Mrs. Viola M. Ludtke, 91, of Walkerton, IN, died Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at IU Health LaPorte Hospital.
She was born July 8, 1921, in LaPorte to Alfred and Adeline (Shultz) Harness.
Viola worked for 34 years for the LaPorte Community Schools. She was a home economics club member and enjoyed being in bowling leagues. She enjoyed crocheting, gardening, cooking, and especially spending time with her grandchildren.
On Jan. 18, 1941, in Knox, IN, she married Louis Ludtke, who preceded her in death Dec. 9, 1985.
Viola was also preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Roger A. Burkhart; four brothers, Ed, Woodrow, Fenton and Herman Harness; and four sisters, Gladys Fisher, Agnes Moore, Ethel Bent and Geneva Buzalski.
She is survived by three daughters, Carol (John) McDaniel of Walkerton, Beulah (Oreste Jr.) Lantero of Trimble, MO, and Sandra (Wolfgang) Sorg of Mill Creek, IN; two grandsons, James A. Burkhart of Chesterton, IN, and Dean Lantero of Winston Salem, NC; three granddaughters, Brenda (Bruce) Britton of LaPorte, Dawn Lantero of Yukon, OK, and Wendy Sorg of Greenwood, IN; one great-granddaughter, Chayton Burkhart of Chesterton; one great-grandson, James R. Burkhart of Chesterton; brother, Alfred Harness of Kingsford Heights, IN, and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at Haverstock Funeral Home and Cremation Services, LaPorte, on Sunday, May 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday, May 20, from 10 to 11 a.m. A life celebration will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Steve Laue officiating. Interment will follow at Salem Cemetery, LaPorte.
Memorial contributions may be made to LaPorte Hospital Foundation VNA Hospice, P.O. Box 250, LaPorte, IN 46350.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.haverstockfuneralhome.com.