Clara Mae Gerbig

Clara Mae Gerbig, age 82, of Dover and formerly of Barberton, died Tuesday, in Country Club Retirement Campus at Dover following a lengthy illness.

Born at Barberton, Ohio on July 26, 1931, Clara was a daughter of the late John Oscar and Lucy (Palmer) Bramlett. She was a 1949 graduate of Barberton High School and on June 26, 1953 married Donald Gerbig, Sr.

Clara was employed by Babcock and Wilcox for a number of years prior to returning home to raise the couple’s son. She later joined K-Mart at Barberton and enjoyed her work in the jewelry department where she repaired watches, sold jewelry, enjoyed her customers and retired following 17 years of service with the store.

She was a former member of the Cathedral of Tomorrow in Cuyahoga Falls and Covenant Baptist Church in Barberton, where she was an active choir member. Clara was known for her strong work ethic and for her baking skills, which included her granddaughters’ favorite, chocolate chip cookies. In her free time, Clara enjoyed being with her granddaughters and completing jigsaw puzzles.

Clara is survived by her beloved husband; a son, Donald (Frances) Gerbig, Jr. of Dover; granddaughters, Kelsey of Columbus, Layne and Gracen both of Dover; a niece, Donna Blubaugh of Wadsworth; two nephews, James Collins of Norton and David Collins of Marshallville; two sisters-in-law, Hazel Stoll of Marshallville, Ohio and Alice Gerbig of Barberton.

In addition to her parents, Clara was preceded in death by a brother, Clarence Bramlett and a sister, Mary “Billy” Collins.

A graveside service led by Pastor John Wallace will be held on Friday, March 14, 2014 at 11:15 AM in the Ivy Chapel of Greenlawn Memorial Park at Akron.