Mary Ellen Day

Mary Ellen (Uhl) Day, 90, passed away peacefully 30 December 2025 at her Roanoke home. She was born 22 April 1935 in Fort Wayne, IN. The first child of Marvin Edward and Helen Emma (Koppenhoffer) Uhl, Mary had two younger siblings, Elizabeth Louise (Betty Uhl) Barry and Edward Jay (Eddie) Uhl. Mary graduated from South Side High School in 1953. She worked as a secretary at GE Supply in high school. Meeting Melvin Dean Day while working at GE when he interviewed for a job, they married 5 October 1955 in Fort Wayne. Melvin and Mary enjoyed a 61-year marriage before his death in 2017. Through their marriage, her career included secretarial work at GE and Magnavox, transcriptionist for Dr. Silvia Bowman, stay-at-home mom, Cub Scout Den Mother, Commodity Broker at Clayton Commodities in Fort Wayne; then after earning a college degree from Indiana Institute of Technology in 1991, she worked as the H.R. Insurance Manager at Slater Steel, retiring in 1992. That retirement happened as Slater Steel was purchased by a Canadian company. One retirement wasn’t enough; she then worked for St. Frances University serving as Human Resources Director. Her second retirement stuck in 1998. With both retired, Mary and Melvin began seeking warmer winter climates, Gulf Shores, Alabama, prior to 2004. A couple winters wandering, then settling into Bit-O-Heaven RV Park in Donna, TX until 2017. In addition to work, family, and travel Mary loved her wildflowers, birdwatching, was an active member of the HomeEc club, as well as enjoying genealogy research. Her genealogical information helped her author family history books, these are available at the Allen County Public Library or the Wells County Public Library. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin and Helen; brother, Edward; and husband, Melvin. She is survived by her sister, Betty (Ted) Barry; four sons, Mark A (Cindy) Day of Channahon, IL; Michael E. (Sherry) Day and Matt (Marcia) Day, all of Ossian, IN; as well as Mitchell (Karen) Day of Mesa, AZ; grandchildren, Julie (Michael) Meredith, Jennifer (Matthew) Krumma, Erica (Bryan) Castellani, Heather Day, Melanie (Giancarlo) Alpuche, and Michael A. Day. Between her six grandchildren, she has twelve great-grandchildren, ranging in ages from 2 to 22 years. Each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren held special places in her heart. Memorial service will be 4:00 pm on 9 January 2026 at Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Funeral Home, 120 West Mill Street, Ossian, IN 46777. Visitation is one hour prior. Burial will be at Lindenwood Cemetery at a later date. Memorials are requested to Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana, Scouts of America, or Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation. Visit www.elzey-patterson-rodak.com to leave condolences.