Eleanor J. Grable

Eleanor J. Grable, age 95 of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 9:41 am on Wednesday June 21, 2023, at her residence.  Born on October 16, 1927, in Sherburne, NY, she was the daughter of George and Frances (Smith) Tanner.

Eleanor and her family moved to Dayton, OH when she was three.  As a child she enjoyed playing baseball with the other neighborhood children.  Her family then moved to Tri-Lakes in her freshman year of high school.  Eleanor attended Columbia City High School, where she was a cheerleader, and graduated with the Class of 1945.  After graduating Eleanor attended a sectional basketball game with Rex Grable, and a year and a half later they were married on August 3, 1947, at Grace Lutheran Church in Columbia City.  They moved to Troy Cedar Lake in 1988, and then just east of Columbia City in 2010.

Eleanor worked in several offices at the Whitley County Court House for over 20 years and was the first woman elected official in the county as Recorder in 1967. She worked for Passages for four years and owned the Grable Restaurant for four years, in addition to working for Whitley County Abstract for 17 years.

Eleanor was a former member of Grace Lutheran Church and current member of Columbia City Church of the Brethren and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks #1417, Columbia City.  She enjoyed traveling and going to casinos with her friends in her free time.

Survivors include her children Dennis Grable of Columbia City and Becky (Randy) Simons of Grant, MI; grandchildren Denise Hearld, Jennifer Johnson, DJ Grable, Megan Garvey, Kalee Simons, Randi Simons, and Amanda Kavorik; great-grandchildren Carlee Hearld, Timothy Hearld, Allie Hearld, Ella Johnson, Meredith Johnson, Lucas Garvey, Drew Garvey, Rex Grable, Liam Sokolowski, Tristan Sokolowski, Cooper Simons-Miller, Logan Kavorik, and Jayden Kavorik; great-great-grandchildren Bailey, Myla, and Lyla; brother-in-law Jake Adkins of Columbia City; sisters-in-law Betty Grable and Connie Rohrbach, both of Columbia City.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 63 years Rex Grable, sister Eileen Adkins, brothers Fred A. Tanner, H. Edward Tanner, and Richard M. Tanner.

Friends may call on Sunday July 9, 2023, from 12:00-4:00 pm at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City.

Funeral services for Eleanor will be held at 10:00 am on Monday July 10, 2023, at the funeral home.

Memorial contrbutions in memory of Eleanor may be made to Columbia City Church of the Brethren or Promedica (formerly Heartland Hospice).

Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send condolences or to sign the online guest register.

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