Frances M. Curtis

Frances M. Curtis, age 96, a lifelong resident of New Philadelphia, died peacefully Friday, February 2, 2007. Born at Bergholz, in Jefferson County, Ohio, February 13, 1910, Frances was one of eight children reared by the late John and Margaret Simpson Peterson. Many years ago, she retired from the former Jean Frocks Inc. of Dover and New Philadelphia where she helped to pair the perfect dress with her lady customers. For many years she was a homemaker, rearing a daughter, Gloria (husband Gene) Rosenberry, who resides at New Philadelphia, and a son, the late Larry Reidenbach. Frances was the longest living member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church at New Philadelphia, where she was a past member of the Ladies Bible Class, the Ruth Circle, and where she formerly taught Sunday School for kindergartners. Mrs. Curtis was also a member of AARP, and the National Association of Retired Employees. She delighted in spending time tending to her flower gardens, and loved to feed the birds. Even in the winter, Frances maintained plenty of bird seed for the birds lucky enough to call her back yard their home. Mrs. Curtis survived two husbands in the course of her long life; Clarence Reidenbach who died January 8, 1958, and Earl H. Curtis, who died in 1991. In addition to her daughter and son-in-law, Frances is survived by her former daughter-in-law, Kay Deibel (husband Ron) of Stonecreek. She will be sadly missed by her grandchildren; Keddi Spittle (husband Robert), Amy Ellwood (husband Rick), and Jay Reidenbach, all of Stonecreek, Jeffery Rosenberry and Thad Rosenberry (wife Brigitte) all of New Philadelphia. Frances’ family also includes great-grandchildren Ava and Alex Rosenberry, Mallory and Grace Ellwood, Ashley and Erin Spittle and Anastasia Reidenbach. One step-daughter, Claranne Gilley of Kettering, Ohio, a step-son Kenneth Curtis (wife Dorothy) of Brunswick, Ohio; Step-grandchildren, Mildred Davis (husband Ken) of Kettering, Ohio, Jenny Kennedy of Lexington Park, Virginia, and Barb Masters (husband Sher) of Toledo, Ohio, Randy Teague (wife Denise) of Long Island, New York, and Jerry Teague (wife Rhonda) of York, Pennsylvania. Seven step-great grandchildren complete the family. In addition to her parents, husbands and son, Mrs. Curtis was preceded in death by her great-grandson, Jacob Ellwood; four sisters, Essie Wolfe, Grace Marshall, Hazel Stahleker, and Viola Jones, and three brothers, Oscar, Harold, and Clyde Peterson. Friends are invited to call Monday evening, February 5, 2007, from 5PM Â? 7PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. The Reverend Leland Eilert will lead the Curtis funeral Tuesday morning at 11 AM in the funeral home’s chapel where friends can also call one hour prior to the start of the service. Burial will follow in Evergreen Burial Park. Following the committal service, a reception will be given in the fellowship hall, on the lower level of Emmanuel Lutheran Church.Those unable to attend are invited to share memories and condolences with the family by visiting the funeral home’s website. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 202 East High Avenue, New Philadelphia, Ohio, 44663.