Leona Marilyn Gorden, 88 of Monticello Indiana passed away on February 11, 2025 at Arnett Hospital in Lafayette Indiana. She was born in Whitley county, Indiana on September 11, 1936 to Ralph and Sylvia(Lancaster)Folk. She grew up in Huntington County and graduated from Union Township School in 1954. Her love for music started at a very early age, as she first learned to play the cornet and soon thereafter started playing the Union School Fight song at basketball games while only in the first grade. She along with her three sisters sang in a quartet at church and many local events. Having grown up on a farm outside of Huntington, she along with her parents and siblings were very active in the 4-H fair and was also a cheerleader for Union School and was a talented seamstress. She went on to play the trumpet in the Ball State University Band and flute for the Ball State orchestra. She earned her  BS and MA in music education at Ball State University. While attending Ball State, Leona met and fell in love with fellow music student Richard L. Gorden. They were married on August 19, 1956 in Huntington IN and cherrished 68 years of marriage. She belonged to Sigma Alpha Iota, an honorary music sorority. Leona and Richard taught music, chorus and instrumental band together at North White School Corp. She also directed the NWHS Vallahlas Singers and helped with many NWHS musical productions alongside her husband. Leona enriched many young lives and taught several generations of families, having taught music and band at Round Grove, Dayton, Clarks Hilll, Wainright High School, North White and Twin Lakes School Corporations. At Twin Lakes she was the Roosevelt Middle School band director and the High School assistant band director. Leona also taught many piano and instrumental lessons in her home and was part owner of Gorden Pianos. It was one of her greatest joys to share her pasion of music by teaching her grandchildren piano and various musical instruments throughout their childhood.

She directed the Indiana Girls State band and chorus for three years and was a member of the Monticello United Methodist Church and actively served as choir director for many years. She also was the choir director at the Chalmers Community Church. Leona had been a member and once held the positions of Past President in Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority, Past Grand President and Alpha Omega member in the Kappa Kappa Sigma (KKS) Sorority, Active lifetime member in the Beta Chapter of KKS in Chalmers IN for almost 61, Alpha Nu Music Club and served as treasurer for the White County Chapter of Indiana State Retired Teachers Association.

 Leona and Richard have wonderful memories of traveling all across the United States, Mexico and Canada with their 2 children in their camper. Leona had been blessed to have visited all 50 states. She enjoyed music, gardening, raising flowers, bird watching, Sudoku and jigsaw puzzels,  broadway shows and Indianapolis Symphony concerts. She was an avid Purdue sports fan and loved watching and attending Indiana Pacers, Fever, Colts and Purdue basketball and football games. She was a breast cancer survivor.

Surviving alongside her husband are children Roger(Chris)Gorden, Brookston and Cynthia ,Whited, Lafayette and 7 grandchildren Teri (Aaron)Greenberg, Denver CO; Sarah(Stavros) Spiropoulos Beverly Hills, FL; Jeni (Mike) Arcuri Crystal River, FL; Robin(Josh)Kelly, Josh (Cheyenne)McCall;(Gregory(Leanne)Whited Brookston IN and Dr. Laura Whited (fiancé ' Richard Lewis) of Houston TX

12 Great grandchildren Chava and Ori Greenberg Adonis, Sharon and Johnny Spiropoulos, Cannon, Wake and Koah Arcuri; Laken and Liam Whited, Bently and Emma Kelly.

She is survived by her brothers Loren(Dianna)Folk, Lafayette and Larry Folk, Blufton, Sister-in-law Naida Kirkpatrick, Brother-in-law David(Linda) Gorden, several nieces and nephews, many sorority sisters, friends and special neighbors Jeff and Nancy Winnings

Proceeding her in death with her parents are sisters: Lorraine Fogwell, Lois Gotwals, Loretta Gottschalk, Son-in-Law Rich Whited, nephew Ed Gottchalk and great niece Allison Chambers West.

A vistitation will be held on Saturday Feburary 22, 2025 from 12:00 pm until time of funeral services celebrating Leona’s life at 2pm  at the Roscka Roth & Clapper Funeral Home in Monticello with Rev. Brian Beeks officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview I.O.O.F Cementery, Monticello.

Leona's love will live on in the heart of her family and friends and her memory and love for music will continue to inspire all who knew her. May she rest in peace. 

Donations or Memorials contributions can be made to:

 Ralph and Sylvia Folk Scholarship Fund at Ball State Univerity, School of Music, Muncie IN 47306

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Dollywood Foundation 111 E Main St, Sevierville TN 37862