Grace Elzay, wife of John Van Atta, died at her home 2 1-2 miles southeast of Ada on Thursday afternoon, December 7, at five o’clock. She had been ill for the last two months and seriously sick one week. Death was attributed to a heart ailment. The mother of a large family and an active member of the Sugar Grove community, her early death came as a hard blow.
She was born in Hancock County on Aug 15, 1894, the daughter of Hiram and Hulda Hoy Elzay. Coming to Hardin County as a small child, she spent her life in the nearby community. She was a faithful member of the WSCS of the Sugar Grove church and active in the farm bureau.
On Jan 15, 1914 she was married to John Van Atta, who survives, as do her parents. There are three daughters, Mrs. Mildred Moe, Ada, Marie and Lola at home and six sons, S/Sgt Willard, Greenville Army Air base S. Car; Harold, Ada, Lloyd, Paul, Donald, and John Jr at home. One daughter, Martha Jean, and a sister, Hazel Elzay Cotterman, preceded her in death.
She also leaves four sisters, Mrs. Lillian McCafferty and Mrs. Anna Wright, Ada; Mrs. Helen Koontz, Bluffton, Mrs. Lavonne Magley, Postoria; and a brother, Russell Elzay of Bluffton.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete at a late hour last night awaiting word from her son Willard Van Atta.