Karen Sue Gamble, 78, of Mentone passed away at 3:30 a.m. Friday, August 28, 2026, at Parkview Whitley Hospital, Columbia City.

Born on January 24, 1948, in Warsaw, Indiana, she was a daughter of the late Marquis Junior Reid and Ruth Cecil (Fosnaugh) Reid. Growing up in the Larwill area, she graduated from Larwill High School in 1966.

She made her first home in the Larwill area, raising two sons. For the past 22 years, she made her home in Mentone.

For over 30 years, she worked at Zimmer's manufacturing plant in Warsaw.

At home, she enjoyed gardening and caring for flowering bushes passed down from her parents and grandparents. With her skills taught by her parents and grandparents, Karen kept flowers blooming throughout the spring and summer. Installing a raised garden bed to aid in accessibility, she continued to grow traditional tomatoes and cucumbers. In her quiet times, she sewed, painted, and baked her delicious brownies and banana bread.

Karen is survived by her sons, Mark Gamble of Mentone, and Matthew (Joan) Gamble of Glen Allen, VA; grandchildren, Nicholas (Marissa) Gamble, Lindsay Gamble, Haley Gamble, Adam Gamble, and Isaac Gamble; two great-grandchildren; and siblings, Vicky Linton of Larwill and Rick (Debbie) Reid of Larwill.

The funeral service is 2 p.m. Wednesday (Sept 2nd) at Smith & Son’s Funeral Home in Columbia City. Burial is at the Lakeview Cemetery in Larwill. Visitation is from 12 noon until the service Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorials in Karen’s honor are to St Jude’s Children's Research Hospital or the Animal Welfare League.