Joan Gambs

Joan R. Gambs, 90, of Noblesville IN, formerly of Columbus OH, Indianapolis & Greencastle IN, passed away Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at Harbour Manor & The Lodge in Noblesville. Born March 6, 1923 in Columbus OH, she attended St. Joseph Academy & Ohio State University where she was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority. In 1943 she married her high school sweetheart & love of her life, John (Jack) R. Gambs.
Joan was a past volunteer for Sunnyside in Indianapolis and Riverview Hospital in Noblesville. She was a choir member at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church & a member of the Silver Notes with the Extension Homemakers. In Greencastle she managed the sorority house for the Delta Gammas at DePauw University. Joan worked as an interpretive guide at Conner Prairie for many years and later worked for the Accent Shop in Noblesville.
Motherhood & becoming a grand and great grandmother brought Joan the greatest joy. She was adored by her four children and their spouses, her eight grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. She was a woman who possessed a quiet calming presence with a twinkle in her eye for fun. Joan gave the greatest gift of self-confidence to her children & their children. She showed her love through her gift of cooking wonderful meals, giving this practical advice to her family, "If you're feeling low, just eat something & go outside." Her sense of humor was pure delight, prompting all of her family to want to start a book of the witticisms that effortlessly rolled out of her. She, indeed, walked with grace through this life.
Joan is survived by three of her four children, John Gambs (Kathy) of Lafayette IN, Patricia Mac Innis (Dan) of Noblesville, & Rosemary Lamberson (Mark) of Flagstaff AZ.
Also surviving her is her former daughter in law Sally Gambs of Indianapolis, grandchildren Gretchen Miller (Todd) of Logansport IN, Michelle Gambs-Rohen (Sean) of Indianapolis, Carrie Heimlich (Nick) of Caledonia OH, Heather Mac Innis (Gary) of Noblesville, Sarah Mac Innis (Matt Stach) of Lebanon IN, Bret Lamberson (Brigit) of San Francisco and Lisa Lamberson (Ben Shaffer) of Flagstaff AZ; great grandchildren Eberle & Cecilia Miller, Grace & Charles Gambs-Rohen, Elliott & Oliver Gambs, Emma & Anna Heimlich, Mary & Thomas Mac Innis, Ada, Evelyn & Harold Stach, & Jack Shaffer. Brother in law Richard Gambs of Columbus OH and North Palm Beach FL & sister in law Katie Eberle Smith also survive.
She was proceeded in death by her husband, Jack, her son, David, her parents, Edward and Ruth Eberle, her brothers John & Michael Eberle, sisters in law Virginia Eberle, Helen, Jane & Louise Gambs, brothers in law Gerald & Charles Gambs.
A private celebration of Joan's life will be held for the family. Interment will occur at a later date at St. Joseph Cemetery, Columbus, OH.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the donor's favorite charity.