Geneva Marie (Kunze) Brown, age 104, of Mount Gilead, passed away Sunday afternoon, February 16, 2014, at the Morrow Manor Nursing Center in Chesterville.
On December 1, 1909, Geneva was born in Morrow County, the daughter of the late George M. and Flossie L. (Fiddler) Kunze. She graduated from Chesterville High School in the Class of 1928. She then received her teaching certificate from Bowling Green in 1930.
She married Lester E. Brown on June 11, 1938. They shared over 64 years of marriage before he preceded her in death in 2002.
Geneva loved her job as an elementary school teacher. She began teaching at a one room schoolhouse in Pulaskiville. She also taught in Chesterville, Fulton, and retired from Highland North in 1975. Teaching was a big part of her life, not only in the classroom, but in all other aspects too.
A woman of strong faith, she was a lifelong member of the Chesterville United Methodist Church and was a representative for the American Bible Society. She also belonged to the Morrow County Retired Teachers Assoc., Friends of Mount Gilead State Park, and Morrow County Farm Bureau.
She was an avid birdwatcher and loved spending time with her family and making crafts for the grandchildren, such as corn husk dolls, apple dolls, sock monkeys, doilies, and angels. She enjoyed gardening, canning, and helping out on the farm.
Geneva was a loving and nurturing woman. She was like a mother to her brothers and sisters, and a caregiver to many. She always had a positive word for everyone.
Geneva will be dearly missed by three children: Marilyn (Robert) Weiler of Mount Gilead, Edwin (Vineta) Brown of Mount Gilead, Shirley (David) Abraham of Marion; eight grandchildren: Tim, Laurie, Tina, Vincent, Beth, Machelle, Angie, Roxanne; numerous great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; and two sisters: Doris Hoffman of Powell, and Isabelle Noble of Chesterville.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Warren Brown; a granddaughter, Melinda Weiler; two brothers: Ralph and Paul Kunze; and three sisters: Marian Kunze, Eltheda Barrick, and Evadene Kunze.
The Brown family will greet friends from 4 – 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 20, 2014, at the Snyder Funeral Home, Craven Chapel, 67 N. Main St., Mount Gilead. Services celebrating her life will be held there at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 21, 2014, with Pastors Jeannie Winters and Joe Sopher officiating. Burial will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery in Chesterville.
Memorial contributions in Geneva’s name may be made to the Chesterville United Methodist Church or to the Friends of Mount Gilead State Park, and may be made in care of the funeral home.
Snyder Funeral Homes of Mount Gilead are honored to have been chosen to serve Geneva’s family and your private condolences may be expressed to them by visiting www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com.
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