Adabelle Shinabarger

Adabelle (Ada) Shinabarger, 87, passed away August 9, 2023, in Fort Wayne, IN. Ada was born January 18, 1936, in Williams County, Ohio, to the late Earl Isaac, a farmer and auctioneer, and Minnie (Brannan) Shinabarger, a schoolteacher.

Ada graduated from Kunkle (Ohio) High School in 1954 and Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, in 1958. She taught home economics in Michigan and Illinois for four years. She began a Cooperative Extension career with Cornell University in 1961 when she became Extension Home Economist for Washington County, New York.

She was a long-time district Cooperative Extension (food marketing) Agent for Kent and other west Michigan counties and was a regular on channel 8 TV in Grand Rapids, MI during the 70’s and 80’s. She also wrote a weekly column for several west Michigan newspapers and radio.

During Ada’s Extension career she won several awards, the most prestigious being The John Hannah award for program excellence for the most outstanding program of the year. Her program was a correspondence course. Throughout her career, she developed over a dozen courses to help consumers get the greatest value for their food dollars.

Ada traveled extensively for as long as she was physically able. She loved to garden and developed her own landscaping plan for her home in Ada, MI. She attended and was a member of the The First Congregational Church of Ada, MI. While a member, she was most active in the Peace and Justice Community ministry.

Ada moved to Fort Wayne from her home in Ada, MI in 2013 to be near family.

She is survived by nephews Jamie (Catherine “Sam”) Shinabarger of Jasper, IN and Todd (Cindy) Shinabarger of Newnan, GA, as well as four grandnieces, a grandnephew and 13 great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. She was preceded her in death by her older brother James.

A Funeral service will be held 7:00pm Friday August 11, 2023, at D.O. McComb and Sons, Pine Valley Park, 1320 East Dupont Road, Fort Wayne, IN., with visitation one hour prior.

Pallbearers are Eric (Brook) Shinabarger, grandnephew, Robert (Laura) Johnson, Jonathan (Erin) Geyer, Dalton (Brooke) Gordon and Zach (Carrie) Compton, all spouses of her grandnieces.

Interment and graveside service will be 10:00 am Saturday August 12, 2023, at the Floral Grove Cemetery, Pioneer, OH. Memorials may be made to The Susan G. Komen Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Association.