Argus Observer (Ontario, Malheur County, Oregon)
Tuesday, August 14, 2001
Gladys Bingaman Dewar
June 17, 1910 - Aug. 12, 2001
Gladys (Bingaman) Dewar, 91, Fruitland, died Aug. 12 in a Boise care center. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Wednesday at the Church of the Brethren, Fruitland, with Duane and Carol Strickler officiating and Pastor Earl Traughber assisting. Burial will follow at Rosedale Memorial Gardens, Payette. Arrangements are under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Fruitland.
Gladys Melcher was born June 17, 1910, at the Melcher ranch south of Fruitland, Idaho to Elbert and Florence (Patheal) Melcher. When Gladys was four years of age, her mother died and Gertrude (Melcher) Lynn, an aunt, reared her as her own. Gladys graduated from Fruitland High School in 1928 after all 12 years in the Fruitland School system.
On March 29, 1930, she married Eldredge Bingaman at Caldwell. They farmed in the Fruitland and New Plymouth areas and were active in community affairs and helped in the organization of the first Hot Lunch Program of the Fruitland schools in 1948. They had three wonderful children, Barbara, Joanne and Dennis.
Gladys was a member of the Fruitland Church of the Brethren since 1930. She served as assistant clerk for four years and as church clerk for 22 years. She was Chairman of the Kitchen Committee for several years, and was an active member of the Sadie Krost Quilting Circle until arthritis crippled her hands.
Gladys was also sewing leader in the Sunnyside 4-H club for eight years, in addition to being employed at the Henggeler Packing Plant for 34 years.
She loved the outdoors, especially fishing and gardening. She won many prizes at the flower shows with named varieties of Iris and Gladioli.
She and Eldredge started the memorial fund at the Fruitland Church of the Brethren in memory of his father, Oliver Bingaman, who died Oct. 23, 1961. They also collected newspapers and took them to the Weiser Recycling Warehouse for the Senior Citizens Recreational Park (SISCRA) at Donnelly, Idaho. This paid a large portion of the installation of electricity to the park. Gladys and Eldredge celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary March 29, 1980, shortly before Eldredge's sudden death Aug. 1, 1980.
In March of 1981, Gladys moved to the Newman Apartments in New Plymouth, becoming active with the Senior Center there and continued the collection of newspapers and served on the unexpired term of her husband on the SISCRA Board of Directors.
On August 18, 1985, she married Robert S. Dewar at the Donnelly, Idaho Community Bible Church. They spent their winters in Apache Junction, Ariz. Spring and fall, the New Plymouth apartment was their home, and they spent their summers at Chalet R.V. Park in Donnelly. They had many wonderful years traveling together. In 1992 they sold their Park Model home in Apache Junction and moved to Boise to be near family members.
She is survived by her husband, Robert Dewar; two beloved daughters, Barbara Grime and Joanne Breske; a daughter-in-law, Vanna Dixon; five grandsons, Gregg and Dennis Bingaman, Steve Davis, David and James Shaffer; two granddaughters, Debbie Griffith and Pam Leaton; 15 great-grandchildren; nine step-great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a half brother, Wayne Melcher of Leesburg, Va.; many cousins, nieces, nephews, and a host of friends. Gladys was preceded in death by her husband, Eldredge and son, Dennis.
Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., today at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Fruitland.
