Obituary of Mary Louise Gebhardt

MARY LOUISE KENDLE GEBHARDT ST. GEORGE, UT - Mary Louise Kendle Gebhardt, 92, passed away January 12, 2011, in St. George, UT. Mary Louise was born in Chicago, January 18, 1918 to Richard and Edith Carithers Kendle. Mary Louise's father, Richard, died when Mary Louise was one year old during the 1918 flu epidemic. Her mother married Gerald Wallick and the family moved to Sterling when Mary Louise was four years old. She went to Central and Wallace schools graduating from Sterling Township High School in 1935. She attended Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA. On February 13, 1938 in Sterling, Mary Louise married Robert J. Gebhardt. They were married 60 years before Bob died November 4, 1998. They had three children, one granddaughter, and 2 great-grandchildren. Mary Louise was a member of the DAR, a life long member of Wesley United Methodist Church, and a charter member of the Pink Ladies at Community General Hospital in Sterling. Mary Louise played bridge for over 70 years, enjoyed bingo, needlework, and was an avid reader using her Kindle until she died. In 2005, after living 55 years on W. 14th St. she moved to Manassas, VA, to be closer to her family. In September 2008, she and her daughters moved to Sun River, St. George, UT, an active adult community. She joined in activities at Sun River and enjoyed all her new neighbors. Mary Louise is survived by her daughters, Kay Gebhardt Ackerman and Jane E. Gebhardt, both of St. George, UT, and her son, John R. Gebhardt, of Raleigh, NC. She is also survived by her granddaughter, Karin Louise (Robert) Clarke, two great-grandchildren, Nicholas Clarke and Jacquelyn Clarke, of Culpeper, VA. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Jack Olmstead, of Knoxville, her sister-in-law, Pauline Wallick, of West Lafayette, IN, many nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and stepfather, her husband, Robert, her sister Jane Wallick Olmstead, and her brother Donald A. Wallick. Funeral services will be at Wesley United Methodist Church, 16th Ave. Sterling, on Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. Preceding the funeral, visitation, with coffee and rolls, will be held at Wesley UM Church beginning at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be at Oak Knoll Memorial Gardens in Sterling. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hospice of Rock River Valley and Wesley United Methodist Church.