Obituaries

June 8, 1937 to May 5, 2024

ROYAL Center - Gloria Ann (Miller) Rife, 86, passed away Sunday, May 5, at Northwest Health-Porter.

Gloria Rife

She was born June 8, 1937, in Logansport, to the late James and Pauline (Heater) Miller. On Nov. 27, 1970 she married JB Rife. He preceded her in death.

She is survived by her children Karen Sommers, Jeffrey and (Dawn) Rife, (Nancy) Rife; Grandchildren Paul (Chris) Brucker, Lynn (Todd) Edgell, Lance (Becki) Hiatt, Hillary (Chris) Pine, Adam Rife, Samantha (Eric) Wagner, Sierra (Colby) Wood; 17 great-grandchildren; two brothers Mike (Linda) Miller and Gary Miller. 

She is preceded in death by daughter Betty Ann Hiatt, son Robert Rife, brothers Jimmy Gill and twin Tom Miller, sisters Janet Benedict and Barbara Heater, plus three step-sisters Marjorie Burns, Charlotte Tribbett and Cecelia Schneider, and step-mother Pearl Miller. 

In 1952, at the age of 15, Gloria started work at Cliffs Steakhouse in Logansport. In 1954, she moved to Winamac to work in the family-owned Millers Restaurant. She opened her own restaurant, Matilda's Cafe, in 1968. In 1976, she and her husband opened R & S Transport Equipment. While working at Vicky's Restaurant, she was known as Granny. She also worked at One-Eyed Jacks. She loved the restaurant business and all her customers. She was an avid bowler, and enjoyed card club, Red Hat Society, Bethel Bible Church with friend Mary Ann Rife, Summer Pool Club hosted by Linda Kroft, and she was a member of the VFW. 

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Monday, May 13, at Rans Funeral Home & Crematory, Harrison Chapel, Royal Center. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 14, at the funeral home with Pastor Heath Hiatt officiating. Burial will be at McKinley Memorial Gardens, Winamac. A memorial dinner will be at the VFW following services.  

Memorials may be given to the local VFW, Winamac.