Velma Jeanette Whitcomb

Mrs. Whitcomb was the retired owner of the Ice Cream Store in Orland, Ind. She had formerly worked at Bronson Reel and at Montgomery Wards in Fort Wayne, Ind. She had also worked at Victor Gasket and Dana in Churubusco, Ind.

She was a 1936 graduate of Orland High School and was class valedictorian.

Mrs. Whitcomb was a member of Brighton Chapel Church and involved in the women's church group. She was also a member of the LaGrange County Council on Aging.

She enjoyed gardening, flowers and playing euchre.

She was born October 23, 1918, in Bronson, Michigan, to Edward M. Guernsey and Rubia (Morrow) Guernsey-Young. They preceded her in death. She married Ralph Whitcomb on May 9, 1936, in Bronson. He preceded her in death on August 6, 2008.

Surviving are a daughter, Rae Jean Whitcomb of Wexford, Pa.; a daughter-in-law, Connie Whitcomb of Greenville, S.C.; three grandchildren, Julie Ross, Natalie and Joseph Rizzo and Leslie and Michael Kucinskas; six great-grandchildren; three half sisters, June and Garth Wilber of Bronson, Mich., Jean Blasius of Sturgis, Mich., and Joan Larimer of Traverse City, Mich.; and two half brothers, C. Martin Crabill and Northa Crabill and Bronson, Mich.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, Gary Whitcomb; an infant son, Ralph James Whitcomb; a brother, Arlington Guernsey; and two stepsisters, Dorothy (Crabill) Wilson and Virginia (Crabill) Ballard.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday, June 3, 2011, at Beams Funeral Home in Fremont, Ind. with the Rev. Rustin Krapfl and the Rev. Steve Altman.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 4, 2011, at the Beams Funeral Home in Fremont, Ind.

Memorials are to the Orland Community Volunteer Fire Department.