Elsie Mae (DeWitt) Sutton, 92, passed away July 5 at Rosewalk Assisted Living facility, Indianapolis, after a long illness. It was fitting that she joined her late husband on their 74th wedding anniversary.

She was born January 18, 1934, in Hartford City, Indiana, the daughter of John H. and Susan E. Buffenbarger DeWitt. She graduated in 1952 from Hartford City High School. She married Fred Richard Sutton of Montpelier, IN, on July 5, 1952, and they moved to Alameda, California, where her husband was stationed in the U.S. Navy.

She was the mother of two children: Rick Sutton (Bobby Owens), Indianapolis, and Julie Ponting, Laurel, MD. She was thoroughly delighted with her five grandchildren: Laura E. Burklew (Ronnie), Indianapolis; Kurt Ponting, Frederick, MD; Dr. Ames Sutton Hickey (Emily), Philadelphia; Kara E. Fisher (Mike), Bowie, MD; and Jonathan B. Sutton (Samantha), Phoenix, AZ. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren: Nicholas A. Parks Jr., Indianapolis; Julia, Ellie, and Sutton Fisher, Bowie, MD; Clara and Caitlin Ponting, Frederick, MD; and Claire Burklew, Indianapolis; her brother, Wendell DeWitt (Doris), Greenfield; several cousins, nieces and nephews; and longtime friend Dolly Frazier, Hartford City.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dick (2018), niece Tina (DeWitt) Allen, and brothers/sisters-in-law: Don and Joan Denewitz, Marsha and Dr. Bill Bonifield, Marjorie Brown, Hugh and Doris Helen Zent, and Alberta and “Pug” Bennett.

She was an outstanding bowler and golfer. She was a regular 600-series bowler at Northside Lanes, Hartford City, and also started a popular youth bowling league in the 1960s. She won several golf championships at the Blackford County Club, and hit two holes-in-one in her career. She also golfed every summer at Tippecanoe and South Shore country clubs in northern Indiana’s lake region. By far her favorite activities, however, were family-related, including summer DeWitt and Buffenbarger reunions, visiting children and grandchildren, and vacations with her family at popular beach spots in the Outer Banks, Florida, and Lake Michigan. And she was the ultimate IU Hoosiers fan!

She was an active member of American Legion and Amvets Auxiliaries in Hartford City as well as the Order of the Eastern Star. She helped plan several Class of 1952 high school reunions. She will be greatly missed by her family, which will honor her on July 31.

Friends may gather for family visitation at Waters Funeral Home, 501 W. Washington St., Hartford City, Ind., from 11:30-1 p.m. on Friday, July 31. Graveside service for any who wish to attend, will follow at Gardens of Memory, north of Muncie. Any desired memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.