Eldena McCarson

Eldena McCarson, 99, of Greencastle, entered into her heavenly home on Wednesday, July 19, 2017 at Hickory Creek at Sunset.

She was born March 22, 1918 to William and Nora (Miller) Alspaugh in Greencastle.

On March 22, 1939, she married the one love of her life, Arnold McCarson, who preceded her in death in 1954.

Her life was devoted to their only son, Kimber "Kim" McCarson, who survives.

A lifelong resident of Greencastle, Eldena was employed at The "U" Shop on the DePauw University campus for 18 years until it burned in 1974, and then worked at DePauw as a receptionist in many of the residence halls where each year, she "adopted" the student residents of whatever hall she was assigned to. She was loved by the many students whose lives she touched with a hug, a kind word, and of course, her homemade cookies before the Christmas break. She retired from DePauw in 1990, but certainly not from life or serving the community.

She stayed active for many years with the DePauw women's retiree group, as well as performing with the Senior Citizens Kitchen Band, serving in the Putnam County Hospital Guild gift shop, RSVP and delivered meals on wheels with her beloved sister, Leone Deem. The two were commonly known at the Senior Center as "The Sisters." You never saw one without the other.

Eldena was a charter member of Sherwood Christian Church serving as leader of Sherwood's junior high youth group for many years, as well as singing in the church choir, serving in various church offices and as a deaconess. She dearly loved her church family.

When Kim was serving in the ministry in Kentucky, Oklahoma and Tennessee, Eldena would pack up during every break from work, and travel to spend time with him. In every church, she became an "honorary member," adopted and loved by those church families as well.

One of 10 children, she was the only one of her siblings to live past the age of 90. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters Muriel (Thomas), Mildred (Quinton), Madonna (King), Edna (Bachert), Leone (Deem), and brothers Maynard, Ralph, William, Donald Wayne and many nieces and nephews.

She will be greatly missed by survivors, her beloved son Kim; nieces, Glennda Deem, Bobbie (Jimmie) Arnold, Doris Scobee, Judy (Duane) Overshiner, Tosha (Larry) App and Linda (Ted) Sampson; and nephews Phil (Janet) King, Jeff (Brenda) Alspaugh, Brad (Tama) Alspaugh, Tracy Alspaugh and many great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.

A private viewing and graveside service for family members will be conducted on Monday, July 24 with Pastor Jim Staggers officiating. A celebration of life will be held at Sherwood Christian Church on July 30 at 2:30 p.m., with all friends from the community invited to attend.

Bittles & Hurt Funeral Home, Greencastle, has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Sherwood Christian Church, 600 Kirkwood Drive, Greencastle, IN 46135.

Memories may be shared with the family at www.BittlesandHurt.com.