Born: Sept. 7, 1923

Died: July 19, 2013

Edna Ruth Gallup, 89, of Holland, formerly of Niles, passed away on Friday, July 19, 2013, at Hospice House of Holland.

She was born Sept. 7, 1923, in Niles, to George and Anna ( Koepnick ) Rathburn.

She was the youngest of two sons and five daughters. She was raised in Niles and graduated in 1941 from Niles High School. She was employed by Tyler Refrigeration Company and then by Michigan Bell Telephone, where she began as an operator and then advanced to be a supervisor, instructor and a recruiter. In 1944, she married Ray Hulce and raised four children at their home on Cedar Street. In 1966, she married Robert (Bob) Gallup. Together, the same year, they opened The Peacock, a women’s clothing store, in Niles, at Eastgate. The store eventually expanded to two more locations, South Bend, Ind., at North Village Mall, and Stevensville. During this time, she served on the board of the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce. The stores closed at their retirement in 1988. She lived most of her life in Niles and was a 50-year member of First Presbyterian Church, where she sang in the choir for many years. In 2005, she moved to Holland, where she became a member of Third Reformed Church.

She was preceded in death, in 2008, by Bob, her beloved husband of 42 years; her daughter Rae Ann, in infancy; and, in 2003, by her stepdaughter, Diane Sumner.

She is survived by her children, Holly ( Arthur ) Mishke, of Zeeland, Frederic Hulce, of Grand Rapids, Ann ( Robert ) Nicholson, of Hoboken, N.J., and Andrew ( Laura ) Hulce, of Holland; one sister, Esther Davis of Yountville, Calif.; eight grandchildren, Brian and Eric Mishke, Jason Sumner, Emily Patterson, Sara Nicholson, Amanda Dykema, and Elise and Kelly Hulce; and five great-grandsons, Nathan and Aaron Mishke, Gabriel Sumner and Parker and Reid Patterson.

She was very loved and will be greatly missed.

Her memorial service will be 11 a.m., on Saturday, July 27, 2013, at the Dykstra Funeral Homes-Mulder Chapel, 188 West 32nd St., Holland, MI 49423. 616 392-2348. Visitation will be 10 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Burial will be in Graafschap Cemetery, Holland.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested by the family that donations be made to Hospice of Holland.

For more information and an online registry, visit www.dykstrafuneralhome.com.