Sue Callendine, 94, commonly known among many as “Mrs.C,” passed away peacefully with the surrounding love of her family and the sustaining strength of her faith on July 31, 2021, in the home of her loving granddaughter.
Sue was born on July 14, 1927, in Logansport, IN, to Claude and Eilene Garrison, the second of three children. She grew up in a parsonage home and was active in local congregations all of her life. After graduating from DePauw University, Sue married George Callendine Jr., her loving husband of 54 years and together, they began creating a home that welcomed people of all ages and walks of life.
Sue loved being a homemaker and surrounding her family with security, mom-direction, and a model of selfless giving and hospitality. She also found multiple ways to share her many talents of creativity and her commitment to outreach through sewing, knitting, cooking, and baking. Sue knitted little hats for Riverside Hospital’s premature babies, and also, sewed delicate, tiny burial gowns for still-born infants born at Riverside Hospital. She responded to a plea from a doctor and knitted and donated hundreds of little sweaters for children in developing countries. Her kitchen was open to learn how to make homemade applesauce, yeast bread rolls, and cut out cookies for any and all holidays. In addition to her commitment to family, Sue enjoyed good jokes and could gently tease out laughter from neighbors, friends, and family. While Sue was not a big sports fan, she was an intense basketball follower, particularly Ohio State University basketball. The foundation of all of Sue’s activities was a deep faith in God, a constant and selfless love of family, and a commitment to invest in and care for the youth in her life. She continued to value and celebrate relationships of all ages of people, particularly delighting in young people as she saw such hope and a positive spirit in them. By seeing the best in others, Sue gently encouraged many of all ages and walks of life to believe in themselves and to see “hope.” Being a volunteer with CHOICES, an intervention non-profit for victims of domestic violence, demonstrated that kind of “hope.” Despite some health conditions in her later years, Sue continued to face her life’s changing landscape with faith, bravery, positivity, humor, joy, gratefulness, and large doses of grace, generosity, and self-less love.
Sue is survived by her children, Lynn Dunn (Tom), Kay Stark (Tim), Judy Bandy (Eric), George Callendine (Amy) as well as her loving, younger sister, Nan Diener. In addition, Sue is remembered with affection as “Grandma C, Sue-Sue, Aunt Sue” by her ten grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, and five nieces and nephews with whom she developed many fun memories.
Preceding Sue in death are her parents, Claude and Eilene Garrison, her brother, Benjamin Garrison and her loving and devoted husband of 54 years, George Callendine Jr.
Sue’s family is forever grateful for all of the friends of all ages, neighbors near and far, extended family across the country, and medical teams who have offered support, expertise, prayers, kindness, stories, memories, and most of all, love.
Family will be receiving friends on August 16, 2021, from 10-11AM at Worthington United Methodist Church, Worthington, OH. Celebration of Life will follow at 11AM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Sue’s memory to one of the following organizations:
Epworth Forest Camp Scholarships: Make check payable to: Epworth Forest Conference Center, write “Callendine Scholarship” in memo line and mail to: Epworth Forest Conference Center, 8531 East Epworth Forest Road. North Webster, IN 46555.
or Mom’s House, Toledo Ohio: https://www.momshousetoledo.org/donate/ or an organization of one’s choosing
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.