Thyra Witt Sallows September 22, 1934- November 2, 2018 South Bend-Thyra Witt Sallows, 84, was called to be with the Lord on Friday, November 2, 2018, after a sustained battle with cancer. She was at home surrounded by her family. Thyra was born in South Bend on September 22, 1934, to Marshall and Gladys Arlean (Herrick) Witt.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Arlean, in July 1942, when Thyra was just seven years old, her father in February 1993, and her eldest brother, Thomas (Connie), in March 2012. She is survived by siblings, Michael and David (Marilyn) Witt and Marsha (Bruce) Rufer. She is survived by two of her loving children, Rhonda Shoemaker and Jack Overton II and was greeted in Heaven by her youngest daughter, Michelle “Shellie” Renee Overton, who passed on July 14, 2017.
On July 17, 1987, Thyra married Charles “Charlie” Sallows. She is survived by Charlie and his children, Jill Sallows (Pablo Herrera) and Christian (Janine) Sallows, and their children, Benjamin and Isidora Herrera, Jada Hall, and Addison Sallows. Charlie’s son, Matthew (Sandra) Sallows, preceded her in death.
Known as Grandma, Grammie, and Tweety, Thyra was a proud grandmother of seven grandchildren: Susie (Tom), Carrie, and Michael Shoemaker, Michael (Emily) and Kristina (Terrell) Dant, Zackary (Brianna) and Shelby Overton, and one great-grandchild, Stephon Overton. She was also an aunt and great-aunt to many nieces and nephews. A 1952 graduate of Central High School, Thyra went on to study Accounting Management at Indiana University South Bend.
She retired from the City of South Bend Water Works in 1999, where she worked as an auditor. She loved spending summers at Sandy Pines in Hopkins, MI and winters in Tavares, FL. Thyra and Charlie moved to Crossville, TN in 2005 and returned to South Bend in 2010 to be close to family.
Thyra was a talented craftswoman, creating beautiful, hand-painted wooden and ceramic pieces and decorations. She loved gardening and sharing freshly grown veggies from her garden, golfing, playing cards, and spending time with her family and friends. She was also a gifted singer and loved the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
A lover of animals, Thyra volunteered at Pet Refuge for many years and fostered several dogs in her home, including PJ, her beloved fur baby, Maltese-mix, whom she adopted in 2015. Visitation for Thyra will be on Saturday, November 10, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at Hahn Funeral Home, 505 W. 8th Street, Mishawaka. A Christian service will follow visitation at 4:00 PM.
Cremation will follow with interment at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pet Refuge, Inc., 4626 S. Burnett Dr., South Bend, IN 46614.
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