Geraldine ”geri” Baio Kimble

Geraldine M. Baio Kimble, 75, of New Philadelphia, died Saturday, December 11, 2010 in her home following a period of declining health.A daughter of the late John and Virgie (Butera) Baio, Geri was born March 31, 1935 at Dover, Ohio.Geri graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1954. A proud moment for Geri during her high school years is when she won a superior award for her project on the circulatory system in the science fair. She continued her education at St. Mary�s College receiving her BS in Education. Geri then completed her post graduate work at the University of Pittsburgh and earned her Masters Degree in Psychology at Duquesne University. She later completed her Guidance and Counseling Fellowship at Boston University then attended St. Louis Medical School where she studied Anatomy.After high school, Geri became a sister of Devine Providence. She then returned to Dover to become a layperson and work as a counselor at Union Hospital after 18 years in the Sisterhood.Geri was a member of St. Joseph�s Catholic Church at Dover where she served as a Eucharistic Minister. She was also a Past Minister of the Secular Franciscan Order.During her lifetime, Geri experienced a claim to fame on two different occasions. In 1958, a picture of her playing basketball appeared in Life Magazine. A year later, her picture appeared in a Pittsburgh newspaper while she was attending a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game at Forbes Field with a large group of Nuns. During batting practice, as she was looking for her seat, Geri caught a foul ball that was hit by Stan Musial. She was quoted in the paper as saying �I heard it, I saw it and I caught it with my mouth open. I then walked down to the field and Stan Musial signed it for me.�She is survived by her husband, Delmer Kimble, whom she married on June 19, 1976; two daughters, Beth (Rick) Varnes of Dover and Julie Sweet of New Philadelphia and four grandchildren, Abby and Madison Varnes and Courtney and Joshua Myers; and her foster daughter, Wilma Ice of Richmond, Virginia and her children, Courtney, Charlie, and Rose Ice.Completing the family are her sisters-in-law, Katie Baio of New Philadelphia, Mary Lou Baio of Dover, Priscilla of Melbourne, Florida and Sara (Gene) Chadwell of Follansbee, West Virginia; a brother-in-law, Ron (Jean) Kimble of Dover and many nieces and nephews.Geri was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, Joe, Larry, Charlie, Sam and another brother, Joe and her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Nellie and Edward Kimble.The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover with a Christian Wake service being held at 7:45 p.m. Father Matt Hoover will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Church at Dover. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery at Dover. Following the committal service, a memorial reception will be held in the Hospitality Room at the Geib Funeral Center.Contributions may be made in Geri�s memory to Community Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 West Third Street, Dover, OH 44622.