Gladys Carolyn Wardenga, 96, of McDonough took up her heavenly residence on Monday, December 3, 2018. Born on March 16,1922 in Erie, Pennsylvania, she was the ninth and last child of Fred and Mary (Haxaire) Winkelman. She attended Goddard School, literally a little red one room schoolhouse through eighth grade and went on to graduate from Academy High in Erie. She pursued commercial and business courses. While working at GE, she met and married Henry Wardenga on April 3, 1948. They were married 64 years and reared 3 children.  She was a great homemaker, who enjoyed cooking, sewing, entertaining, traveling, poetry, crossword puzzles and most of all singing. She had a natural gift for organization and could make every penny stretch. She was a great hostess and especially enjoyed hosting Thanksgiving with family and friends. She was active in her community through Mainland's Women's Club and Red Hatters. Coming to trust the Lord at an early age, she was an active church member wherever she lived. Through the years she had taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, went on mission trips, helped in the kitchen with Wednesday night dinners or church wide events and served in vacation bible school.When her children were older she returned to work after brushing up on her business skills. She worked in the office of the Miami-Dade County Civil service system and retired from the Miami-Dade County Tax Collectors Office. Mrs. Wardenga was preceded in death by her husband: Henry Wardenga and grandson: Henry Thomas Glenn Wardenga and her siblings: Clare, Carl, Fred, Harry, Betty, Marie and two that died at birth. She is survived by her children: Susan McLeer (Bill) of McDonough, Robert Wardenga (Debbie) of FL, and Henry Thomas "Tom" Wardenga (Nadine) of Cleveland; 6 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.   A Memorial Service will be held at Mt. Zion Baptist Church In Jonesboro at 12 Noon on December 8, 2018..  The family will receive friends from 10 AM till 12 Noon the day of the service at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Billy Graham Evangelistic association. www.billygraham.org .  Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA. at a later date.