Midge Edith Chambers

MILDRED E. (MIDGE) CHAMBERS, 87, peacefully passed away on April 18, 2021, comforted by the love of her daughters. The daughter of the late Gilbert and Lois (Coleman) Blinn, she was born July 3, 1933, in Cape Town, South Africa, during her parents’ tenure as missionaries. She graduated from high school in Crown Point, Indiana and attended Manchester College, Indiana University at Gary, and Saint Francis College. While employed at ITT from 1954-1962, she was privileged to work for, among others, the late Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of electronic television. In 1962, Midge began her career at Allen Dairy. While working full-time, she earned a B. S. in Management from Indiana-Purdue University at Fort Wayne. During her 33 years with Allen Dairy, Midge advanced to become the general manager and, in 1993, successfully negotiated a merger with Prairie Farms. She served as the first general manager of the Fort Wayne Division of Prairie Farms Dairy before retiring in 1995. Midge was a member of Taylor Chapel United Methodist Church and active with the United Methodist Women. In December 2020, she completed a family history book, documenting both genealogy and the story of her parents’ lives. She had an adventurous spirit, loved to travel and was an avid bridge player, but her greatest joy came from all things with her family, especially with her grandchildren: singing, listening, advising, traveling, talking, shopping, laughing, hugging, loving, puttering, teaching, reminiscing, organizing, learning, negotiating, and so much more.

Midge was survived by four daughters, Polly M. (Jacob) Bonilla of Flynn, Texas; Melinda S. (Richard) Cope of Stevenson Ranch, California; Nancy A. (Joseph) Wever of Indianapolis; Kathy E. (Bradley) Bakle of Fort Wayne; a stepdaughter, Deborah E. Chambers of Athol, Massachusetts; 11 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Paul D. Merritts; her second husband of 20 years James V. Chambers; and her sisters, Evangeline Dunmire and Lois Jean Criswell.

Her life will be celebrated on May 1, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Taylor Chapel United Methodist Church, with visitation one hour prior. Her cremains will be buried in Montgomery Cemetery, Oakland City, Indiana. Memorials may be made to Taylor Chapel United Methodist Church or to Parkview Hospice.