Josephine R. Church, 84, of Princeton, Ind., passed away Sunday, Feb. 20, at River Oaks Health Campus, where she was given excellent care by the nurses, staff and the Visiting Nurses Association.

Josephine was born May 11, 1926 in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of Joseph English and Halcey Roundtree. Josephine grew up in the Lyles Station community west of Princeton and headed for Chicago where she worked for the Supreme Life Insurance Co. Soon after that she was hired by the Rossford Ordinance Depot in Toledo, Ohio. This was the door that opened the opportunity for Josie to acquire another government job for the Dept. of Logistics where she cataloged military ammunition and firearms for over 30 years.

She has been a long-time member of the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Battle Creek, Mich., where she has also dedicated many hours of volunteer services in the office.

After years of retirement Josephine decided to move back closer to her childhood home, where she has been very instrumental in providing oral and written history for the Historic Lyles Consolidated School and community.

She has served as the secretary of the Lyles Consolidated School Friends of Lyles Station and residents council for the past six years.

She is survived by her Goddaughter Crystal Sparks of Toledo, Ohio, and Godson Willie Russell II of Sacramento, Calif., a niece, Judith Drummond and great-niece Shannon Drummond both from Louisville, Ky., a nephew Myron L. Wilkerson, Sr. of New Albany, Ind., and a great-nephew Albert L. Brown, Jr. also from New Albany; cousins Edna Frye, Stanley and Mary Madison of Princeton as well as a hosts of many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Josephine was preceded in death by her parents, Grandparents Edgar and Georgia Roundtree, her husband of 26 years Clarence Church, her sister Alaphine Wilkerson, and a niece Donna Elaine Brown.

Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011 at Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton, Father Brant V. Hazlett officiating. Burial will be at Sand Hill Cemetery in Princeton. Visitation is from 8:30 a.m. until service timeWednesday at the funeral home.