Nelda A. (Hoffman) Garrison

Nelda A. Garrison, 96, of Kokomo, passed away on Friday, April 24, 2026, at her home. She was born on December 18, 1929 in Holgate, Ohio, the daughter of Julius and Pauline (Welz) Hoffman. On March 6, 1953, she married William R. Garrison, who preceded her in death on January 3, 2014.

Nelda was a 1947 graduate of Holgate High School, Holgate, Ohio. She was a part of the first graduating class of Indiana University - Kokomo in 1970 with a degree in elementary education. She went on to earn a master’s degree in education. Nelda retired from Kokomo Center Schools after teaching at Washington School for 18 and a half years. She was a member at Christ Lutheran Church and had been a member of the Kokomo Country Club. She was an active volunteer at Redeemer Lutheran School while her grandchildren attended the school. Nelda enjoyed playing golf, sewing, and needle art. She also liked to travel, read, and play cards, especially Bridge and Euchre.

Nelda is survived by her children, Jane (Tim) Brubaker, Cheryl (Mark) Maris, and Mark (Nancy) Garrison; eight grandchildren, Adam (Rachel) Brubaker, Sarah Thieke, Andrew (Lindsey) Brubaker, Amanda Maris, Brandon (Stephanie) Maris, Ryan (Jessica) Maris, Kara Garrison, and Justin Garrison; 16 great-grandchildren, Ava Thieke, Gabriel Thieke, and Elijah Thieke, Katherine Brubaker, Elizabeth Brubaker, Ben Brubaker, Natalie Brubaker, Megan Brubaker, Remi Brubaker, Kaylin Maris, Lillian Maris, Eleanor Maris, Thomas Maris, Kenneth Maris, Isabelle Maris, and Madeline Maris; sister, Erma Biler; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Gene Hoffman, Paul Hoffman, and Mel Hoffman; and sister, Ruth Westrick.

A funeral service to celebrate Nelda’s life will be held at 12 pm, Friday, May 1, 2026, at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home, 1315 W. Lincoln Rd, Kokomo, with Pastor John Dreyer officiating. Burial in Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery will follow. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 10 am until the time of the service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, 3401 S. Dixon Road, Kokomo, IN 46902. Messages of condolence may be made left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.

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