Shirley M. Sowders

December 10, 1942 - March 7, 2020

Shirley M. Sowders, 77, of Columbus, passed away March 7, 2020, at Columbus Regional Hospital. Shirley was born December 10, 1942 in Lawrence County, Indiana, the daughter of Lloyd and Louise Howard Parish. She married Larry Delmar Sowders on November 14, 1959. Before she had retired, Shirley and Larry were in the restaurant business together. They were the owners and proprietors of several Waffle House family restaurants across southern Indiana, including stores in Bedford, Columbus, Seymour, and Greensburg. She was a member of the Moose #398, the V.F.W. Post #1987, and the American Legion Post #24. Shirley took a lot of pride in her hobbies. In 2008, she and her friend Maudie Medaris purchased and renovated the Walesboro schoolhouse, which was built in 1878. They renovated the building themselves, turning it into a restaurant that they ran together. Like Larry, she was a lover of music and an avid singer, and met many of her friends on Karaoke nights. Shirley also loved to write and was a wonderful storyteller. Above all else, Shirley loved her family. She lived for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was always creating and making for her family, creating games and writing stories. Shirley was always proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, devoting so much of her life to going to sporting events, stage productions, graduations, or even just staying up late and playing games with them. She is survived by her son Randy D. (Robin) Sowders of Greensburg; daughters Kathy L. Mann and Sandy R. (Dan) Asher both of Columbus; grandchildren Justin Mann, Boone Asher, Delmer Andrew Sowders, Clay Asher, Jenna Malinsky, Trevor Sowders, and Samuel Asher; 10 great-grandchildren and Shirley was looking forward to the upcoming birth of her 11th great-grandchild; a brother Roger W. (Teresa) Keith of Mitchell, Indiana; as well as a sister Judy A. (Roger) VanMeter of Dallas, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Larry on July 22, 2019; as well as a brother Lloyd Parish. The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12, 2020 at the Jewell – Rittman Family Funeral Home with Rev. Jay Vanderbur officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service Thursday. Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.