Mary Ernestine Eads left this life October 17, 2016, at age 97. She was born to Lewis Francis Eads and Florence Gertrude (Rich) Eads in Anderson, Indiana, on November 26, 1918. She was something of a miracle as her mother had become quite ill late in her term during the great influenza outbreak of 1918. She was the third eldest and last survivor of their four children. Her sisters and brother were Elizabeth Lennis, Verna Eads, and Grover (Bud) Eads.
Mom attended Hazelwood Elementary and Columbia Elementary Schools and graduated from Anderson High School in 1936, at age 17. She retired in March, 1985, from Delco Remy after 46 years. Mom had previously worked at Guide Lamp; but was laid off and did not have enough time there to be recalled. She had repeatedly, but unsuccessfully, applied at Delco. However, Mom was instantly hired after the Delco Remy women’s softball coach saw Mom playing a pick-up game with some Delco girls she knew. She was asked what shift she preferred (1st shift) and received her request when most of the other players had 2nd and 3rd shift jobs.
Mom played softball and basketball for Delco Remy women’s teams in the 1940s and those teams had a fair amount of success. They won a 1941 basketball tournament. Mom bowled on a number of teams from the 1940s through the 1970s and amassed a respectable trophy collection.
Mom was an active UAW Local 662 member and became one of the first UAW committeewomen at Delco Remy. Local UAW leaders considered her to be very effective.
Mom assisted with Kindergarten Sunday School at Anderson’s First United Methodist Church for several years in the 1960s and helped clean up the educational wing after the December, 1960 fire which destroyed the original 1900 sanctuary. She was a wonderful sewer and made many of her own clothes into her 80s.
Mom survived breast cancer in 1975 and enjoyed amazing health and physical ability until just the last couple of years. She remained active for most of her life, mowing her own lawn with a self-propelled walk behind mower well into her 80s, exercising in the YWCA pool and then the Anderson University pool into her 90s, and driving until she was 94. She lived semi-independently until September of last year.
Mom was an Indians basketball fan and a follower of men’s and women’s college basketball, especially Purdue and Notre Dame. She was also a Pacers fan.
Mom had a love of animals and was a supporter of the Madison County Humane Society.
Although she never had formal college education, she instilled her family with a love of books and the importance of further education.
Mom was nicknamed “Woe” by her granddaughter, Lindsey, when Lindsey was very young. Lindsey’s dubbed her other grandmother “Wee.” For ever after, they were known in the family as Wee and Woe. Woe is survived by her son, Kevin (Beth) Eads; grandchildren Lindsey (Nathan) Herrmann Derek Eads, and Lauren Eads; great-grandchildren William Patrick and Rebecca Kate Herrmann and Willow Rebecca Eads. Aunt Mary is also survived by a niece, Sharon (Eads) Webber, and nephews Grover (Buddy) Eads, Jr., Rick Eads, and DeWayne "Sonny" Lennis. She was pre-deceased by her siblings and by niece Carolyn (Lennis) Davis and nephew Richard Lennis.
The family requests that there be no flowers; instead, asking that you please contribute to the Madison County Humane Society or to the cancer charity of your choice. Our family is grateful to the caring staff at Bethany Pointe and St. Vincent Hospice.
Cremation having occurred, a memorial service will be 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 19 at Rozelle-Johnson Funeral Service with Ned Clark officiating. Visitation will be from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Post online condolences at www.rozelle-johnson.com