Margaret Ruth Cronebach

Margaret Ruth Cronebach, age 94, of New Philadelphia, died peacefully early Tuesday morning, July 24, 2012, in Park Village Health Care Center at Dover.

Born at New Philadelphia, April 8, 1918, she was the last surviving of eight children born to the late Brenton C. and Edna Grace Harstine Hollingsworth.

Margaret graduated from New Philadelphia High School in 1936 – and went on to marry J. Calvin Cronebach in 1939. The couple celebrated forty anniversaries together before his death in 1979.

A dedicated and talented lady, Margaret worked throughout her life, from her appointment as Deputy Registrar for Tuscarawas County under Governor C. William O’Neill, through her pioneering licensure as one of the first female insurance agents in Tuscarawas County in the early 1960’s – Margaret always put the customer as her guest. Margaret proudly served as an agent for Nationwide Insurance from 1961 through her retirement in 1982.

At home, she enjoyed baking and hosting family bingo tournaments where many memories were made. Quilting was also a popular pastime of hers, and each of her children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren have a treasured quilt made by Margaret.

A resident of Front Avenue Southeast for more than sixty years, Margaret was a fixture in the neighborhood, and made her house a home for extended family and friends. She was a member of the First Christian Church and was one of the charter members of the Golden Circle Sunday School Fellowship Class. For decades, she kept a prayer journal – adding names to an ever-growing list of people she petitioned for in her daily prayers.

Her memberships also included the New Philadelphia chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, and for many years served as a poll worker for the Tuscarawas County Board of Elections.

Margaret leaves behind a wonderful legacy of service to her community, and love and affection for her family, which includes three sons; Fred (wife, Barbara) Cronebach of New Philadelphia, Dave (wife, Linda) Cronebach of Massillon, and Brent (wife, Shirley) Cronebach of Mineral City.

She’ll be sadly missed by her four surviving grandsons; Keith (wife, Kirsten) Cronebach of Naples, Florida, Mike (wife, Rhoda) Cronebach of Pataskala, Brent Jr. (wife, Paula) Cronebach and Brian (wife, Melanie) Cronebach, both of Dover.

Six great-grandchildren; Khristopher, Rachel, Cody, Alyson, Bryn and Seth Cronebach, complete the family.

A sister-in-law, Theresa Hollingsworth, of New Philadelphia, also survives.

In addition to her parents and husband, Margaret is preceded in death by three grandchildren; Debra Sue Cronebach, Kevin Cronebach, and Stephen Cronebach, as well has her sister, Mae Ecklund, and her six brothers, Frank, Ray, Lloyd, Glenn, Earl and Carl Hollingsworth.

Friends are invited to call Friday, July 27, from 4-7 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. Pastor Jim Borton will lead Margaret’s funeral service Saturday morning at 10:30 in the funeral home’s chapel.

Burial alongside her husband will follow in Evergreen Burial Park. Family and friends will gather for a luncheon reception in the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the funeral home at the conclusion of the committal service.

Those unable to attend are invited to share memories and condolences with the family, by visiting the permanent memorial to Margaret on the funeral home’s website.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the First Christian Church, 104 Third Street NW, New Philadelphia OH 44663.