Mary Lou Altvater, 58, of Terre Haute died at 4:24 a.m. Wednesday Oct. 10, 2007, at Harborside Healthcare. She was born Sept. 20, 1949, in Terre Haute to Francis L. Alkire and Gloria Brackney Alkire. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her mother; her husband of 31 years, Keith Altvater; a son, William "Bill" Joseph Altvater and wife Suzy of Pimento; two daughters, Barbara Rae Bendzsa and husband Paul of Seelyville and Samantha Drebes and husband Steve of Terre Haute; five grandchildren, Cadence Marissa Altvater, Zackery Pritcher, Kellbie Drebes, Dawson Drebes and Seaaira Bendzsa; special friends, Donna VanHorn, Tiffany Weir, Madonna Matterly and Romine Burnett; special cousin, Jerry Brackney; and miniature schnauzer, Sabrina.
She was preceded in death by her father.
She had a lifelong love for horses, enjoyed nature, bird watching, sewing and cross-stitch. She was a member of Farmers Chapel Church, Wabash Valley Horsemen Association and Eastern Star.
Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Hull Cemetery with Dr. Gary Greven officiating. Friends are asked to meet at DeBaun Funeral Home by 10 a.m. to go in procession to the cemetery behind the horse drawn hearse. No visitation is scheduled. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Mary Altvater Cat Rescue Fund, care of 1132 Poplar St., Terre Haute, IN 47807.
The Ride
We went for a glorious ride this morning.
The air was clean and fresh and new.
Every leaf was turned to meet the sky.
Every cloud the palest shade of blue.
We went for a happy ride this morning.
Our hearts were filled with heavenly sound,
As over the bedrock our horses walked
In a never ending circle of sky and ground.
We went for a beautiful ride this morning
With birds and bees, eagles and deer.
Our souls were filled with the spirit of life
And nothing on this Earth we had to fear.
We went for a glorious ride this morning,
With nature all around.
It seems my spirit soars and soars
Miles above the endless ground.
I have peace; I have contentment,
For I have no more to roam.
For the Lord shall forever be with me
As the soft clip-clop of the horses shoes
Carries me lovingly home
— Mary Lou Altvater
Survivors include her mother; her husband of 31 years, Keith Altvater; a son, William "Bill" Joseph Altvater and wife Suzy of Pimento; two daughters, Barbara Rae Bendzsa and husband Paul of Seelyville and Samantha Drebes and husband Steve of Terre Haute; five grandchildren, Cadence Marissa Altvater, Zackery Pritcher, Kellbie Drebes, Dawson Drebes and Seaaira Bendzsa; special friends, Donna VanHorn, Tiffany Weir, Madonna Matterly and Romine Burnett; special cousin, Jerry Brackney; and miniature schnauzer, Sabrina.
She was preceded in death by her father.
She had a lifelong love for horses, enjoyed nature, bird watching, sewing and cross-stitch. She was a member of Farmers Chapel Church, Wabash Valley Horsemen Association and Eastern Star.
Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Hull Cemetery with Dr. Gary Greven officiating. Friends are asked to meet at DeBaun Funeral Home by 10 a.m. to go in procession to the cemetery behind the horse drawn hearse. No visitation is scheduled. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Mary Altvater Cat Rescue Fund, care of 1132 Poplar St., Terre Haute, IN 47807.
The Ride
We went for a glorious ride this morning.
The air was clean and fresh and new.
Every leaf was turned to meet the sky.
Every cloud the palest shade of blue.
We went for a happy ride this morning.
Our hearts were filled with heavenly sound,
As over the bedrock our horses walked
In a never ending circle of sky and ground.
We went for a beautiful ride this morning
With birds and bees, eagles and deer.
Our souls were filled with the spirit of life
And nothing on this Earth we had to fear.
We went for a glorious ride this morning,
With nature all around.
It seems my spirit soars and soars
Miles above the endless ground.
I have peace; I have contentment,
For I have no more to roam.
