Clara Foutz

Clara Foutz, 81, of New Philadelphia died Friday morning, May 21, 2004, at University Hospital in Columbus following a brief illness and just four hours before her fourth great- granddaughter, Ainsley Marie was born.Clara was born on her mother’s birthday December 23, 1922, and had been a lifetime resident of New Philadelphia until she moved to Columbus this past year. She was the widow of Walter Heimberger, Jr., to whom she was married for twenty-three years and widow of Richard J. Foutz who died last year after thirty-five years of marriage. She was preceded in death by her parents Max and Viola Grandi, her brother August (Mildred) Grandi and sisters, Freda (Niles) Walker, Eleanor (Victor) Berarducci and Edna (John) Ickes.She is survived by her daughter, Viola Jeane (Richard) Candido of Columbus, and son, Steven A. Heimberger of Quincy, IL, children of her first marriage, and her step- daughter, Barbara J. (Thomas) Foutz-McIntosh, of New Philadelphia by her marriage to Richard.Clara rejoiced in her grandchildren, Anne Marie (Candido) Westbrook, Robert V. Candido, and Dustin L. (Michele) McIntosh, and also leaves three other great-grandchildren, Paige, Lauren, and Ashlynn.She was raised in the Catholic faith and was a life-long member of Sacred Heart Church. She was a member of L.C.B.A. and Christian Mothers. She graduated from New Philadelphia High School in the class of 1940, and attended secretarial school. While her husband, Walter, served with the Army’s 5th Air Corps during WWII, Clara worked as office manager in the procurement operations area at Wright Field, Dayton. After the war, she was employed by Cummins Diesel, the Tuscarawas County Mental Health Department for seven years, and worked along side Richard at Foutz Appliance Center for 13 years. Foutz Appliance Center was owned by Richard and his brother, Earl “Doc”, and is now in its third generation of family ownership under Thomas and Barbara McIntosh.Clara enjoyed the activities of B.P.O.E. Fraternal Order of Elks, where Richard was a member. She was also active in the efforts of mental health and physical disability issues and served as a board member and trustee with Easter Seals (The Rainbow Connection), to whom donations may be made in lieu of flowers. Donations may also be made to the Veterans Service Office.Visitation will be held at the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home in New Philadelphia on Thursday, May 27, 2004, from 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Sacred Heart Church on Friday beginning at 1:00 pm. with Msgr. George J. Schlegel officiating. Burial will be alongside her first husband, Walter, at Calvary Cemetery in New Philadelphia.