Ila Albaugh

WATERLOO - Ila Jean Albaugh, 92, passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at her home in Waterloo, Indiana.

She was born on June 6, 1932, in Berkey, Ohio, to Hugh and Ova W. (Boone) Reecer. She was number five out of seven children. She grew up on a farm, always helping her mom with the animals and in the garden. She knew what it was to work hard and be faithful. She loved cornbread, cabbage, good home-cooked meals, and chocolate. Fond memories of her childhood involved going down to Tennessee, to visit family. She always talked about traveling in a car with no heat in the winter being covered in blankets and her toes getting cold. Her dad would tell her to wiggle them to stay warm.

Jean married Richard L. Albaugh on Sept. 28, 1950, in Kendallville, Indiana, and he passed away on June 25, 2011. She always loved to tell the story of how she snagged Dick. She worked at the local dairy treat, and she always made sure to give him an extra scoop of ice cream when he came in. That did the trick, she won him with that extra scoop. She always claimed she had the best when she married Dick, he was the love of her life. He treated her like a queen. They were married 60 years. She missed him every day after he passed.

She was an accountant for Bell Auto Sales in Fort Wayne, along with various other dealerships in the area. She always worked with faithfulness and diligence.

Jean was a member and active volunteer of New Hope Christian Center in Waterloo. She was a former member of The Rock Church in Leo. She loved Jesus with all her heart and she always prayed for everyone.

Jean devoted her time to her grandchildren and great- grandchildren. She was deeply proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She would brag on them to any one who would listen - talking about how good they were at school, work, or whatever talent they had. She would go as far as to say how handsome the grandsons were or how beautiful the granddaughters were, sometimes causing them to be red in the face. All her bragging showed them just how much she truly loved them, making them feel special.

Jean always kept her grandchildren on the weekend when they were young. When they stayed with her she would cater to them, making sure they had all their favorite snacks, TV shows, and comfortable things. She loved taking them to Ayres Tea Room, ice skating, Chuckies, Putt-Putting, zoo trips and many more special activities. She spoiled them as grandmas do. When great-grandchildren came along, she was much the same - making sure they had all their favorite things; puzzles, food, TV shows. Showing up with chicken noodle soup, crackers, ice cream and fruit for the added healthy balance. She loved to do fun things with them; baking brownies, zoo trips, shopping, putting puzzles together, or anything the grandkids enjoyed doing, she was right there doing it with them. She was famous for her orange Jell-O salad, brownies and cranberry salad. She shared her secret recipes with all who asked. She always reminded the great-grandkids how blessed they were to have hard working, godly parents and grandparents.

Jean was an encourager of all people, always encouraging everyone she came into contact with. She was loving, giving, caring, kind, one of the sweetest people, funny, adventurous, a little ornery, yet always proper. She was a caretaker, always paying attention to the little things people liked or needed. It was nothing for her to show up with a bag of clothes for someone who needed them or a bag of food. She had a soft spot for the underdog and was always good at letting people know she loved them. She accepted everyone as they were and loved them as her own. She would say "grandma loves you" whether or not you were her grandchild. She always gave the best hugs.

Surviving are two sons and their spouses, the Rev. Michael L. and Karen Albaugh, of Kendallville and Patrick L. and Judy Albaugh, of Palm Springs, California; five grandchildren and their spouses, Michelle and Patrick Eggering, Melissa and Rob Kirkpatrick, Carrie and Ryan Van Gessel, Richard and Cortney Albaugh and Cristy and Zach Fuhrman; 21 great-grandchildren; a brother, Jim R. Reecer, of Fort Wayne; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; and parents; brother, Harold Reecer; and four sisters, Edith Getts, Opal McBride, Marjorie Wallace and Evelyn Kaiser; and brother-in-law Max Albaugh

Services will be held at 11 a.m., on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at Feller and Clark Funeral Home, 1860 Center St., Auburn, with visitation from 10-11 a.m., prior to the service at the funeral home.

Pastor Ralph Diehl and Pastor Roger Dilley will be officiating.

Entombment will take place at Highland Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in Fort Wayne.

Visitation also will be from 4-8 p.m., on Monday, May 12, 2025, at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to New Hope Christian Center, 900 S. Wayne St., Waterloo, IN 46793.

Pallbearers are Richie Albaugh, Zach Fuhrman, Jim Clifford, Samuel Diehm, Cory Werner and Kadmiel Clear.

To send condolences, visit www.fellerandclark.com.