Gladys B. Ludens, 108, of Morrison, IL, died Saturday March 12, 2016 at Morrison Community Hospital in Morrison.
Gladys was born April 11, 1907, in Geddes, SD, to Eugene Franklin and Ella Christina (Anderson) Blair. She was educated in the rural Geddes Grade Schools and graduated from Geddes High School. She attended Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD, South Dakota State College in Brookings, SD, and graduated from Morningside College in Sioux City, IA, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Gladys went on to receive her Masters in literature and drama from the University of South Dakota, Vermillion. She married Lawrence A. Ludens on March 17, 1944, in Mobile, AL. He died January 23, 1990. Gladys was employed as a high school English teacher in Lehigh, IA, Wittemore, IA, Guernsey, IA, Hanover, IL, Morrison, IL, Wakonda, SD, and Geddes. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Morrison, where she sang in the church’s choir and served as a Sunday school teacher. She taught Sunday school in various churches and was active in many aspects of the Presbyterian Church, having served on the Church Session. She was a member of the PEO-Morrison Chapter FL, the Order of the Eastern Star-Sterling Chapter 354, the Morrison Garden Club, and Daughters of the American Revolution-Rock River Chapter since 1931. Gladys received the Hall of Fame award from Timberlake Playhouse for serving eight years on the Board of Directors. She was a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader and served on the board at Odell Public Library. Gladys was the leader in the USO in Mobile, AL, when she decided to get married.
Survivors include one daughter, Jane (Linn) Williams of Carmel Valley, CA; one son, John (Gayle) Ludens of Torrington, WY; four grandchildren, Amy (Sam) Melton, Blair (Shawn) Cronin, Nate (Kathryn) Ludens, Jake (Diane) Ludens; five great-grandchildren, Anya Melton, Johanna Melton, Bode Ludens, Ian Ludens and Ingrid Cronin; one sister, Fern Clark of Dallas, TX; one brother, Elmer Blair of Sioux Falls, SD.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence; four sisters, Marie Malloy, Alverna Jones, Marilyn Venezia, and Delma Stone; two brothers, Raymond and William Blair.
FUNERAL SERVICE: 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 19, 2016, at First Presbyterian Church, Morrison, IL
OFFICIATING: Rev. Dr. Michael Selburg, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Morrison, IL
VISITATION: 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 18, 2016, at the Morrison Chapel, Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home
INTERMENT: Grove Hill Cemetery, Morrison, IL
DONATIONS: First Presbyterian Church, Morrison, IL
