Delora June Burris, 84, of 148 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, passed away at 11:35 p.m. Sept. 5, 2010, in Grace Village Retirement Community, Winona Lake.
She was born June 4, 1926, in Decatur, Ill., to William and Esther Evey Ryan. On Aug. 20, 1954, in Decatur, Ill., she married Kenneth Alva Burris Jr., who survives.
She was a homemaker and a resident of Kosciusko County for the past two years. She was a kind and caring lady who loved people and was interested in everyone she met; she "never met a stranger." She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. Family was very important to her, and she was proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and was delighted to have recently become a great-great-grandmother. Most important to her was her Christian faith, which she shared by both word and example. She was creative and inquisitive and loved to learn. She would often try new recipes and take up new handicrafts. A good cook, she loved to bless others with her prize-winning pies and other baked goods. She also had a fine memory and was a whiz with numbers. Like many other women of her generation, she was in civilian service during World War II. After the war, she worked for many years as a telephone operator, an operator supervisor and a group chief operator. She also actively participated in and supported Ken's ministry as a pastor in Presbyterian churches in Illinois, Ohio and Indiana.
She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 56 years; two sons, Duane (and spouse Ruth Ann) Burris, Oregon, Ohio, and Jim (and spouse Norma) Burris, Toledo, Ohio; two daughters, Deanna (and spouse Roger) Bryant, Midland, Mich., and Joy (and spouse Scott) Eshleman, Homewood, Ill.; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; and her sister-in-law, Janice Ryan, Moweaqua, Ill. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, a grandchild and a great-great-grandchild.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at New Life Christian Church and World Outreach, 744 S. CR 325E, Warsaw, officiated by Pastors Roger Bryant and John B. Lowe. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw.
Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw.
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Memorials may be made to New Life Christian Church and World Outreach, 744 S. CR 325E, Warsaw, IN 46582, and would be appreciated by her family.
Condolences may be sent via www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com
