Ella Fern Blount, formerly of Losantville, passed away at the age of 96, on January 17, 2021, following a bout of pneumonia (not covid related).
Ella Fern was born December 30, 1924, in South Bend, IN, the daughter of Harold Seth & Leona (Morris) Smith. She was released into the care of the Knightstown Soldiers & Sailor’s Children’s Home at the age of 18 months, along with 4 siblings, when her mother became terminally ill of tuberculosis & her father found he could not adequately care for all of them at home. There she met many lifelong friends & was introduced to her loving Foster Parents, Harold & Virgil Botkin, formerly of Farmland, IN. She spent her school vacations and holidays with the Botkin family, whom she loved dearly & considered her closest family.
Ella Fern graduated High School at the Children’s Home in 1943, and was a 1947 graduate of Ball State Teachers College where she earned a BS in Education. Ella Fern taught business, math and journalism in several rural communities through the years, including: Economy, Williamsburg, Modoc, White Water & Blue River. She stopped teaching to raise her 3 children.
Ella Fern was married nearly 60 years to the love of her life, Roy D. Blount, also a teacher. They were married July 28, 1950. They spent 40 years of that time living on a farm outside of Losantville, IN, in Randolph County. Roy preceded her in death in 2010. They were both long time members of the College Avenue United Methodist Church in Muncie for over 50 years.
Ella Fern is survived by 2 children, Harold D Blount (Pamela) of Middletown, VA, and Julia D Ward (Joe) of Zionsville, IN. She also was the proud Grandmother of 2: EllaNora (Blount) McConnell (Dan) of Strasburg, VA; and Morgan Ward of Zionsville.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son, James E. Blount in 2012, and 4 siblings, Curtis Smith, Ora May New, Seth Harold smith and Cora Murphy.
Visitation will be 12 noon to 1:30 PM on Saturday, January 23, at Culberson Funeral Home, Hagerstown. Services to celebrate Ella Fern’s life will follow at 1:30 PM. Pastor Mort Radford will officiate. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Losantville.
Memorials may be made to Salvation Army.