For the Lord shall forever be with me
As the soft clip-clop of the horses shoes
Carries me lovingly home
— Mary Lou Altvater
Mary Lou Altvater, 58, of Terre Haute died at 4:24 a.m. Wednesday Oct. 10, 2007, at Harborside Healthcare. She was born Sept. 20, 1949, in Terre Haute to Francis L. Alkire and Gloria Brackney Alkire. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her mother; her husband of 31 years, Keith Altvater; a son, William "Bill" Joseph Altvater and wife Suzy of Pimento; two daughters, Barbara Rae Bendzsa and husband Paul of Seelyville and Samantha Drebes and husband Steve of Terre Haute; five grandchildren, Cadence Marissa Altvater, Zackery Pritcher, Kellbie Drebes, Dawson Drebes and Seaaira Bendzsa; special friends, Donna VanHorn, Tiffany Weir, Madonna Matterly and Romine Burnett; special cousin, Jerry Brackney; and miniature schnauzer, Sabrina.
She was preceded in death by her father.
She had a lifelong love for horses, enjoyed nature, bird watching, sewing and cross-stitch. She was a member of Farmers Chapel Church, Wabash Valley Horsemen Association and Eastern Star.
Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Hull Cemetery with Dr. Gary Greven officiating. Friends are asked to meet at DeBaun Funeral Home by 10 a.m. to go in procession to the cemetery behind the horse drawn hearse. No visitation is scheduled. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Mary Altvater Cat Rescue Fund, care of 1132 Poplar St., Terre Haute, IN 47807.
The Ride
We went for a glorious ride this morning.
The air was clean and fresh and new.
Every leaf was turned to meet the sky.
Every cloud the palest shade of blue.
We went for a happy ride this morning.
Our hearts were filled with heavenly sound,
As over the bedrock our horses walked
In a never ending circle of sky and ground.
We went for a beautiful ride this morning
With birds and bees, eagles and deer.
Our souls were filled with the spirit of life
And nothing on this Earth we had to fear.
We went for a glorious ride this morning,
With nature all around.
It seems my spirit soars and soars
Miles above the endless ground.
I have peace; I have contentment,
For I have no more to roam.
For the Lord shall forever be with me
As the soft clip-clop of the horses shoes
Carries me lovingly home
— Mary Lou Altvater
Survivors include her mother; her husband of 31 years, Keith Altvater; a son, William "Bill" Joseph Altvater and wife Suzy of Pimento; two daughters, Barbara Rae Bendzsa and husband Paul of Seelyville and Samantha Drebes and husband Steve of Terre Haute; five grandchildren, Cadence Marissa Altvater, Zackery Pritcher, Kellbie Drebes, Dawson Drebes and Seaaira Bendzsa; special friends, Donna VanHorn, Tiffany Weir, Madonna Matterly and Romine Burnett; special cousin, Jerry Brackney; and miniature schnauzer, Sabrina.
She was preceded in death by her father.
She had a lifelong love for horses, enjoyed nature, bird watching, sewing and cross-stitch. She was a member of Farmers Chapel Church, Wabash Valley Horsemen Association and Eastern Star.
Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Hull Cemetery with Dr. Gary Greven officiating. Friends are asked to meet at DeBaun Funeral Home by 10 a.m. to go in procession to the cemetery behind the horse drawn hearse. No visitation is scheduled. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Mary Altvater Cat Rescue Fund, care of 1132 Poplar St., Terre Haute, IN 47807.
The Ride
We went for a glorious ride this morning.
The air was clean and fresh and new.
Every leaf was turned to meet the sky.
Every cloud the palest shade of blue.
We went for a happy ride this morning.
Our hearts were filled with heavenly sound,
As over the bedrock our horses walked
In a never ending circle of sky and ground.
We went for a beautiful ride this morning
With birds and bees, eagles and deer.
Our souls were filled with the spirit of life
And nothing on this Earth we had to fear.
We went for a glorious ride this morning,
With nature all around.
It seems my spirit soars and soars
Miles above the endless ground.
I have peace; I have contentment,
For I have no more to roam.
For the Lord shall forever be with me
As the soft clip-clop of the horses shoes
Carries me lovingly home
— Mary Lou Altvater
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