Mary Lou Dwenger

Franklin

Mary Lou (Gindling) Dwenger, 86, passed away in the early evening Friday, June 9, 2017, at Homeview Health and Rehabilitation Center in Franklin, Indiana. She was born on Feb. 20, 1931, in Batesville, Indiana, the daughter of Michael and Rosina (Tekulve) Gindling. She was the oldest of six children.

Mary Lou graduated from the Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception, in Oldenburg, Indiana, in 1949. She married Ralph Dwenger on June 30, 1951. They had six children. The couple resided in Columbus their entire married life. Mary Lou was a devoted member of the Columbus Catholic Community, St. Bartholomew (St. Columba) Parish, where she was a Eucharistic Minister. She worked for Irwin Union Bank and Trust in the payroll department from 1968 until her retirement in 1993.

A breast cancer survivor, she was a volunteer with the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery program and in 1999, she was named Bartholomew County’s Senior Volunteer of the year.

She was actively involved in the Mill Race Center, where she regularly played bridge. She made an unsurpassed plate of fried chicken, but went a little overboard with Christmas decorations. Mary Lou most cherished the time she spent with her family – her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mary Lou is survived by four children, Wendy (Randy) Baldwin of Kewanna, Indiana, Dr. Randall Dwenger (Steven Callahan) of Salisbury, Connecticut, Rick (Dr. Martha) Dwenger of Columbus and Ronald Dwenger of Franklin; 12 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters, Judy Owens of Greensburg and Carmie (Tom) Meyer of Batesville; two brothers, Daniel (Delores) Gindling and Michael (Charla) Gindling, both of Greensburg; and a brother-in-law, Anthony Prickle.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ralph, in August 2015; a daughter, Pamela Dwenger in June 2016; an infant son, Gregory Dwenger; a sister, Joyce Prickle; and brothers-in-law, Ron Meyer and Dale Owens.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, June 16 at St. Bartholomew Roman Catholic Church, 1306 27th St., Columbus, with Father Andy Syberg officiating, followed by a graveside burial at the Garland Brook Cemetery. There will be visitation, beginning at 9 a.m. in the church narthex prior to the mass. Friends and family are invited to gather for a light lunch in the lower level of the church following the burial service.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.myers-reed.com.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers or gifts, memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society, the ALS Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Association or Mill Race Center.

www.myers-reed.com