Ind., where Dr. Biggs pastored the First Presbyterian Church until his death in 1988.

Chris began teaching Freshman English at DePauw University to her delight in February 1972, and she retired in 2002, after many joyful years in the classroom and in the companionship of students and faculty. She loved her work and always awakened glad to go to work.

Just as she had cherished the beautiful friends in all of the churches where the family had served, so too did she enjoy Greencastle after she moved there in 1990 to be closer to DePauw.

While still teaching, Chris had the fun of working at the front desk at The Walden Inn with good friends there plus all the famous visitors. After retirement from The Walden, she spent six years on and off working at the front desk of Asbury Towers, again with good companions.

Words cannot express how grateful she has been for her family, her life, her dogs, and the people she has met. Survivors include her children, Joseph Roy (Lynn) Biggs and Shannon Mar (Bryan Liang) Biggs; a sister, Margaret Angeline Trusler Brookshire; a brother, Alton (Virginia) Carney Trusler; and grandchildren, Hannah Marie, Mattie Leigh, and Seth Daniel Biggs.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and a sister, Cornelia Burke Trusler Searl.

Chris would like to be remembered for always returning her grocery cart!

Per her wishes, there will be no visitation. Cremation will be followed by a private service of internment to be held at Forest Hill Cemetery in Greencastle at a later date. Memorial services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1 at Meharry Hall, East College of DePauw University with the Rev. Gary Scroggins of the First Presbyterian Church in Brazil officiating. Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home, Greencastle, has been entrusted with the arrangements.

A reception for all who knew and loved Chris will be held at the Inn at DePauw and Event Center immediately following Memorial Services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The Peggy and Walker Gilmer Scholarship Fund at DePauw University, c/o Dawna Wilson, director of stewardship, P.O. Box 37, Greencastle, IN 46135-0037 or the Carmelite Monastery, 59 Allendale, Terre Haute, IN 47802.

Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family c/o www.BittlesandHurt.com.