Mr. Gerald Gerry Gratton's Obituary
Gerald (Gerry) Gratton, 70, of New Haven, passed away at his home, on Friday, June 13, 2014 after a brief illness. He was born on June 9, 1944 in Peoria, Illinois. Son of John and Stella Gratton. Both preceded him in death, along with his brother, Robert. Gerry relocated to this area in 1971 after graduating from Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, IN. He founded and pastored Emmanuel Baptist Church in Paulding, Ohio from 1971-1978 before retiring from Lincoln Financial Group in 2009 with 24 years of service as a Business Analyst. However, he never retired from being a faithful servant to the Lord and was an active member of North Park Community Church. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Sandra "Sue" (Harpster); son W. Steven Jones of Ft. Wayne, and daughter, Angela Marie (Jones) and Tom Henry of Granger, Indiana; along with his best four-legged friend, Charlie. He has five grandchildren, Chelsea and Lindsey Jones of Butler, Indiana and Christian, Riley, and Rowen Henry of Granger, Indiana; sister, Marcia (Roger) Washburn of Peoria, Illinois and brothers-in-law, Richard and Robert (Cathi) Harpster, as well as, sister-in-law Patricia (Tom) Elkington. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Viewing will be at E. Harper & Son Funeral Home, 740 St. Rd. 930 E., New Haven, Indiana on June 15, 2014, from 2-4 and 6-8 and one hour prior to service at the church. A celebration of life will be held at North Park Community Church at 7160 Flutter Rd., Fort Wayne, Indiana at 10:00a.m. with Pastors Scott Qualls and Pete Kobe officiating. Interment will follow the service at the I.O.O.F Cemetery, New Haven. In lieu of flowers, preferred memorials are to be made out to North Park Community Church and will be designated for missionaries Tom Graef (Romania) and David Drullinger, (South Africa). Memorials may also be made to Loving Shepherd Ministries (Loving-Shepherd.org/donate) who provide Homes of Hope for children in Haiti and Ethiopia. To share online condolences go to www.harperfuneralhome.com
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