Eldena McCarson, 99 of Greencastle entered into her heavenly home on July 19, 2017 at Hickory Creek at Sunset. She was born March 22, 1939, she married the one love of her life, Arnold McCarson who preceded her in death in 1954. Her life was devoted to their only son, Kimber "Kim" McCarson who survives.
A life-long resident of Greencastle, Eldena was employed at the "U" Shop on the DePauw campus for 18 yeas until it burned in 174, and then worked at DePauw as a receptionist in many of the residence halls where each year, she " adopted" the student residents of whatever hall she was assigned to She was loved by the many students whose lives she touched with a hug, a kind word, and of course her homemade cookies before the Christmas break. She retired from DePauw in 1990, but certainly not from life or serving the community. She stayed active for many years with the DePauw women's retiree group, as well as performing with the Senior Citizens Kitchen Band, serving in the Putnam County Hospital Guild gift shop, RSVP, and delivered meals on wheels with her beloved sister, Leone Deem. The tow ere commonly known at the Senior Center as "the sisters". You never saw one without the other. Eldena was a charter member of Sherwood Christian Church serving as leader of Sherwood's junior high group for many years, as well as singing in the church choir, serving in various church offices and as a deaconess.
She dearly loved her church family. When Kim was serving in the ministry in Kentucky, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Eldena would pack up during every break from work, and travel to spend time with him. In every church, she became an "honorary member", adopted and loved by those church families as well. One of ten children, she was the only one of her siblings to live past the age of 90. In adtion to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters Muriel (Thomas), Mildred (Quinton), Madonna (King), Edna (Bachert) Leone (Deem), and brothers Maynard, Ralph, William, Donald Wayne, and many nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by survivors; her beloved son Kim, nieces Genda Deem, Bobbie (Jimmie) Arnold, Doris Scobee, Judy (Duane) Overshiner, Tosha (Larry) App, Linda (Ted) Sampson, and nephews Phil (Janet) King, Jeff (Brenda) Alspaugh, Brad (Tama) Alspaugh, Tracy Alspaugh, and many great and great, great nieces and nephews.
A private viewing and graveside service for family members will be conducted on July 24th with Pastor Jim Staggers officiating. A Celebration of Life will be held at Sherwood Christian Church on July 30th at 2:30 PM with all friends from the community invited to attend. Bittles & Hurt Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Sherwood Christian Church, 600 Kirkwood Drive, Greencastle IN 46135