Glendia R. Wyatt

ELKHART — Glendia R. Wyatt, 75, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully at 9:49 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at her home with her family at her side following an extended illness.

She was born Oct. 17, 1941, in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, to the late Ernest and Lora (Brown) Attkisson, and later married the love of her life, Harold L. Wyatt, on May 4, 1959. He survives at home after 58 years together.

Also surviving are sons Michael (Beth) Wyatt of Elkhart and James Wyatt of Clinton, Kentucky; daughter Melody (Tom) Sheets of Elkhart; brothers Ernest (Rhonda) and Kenneth Attkisson, both of Elkhart; sisters Faye (Kenneth “Kinky”) Wyatt of Elkhart and Jackie Caviness of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; grandchildren John (Darcy) and Molly Sheets, Samantha Adams and Toni Wyatt; great grandchildren Kennedy Grzeskiewicz and Caitlyn, Morgan and Kendall Sheets; and great-great-grandchildren Macie Pangallo and Zuri Christman. 

A gathering of family and friends will take place at Billings Funeral Home of Elkhart from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 30.

Pastor Tim Sheets and the congregation of the Northside Church of the Nazarene, 53569 C.R. 7, Elkhart, are honored to host Glendia’s celebration of life services at the church at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. 

Burial will follow services in Prairie Street Cemetery. 

Glendia worked for the Elkhart Community School system food services, retiring in 2014 after nearly 15 years as the quintessential “lunchroom lady”.

A devout Christian, Glendia also spent more than 60 years as a member of the Northside Church of the Nazarene, where she committed herself to the teachings of Christ and the sharing of the Good News. 

She was involved in children’s ministries for more than 50 years and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the ASPCA. 

She was also an avid child advocate and spent several years as a student mentor at Woodland Elementary School and assistant coach and sponsor for the “Upward Soccer” league at church. 

Her enormous love for children and for people in general led her to form “Wyatt’s World of Toys and Gifts”, where she would spend many hours cleaning and refurbishing Teddy Bears and dolls that she would donate annually to the Elkhart Fire Department’s “Breakfast with Santa” celebration. 

She donated blood religiously to the American Red Cross and she also volunteered for the Salvation Army; even winning an award for standing for hours in all types of weather ringing the bell for those less fortunate. 

She was a champion for all who were in need; especially children, and nothing made her happier than offering an outstretched hand. Loving and endearing, Glendia prided herself on being accepting and helpful to everyone she came to know.

However, her greatest love was her family and her dogs. 

She married Harold shortly after high school and cherished the years she had with him, her children and her grandchildren. She loved dancing and sharing dance with others. 

Glendia never met a stranger and to many she was simply known as “Grandma Wyatt”. She chose to become a rock upon which many could stand, and her mentoring, wisdom and loving presence will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested bringing teddy bears or toys or a donation to the Jimtown Family Church of the Nazarene Children’s ministries. 

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