Pamela Kay Hippensteel

When Pamela was starting school, the family moved to Chicago for her father’s work. She lived in Chicago until the age of 10 when her father died of cancer. Her mother moved Pamela and her brother, Jim, back to Markle, Indiana. The family eventually settled in Huntington, IN when Pam’s mother went to work for the phone company. Pamela received most of her public education in the Huntington schools. She graduated from Huntington High School in 1955. She immediately enrolled in the Parkview School of Nursing in Fort Wayne, IN. She chose nursing as a career after observing the special care nurses gave her father when he was seriously ill. Pam became and remained a caring nurse throughout the years working at hospitals in Huntington and Fort Wayne. The last 19 years in nursing was with the American Red Cross Blood Program in Fort Wayne. Pam was a head nurse in the blood program that served all of northern Indiana and northwest Ohio. Pam was a member of Aldersgate Methodist Church from 1959 to 2016. She was active with the Methodist Youth Fellowship in the early years with the church and later served as President of the Women’s Society. After retiring, she volunteered for Hospice in Southwest Allen County for several years. She continued caring for others. Pam’s family is scattered between Indiana and Florida. Pam and Terry wintered in Florida for 18 years so they could stay in touch with a growing family.

Pam is survived by her loving husband, Terry; her four sons, Michael (Lori) of Cicero, IN, Tim of Lake Wales, FL, Steve of Indianapolis, and Jeff (Lethea) of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Pam and Terry took all of the above in 2008 on an Alaska Cruise to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren also survive her. Pam loved to travel and often accompanied Terry to his education conventions. They also used a timeshare to visit all but five states, plus Europe twice. The highlight of Pam’s travels was a river cruise from Vienna to Amsterdam where they relived World War II history. Pam’s travels and wintering in Florida has provided friends from many states. Many have stayed in touch with Pam’s illness and kept her in their prayers. The family wishes to thank those friends for their support during Pam’s last few months of a wonderful journey through life. Her legacy is of a caring and loving lady.

A funeral service to honor Pamela's life will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, June 11, 2022, at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 2417 Getz Road, Fort Wayne, with calling from 12:00pm, until time of service at the church. She will be laid to rest in Covington Memorial Gardens, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Arrangements have been entrusted to D.O. McComb and Sons Covington Knolls Funeral Home, 8325 Covington Road, Fort Wayne.

Memorial donations in her honor may be directed to Stillwater Hospice of Fort Wayne. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for Pam's family may be shared at www.McCombandSons.com.