Elma Dean (Walker) Strong

Elma Dean (Walker) Strong was welcomed into Heaven on February 25, 2025. She was born on November 6, 1929, in Celina, Tennessee, to Elzy Lee Walker and Pearlie Agnus (Anderson) Walker.

She attended New Hope School in Celina, TN. Elma moved to Tipton in 1948 and married Garlon Calie Strong on April 27, 1950.  He passed away on May 10, 1995. Elma retired from Firestone in 1988 with 31 ½ years and then worked for Pioneer in the Seed Quality Lab for 5 years. She was a member of the Church Of Christ and the URW.

Elma was a very devoted and loving mother and grandmother, who enjoyed spending time with her family, and was a very caring friend to those who knew her. Each and everyone knew they were special to her and loved more than anything.  If her family told her they loved her more, she would always reply that we couldn’t love her more than she did us because it wasn’t possible. For her, family was always first. She stressed the importance of family and because of her a strong and united family is left to carry on her legacy.

She loved to cook, the more people the better, and many special gatherings took place in her home. Being from Tennessee, her family enjoyed her southern cooking. The best fried chicken and pies. She always enjoyed playing cards with her friends at home and games were followed by a slice of pie, which was really ¼ of a pie rather than a slice. In her 90’s, she began playing Bingo and loved it. Always looking forward to playing twice a week. When she won, she picked prizes that she could give her family for gifts since she was unable to go Christmas shopping. She loved to travel, especially back to Tennessee, and when she got in the car, she would sing “On The Road Again”. When in Tennessee, she always liked to drive New Hope Road and tell us where all her family had lived along the road and seeing her homeplace.

She made many new friendships at Wellbrooke in Westfield, enjoyed their many activities, attended their Sunday hymn service and looked forward to field trips on the bus. She liked to always be dressed up, her signature red lipstick and getting her hair done.  Her favorite trip-getting vanilla milkshakes at the Twin Kiss in Sheridan. Since she was not able to be home, her family made sure that she felt at home there and she had visitors every day. She loved watching the birds from her room and she would always let Danny know when the bird seed was low. The talks we all shared with her during those visits gave us many memories to keep in our hearts. She was strong in faith and lived her life daily to honor God so she would be prepared for her home in Heaven.

Losing a mother is one of the deepest sorrows a heart can know. But her goodness, her caring, and her wisdom live on-like a legacy of love that will always be with you. [Author Unknown]

Survivors include three children, Danny Strong and wife, Terri (Arbuckle), of Cicero, Debra Biddle and Tammy Gilbert both of Tipton; Son-in-law, Rick Smith (Shirley Biggers) of Celina, TN. Four grandchildren: Teressa (Walker) Blythe, of Celina, Tennessee, Tony Strong and wife, Dulcy, of Parker, Colorado, Tyson Biddle and wife, Nichole (Brewer), of Tipton and Trent Biddle, and wife, Megan (Bryant), of New Castle, IN. Eleven great-grandchildren: Austin Strong, Logan Strong, Christy (Blythe) Helms, Lucy Burkett, Grant Burkett, Carson VanCleave, Madilyn Biddle, Emma Biddle, Kyla Hall, Taylor Biddle and Kaylie Biddle; Three great-great-grandchildren: Brandon Hindsman, Byron Hindsman, and Megan Hindsman, 9 step-grandchildren, 20 step-great-grandchildren, five step great-great-grandchildren, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Special family members; Billy Blythe, David Bricknell, Jack Phillips, Bill Wideman and Gary Hestand.

A special thank you to home caregiver and friend, Glenda Reeher, and the staff at Wellbrooke of Westfield, who became part of our family. She was called “Mom” and “Grandma” by many and will be missed by her family and circle of friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 45 years; her daughter, Betty Sue Walker Smith; sisters, Hattie Odle, Selma Spear, Velma Reecer, Mattie Lee Walker, Elsie Bosley and Dorthy Louise Smith; brothers, Curtis Walker and Willie Mitchell Walker; and late daughter-in-law, Britni Lynn (Wellinger) Biddle.

We had a song we sang to her nightly and each night in our hearts we will continue to always “tell you that we love you every single day and night”.

A funeral service celebrating Elma's life will be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Taylor & Cowan Funeral Home, located at 314 N. Main St. in Tipton, with Pastor Dennis Johnson officiating. Visitation for family and friends will take place prior to the service from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be held immediately following the service at Tipton's Fairview Cemetery. 

Taylor & Cowan Funeral Home is honored to serve the Strong family in their time of need. Please feel free to leave an online condolence or share a special memory of Elma with her family on her tribute wall. 

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