Virginia 'Gail' Steele

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Virginia "Gail" Steele, age 84, of Greencastle, passed away on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012 at Putnam County Hospital.

Born Feb. 24, 1928 in Putnam County, she was the daughter of Claude and Frances (Goddard) Crodian.

Gail was a 1945 graduate of Clinton Center High and had attended the Blanche Wein Business College.

She married Edgar N. Steele on July 14, 1946 and he preceded her in death on March 6, 2000.

Gail had been a homemaker, a member of the Greencastle Order of Eastern Star No. 255, having served as Past Worthy Matron of the Morton and Greencastle chapters. She had served as grand representative to Nova Scotia from 1991 to 1993.

She was a founder of the Putnam County Comprehensive Services and had helped to organize school and workshops for the handicapped in Putnam County. She also had taught preschool for handicapped children.

Gail was a member of the Better Homes Extension Club and served as president of the Putnam County Extension Homemakers in 1980. She had served as sexton 17 years for the Brick Chapel Cemetery. She was a member of the Clinton Center Alumni, serving in several different offices.

Survivors include her three sons, Gary Allen Steele and Michael R. (Rhonda) Steele, both of Greencastle, and Bryan S. (Peggy) Steele of Crawfordsville; a daughter, Donna (Jerry) Williams of Greencastle; daughter-in-law Lynn Steele of Greencastle; a brother, Hubert (Amelia) Crodian of Morton; eight grandchildren, Margo (fiancée, Jason Ives) Steele, Jon (fiancée, Nicole) Steele, Cheryl Baxter, Deanna (Matt) Bumgardner, Michelle (Jason) Cox, Craig Williams, Brittany Steele and Jon Addler; several nieces, nephews and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a son, Edgar N. Steele Jr; and a sister, Mary Frances Hurst.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday, March 2 at Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home, Greencastle, with Pastor Randy McNeely officiating. Interment will follow at Clinton Falls Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, March 1.