Geri

Geraline “Geri” Webb Craig Vallotton, 86, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2024, under the care of Parkview Hospice. Geri was a resident of Grace Village Retirement Community in Winona Lake, IN, and former resident of Knoxville, TN; Flemingsburg, KY; Baton Rouge, Pitkin, and Pineville, LA.

Geri was born at home in Manifest, Louisiana, on April 11, 1937, to Vicie (Pollard) and William Alphus Webb. She was the third of four siblings, all brothers: Eugene, James Ellis, and Carl. She gained two step-brothers, Ellis and Clayton, when her mother married John C. Bond, and moved to Pitkin.

Geraline graduated as Salutatorian of the Pitkin High School class of 1955. She married Shelby Dwain Craig in 1956, and had two sons, Keith and David. After Shelby passed suddenly, Geraline moved to Baton Rouge. She married Richard B. Vallotton on February 16, 1963, and added another son, Dale, to the growing family. Three sons, and eight years later, Richard and Geraline welcomed a daughter, Lori, and three years later, another daughter, Alicia.

If you met Geraline, you don’t need to read the rest of this obituary, because she was a talker that would readily tell anyone who would listen about her life; you probably already know what’s coming next.

Geraline was a homemaker who sometimes worked part-time outside the home. If she believed in a product, she could sell it, and was great at customer service. She volunteered as a Girl Scout Leader, Girl Scout Cookie Chairman, marching band chaperone, played on a bowling team, enjoyed fishing, and loved to travel. Geraline liked bells and had a collection brought to her from around the world. She could often be found with a pocketful of starlight mints to share, and enjoyed completing the daily crossword puzzle.

Geraline’s passing reunites her with loved ones who preceded her: Mother, Vicie Pollard Bond; Step-father, John C. Bond; Father, William Alphus Webb; Step-mother, Ruby Webb; Husband, Shelby D. Craig; Husband, Richard B. Vallotton; Brother, Eugene Webb; Son, David L. Craig; Daughter, Alicia G. Vallotton; Grandson, G. Christopher Gee; and Grandson, Andrew L. Vallotton.

Geraline is survived by son Keith (Wendy Cress) Craig of Hillsboro, OH; son Richard Dale (Elena) Vallotton of Angola, IN; daughter, Lori Vallotton (Terrence) Roe of Warsaw, IN; daughter-in-law, Marilyn Craig of Knoxville, TN; brothers, James Ellis Webb of Toledo, OH and Carl Webb of Grant, LA; grandchildren Latisha Gee, Shane McCray, Travis McCray, Shelby Craig, Robin Mitchell, Brett Vallotton, Keely Roe, and Griffin Roe; 16 great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren; dear friend Karen Trymbulak and family of Windsor, Ontario; and in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends and their children too numerous to name.

We will all miss her and will strive to live our lives to the fullest, in her honor.

[Public visitation will be Monday, January 29, from 4-6 PM, with funeral service to follow at 6 PM at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapels, 2290 Provident Court, Warsaw.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of Geri’s favorite charities: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children, or St. Joseph Indian School (Chamberlain, SD).]