Leora A. Burden

Leora A. Burden, 76, of Lima, died at 7:45 p.m. Friday, April 1, 2011, at the Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center.

She was born May 3, 1934, in St. Marys, the daughter of the late Earl W. and Ruth (Ashbaugh) Worthington. She married the Rev. Mark Burden, who survives in Lima.

Mrs. Burden was a pastor’s wife and homemaker. She loved her family, children and grandchildren, was a Prayer Warrior, church secretary and organist, a member of United Methodist Women, a great pie baker, candy maker and great at crafts. She had a great memory for names, birthdates, other dates, numbers and addresses. She played piano and organ in churches, was on a voluntary Emergency Medical Services (EMS) squad and belonged to a number of garden clubs over the years.

She was a member of Family of Faith United Methodist Church in Lima.

In addition to her husband, survivors include two children, Tim (Beth) Burden of Van Wert and Rebecca (Richard) Bartholomew of Columbus; a sister, Lana (John) Baker of Houston, Texas; seven grandchildren, Rachel (Steve) Wolverton, Matthew Burden, Richard Scott Bartholomew, Joshua (Ann) Bartholomew, David (Valerie) Burden, Benjamin (Monica) Bartholomew and Jonathan Burden.

A memorial service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at Shawnee Community Church, 2600 Zurmehly Road in Lima, with the Rev. Charlotte Hefner officiating.

There will be no calling hours prior to the service, but visiting and fellowship will be held after the service.

Preferred memorials: Agora Little Gems Early Learning and Child Care Center, 400 W. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215.

Arrangements were handled by Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory in Van Wert. Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.alspachgearhart.com.