Grace H. Gortner

Grace H. Gortner, age 95, of Wooster (New Pittsburg), passed away Wednesday, September 17th, 2008 at Smithville-Western Care Center in Wooster where she had resided for the last 6 years. Services will be Saturday, 1:00 p.m. at Mohican Church of The Brethren(Rt. 301), West Salem with Rev. Paul Bartholomew officiating followed by interment at Mohican Church of the Brethren Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to services from the church. Custer-Glenn Funeral Home, 2284 Benden Dr., Wooster is in charge of arrangements. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at: www.custerglenn.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Westview Manor, 1715 Mechanicsburg Rd., Wooster, Ohio 44691. She was born in Wayne County (New Pittsburg), Ohio on January 19, 1913 to Guy R. and Nellie (Howman) Hohenshil. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Kent State University and married Ray S. Gortner on December 25, 1936 in New Pittsburg. He passed away on November 21, 2001. She taught school as a third grade teacher for Northwestern School District for 25 years before retiring in 1975. She and her husband, Ray owned and operated a farm that they expanded to include Gortner Trucking and Gortner Caged Layers. During the 1950's and 1960's, they supplied farm fresh eggs directly to Buehler's supermarkets both in Wooster and Orrville. As a member of the Mohican Church of The Brethren, she was also a song leader through the 1940's and 1950's. Following retirement, Grace and Ray enjoyed 18 years of retirement in their Florida home where they rode their Tri-Cycles over 10,000 miles. She was a member of N.E.A.; former Auxilliary member with the Wooster Community Hospital; was awarded in 1973 the "Outstanding Elementary Teacher" in the United States by the National Association of Teachers (NATO). She is survived by a son, Gerald Ray Gortner of Canastota, New York; grandchildren, Craig L.(Penny) Gortner of Jenkintown, PA., Vonda L.(Scott) Muench of Glen Allen, VA., Matthew R. (Pearl) Gortner of Manlius, NY., and step-grandson, John L. Sorci of Canastota, NY.; Great-grandchildren, Rebekke Muench, Richard Muench and Anthony Sorci; a sister, Martha Martin of Wooster; Nephews and Nieces, Douglas of Georgia, Shirley of Michigan, Rodric of Georgia, Vickie of Ohio, Richard, Ronald and Roger all of Ohio. In addition to her parents and beloved husband, she is preceded in death by an infant daughter who died at birth in 1939, a sister, Ruth Jackson and brother, Richard Hohenshil.

Grace H. Gortner

January 19, 1913 - September 17, 2008