Gloria A. Rife

Gloria Ann (Miller) Rife passed away Sunday, May 5, at Northwest Health-Porter. 

Gloria was born June 8, 1937, in Logansport, to the late James and Pauline (Heater) Miller. On Nov. 27, 1970, she married the love of her life JB Rife. 

In 1952, at the age of 15, Gloria started work at Cliffs Steakhouse in Logansport. In 1954, she moved to Winamac to work in the family-owned Millers Restaurant. She opened her own restaurant, Matilda’s Cafe, in 1968. In 1976, JB and Gloria opened R & S Transport Equipment. While working at Vicky’s Restaurant, she was known as Granny. She also worked at One Eyed Jacks. She loved the restaurant business and all her customers.  

She is survived by her children: Karen Sommers, Jeffrey and [Dawn] Rife, [Nancy] Rife; grandchildren: Paul [Chris] Brucker, Lynn [Todd] Edgell, Lance [Becki] Hiatt, Hillary [Chris] Pine, Adam Rife, Samantha [Eric] Wagner, Sierra [Colby] Wood; 17 great-grandchildren; and two brothers: Mike [Linda] Miller and Gary Miller. 

She is preceded in death by JB Rife (husband); Betty Ann Hiatt (daughter); Robert Rife (son); brothers: Jimmy Gill and twin Tom Miller; sisters: Janet Benedict and Barbara Heater; three stepsisters: Marjorie Burns, Charlotte Tribbett, Cecelia Schneider; and stepmother Pearl Miller. 

Social activities: avid bowler, card club, Red Hat Society, Bethel Bible Church with friend Mary Ann Rife, Summer Pool Club hosted by Linda Kroft, and a member of the VFW. 

Services were held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 14, Rans Funeral Home & Crematory, Harrison Chapel, 304 S. Chicago St., Royal Center with Pastor Heath Hiatt officiating.  

Visitation was from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, May 13, at the funeral home. 

Burial took place at McKinley Memorial Gardens, 600 W. Main St., Winamac. Memorial dinner will take place at the VFW following services.  

Memorials may be given to the local VFW, 1066 US 35, Winamac, IN 46996.

(Pulaski County Journal — May 15, 2024)