COLUMBUS
Rosella J. Reeves, 89, of Columbus, died at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, November 5, 2017 at her residence.
Rosella Jean (Heifner) Reeves was born October 6, 1928. Her parents, Ralph and Florence (Lowe) Heifner welcomed her to the world while residing in Gaston, Indiana.
Rosella grew up on her grandparents’ farm in Hancock County after the death of her father when she was eight years old.
Rosella met her late husband, Robert (Bob) Earl Reeves, while in high school as he was sent by his father to repair the barn roof. After her graduation from Ball State, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics, they married August 4, 1950.
Bob, an ordained minister, and Rosella served in Christian churches in Morristown, Gwynville and Terre Haute, Indiana, Brunswick, MO and Fairfield, IL. Rosella was instrumental in establishing women’s and missions groups over their 25 years of localized ministry.
In 1976 the Reeves family moved to Columbus, Indiana as Bob accepted the position of Executive Director of FAME (Fellowship of Associates of Medical Evangelism). Rosella headed up the Gifts in Kind Donations for FAME as a volunteer. She traveled to Haiti, Philippines, Zimbabwe, Austria, Honduras, Kenya, and Mexico to assist with establishing medical clinics and hospitals for underserved people.
While living in Columbus she attended Garden City Church of Christ and First Christian Church.
In addition to supporting her husband she raised four daughters Rachelle Mogg (Mike) in Plainfield, IN; Rebekah Ellsworth (Rex) in Hendersonville, NC; Ruth Reeves, in Plainfield, IN; Susie Moorman (Bryan), in Columbus IN. She is the grandmother of Jacob Wantz, Annie Mack, Emma Lee, Paige Tait, Catherine Swift and great grandmother to Rhett, Jensen and Beau.
Rosella was preceded in death by her husband in 1999, and her only sibling, Keith D. Heifner.
The funeral will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at Garden City Church of Christ with Jill Shaw and Enoch Nyador officiating. Friends and family may call Tuesday 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home on Jonathon Moore Pike and Wednesday 9:00 a.m. until service time at church.
A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. at Park Cemetery in Greenfield, Indiana.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ghana Christian Mission, in care of Plainfield Christian Chuch, 800 N. Dan Jones, Plainfield, Indiana 46168 or The Ark Christian Ministries, P.O. Box 43581, Louisville, KY 40253.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the Reeves family at barkesweaverglick.com.
