Grace Ebeling

GRACE S. EBELING
Grace S. Ebeling, 91, Independence, MO, formerly of Kirtland, OH, passed away Jan. 22, 2012. The family suggests contributions to the Vicky Ebeling Cromwell/Grace Starner Ebeling Endowed Scholarship Fund at Graceland University, Lamoni, IA.
Grace was born Oct. 26, 1920 to Everette and Orpha (Gill) Starner in Shelby, IA and graduated from high school there. She married Clyde O. Ebeling and they had a daughter, Victorine Lois. They lived for short times in Jamaica, IA, Paton, IA and Caledonia, MI before moving to Kirtland, OH as Clyde’s music teaching jobs progressed. Grace began fostering sisters Laura and Rosa Boatman when they were thirteen and fourteen years old respectively and Vicky was thirteen.
Marriage foundered after eighteen years and Grace went to work for General Motors, Euclid Division in the Personnel Dept. After five years she moved to Lamoni, IA to serve as Head Resident at Tess Morgan Hall - women’s dormitory at Graceland University. While working as Head Resident, she attended classes half-time and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Literature. She then took a one-year leave of absence to care for her mother. She left Graceland to earn a Master’s Degree in the School of Library Science at the University of Hawaii then accepted the librarian position in the Mallard, IA school system where she also taught Jr. and Sr. English classes.
After two years, she moved to Independence, MO to become the Health Science Librarian at Independence Regional Health Center and served in that role until her retirement after eleven years at age sixty-five.
Grace was baptized a member the Community of Christ church in 1945. She was among the first women to be ordained to the office of Elder in 1986. Her commitment to service gave purpose to her life. She has been active in her congregation, served on the World Church Women’s Commission on various committees and task forces and has been an involved member of the Independence Church Women United organization.
For almost twenty years of her time in Independence, Grace shared her home with Frances Bratcher, a former co-worker in Graceland’s dormitory program. The enjoyment of friends, reading and travel were her passions and needlework her hobby. Her travels took her to Peru, Hong-Kong, Japan, England, around Europe, Canada and Mexico. Her biennial tours with the Gadabout Group were most memorable experiences.
Grace was preceded in death by her granddaughter Valerie in 1979, daughter Vicky in 1999 and son-in-law Ron Cromwell. She is survived by grandson John Thomas and wife Janna and his son, Taylor; daughters Laura Bokanovich and husband Don; Rosa Brettrager and husband Ron; Rosa’s children Sandra, Royal, Susan and. their spouses and their six children; sister Lois Stelpflug, her three daughters and their families: Susan Wadell and husband Jerry; Becky Kreek and husband Steve; Holly Farnsworth and husband Kent and Lois’s six grandchildren; step-grandchildren Angie Dudley, Aron Cromwel, Josh & Ben Lilly and their families.