Obituary for Glenna Sue Bales
Glenna Sue Bales, age 89, passed peacefully away on Sunday, March 13th at her residence at Hearthstone Health Campus. She was born in Monroe County on November 16, 1932 to Eva Pearl (Downing) and Glen V. Sullivan. She spent all of her life in Bloomington. Her elementary years were spent at Joint School, a two-room schoolhouse. She went to Bloomington High School, graduating in 1950. She attended Indiana University, receiving her bachelor’s degree in education in 1954, the same year her first child was born. A lifelong learner, Sue went on to complete her master’s degree from Indiana University, also in education.
It was in high school, at the age of 15, that Sue met Phillip E. (Bud) Bales. They were married four years later on the hottest day of the year, June 29, 1952. After graduating from college Sue began a long career in education, spanning 38 years, teaching 2nd and 3rd grade students at Rogers Elementary School in Bloomington, Indiana.
Sue is survived by her son Kim (Dee) Bales of Bloomington and daughter Holly (Kareston) Bales-Hall of Bloomington and four grandchildren; Krista (Rob) France of Williamsburg, VA, Erica (Chad) Musselwhite of Bloomington, IN, Chad (Mandy Baldwin) Bales of Indianapolis, IN and Courtlyn Bales-Hall of Bloomington, IN. She has six great grandchildren; Fiona and Dean France, Alice and Jack Musselwhite, and Owen and Oliver Bales and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, her parents, her sisters, and her son, Kurt Bales.
Sue was a member of First United Methodist Church, and a former member of Fairview United Methodist Church both in Bloomington, IN. She was active in the church, participating in the Women’s groups, singing in the choir, and volunteering alongside her husband with the youth group. She was also active in Job’s daughters, 4-H Service on the Home Front during WW II. Along with several friends from school they created a lifelong friendship they called the “Dirty Dozen plus Three”, which inspired Sue to write and publish a book.
Sue was a member and officer of Delta Kappa Gamma, Kappa Kappa Sigma, and Phi Delta Kappa. Sue loved to travel and was always ready to take a drive or go on a trip somewhere with her loving husband.
Sue was a gracious hostess, always had candy and snacks (especially for the grandkids), welcomed everyone to her dinner table, drank coffee no matter how hot it was outside, loved to play cards weekly with friends, and played the piano for all to hear. She was a sweet, kindhearted redhead with just enough sass to keep people guessing.
Visitation for Sue will be on Sunday, March 20, 2022 from 4-6 pm at The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard and on Monday, March 21, 2022 from 10 am until service time at the funeral home.
Funeral Services will be 11 am Monday at The Funeral Chapel with Rev. Lisa Schubert Nowling officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Sue’s memory can be made to the MCCSC Foundation or First United Methodist Church Bloomington.
It was in high school, at the age of 15, that Sue met Phillip E. (Bud) Bales. They were married four years later on the hottest day of the year, June 29, 1952. After graduating from college Sue began a long career in education, spanning 38 years, teaching 2nd and 3rd grade students at Rogers Elementary School in Bloomington, Indiana.
Sue is survived by her son Kim (Dee) Bales of Bloomington and daughter Holly (Kareston) Bales-Hall of Bloomington and four grandchildren; Krista (Rob) France of Williamsburg, VA, Erica (Chad) Musselwhite of Bloomington, IN, Chad (Mandy Baldwin) Bales of Indianapolis, IN and Courtlyn Bales-Hall of Bloomington, IN. She has six great grandchildren; Fiona and Dean France, Alice and Jack Musselwhite, and Owen and Oliver Bales and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, her parents, her sisters, and her son, Kurt Bales.
Sue was a member of First United Methodist Church, and a former member of Fairview United Methodist Church both in Bloomington, IN. She was active in the church, participating in the Women’s groups, singing in the choir, and volunteering alongside her husband with the youth group. She was also active in Job’s daughters, 4-H Service on the Home Front during WW II. Along with several friends from school they created a lifelong friendship they called the “Dirty Dozen plus Three”, which inspired Sue to write and publish a book.
Sue was a member and officer of Delta Kappa Gamma, Kappa Kappa Sigma, and Phi Delta Kappa. Sue loved to travel and was always ready to take a drive or go on a trip somewhere with her loving husband.
Sue was a gracious hostess, always had candy and snacks (especially for the grandkids), welcomed everyone to her dinner table, drank coffee no matter how hot it was outside, loved to play cards weekly with friends, and played the piano for all to hear. She was a sweet, kindhearted redhead with just enough sass to keep people guessing.
Visitation for Sue will be on Sunday, March 20, 2022 from 4-6 pm at The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard and on Monday, March 21, 2022 from 10 am until service time at the funeral home.
Funeral Services will be 11 am Monday at The Funeral Chapel with Rev. Lisa Schubert Nowling officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Sue’s memory can be made to the MCCSC Foundation or First United Methodist Church Bloomington.