Stella L Gilmore

Stella L. Gilmore, 70, of Elkhart, formerly of Oakland, CA, passed away on Friday, August 11, 2017 at Elkhart Place (formerly Beardsley House) in Elkhart.

Stella was born January 9, 1947 in Kewanee, Missouri to the late James and Emily (Morris) Gilmore Sr.  Also preceding her in death were two sisters, Earline Honorable and Ethel Abernathy and five brothers, Lt. James Gilmore Jr., Willie Roy Gilmore, Jerome Gilmore, Sgt. Calquat "Bobby" Gilmore and Michael Gilmore.

As a young woman, Stella graduated from the Automation Training Institute and found employment with AT&T in Oakland.  While there, she was employed as a budget consultant and also worked as a member of the management team.  She retired after 32 years, coming to Elkhart 15 years ago.

She was a member of the South Bend Elks Lodge and the Pride of the South Bend Temple, #264.  She also served on the Youth Board while at the Missionary Baptist Church in Oakland.  While in Oakland, Stella was involved in local and national politics.  Locally, she attended Canaan Baptist Church, enjoyed travelling, music, reading and singing in the church choir.

Stella is survived by two sisters, Dorothy “Dottie” Smart of Elkhart and Rose Gilmore of Sikeston, MO.  Also surviving are several nieces and nephews as well as a host of other relatives and friends. Also surviving are two sisters-in-law; Loreida Gilmore of Oakland, CA, Bernice Scott of New Madrid, MO and one brother-in-law, Archie Abernathy of Chicago, IL.

Visitation for Stella will be held on Friday, August 18th from 11 am until the hour of the service at noon at the AGAPE Missionary Baptist Church in Elkhart.  Entombment will take place in the Chapel of Memories at Rice Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in memory of Stella may be directed to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

To leave the family an online condolence, please visit our website at www.hartzlergutermuthinman.com.

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