Ruth Alice Gabriel
Ruth Alice Gabriel, 96 years of age, passed away Saturday, March 12, at the Primrose Retirement Community in Marion, where she had resided since 2015. She had been in declining health for several months.
Alice was born near Prospect, on February 21, 1926, to the late Harold Randall and Grace Eva (Reynolds) Anson. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Prospect High School in 1944, valedictorian of her class.
Alice's long, rewarding life was defined by family, faith, friends, and two interests which emerged early in her life, music and banking. She told a reporter during a newspaper interview, "I love music. I began playing by ear at the age of 4. I knew two songs and my parents got tired of hearing them. So, they arranged for lessons the following year. I walked one mile by myself at the age of 5 and paid 50 cents for my lesson." After years of study, Alice played piano, accordion, and organ. She served many years as a church organist both in Prospect and Toronto. She also played the calliope on both the Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen riverboats, as well as theater organs in both Marion and Columbus. In her retirement years, she and a friend, Kathryn Hammond, performed over 100 programs for various groups in eastern Ohio, taking them "down memory lane".
Her banking career began as a teenager. Following graduation and a summer spent at Lakeside, the Prospect Citizens Bank called and asked Alice to come to work while another employee was ill. Beginning as a bookkeeper and teller at age 18, she retired at age 72, as Vice-President of UniBank of Steubenville. For many years, Uni Bank's office in Toronto, was known as
"Alice's Bank".
A lifelong member of The United Methodist Church, she was baptized, confirmed, and married at the Prospect Methodist Church, a congregation founded in part by her ancestors. There she served as organist, financial secretary, member of the Administrative Board, and was an active member of the Sunshine Circle. Following her husband's job transfer to Toronto, in 1960, Alice transferred her membership to First United Methodist Church in Toronto. She again served as organist and financial secretary. She was also a lay delegate to Annual Conference, served on the Administrative Board, and enjoyed Faith Fellowship with the church women.
In another interview, Alice was asked about happiness and success in life. She responded, "The answer is to have faith in God, keep busy, and do not let idle time become boring time". Keeping busy included being a founder of the Toronto Business Association, president of the Toronto Chamber of Commerce, member of the budget committee for the United Way of Jefferson County, member of the Private Industry Council of the Joint Training Partnership Act, president of the National Association of Bank Women's eastern Ohio group, member of the Advisory Council for the Tri-County Home Health Agency, and volunteering with the Toronto unit of the Salvation Army. She also served as president of both the N&N and Three Arts Clubs in Toronto. For several years, she belonged to the Toronto Senior Citizens and arranged many bus trips for the members. Additionally, she is a member of the Captain William Hendricks Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
In recognition of Alice's dedicated service, she was named Citizen of the Year by the Toronto, Ohio, Chamber of Commerce. She was also a recipient of the Gold Award of the United Way for her commitment to the community, and was named in the Who's Who Registry of Business Leaders for outstanding leadership and achievement in the banking profession.
On August 29, 1948, in the Prospect Methodist Church, she married Robert B. Gabriel. He preceded her in death in 2005. She was also predeceased by her siblings, Edmund C. Anson and Margaret M. (Anson) Dunbar. Alice is survived by three daughters, Jane (Talmage) Burkett of Marion, Sue (Larry) Davidson of Toronto, and Joy (Robert) Siers of Toronto. She also leaves two granddaughters, Amanda Burkett Wright (Ricky) of Hermitage, Tennessee, and Lauren Davidson Betts (Chris) of Carnegie, Pennsylvania, and one great-grandson, Carter Betts.
Graveside Services will be held Thursday March 17, 2022 at 2:00 pm at the Prospect Cemetery, with Rev. Kevin Rinkes, her long-time Pastor and friend, officiating.
Because she suffered from low vision in her later years, memorial gifts may be directed to the following: Ohio Lions Eye Care Fund, 13840 Robinson Road, Plain City, Ohio 43064
The family would like to express their sincere thanks for the excellent, loving care that Alice received from the nursing and care staff at the Primrose Retirement Community. Additional thanks are extended to Linda Oehler of Joyce's Angels whose visits brightened her days, and the Tranquility Hospice team who attended to her during her final months.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home, Prospect.
Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.stofcheck-ballinger.com
Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home