Wilma Jean Rader

Monday, January 29, 2007

Dec. 7, 1919-Jan. 27, 2007

Wilma Jean (Dickey) Rader, 87, Indianapolis, formerly of Greencastle, died Saturday at the Westside Retirement Village, Indianapolis.

Born in Brazil, she was the daughter of Arthur Sr. and Lillian Pearl (White) Dickey. She attended school in Brazil until age 11 then moved with her family to Bowling Green, Ohio, where she attended school until her sophomore year. She successfully completed her GED high school certification at Area 30, Greencastle, at the age of 65.

She was employed as a housemother at the Robert's Hall Freshmen Housing Dorm for two years and the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at DePauw University for seven years. She was one of three owner/partners and the manager of The Book Exchange business from 1977 until 1988.

She was a member of the First English Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bowling Green, Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church and the Bethel Circle and Aldersgate Circle of the Methodist Church in Greencastle. She was also a member of the Rebecca Lodge-Greencastle I.O.O.F. where she held every office up to the Noble Grand office, former member and officer of the V.F.W. Women's Auxiliary, American Legion Post 58 Women's Auxiliary, Moose Lodge 1592 and has held many offices in the Women of the Moose Chapter 138 and the Jolly Homemaker's Club.

He was awarded the Distinguished Hoosier Award from Governor Frank O'Bannon when she was 80 years old. She also was the first female to manage and coach a Babe Ruth baseball team in Greencastle when the league was formed in the 1950s.

She married Vurlin Eugene Rader on Jan. 1, 1941. He preceded her in death on Dec. 13, 1987.

Survivors include sons, James A. Rader and wife Marilyn, Enon, Ohio, William E. Rader and wife Kay, Indianapolis, Vernon L. Rader and wife Glenda, Terre Haute, and Daniel V. Rader and wife Mary J., Greencastle; brother John L. Dickey and wife Frances, Tiffin, Ohio; sisters, Lillian K. Williams and husband Ray and Mary Ann Holmer, both of Fremont, and Virginia D. Shaner and husband John Sr., Greencastle; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers Arthur "Bud" Dickey Jr. and Gilbert C. Dickey, sister Helen King and a grandson.

Services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home, Greencastle, with Rev. Paul Bowen officiating. Burial will be at Forest Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. A Women of the Moose service will begin at 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Gobin United Memorial Methodist Church, 307 Simpson St., Greencastle, or the Alzheimer's Association, 9135 N. Meridian St., Suite B-4, Indianapolis, 46209.

Condolences may be emailed to inbth@keystonegroup.com.