Gladys Maxine DeSpain

G. Maxine DeSpain G. Maxine DeSpain, 93, of New London, died Tuesday, April 13, 2010, at New London Nursing & Rehab Center.

Born July 31, 1916, in Hillsboro, she was the daughter of John and Etta Stuckey McClure. On June 7, 1936, she married Ralph DeSpain in New London. He died May 29, 2003.

Mrs. DeSpain was a homemaker. She waited on tables at her parent's restaurant, worked part-time in Arlie Jones' dime store and Dameron's Clothing and Dry Goods store, and folded papers at the New London Journal office. She worked as a local telephone operator, at Stormont Bakery and as a substitute clerk at DeSpain Hardware store.

She attended school in New London, graduated from New London High School in 1934 and attended Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant from 1963 to 1964. She was a member of New London Methodist Episcopal Church for 84 years where she taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. She was a member of Patience Circle and served in church offices and on committees and boards. She was lay member at the Iowa Annual Conference church meeting in Des Moines in 1959, and became a lay speaker in 1978.

She served as president of Wesleyan Service Guild in 1949, and president of the Woman's Society of Christian Service in 1958. She was a charter member of both groups and of United Methodist Women. She held district and conference missionary personnel offices in the WSCS for 10 years, other local offices and was a Circle Leader. She worked as church historian from 1993 to 2001.

She wrote "The Good is Getting Better" in 1965, and "Home is Love and a Cookie Jar" published in 1988. She wrote meditations published in The Upper Room, a Christian non-denominational devotional booklet used by many congregations from 1959 to 1975. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, reading, baking cookies, sewing and writing.

Survivors include three daughters, Sonja Hopson of New London, Rita Smith of Marshalltown and Annette Miley of Oak Park, Ill.; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters.

Visitation will be from noon to 7 p.m. today at Elliott Chapel in New London where the family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m.

The funeral for Mrs. DeSpain will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Elliott Chapel with the Rev. Rod Cooper officiating. Burial will be in Burge Cemetery, New London.

Memorials have been established for New London United Methodist Church, The Salvation Army, the New London Christian Church and the New London Fire and Rescue Unit.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Feb 17 2016, 16:16:00 UTC