Billie Jo (Dell) Cardwell

Billie Jo (Dell) Cardwell, 87 of Tipton entered the Eternal Gate of Heaven on Thursday, December 19, 2019 at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.  She was the 6^th born of 13 children to Clifford & Margaret (Lee) Dell born on October 24, 1932.  Billie Jo married Reuben H. Elston on August 13, 1946 and they had three children, Terry, Larry and Elaine.  Billie Jo and Reuben accepted Jesus as their personal Savior on January 17, 1973 and they were faithful members on Vineyard Assembly of God.  He preceded her in death on August 16, 1979.  She then married Othello C. “Zeke” Cardwell on October 31, 1980 and he died on June 7, 1990.

Billie Jo was a retired homemaker and had worked at Delco Radio in Kokomo.  She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the women’s group, GG’s.  Billie Jo liked to garden and knit as well as solving puzzles and camping.

Survivors include one son, Larry E. Elston of Windfall; one brother, Jerry Dell and wife Karen, Goldsmith; five grandchildren, Michelle Grubb and husband Jason, Larry G. Elston, Monica Teas and husband Mike, Kimberly Elaine Stout and husband Randall, and April Pfoutz; 8 great-grandchildren, Juston, Macy and Janson Grubb, Ashley Hensley, Sherrie Vasquez, Amelia Pfoutz, Logan Creason and Braydon Sampson; several great-great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by a special niece Doree Vetter and a special nephew, Will Sego.

Billie Jo was preceded in death by two children, Terry Elston and Elizabeth Elaine Elston; four brothers, William Dell, Richard Earl, Roy Dell and Harry Dell and seven sisters, Norma Reeves, Alice Sego, Leatrice Mishanic, Treva Sunsdal, Neita Reeder, Linda Fukumori and Marketta Whittaker.

Funeral services for Billie Jo will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 26 at Young-Nichols Funeral Home with Pastor Joe Brock presiding.  Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery.  Visitation will be Thursday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Vineyard Assembly of God, 227 N. East Street, Tipton, Indiana, 46072.