Columbia City High School
Alumni Database
HOME * = Has Email ** = Deceased

Tips for Entering Your Profile 
ADD A NAME REUNION INFO MAIN INDEX CLASS MEMORIES WEBMASTER
died Monday, December 3, 2018 with her dog Toby beside her at her home in Indianapolis, IN where she had lived since 2017. She was born in Fort Worth, Texas October 10, 1934, a daughter of Joseph and Beatrice Barrett Jenkinson, who later moved to Kansas City, Missouri and Fort Wayne, IN.

At the beginning of World War II, the family moved to a Columbia City farm where they raised cattle and hogs; neighbors farmed the 160 acres with corn, wheat and soybeans. Eventually the family left the farm and moved to a home on Round Lake. She attended Coesse School while living on the farm, transferring to Thorncreek School to complete her primary education. She graduated from Columbia City High School and completed her Bachelor of Science degree in education at Indiana University in 1956. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. After graduation, she married Verlin Hile and taught at Ben Davis and Arsenal Technical high schools in Indianapolis.

When her husband completed dental school, they returned to Columbia City where their three children, Laura Elizabeth, Andrew Barrett (Barry) and Jay Matthew were born. When the children were old enough, she began work as editor of the Tri-County Truth newspaper in Churubusco, IN, a position she held for more than 10 years.

After divorce, she resided in Fort Wayne where she continued work and traveled prior to retirement. Her love for travel continued with trips throughout Europe, Asia, Machu Picchu, and much of the US and Canada. She became involved with "We The Living" following the death of her son Barry, and helped adults learn to read. She volunteered at Ronald McDonald House at Parkview Hospital when it opened up until 2017 when she moved from Fort Wayne to Indianapolis to live with her daughter.

Her passions included cheering on the Hoosiers, playing bridge, reading, travel, her friends, her family and her dog. She is survived by her daughter, Laura Hile, of Indianapolis, IN; her son Matt (Melissa) Hile of Columbia City, IN; granddaughters Casey (Adrian Miller) of Columbia City and Brooke (Brad) Snider of Noblesville, IN, grandsons Zachary (Lindsey McNelis) of Noblesville, IN and Jordan (Chelsea) Hile of Fort Wayne, IN, and great-grandchildren Adin, Calloway, Hadley, Griffin, Finley, Bodhi and Kairo; nephew David (Trish) Washburn of San Rafael, CA and Liz Washburn of Hayden, ID.

A memorial service will be held from 2pm to 4pm on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at Smith Funeral Home Coach Room in Columbia City. Final interment will take place at Lindenwood Cemetery in Fort Wayne, IN at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to PetSmart Charities, Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Stand Up to Cancer, Gary Sinese Foundation for veterans, or Ronald McDonald House Charities. Condolences may be sent to www.smithandsonsfuneralhome.com

Published in the The Indianapolis Star on Dec. 9, 2018">

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU!

You can upload photographs of yourself here, either a senior picture or one of you now. Before uploading, please size your pictures to about 85 pixels wide x 125 pixels tall(4" x 6" maximum size), with a resolution of 72-300 dpi. This keeps the images small but still viewable. To replace a picture you have already uploaded, just upload a new picture in its place. Thanks.

Photo to Upload:
Short Caption For Photo:
Type Of Photo:   Senior Photo Recent Photo
 
Database Footer

Class Coordinators needed.  If your class does not have a Class Coordinator listed with its officers, you can volunteer by clicking here: webmaster@cchsaa.org.  For more info, click here

© 2005 Columbia City High School Alumni Association     This page last modified 09/27/2006