Talapha Gellenbeck (Mansfield)'s Obituary
Talapha Mae Aldred Truesdell Gellenbeck passed away in Glenwood Health Care Center, Seymour, Missouri on March 3, 2013 at the age of 94 years and 11 days. Mae was born February 20, 1919 in Milford, Indiana. She married Lewis Dale Truesdell and to this union 2 sons and 3 daughters were born before Mr. Truesdell suddenly passed away. Mae was then united in marriage to Harry A. Gellenbeck. To this union a son and a daughter were born.
Mae was preceded in death by her parents, both of her husbands, two sons, Fred Truesdell, and Timothy Truesdell, a daughter, Naomi Huttsell, a step-son Harry D. Gellenbeck, a step-daughter, Mary Gibson, two sisters, Johnie and Neva, a great-granddaughter, Victoria (Tori) Whetzel, and a great, great-granddaughter.
Mae is survived by 1 son, Ronald Gellenbeck of Florida, 3 daughters, Marie Slatton of Texas, Judy Black, Kathy Ulery of Indiana, a daughter-in-law Betty Truesdell of Indiana, and a step-daughter Gladys Nezat of Channelview, Texas. Mae has 29 grandchildren, 76 great-grandchildren, 48 great, great-grandchildren.
Among the grandchildren are Jeff Whetzel and wife Laura, and Joseph Gellenbeck, all of Indiana, Jacob Gellenbeck, of Florida, Fred Truesdell Jr., and James Truesdell, of Indiana, Lisa Truesdell, of Florida, Tammy Graeter, of Indiana, and 5 step-grandchildren (who have been her caregivers for the last 13 years), Mary Jo, David, Denise, Kevin and Noel Mitchell of Mansfield, Missouri. Plus nieces, nephews, and many nurses who cared for her during her long illness.
Mae was a loving mother and grandmother. She was a faithful wife, a good homemaker, and an excellent cook. She enjoyed gardening and putting up the bounty of the garden. Grandma Mae really enjoyed the trips she took in “the big yellow bus” (motor home) with her step-daughter and 5 step-grandchildren. There was the trip to North Dakota and Wisconsin. Then the trip to Florida. She really enjoyed the ocean and picking oranges right from the tree. Then the last trip she was able to take was to Michigan, Mackinaw Island, briefly into Canada and back. All were happy, fun times for Grandma Mae, a sweet loving grandma!
We will miss her and her beautiful smile, which was so cheering even when she was past communicating with words.
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