Gladys Barkley

Gladys Barkley, 106 years, 9 months and 25 days old, of Convoy died at 7 a.m. Wednesday, July 24, 2013, at Vancrest Health Care Center of Convoy.

She was born September 29, 1906, in Tully Township, Van Wert County, the daughter of the late Gilbert Franklin and Rosa Etta (Feasby) Fensler. She was one of eight children, all of them deceased. On May 31, 1928, she married Floyd H. Barkley, who preceded her in death on July 4, 1990.

Survivors include three sons, Harold (Marie) Barkley and Max (Nancy) Barkley, both of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Mervin (Arlene) Barkley of Scott; two daughters, Carol J. Cavanaugh and Eula Rose Jerome, both of Convoy; a sister-in-law, Joella Fensler of Fort Wayne; 12 grandchildren, Matt (Stacy) Cavanaugh of Aliso Viejo, Calif., Chris (Cathy) Cavanaugh of San Diego, Calif., Mitchell (Erica) Barkley of Toledo, Kim (Bob) Freiberger of Fort Wayne, Jennine (Bob) Coakley of Laguna Niguel, Calif., John Barkley of Deland, Fla., Debra (Brian) Ruble of Grover Hill, Don (Diane) Snyder of Findlay, Tom (Julie) Barkley of Fort Wayne, Greg (Claire) Householder of Roanoke, Ind., Jim (Marianne) Cavanaugh of Indianapolis, Ind., and Jackie (Kevin) Nielsen of Lafayette, Ind.; 23 great-grandchildren, Chloe and Brodie Cavanaugh, Meghan and Ethan Cavanaugh, John, Jim and Mary Beth Cavanaugh, Adam Nielsen, Nicole (Lance) Housinger, Sara (Zach) Miller, Andy Linderberg, Chris Linderberg, Devon Barkley, Griffen Barkley, Gage Barkley, Nathaniel (Kelsey) Barkley, Abigail Coakley, Nicholas (Kerry) Ruble, Rebecca Ruble, Danielle Snyder, Meg Barkley, and Natalie and Amanda Householder; three great-great-grandchildren, Haley and Madelin Miller and Maddox Barkley; and several nieces and nephews.

A grandson, Scott Barkley; one daughter-in-law, Nancy J. Barkley; two sons-in-law, Jim Cavanaugh and Kenneth Bill Jerome; four brothers, Floyd, Herbert, Russell, and Lester Fensler; and three sisters, Lela Crabtree, Ruby Marie Lare and Wilma Black, also preceded her in death.

Gladys was a homemaker. She traveled by horse and buggy as a child and walked to a one-room schoolhouse. She saw numerous changes throughout her lifetime, such as telephones, electricity, running water, automobiles, and televisions, to name only a few. She enjoyed gardening and canning and was an excellent cook as well. Homemade pies were her specialty. She was a helpful neighbor, a devoted mother and loved by everyone who became acquainted with her.

She was a member of Countryside Chapel United Methodist Church of rural Convoy, and a former Sunday School teacher. She was so fortunate o be able to stay in her own home until the age of 103. She devoted her life to family and grandchildren and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 29, at Countryside Chapel United Methodist Church of rural Convoy, with the Rev. Wayne Kargas officiating. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery in Convoy.

Calling hours are from 1-7 p.m. Sunday, July 28, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, and an hour prior to services Monday at the church.

Preferred memorials: Countryside Chapel UM Church or Vancrest of Convoy Activity Fund.

Online condolences may be emailed to cowanfh@yahoo.com.