Gwendolyn L. Edstrom

This was written by Gwendolyn Edstrom, my mother, in 2015. She was 91 at the time. She was born September 3, 1923 and raised on a dusty, red dirt farm in Dill City, Oklahoma. She lived most of her adult life in Indianapolis, Indiana and was a member of the Irvington Presbyterian Church since 1945.

“I have been blessed!! I feel people have honored me every day of my life.” (From a 2008 writing.) I entered life to a mother (Mayme Sanders Wyatt) who was the oldest of 5 brothers and 4 sisters. Mom was pregnant when her mom (Mattie Wilburn Sanders) was expecting her tenth child, Dempsey. Born with an unknown father, I was raised by my mom and step-father in an old farm house which my mom made sparkle with cleanliness. I went to school 12 years without being absent. I attended Dill City Methodist Church as a child, and I remember being dearly loved by all the my aunts and uncles.

I lived free of charge (after graduating from high school) with my Aunt Mary in Oklahoma City, who provided me with a house and some clothes (I’m sure), and permitted me to go to the same business school she had attended. After graduation, I got my first job in Oklahoma City. But on the first day I had an appendicitis attack and had to go back to Dill City to have surgery.

After surgery and recovery, I needed to look for another job. I went about 40-50 miles from home and got a job at the Chamber of Commerce. I also got a sleeping room in a family’s home and walked back and forth to work, passing the Post Office each day.

Luckily, the town had a Naval Base where I met my future husband, Fredric Edstrom in 1942. He was in the Navy and charged with mail service. I met him in front of the Post Office as I was walking home from work one day. Later that same evening at the USO, we became more acquainted. For the next eight or nine months, Fred brought me a single red rose each day to work. We married June 27, 1943 at my Aunt Mary’s home in Oklahoma City.

After marriage, we moved to the state of Washington where the Navy had Fred transferred. I worked at the Torpedo Shop on the base until the war ended in 1945. We then left Washington and moved to Illinois where Fred was from, and where his job was with International Harvester. Soon he was transferred Indianapolis and that city became our home.

We lived in a sleeping room until we found a double in Irvington. We lived there and had Fredric Jr. in 1947, and Janine in 1952. Six months later, we moved into the house we had built and I am still living in at the age of 91. During these years I worked in the school system as a secretary at Lowell Elementary and then as a special needs driver until I retired.

I didn’t know the Lord when I was young, but NOW truly believe He was guiding me in preparation for the future. My grandfather was a godly man and I remember him taking a church hymnal every Sunday and singing hymns. I now have three married granddaughters, and five beautiful great-granddaughters, two daughterin- laws and a son-in-law. What more could one wish for?????

Is there any place to go but HEAVEN?

“I feel so honored to have lived so long. I’m wishing my family the great happiness I’ve had throughout my life.”

(From 2008 writing)

Gwen

Both Visitation and Funeral Services for Gwen will be held on Friday, January 9th at the Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Chapel at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will start at 10:00 am with the Service following at 10:30.