Belva Ruth Stephan

Belva Ruth Stephan, 84, a life resident of New Philadelphia, passed away suddenly Wednesday, January 25, 2006, at her residence. A daughter of the late M. Bert and Eva Kaiser Young, Belva was born November 29, 1921 in the family residence in Goshen Township, Ohio.She attended New Philadelphia High School and retired in 1986 from Zimmer Orthopedic Surgical Products in Dover. Prior to starting at Zimmer, Belva had worked at Dover Appliance.Belva was a member of the First United Church of Christ in New Philadelphia, and an avid Cleveland Indians baseball fan. She will be remembered by her children as a mother with a loving personality who loved them all equally and was careful never to show favoritism. She was a wonderful mother-in-law to her son’s wives and a devoted care giver towards her husband’s parents. She loved her Yorkshire Terrier, Pippa, and was most devoted to her husband Don, never forgetting to tell him she loved him and give him a kiss daily.She is survived by her husband, Donald M. Stephan, whom she married July 9, 1949; son’s, Jerry (Dianne) Ackerman, of Dover, Todd (Terry) Stephan, of New Philadelphia, Dan (Joyce) Stephan, of Dover and Gary Stephan of New Philadelphia; grandchildren, Joni Homan, Amanda, Nicole, Joe, and Mike Stephan, Tom Ackerman and Aaron and Alaina Fisher; great granddaughters, Anna Kate and Claire Lauren Ackerman and Penelope Stephan; step-great grandsons, Justin, Josh and Bryant Homan; her friends from the Zimmer retiree’s breakfast club and her beloved Yorkie, Pippa.Belva was preceded in death by her parents.Visitation will be Sunday, January 29, 2006 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory in New Philadelphia. ACelebration of Life service will be conducted by Rev. Jeffrey Gerber and Jill Lovett on Monday, January 30, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. at the First United Church of Christ, in New Philadelphia. Burial will be at Evergreen Burial Park, in New Philadelphia and a memorial reception will follow in the social hall of the First United Church of Christ.Memorial contributions in Memory of Belva are suggested to the First United Church of Christ, 201 Fair Ave. NW, PO Box 422 New Philadelphia, OH 44622 or the National Kidney Foundation of Ohio, 1373 Grandview Ave. Suite #200 Columbus, OH 43212-2804