Vada Margaret Ravine

A woman of great independence and courage, Vada Ravine, age 94, died in Hennis Care Centre in Dover, Thursday morning with her daughter and son-in-law by her side after a 3 week decline in health.On May 22, 1916, in Rush Township, Daniel Kees Edwards and Anna (Rieker) became the proud parents of twin girls, Vada Margaret and Velna, who died in infancy. Vada was raised on a family farm in Rush Township, where she walked to Rock School, a one room building. In 1935, she graduated from Uhrichsville High School. With a strong desire to continue her education, she used a small inheritance to finance her studies at Bliss Business School in Columbus. Because of her keen sense of fashion and design creativity, she broadened her education by graduating from the Columbus School of Cosmetology with a beauty license. Not only did she work at Grace’s Beauty Salon in Uhrichsville, but she also cut and styled her own hair.For 19 years she was Manager of the Houseware’s Department of Montgomery Wards, where she became known as the friendly sales person who could sell or repair anything. Upon her retirement in 1979, Department Manager Casey Gasperovich commented in a newspaper article, “She’s a fantastic lady and we’ll really miss her. You don’t see those kinds of people much anymore, employees with dedication, loyalty and hard work as their standards”. During her tenure there, she was well known to her customers and fellow employees and apparently to the parent company, too, because in 1975 she won a national award for maintaining the highest gross profit level in her department from among more than 500 Montgomery Wards stores across the country.Vada was architect, contractor, and builder for the homes that she lived in the Dover New Phila., area. Before Vada and Fred retired to Florida for 18 winters, she put an addition on her Dover home and remodeled the basement. Most of her talents were in creating things through carpentry work, floral designing, interior decorating, upholstering, sewing, and landscaping. She lived each day of her life with a sense of purpose and accomplishment. According to Dr. E. Joe Gillam, “You and your husband Fred taught me in ministry at my first church in New Phila. ‘that nothing is impossible’. Her life was in being and doing as was ably personified and characterized by her love for family, for God and the church.In addition to traveling to Florida and throughout the US with her family, she took a tour throughout Europe, a Caribbean Cruise with her dear friend, Betty Breehl, vacationed in Mexico and Jamaica with her husband, and in Myrtle Beach with her daughter and grandsons.She was a faithful member of the First Church of God in New Phila., the Indian Meadows Church of God, and the Broadway Methodist Church. Her faith was deep, abiding, and sustaining throughout her 94 years; and she will be sorely missed by her family, Montgomery Wards girls, neighbors, church members, and business associates.Her devoted husband of 59 years, Fred B. Ravine died Feb. 18, 1999, but she is survived by her ‘one and only’ daughter, Karen Thornton and son-in-law , Gene, who will always love and miss her; her grandson’s whom she treasured, Chris(Jennie) Gortney of New Phila., Josh Gortney, of Hong Kong; step-grandchildren, Sarah(Howard) Dugger, Matt Thornton; great-grandchildren Kylee Ann and Cole Alexander Gortney, who births were among the happiest days of her life; step-great grandchildren, Maisie, Tegan, Sidney Dugger: her beloved sisters, Becky Furbay of Dover, Helen (Bob) Clarke of Uhrichsville, Lois Jarvis of Strasburg: beloved brother, Harold (Ann) Edwards of Tappan Lake; much loved sister-in-law, Betty Edwards of New Phila., and Irene Edwards of Mineral City.She was preceded in death by beloved sisters, Maxine Sampson, Velna Edwards; beloved brothers, Dallas Edwards and Ernest Edwards; courageous son-in-law, Chris Gortney.The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 1, 2011 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia and again one hour prior to the funeral service on Wednesday at the church. A funeral service celebrating Veda’s life will be held on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 11 a.m. in the First Church of God at New Philadelphia with Pastors Matt Roe, Bill Sowers and Jack Wingate officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Burial Park at New Philadelphia. Following the committal service, a memorial reception will be held in the Geib Family Center at New Philadelphia.Those wishing to do so may send the family a personal condolence and view an online memorial by visiting the funeral home website.Contributions may be made in Veda’s memory to Rush Christian School, 4617 Watson Creek Road Se, Uhrichsville, OH 44683.