Luella Ann Hethcote, 94, of Heritage Pointe of Huntington went home to be with Jesus on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at 10:57 am. She was born on November 24, 1931, to the late Raymond E. and Edith M. (Cass) Decker. She married Max B. Hethcote on February 23, 1948, and they shared 73 years of marriage before his passing on November 13, 2021.
She began middle school at the Otterbein Children’s Home in Ohio, where she attended through 10th grade. She later returned to Andrews, Indiana, and attended Andrews High School for her Junior year.
Luella served for several years as her church pianist and enjoyed singing duets with Max. She also taught Sunday School.
Luella was strong, hardworking, and devoted to her family. An excellent homemaker and seamstress, she managed the household, fed 30 to 40 steers on ground feed in the barn, and bottle-fed calves with help from her children. She also worked outside the home at First Street Dairy Queen, Friendly Nursing Home in Huntington, and Memcor’s machine shop. Luella owned and operated Hethcote Fabrics in Warren, Hethcote Sewing Center in her home, and Viking Sewing Haus in Huntington. She also successfully raised Golden Retrievers and Akitas. In retirement, she and Max started L & M Trucking, delivering RVs across the United States.
Luella and her family enjoyed vacations to the Smoky Mountains, Indiana Dunes, Michigan, and the Carolinas.
Survivors include her daughters, Connie (the late Robert) Trosper of Huntington, Cheryl (Rich) Bockmon of Gas City, Kathy (Dave) Hinds of Marion, Debbie (Phil) Schlotter of Warren, Pam (Tom) Robbins of Logansport, Becky (Warren) Winkleman of Huntington, Penny (Paula Fleener) Hethcote of Franklin; and son, Jim (Kim) Hethcote of Warren.
She is also survived by a sister, Doneta Rudy of Warren; sister-in-law, Donna Decker; several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
In addition to her husband and parents, Luella was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Marie Allman; brother, Rudy Decker; sons-in-law, Robert Trosper and Greg Hinds; granddaughter, Courtney Black; and great-great granddaughter, Legacy Dils.
The family will receive visitors from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, July 31, 2026, and for one hour before the 11:00 am service on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral & Cremation Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN. Pastor Michael Gallant will officiate. Burial will be at Lancaster Cemetery.
The family extends their heartfelt thanks to Stillwater Hospice and the staff at Heritage Pointe of Huntington for the loving care they provided to Luella.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Etna Community Life Church, 6383 W. 600 S., Huntington, IN 46750, or Stillwater Hospice, 5910 Homestead Rd, Ft. Wayne, IN 46814.
Memories may be shared online at www.nswcares.com.
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