Miriam Symonds

Born February 19th, 1930, in Grottoes, Virginia, Miriam Elizabeth Gordon Symonds was the youngest of 5 children. 

At just sixteen years old, Miriam bravely took a cross-country train ride from her home state to Colorado to pursue a degree in accounting at Denver University.

It was in Colorado where Miriam began her career working for Channel 9 News and where she married and had three children: David, Theresa, and Conrad. After several years, she was promoted and transferred to Channel 21 News in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where she  worked most of her career and raised her children. 

After semi-retiring, she began working at The Summit Club in Fort Wayne where she finished her long, successful career. 

Within her retirement, she loved finding opportunities to challenge herself and continue learning. One way was by taking swim classes— she never learned to swim as a child and she believed it was important, and wanted to prove that she could. 

However, her real love was found on the dance floor. Miriam began dancing at Arthur Murray Dance Studio in 1995. She remained very active within the studio (where she was a studio favorite), and at events around the country, for many years. She had a habit of saying, "Why am I doing this to myself?" everytime she attended a large, international ballroom competition, right before going out and wowing the crowd. Miriam worked on and performed high level routines in all dances at competitions around the country. Two of her particular favorite dances were Tango and Bolero because they “had real passion.” 

Additionally, Miriam was a very involved member of the  Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

She was a grandmother to Leah Symonds McClain and Maraya Brethauer Lee and a great grandmother to Reagan McClain and Mackenzie McClain. Miriam will be missed and remembered fondly by her family, dance family, her community, and the many friends she had made throughout her long, outstanding life.