Luretta Newlin's Obituary
Luretta Newlin, 90, of Decatur, IL went to be with the Lord on Monday, October 7, 2019 at Decatur Rehabilitation and Health Care Center after a 14 year battle with Alzheimer’s Dementia. Her son John was by her side.
She is surivived by her husband, George of Decatur; her son, Dr. John Wesley Newlin of Decatur; her granddaughters, Whitney (Matt) Welch of Oreana and Marissa Newlin of Decatur; her grandsons, Nicholas and Nathanial of Decatur, and grandaughter Baily of Oreana. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Lynn Stewardson; her sisters, Marjorie Reynolds and Doris Davis; and daughter-in-law, Sara Newlin.
She was born February 1, 1929, in Chenoa, IL, the daughter of Louis and Vera Woollen Auld Stewardson. The family settled on the Stewardson homestead outside of Shelbyville. In school she won awards for her beautiful Palmer Method of penmanship. She graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1947. After high school, she enrolled into a secretarial program at Sparks Business College in Shelbyville. She met a young sailor named George Newlin while standing in line to register. He was readily charmed by her warming smile.
After dating for two years they were married on January 21, 1950 at Central Christian Church followed by a dinner at the Grove Cafe. In her younger years she excelled at roller skating. The next several years she worked as a secretary at AW Cash. On June 23, 1957 she gave birth to her only child, Dr. John W. Newlin, and settled into a role as a mother. She was a fantastic cook especially at baking pies of all types. She always had fresh chocolate chip cookies and lemonade for her son and his friends. After her son left for college, she enjoyed doing things with her sister Margie which would include shopping, eating out, or just talking and gossiping. She welcomed a daughter-in-law into her life in 1983. The next 12 years she became the grandmother of two granddaughters and two grandsons. She enjoyed teaching her granddaughters her baking skills and spoiled them rotten by buying them pretty things. She enjoyed readers digest and was a life long fan of “As the World Turns.” In 2005, Alzheimer’s Dementia started stealing her away from us. That Thanksgiving her son brought the turkey to her to cook and she said “I don’t know what to do with that.” She has lived in Decatur Rehabilitation and Health Care Center with George for several years receiving excellent, comfortable and loving care still wowing everyone with her smile. George confided to his son several years ago that he was a lucky man in having Luretta as his wife. She was beautiful, faithful, a good homemaker. She had a killer smile that could warm even the coldest of hearts.
A visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 10, 2019 at Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home. A graveside service will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday, October 11, 2019 at Graceland Cemetery. Pastor Blake Thompson will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Please view the online obituary, send condolences, and share memories at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
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