Dorellyn Rankin Grodrian

DORELLYN GRODRIAN, of Fort Wayne, died on Friday, Oct. 21, 2011, at Wood view Health care. Born Sept. 29, 1915, she was the youngest and last surviving child of Otis M. and Dora M. Rankins's six children: Willard and Joseph Rankin, Leona Widdifield, Ruth Leis, and Grace Mayberry. Born in Garrett, she graduated from Garrett High School in 1933. She married Darwin B. Grodrian in 1935; he preceded her in death in October of 1999. She worked for 15 years in the Fort Wayne Community School system as a cook, retiring from Kekionga Jr. High School. As an active member of West Creighton Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), she served as a Sunday school teacher and deacon, and was the church's first female elder. She was also active in Christian Women's Fellowship for many years she served as chairman of the annual Bazaar Dinner and was in charge of the church kitchen. When West Creighton closed, she became a member of North Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She cooked for several years at Barbee Christian Camp, where the participants new her as "Grandma Duck". She was active in the Associated Churches food bank at West Creighton church and received the Father Tom O'Conner Award for faithful service. She was a charter member of the city wide church bowling league and also bowled with the Senior Citizen's at Quimby Village until she was 94 years old. Surviving are her children, Sharon (Herbert) Gillen of Fort Wayne and Tim (Marilyn) Grodrian of Wilmette, Ill.; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, John (Ericka) Grodrian of Valparaiso, Ind., Katherine Grodrian of Los Angeles, Calif., Susan (William) Townsend, Brett, Benjamin, and Rebecca, all of Valparaiso, Annette (Mark) Frette, Erin of Houston, Texas, Patrick of Washington, IN., Tracy (Leonard Jr.) Noens, Christina and Adam, all of Indianapolis, Laura (Paul) Ruby, Anna and Samuel, all of Folsom, Calif., and Marla (Darryle) Paulhill and Taylor and Nicole Gillen, all of Warsaw. Service is 1 p.m. Saturday at North Christian Church, 5201 Camden Drive, Fort Wayne, with visitation one hour prior. Visitation also from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Klaehn, Fahl & Melton Funeral Home, Wayne Street Chapel, 420 W. Wayne St. Burial in I.O.O.F. Cemetery, New Haven. Memorials in her honor to the Associated Churches Food Bank or the North Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Food Bank. www.klaehnfahlmelton.com