Geraldine L. Childers, 89, of Columbia City, died at 1:39 p.m. Sunday, February 27, 2022, at her home.

Born on March 20, 1932 in Edgerton Ohio.  She was the daughter of the late Augustus Alphonso and Loie Belle (Felger) Stark.  She grew up in Edgerton and graduated from Saint Mary's Catholic School.  Following high school she attended Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Toledo, Ohio and became a Registered Nurse.

On September 10, 1955 she married Thomas Childers.  They made their home in Fort Wayne, Indiana and raised their eight children there.  In 1995 they moved to their "paradise home" on Round Lake in Columbia City. Thomas died October 5, 2007.

The majority of Geraldine's working career was spent at Saint Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne as a Registered Nurse.  She worked on a variety of units at Saint Joseph's during her 30+ years of service.  She spoke often of how she loved the career path that she chose.

Surviving is her daughter, Ann "Patty" (Keith) Kryder of Fort Wayne; sons Thomas A. Childers of Columbia City, Robert B. (Jerene) Childers of Huntertown and Greg J. Childers of Fort Myers, Florida; daughters, Susan K. (James) Schroeder of Westfield, Molly J. (Christopher) Woenker of New Haven and Nancy L. (Peter) Gust of Fort Wayne; 49 grandchildren; 46 great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild and son-in-law, Richard Kryder.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Jo (Kryder); grandson, William Schroeder; and brothers Vearon "Dude" Stark and Vernon "Pretz" Stark.

The mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, 315 N. Line Street, Columbia City.  Burial will be in the catholic cemetery.  Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and one hour before the service at the church on Friday.