Anna G. Hershberger

ANNA G. HERSHBERGER, 95, a resident of the New Dawn Retirement Community in Dover, died Tuesday, July 9, 2002 at Union Hospital following a brief illness. Anna was born in Geauga County, the third child to Jacob and Mattie Glick. She attended Amish school in Barrs Mills. At 17, Anna received her religious conversion through numerous visits to Jeff Davis Camp Meetings, which were led by evangelist E. E. Shellhammer. She graduated from God’s Bible School in Cincinnati. In 1924 she married Earl Jacob Hershberger, with whom she celebrated 76 years of marriage. He preceded her in death on April 13, 2000. Anna had various jobs including being an early telephone switchboard operator for the village of Sugarcreek as well as being a cook at Union Hospital. Along with her husband, Anna was instrumental in and a charter member of the Sugarcreek Free Methodist Church. She found great joy in her many church activities including teaching Sunday school. Anna was a licensed evangelist, holding revivals and preaching at various Free Methodist churches. From 1954 to 1965, along with her sister Katie, owned and operated “Katie & Anna’s Dutch Oven” restaurant in New Philadelphia. When she was 65, Anna proudly received her wings for having solo-flown an airplane from Harry Clever Field. In 1967 she and her husband became involved with long-term health care which led to their founding of the New Dawn Health Care Center in 1976. Over the years the couple and their family owned and operated care homes in the Leesville/Bowerston area, Strasburg, Carrollton and also New Philadelphia. On June 19, 2002, New Dawn celebrated the opening of their new wing, the Rehabilitation Center, which Anna attended. The Center was dedicated to her. She is survived by son Dan (Sandy) Hershberger of New Philadelphia; daughter, Julianna Hershberger of Dover; sister, Amanda Gaumer of Florida; grandchildren, Perry (Linda) Hershberger and Tammy (Joe) Tully, both of New Philadelphia; great-grandchildren, Aaron, Kayla and Adam Hershberger, and Melina Tully. In addition to her parents and husband, Anna was preceded in death by her sister, Katherine “Katie” Guffey and two brothers, Albert and Simon Glick. Calling hours will be on Friday, July 12, 2002 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home in New Philadelphia. The funeral service will be on Saturday, July 13, 2002 at 11:00 AM in the Sugarcreek Free Methodist Church, 531 Dover Rd., NE, in Sugarcreek with Pastor Dwight L. Mason and Rev. John Walter officiating. Burial, alongside her husband, will follow at Union Hill Cemetery. Following the committal service a reception will be given in the church. Contributions honoring Anna may be made to the Sugarcreek Free Methodist Church, 531 Dover Road, NE, Sugarcreek, OH 44681.