July 3, 1940 – January 13, 2024
Bess (Theda) Ely, 83, Arcadia, passed away on January 13, 2024, at The Waters in Tipton, Ind.
She was born on July 3, 1940, in Poughkeepsie, Ark., to Gather and Lessie (Hughes) Vanwinkle. She graduated from Poughkeepsie High School. After high school, Bess traveled the country playing basketball with the All American Red Heads and Hazel Walker’s Arkansas Travelers. She moved to Indiana and married Edgar (Larson) Ely. Bess worked as a butcher at Bob’s Market in Arcadia and custodian at Sheridan Adams Elementary School where she retired.
Bess enjoyed playing softball, attending sporting events, gardening, and going for long walks in Arcadia. She dearly loved her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, five sisters, and four brothers – Lloyd Vanwinkle (Santee, Calif.), Lois Stevens (Gas City, Ind.), Clara Simmons (Marion, Ind.), WS Vanwinkle (Noblesville), Mildred Covey (Salem, Ark.), Buhton Simpson (Salem, Ark.), Frances McCrackin (Mountain Home, Ark.), Billy Vanwinkle (Poughkeepsie, Ark.), and Bobby Vanwinkle (Cave City, Ark.).
Survivors include her husband, Edgar Larson Ely of Arcadia; son, Ed (Cathy) Ely of Arcadia; daughter, Phyllis Ely (Brett Carnaby) of Westfield; granddaughter, Paige (Justin) Ousley of Arcadia; and great-grandchildren, Anthony, Meredith, Winter, Evelynn, and Josslyn.