Mary Lou Miltenberger

Mary Lou Miltenberger, age 87 of New Philadelphia, died Thursday, February 07, 2013, in Country Club Retirement Campus at Dover following a brief illness.

The daughter of the late Howard R. and Frona (Tope) Sturm, Mary Lou was born on April 25, 1925 at New Philadelphia, Ohio.

She was a 1943 graduate of New Philadelphia High School and was a Rosie the Riveter during the war. Mary Lou worked at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base where she met her future husband of 45 years, the late Robert E. Miltenberger. They were married on May 9, 1948 in the First United Church of Christ at New Philadelphia.

The church was of significant importance to Bob and Mary Lou. There she was actively involved in a variety of church ministries. Additionally, she greatly enjoyed volunteering at Union Hospital in Dover. Mary Lou and Bob were part of the Meals on Wheels program for more than 22 years.

Mary Lou was also a member of the 5th Street Gang and kept an active membership with the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. Her love for the Cleveland Indians spanned a lifetime also. She was proud to be the granddaughter of one of Ohio’s historic Zoar Village founders.

She will be missed by her family which includes a son, John (Mary) Miltenberger of Dayton; two daughters, Linda Miltenberger of Dover and Sandra (Harlan) Needham of Marion, Ohio; 6 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, Mary Lou was preceded in death by a daughter, Jane L. Howard and a brother, Howard Sturm, Jr.

Visitation will be held in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia on Saturday, February 9, 2013 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. A service will immediately follow in the funeral home with The Rev. Jeffrey Gerber officiating. Private inurnment alongside her husband will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions in Mary Lou’s name may be directed to either the First United Church of Christ, PO Box 422 New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663 or T-4-C, 1458 5th St NW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.

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