Sue Vada Fitzgerald, 97, Evansville, Indiana, formerly of Smith Mills, Kentucky, passed away Monday, July 3, 2017, in Evansville, Indiana.

Sue was a dedicated member of First United Methodist Church in Henderson, Kentucky.  Sue was an avid bridge player and was very active with the Reitz Home and the Preservation Society in Evansville, Indiana.

Sue was born on January 17, 1920, in Smith Mills, Kentucky, to Vernie and Bernice Sowards.  Sue attended Louisiana State University where she met Carl Lafargue.  The two married and moved to Florida.  While in Florida, she worked for the Jacksonville Air Force Base where she was the only non-military person allowed on the base.  While there, she was the colonel's right arm.  Later, she moved to Evansville where she enjoyed working for the Indiana Employment Service as a counselor until her retirement.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Vernie and Bernice Sowards; and her son, John Carl Lafargue, who died in 2015.

Surviving Sue are her daughter-in-law, Barbara Lafargue of Seattle, Washington; two granddaughters, Michelle Winetrout of Eugene, Oregon, and Renee Johnson of Seattle, Washington; five great-grandchildren; two half-brothers, Mike and Brad; two half-sisters, Vickie and Debbie; and a host of cousins and many friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 22, 2017, at First United Methodist Church in Henderson, Kentucky.  The Reverend James Wofford, Reverend Glenn Sowards, Reverend Don House, and Pastor Karl Crowe will officiate.  Private family burial will be in Fernwood Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.

Pallbearers will be Rick Bridgeman, Tyler M. Haynes, Justin Bennett, Jim Keck, Johnathan House, and Wayne West.

Rudy-Rowland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.