George Etta Newsom passed away peacefully at age 87, on October 12, 2006, at Wynscape Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Wheaton, Illinois. She was born on August 8, 1919, in Sweet Springs, Missouri, to Amos Christian and Anna Elizabeth Meier Dierking.
George Etta married Tom L. Newsom on March 15, 1942, shortly after Tom enlisted in the military. They spent the War years apart while he served ultimately as an Army Captain in Europe. When the War ended, he started his lifelong career with Hallmark Cards which moved the family several times to several cities in Illinois and Michigan. In 1965, the family, including daughter, Jane, and son, Tom, settled in Wheaton, Illinois, where the family became active and long-time members of the First Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the Presbyterian Women's organization and Elizabeth Circle working many hours at church and mission service work while developing many close and dear friendships.
Her life was her family, her church and her friends. She touched the lives of all whom she met, even as a resident of the Westbridge and Wynscape communities in her last years. She never met a stranger and those with whom she came into contact were met with a warm smile, infectious laughter and keen interest in the person as a friend. She will be deeply missed.
George Etta is survived by her two children, Jane (Dean) Israel of Wheaton and Tom (Sue) of Westmont, two grandchildren, Matthew (Rachel) Israel of Overland Park, Kansas, and William Israel, a Midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, and several dear nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband (in 1996), her parents and two sisters.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday morning, October 28, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church, 715 N. Carlton Avenue, Wheaton, Illinois, 630-668-5147, (www.firstpreswheaton.org). Interment of the remains of both George Etta and Tom Newsom will be during the summer of 2007, in her home town of Sweet Springs, Missouri.
Memorials may be directed in her name to The First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton, or the Alzheimer's Association National Office, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois 60601.
Information and on-line guest book is available at Hultgrenfh.com or call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.