AUBURN — Darla A. Gearhart, 78, of Auburn passed away Monday, June 19, 2017, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne.

She was born February 23, 1939, in Auburn to the late H. Glen and Thelma May (Steward) Deihl. Darla was a 1957 graduate of Garrett High School.

Darla married Ronald L. Gearhart on Sept. 20, 1958, in the Garrett First Church of Christ, and he passed away July 3, 2004.

Darla worked for several years as an EMT for DeKalb Memorial Hospital in Auburn. She later retired from Compre Care Home Health and Hospice in Kendallville.

She was an active member and served on various committees of the Auburn Church of Christ. She was also a member of the Women of the Moose 261 of Auburn and the Golden Years Homestead Auxiliary.

She served as president and held various leadership positions at the Lake James Assembly of Christian Women. She also served as dorm mom at the Lake James Christian Assembly and in 2015 received the Violet Patee Service Award, which is the highest honor given through the Lake James Christian Assembly.

Surviving are two sons, Jed Gearhart of Auburn, and Brett Gearhart of Marble, Penn.; four grandchildren, Isaiah Gearhart, Micah Gearhart, Joshua Gearhart and Taylor Gearhart; two great-grandsons; and two sisters and a brother-in-law, Dora Johnson of Auburn and Deb and Jerry Thomas of Garrett.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two sons, Blake Gearhart and Eric Gearhart; and a brother, David Deihl.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Auburn Church of Christ, 208 W. 18th St., Auburn, with visitation from 10-11 a.m. prior to the service at the church. Joe Heins will be officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Auburn.

Visitation will also be from 4-8 p.m. Friday at Feller and Clark Funeral Home, 1860 Center St., Auburn.

Memorials may be directed to Golden Years Homestead, Inc., or Lake James Christian Assembly.