Elwood Wesley January 11, 1925 - June 16, 2009 Elwood Wesley, 84, of Columbus, Indiana, died Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Mr. Wesley was born January 11, 1925 in Hogue, Kentucky, the son of Rev. Lawrence H. and Mamie Wesley. He attended grade school in Pulaski County and enlisted in the United Sates Army during World War II. He was a qualified paratrooper and a mortar gunner with Company C of the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division. He served his country courageously during the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), Rhineland and Central European campaigns. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action as well as the Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge. Upon his return from the war he married Etta Christine Godsey on February 15, 1946, who survives him. Other survivors include one brother, Blaine (Dee) of Apache, Arizona; four children, Donna (Mark) Farris of Richmond, Kentucky, Norm (Donna) Wesley of Columbus, Indiana, Tim (Debbie) Wesley of Knoxville, Tennessee and Kim Vance of Columbus, Indiana; seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers, Vurtis, Verlin, Herman, Lue Vernia, Roland and Bernell and four sisters, Mabel, Edna, Ina, and Bernetta. He worked for the Stadler Meat Packing Plant in Columbus, Indiana for 38 years and then as custodian and groundskeeper for North Christian Church. He was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Columbus, Indiana. He was an avid golfer, a wonderful husband and father, a devout man of faith and a great American. Funeral Information FUNERAL: 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 20 at First Church of the Nazarene in Columbus, Indiana with CDR Mark E. Farris, CHC USN (ret.) and Rev. Bryan Solomon officiating. VISITATION: 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery with military rites provided by the Bartholomew County Veterans Color Guard. DirectionsVisitation:  Map to Funeral Home

Elwood Wesley January 11, 1925 - June 16, 2009 Elwood Wesley, 84, of Columbus, Indiana, died Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Mr. Wesley was born January 11, 1925 in Hogue, Kentucky, the son of Rev. Lawrence H. and Mamie Wesley. He attended grade school in Pulaski County and enlisted in the United Sates Army during World War II. He was a qualified paratrooper and a mortar gunner with Company C of the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division. He served his country courageously during the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), Rhineland and Central European campaigns. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action as well as the Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge. Upon his return from the war he married Etta Christine Godsey on February 15, 1946, who survives him. Other survivors include one brother, Blaine (Dee) of Apache, Arizona; four children, Donna (Mark) Farris of Richmond, Kentucky, Norm (Donna) Wesley of Columbus, Indiana, Tim (Debbie) Wesley of Knoxville, Tennessee and Kim Vance of Columbus, Indiana; seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers, Vurtis, Verlin, Herman, Lue Vernia, Roland and Bernell and four sisters, Mabel, Edna, Ina, and Bernetta. He worked for the Stadler Meat Packing Plant in Columbus, Indiana for 38 years and then as custodian and groundskeeper for North Christian Church. He was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Columbus, Indiana. He was an avid golfer, a wonderful husband and father, a devout man of faith and a great American. Funeral Information FUNERAL: 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 20 at First Church of the Nazarene in Columbus, Indiana with CDR Mark E. Farris, CHC USN (ret.) and Rev. Bryan Solomon officiating. VISITATION: 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery with military rites provided by the Bartholomew County Veterans Color Guard. DirectionsVisitation:  Map to Funeral Home