Ramona Eisinger

Ramona Gene (Croddy) Eisinger, loving sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away in her sleep on April 15, 2020 due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. She was 91 years of age. She and her husband, Richard Lee Eisinger, were blessed to have celebrated 71 years of marriage together.

Ramona was born on January 27, 1929 in Oakford, Indiana to Wayne & Stella Croddy. Her family later moved to Kokomo, Indiana and she graduated from Kokomo High School in 1947. On August 27, 1948, she literally married “the boy next door” (!) who had returned to his Kokomo home from World War 2 military service. Ramona then moved with her husband to Indianapolis in 1948, who began training at Indiana Central College in preparation for pastoral ministry. She then began to take on the role of a pastor’s wife as her husband served Pyrmont United Brethren Church for a short time in Pyrmont, IN, and then moved with him to Dayton, OH where he attended Bonebrake seminary. During this time, Ramona supported her husband by working at Oakwood Tool and Engineering until their first child, Sharon, was born in 1953. Later, Ramona continued to serve as a pastor’s wife at Richvalley Evangelical United Brethren Church, Richvalley, IN (1953-1961) and Grace Evangelical United Brethren Church, Bremen, IN (1961-1964). During this time, their 2nd and third children were born: Steven (1955), Mark (1958) and they adopted a fourth child, Kristin in 1962. In order for her husband to begin work in education for the mentally handicapped, the family then moved to Indianapolis in 1964 and Ramona continued raising their four children. As her children grew, however, Ramona found more time to be outside of the home and worked as secretary for the Indiana School for the Deaf and then as a secretary for Indianapolis Public School #71. Then at the age of 47 she took the courageous step to enroll at Indiana University and became a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant in 1978. She later was employed as an occupational therapist at Hooverwood Nursing Home in Indianapolis for 14 years. Her thirst for continual training continued as evidenced by receiving a B.S in Health Education from Indiana University in 1984.

Along with the accomplishments above, Ramona was especially known by her family and friends as a loving, kind, self-sacrificing, and hospitable person. Her cooking skills were also well known, and she loved making family meals special. Her tasty beef brisket always created a wonderful memory! Ramona also was faithful to remember birthdays and special occasions, making sure everyone received an appropriate greeting card. She seemed, too, to have a lot of practical wisdom, having a knack to help her children find solutions to everyday problems. Ramona also liked to travel, take pictures, enjoyed swimnastics, gardening, and was an avid reader and word game player. Ramona’s faith in God was obviously important to her. This was demonstrated by her church involvement and activities and by reading Christian books and spiritual biographies. She pointed to Micah 6:8 as her life verse: He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Ramona was preceded in death by her father, Wayne Croddy, her mother Stella Croddy and her brother, Jack Croddy. She is survived by her brother Robert Croddy (wife Roberta), her husband, Richard Eisinger, daughter Sharon Stewart (husband Paul); son Steven Eisinger (wife Joan); Mark Eisinger (wife Denise), and Kristin Wagoner (husband Kevin); grandchildren Shannon Risken (husband Doug), Ryan Stewart, Morgan Eisinger, Daniel Eisinger (wife Jasmine) Beth McBride (husband Daniel), David Eisinger (wife Jasmine) and Joseph Eisinger; great grandchildren: Jules Risken, Ben Risken, Samuel McBride, Jane McBride.

A private funeral service and burial will be held privately at Washington Park North Cemetery, Indianapolis on Saturday, April 18, 2:00pm. The service will also be live streamed at 2:00pm (EDT). The live stream can be accessed at this link: https://youtu.be/bYNB7UqcR14

In lieu of flowers, donations, can be given to the Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home in Lebanon, IN: https://iumch.org/donate-iumch/
515 W. Camp Street, PO Box 747, Lebanon, IN 46052