Gretchen A. Waltz

Gretchen Waltz, 76, a lifelong resident of Columbus, passed away Monday, Jan. 13, at the Silver Oaks Health Campus after a brief battle with lung cancer. Gretchen was born May 10, 1943, to Frank and Mary (Mobley) Meyer. Her father owned and operated the F.J. Meyer and Son dry goods store on Washington Street for many years until his retirement. Gretchen eventually married Russell Waltz and they celebrated the birth of a son, Keith. Gretchen focused on being a wife, mother and homemaker for more than 30 years and then worked in retail sales after she and her husband went their separate ways. Following retirement, Gretchen enjoyed spending time with family and friends, and she cherished their frequent visits to a variety of local restaurants. She hardly ever missed watching the Indianapolis Colts on TV and was also a longtime fan of the Indiana University basketball team. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, January 20, 2020 at Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home with Virgil Clotfelter officiating. Calling will be from 2 p.m. until service time at the funeral home on Monday. A private inurnment will be held at Garland Brook Cemetery at a later date. Gretchen was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Bill Meyer; and a sister, Barbara Goeller. Survivors include her son, Keith Waltz, of Harrisburg, N.C.; a brother, Don (Debbie) Meyer, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; and a sister, Jennifer (Bill) Garten, of Francesville Ind. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana – which made Gretchen comfortable during her final days and assisted her family – or to a charity of the donor’s choice.