Melva Jean (Grimm) Watson, age 87, of Alliance, died at 8:25 p.m. Wednesday, September 26, 2012, at Alliance Community Hospital following a short illness.
She was born November 1, 1924, in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, to Walter Alfred and Marie Agnes (Schroeder) Grimm and lived in Alliance most of her life.
Melva was a January 1943 graduate of Alliance High School. Upon graduation and marriage, she worked as a civilian contractor at McCook Air Force Base in Nebraska, a B-52 airplaine maintenance person, and a photographers assistant. Upon returning to Alliance, while raising her family and teaching school, she attended and graduated from Kent State University. She taught 2nd grade students at Washington Elementary School for 30 years until her retirement, then spent five years as a volunteer aide at Morgan Elementary School with her daughter, Vickie.
A lifetime member of Beechwood United Methodist Church, she was a trustee of the administrative board, past president of the Women's Missionary Group, and founding member and president of the Beechwood Pioneers.
Melva was past president of Marlington Educators Association, a lifetime member of the National Education Association and the Ohio Education Association, Stark County Teachers Association and the Alliance Area Retired Teachers. She was also a long time board member and secretary of the Beechwood Playground Association.
In 1988, Melva Jean enjoyed teaching line dancing at the Alliance Senior Center and her group danced at area nursing homes, the Ohio State Fair and many other places. Along with line dancing, she enjoyed tap dancing, hula dancing and other forms of dance. She also tap danced in several shows in Alliance.
Survivors include her children, Vickie C. (Joseph) Garnes and Douglas A. Watson, both of Alliance and Shawn D. (Debbie Kline) Watson of North Georgetown; four grandchildren, Jason and Kenneth Garnes and David and Deanna Watson; three great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; sister, Doris Marie Mason of La Mirada, California; many nieces, nephews, and many people who called her "Mom".
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John L. Watson, whom she married April 25, 1943 and who died September 14, 2002; two grandchildren; a nephew; brothers, Robert Grimm and William Grimm; and brother-in-law, William Mason.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 4, 2012 at Beechwood United Methodist Church.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 3, 2012, at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Beechwood Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Beechwood United Methodist Church, 3450 Beechwood Ave., Alliance, OH 44601.
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave., Alliance, OH 44601.
She was born November 1, 1924, in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, to Walter Alfred and Marie Agnes (Schroeder) Grimm and lived in Alliance most of her life.
Melva was a January 1943 graduate of Alliance High School. Upon graduation and marriage, she worked as a civilian contractor at McCook Air Force Base in Nebraska, a B-52 airplaine maintenance person, and a photographers assistant. Upon returning to Alliance, while raising her family and teaching school, she attended and graduated from Kent State University. She taught 2nd grade students at Washington Elementary School for 30 years until her retirement, then spent five years as a volunteer aide at Morgan Elementary School with her daughter, Vickie.
A lifetime member of Beechwood United Methodist Church, she was a trustee of the administrative board, past president of the Women's Missionary Group, and founding member and president of the Beechwood Pioneers.
Melva was past president of Marlington Educators Association, a lifetime member of the National Education Association and the Ohio Education Association, Stark County Teachers Association and the Alliance Area Retired Teachers. She was also a long time board member and secretary of the Beechwood Playground Association.
In 1988, Melva Jean enjoyed teaching line dancing at the Alliance Senior Center and her group danced at area nursing homes, the Ohio State Fair and many other places. Along with line dancing, she enjoyed tap dancing, hula dancing and other forms of dance. She also tap danced in several shows in Alliance.
Survivors include her children, Vickie C. (Joseph) Garnes and Douglas A. Watson, both of Alliance and Shawn D. (Debbie Kline) Watson of North Georgetown; four grandchildren, Jason and Kenneth Garnes and David and Deanna Watson; three great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; sister, Doris Marie Mason of La Mirada, California; many nieces, nephews, and many people who called her "Mom".
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John L. Watson, whom she married April 25, 1943 and who died September 14, 2002; two grandchildren; a nephew; brothers, Robert Grimm and William Grimm; and brother-in-law, William Mason.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 4, 2012 at Beechwood United Methodist Church.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 3, 2012, at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Beechwood Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Beechwood United Methodist Church, 3450 Beechwood Ave., Alliance, OH 44601.
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave., Alliance, OH 44601.
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