Dolores E. Hixson

Dolores E. Hixson, 85, of New Philadelphia, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Monday, May 13, 2013, following a period of declining health.

Born in Ironton, Ohio on March 29, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Orville and Dora E. (Griswold) Keairns. Dolores graduated from Chillicothe High School in 1945, and continued her formal education at Bliss College where she learned secretarial skills.

Dolores married her lifelong companion of nearly 68 years on July 30, 1945 in the Tabernacle Baptist Church at Chillicothe. During World War II, Dolores worked as a civilian secretary at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. She then continued her employment at Walter Reed Hospital during and after the war.

Dolores then worked at the Ross County Recorder’s Office in Chillicothe and was a secretary at Union Scioto Schools.

In 1966, the couple moved to New Philadelphia where Dolores worked at the former L & K Restaurant alongside her husband, ultimately completing her formal employment with the Tuscarawas County Recorder’s Office where she was the recorder for 12 years.

Her faith was nurtured throughout her lifetime at a variety of churches including the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Chillicothe, Grace Chapel in Dover, and First Baptist Church in New Philadelphia.

Giving of her time, her talents, and her resources to the community and her family was of utmost importance to Dolores. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother, and greatly treasured the role as a grandmother.

Her family includes her husband, Richard; her children, Bill (Linda) Hixson of The Plains, Ohio, Nancy (Jim) Lusher of Gallipolis, Bob (Vickie) Hixson and Tom Hixson, both of New Philadelphia; 9 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and her sister, Joyce (Arthur) DeVore of Chillicothe.

Visitation will be held in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia on Friday, May 17, 2013 from 2 to 4 p.m. A graveside service will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. in Grandview Cemetery at Chillicothe.

Memorial contributions in Dolores’ memory may be directed to the Dover New Philadelphia Salvation Army, PO Box 357, Dover, Ohio, 44622.

Those wishing to do so may send the family a personal condolence and light a candle in remembrance of Dolores by visiting the funeral home website at www.GeibCares.com.