Nyla Louise South , 109, Whitley County's oldest centenarian, passed away at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, February 22, 2024 at Parkview Whitley Hospital, Columbia City.

Born on July 6, 1914, in Wabash, Indiana, she was a daughter of the late George H. and Faye (Gamble) Stone. Growing up in Wabash County, she graduated from Richland Center School.

She worked as a clerk for the local dime store until she met and married James William South on September 22, 1934.  James served in the U.S. Navy making their home throughout the U.S. including Washington, DC.  The couple raised three children.  James died on May 4, 1985 in Fairfield Bay, AK.

During WWII, Nyla worked for Honeywell in Wabash.  In October of 1988, she moved to South Whitley where she worked for the former Chamberlin Products and the Hoffman Store at Columbia Plaza, Columbia City.

She attended the United Methodist Church of South Whitley and belonged to the Royal Neighbors Club.  She was an accomplished quilt maker gifting quilts to her grandchildren.  She liked to crochet and do other crafts.  She always enjoyed watching the birds and in her younger years fish the area lakes.  A strawberry milk shake was always a treat and she was honored with throwing out the baseball for the Fort Wayne Tin Caps game on her 100th birthday.   On her 109th birthday she was given her first motorcycle ride which she loved.

Surviving is a daughter, Sharon L. Pugh; a granddaughter and caretaker, Leslie (Mark) Miller of Moraine, OH; grandchild, Chris Randol; three additional grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Helen Haupert.

Additionally, she was preceded in death by a son, James L. South; a daughter, Claudia Randol; two sisters, Mary Snyder and Adra Keel; and a brother, Wilbur Stone.

The funeral service is 3 p.m. Thursday, (February 29th) at Smith & Sons Miller Chapel, South Whitley.  Visitation is from 1 p.m. until the service on Thursday at the funeral home.  Burial will take place at a later date at the Scott-Keister Cemetery.

Memorials in Nyla's honor are to The South Whitley Emergency Food Bank.