Edna Perle McMillen

November 5, 1915 - November 7, 2015

Edna Perle(Penny)McMillen, 100 passed away November 7, 2015 at 7:10 pm at Chalet Village, Berne. She was born in Chattanooga, OH. on November 5, 1915 to William and Minna A(Baumgartner)Andress.

She was a graduate of Willshire High School and continues her studies taking three correspondence classes and further education at Gibson College.

She married John Young of Bluecreek Township and had two daughters, Jeanne and Karen, and two step-children, Harold Young and Alice Baumgartner.

She later married Gordon"Red"McMillen of Van Wert, Ohio and enjoyed more family with her step-children Kathy, Sue, Fran, Steve and Kent.

She was a prolific writer having many pen pals for the last seventy years.

She was employed at Franklin Electric, Bluffton and later at Decatur G.E.

After her marriage to Gordon"Red" she took up the hobby of Sailing on her husband's sailboat "Dixie Dragon" with many adventures on Lake Michigan island Hopping.

Edna was a published author in sporting magazines with tales of their sailing adventures.

Gordon was an accomplished designer and designed the 38 foot "Dixie Dragon II" which they built over a 12 year period in Van Wert, OH. in their back yard., using mahogony from Honduras and hand poured lead Keel.

She shipped the boat to Dog River Marina in Mobile Bay Al. When the boat was launched the balance was perfect and another adventure began.

They sailed the gulf and Caribbean using Dog River as home port for many years until age became a factor.

They later spent winter in Al. with her sister "Tut" and summers with her daughters, Jeanne and Karen in Indiana helping drive routes for Rock Creek Bait & Tackle.

Red passed away in 2002 and Perle continued to live in Berne with her daughter and also spent some time in Al. with her sister.

In later years Perle moved to Chalet Villge where she enjoyed Bingo and playing Pinochle and Yahtzee with family and friends.

She was an avid fan of Dixieland music and never missed an opportunity for a night of music and dancing.

Perle was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, John and Gordon, her brothers, Floyd and Robert, sisters, Ruth Studebaker, Grace McBride, Vera"Tut" Dusseau and step-daughter Alice Baumgartner. She is survived by daughters; Jeanne(Larry)Dubach, Karen Cottrell, stepsons, Harold Young, Kent McMillen, Steve McMillen, step-daughters; Kathy DeCamp, Sue Knight, Fran McMillen, and sister Donna Wilson, nine grandchildren, many step-great grandchildren and many great-great grandchildren along with many nieces and nephews.

She truly was the life of the party and the party will go on. Friends and family alike will remember to raise a toast to her adventurous life. "Bon Voyage"

Funeral services are Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at 3 PM at the Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home, Berne with visitation from 1:30 to 3:00 PM. Officiating is Pastor Tom Brunstrup. Burial is in the MRE Cemetery, Berne

Preferred memorials are to Chalet Village.

Sign guest book at yagerkirchhofer.com