Evelyn M. Sherbondy

EVELYN M. SHERBONDY, 92, of Chestertown, Maryland and formerly of Fort Wayne, Indiana, died peacefully on Saturday, March 14, 2009, at Chestertown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Chestertown, Maryland. Born June 5, 1916, in Fort Wayne, she was the daughter of the late William F. and Mabel (Kabisch) Mueller. She studied at the Fort Wayne School of Music. She graduated from North Side High School in 1934 and from Ball State Teachers College with a B.S. degree in Education in 1938. She organized and directed the first Civic Theatre Orchestra for the Old Fort Players in 1938 and she was a charter member of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra in 1944. She taught school in Muncie, Indiana and in the Fort Wayne Community School System until her retirement in 1980. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer W. Sherbondy whom she had married on December 27, 1940 in St. John’s Lutheran Church, her home church. Later she was a charter member of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. She was also a member of Trinity English Lutheran Church and then a member and church officer of Lutheran Church of Our Savior, where she also taught Sunday School and Adult Bible Class for many years. She was active in professional and musical organizations, including membership in Beta Chapter of Sigma Eta Fine Arts Sorority since 1950 and in the Delta Kappa Gamma Society for teachers since 1972. Evelyn was a teacher above all, a musician (pianist and clarinetist), an artist, and a wonderful loving and nurturing mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend. She is survived by her daughter Jeanette E. Sherbondy and her husband George R. Shivers of Chestertown, Maryland; her son Don O. Sherbondy and his wife Karen A. Sherbondy of Phoenix, Arizona; her grandchildren Julieta C. Tord and her husband David V. Diggs of Severna Park, Maryland; Rose O’Keefe of Portland, Oregon, Sean O’Keefe of Rockville, Maryland; and Katelyn R. Sherbondy of Phoenix, Arizona; and by her great grandchildren J. R., Rebecca, and Anya Diggs of Severna Park, Maryland. She is also survived by her cousins LaVon M. Redding, David Redding, and Jordan, Stephanie, and Andrea Redding; Mildred M. (Hensch) Smith and her husband Carl Smith, Marilyn Cocklin, Paul E. Hensch and his wife Edna Hensch, Steve Hensch of Fort Wayne, Barbara Niemeyer of Brentwood, California, as well as by nieces and nephews, Barbara Michalk of Tucson, Arizona; Robert Wyneken of Van Nuys, California; Anne Rorick of Southbury, Connecticut; William R. Sherbondy of Fort Wayne, Richard Knuth of Tucson, Arizona; Susan Knuth of Texas; Lois Giles of Westminster, Maryland; Karen Spooner of Potterville, Michigan; and Keith Mueller of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Family and friends will honor Evelyn’s life at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, 130 Speer Rd. Chestertown, MD on Wednesday March 18, 2009 from 5:00 -7:00 PM and at D.O. McComb & Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home, 1140 Lake Avenue, on Saturday, March 21 with calling from 1 to 3 p.m. and a memorial service at 3 p.m. She will be laid to rest in Greenlawn Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Evelyn’s name may be made to Ball State University Foundation, earmarked for the Teachers College, 2800 West Bethel Avenue, Muncie, IN 47304 or to the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. There will also be a memorial service on Saturday March 28 at Asbury United Methodist Church of Allen, Maryland at 4 p.m. www.fhnfuneralhome.com

Evelyn M. Sherbondy

June 5, 1916 - March 14, 2009