Gingrich, Odema M. “Dee”
Smithville — Odema M. “Dee” Gingrich, age 89, of Smithville, joined her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, August 1, 2021, at her residence in Smithville, with her husband and children by her side, following a short period of declining health.
Dee was born on January 16, 1932, in Sterling, Ohio, to the late Ulah and Alice (Roberts) Shane and graduated from Sterling High School in 1949. She married Paul on October 4, 1951, in Sterling and they would have celebrated their 70th anniversary this year. Paul survives.
In the past she worked as a bookkeeper for Bill Love Chevrolet in Orrville and Pierce’s Sporting Goods in Wooster. When her daughter opened her store, Harvest Moon in Berlin, she became the bookkeeper, retiring in 2012.
Dee was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. She enjoyed sewing and was an expert seamstress making many items for Amish country. She loved cooking for others so much that she had a dream of owning a restaurant. That dream came true when she and Paul co-owned a pizza shop in Seville and then a restaurant in Smithville. Dee loved listening to traditional Christian music especially the hymns, enjoyed working on jigsaw puzzles with Paul, watching the Cleveland sports teams – especially the Indians, loved the family get together’s, and most importantly she loved Jesus.
Surviving are two daughters, Cathy (Dale) Coe of Orrville, and Jackie (Danny) Nussbaum of Wooster; son, Tom Gingrich of Orrville; 12 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren; sister, Kay Osborn of AR; two sisters-in-law, Carol Shane of Creston, and Kathleen Shane of Sterling.
She was preceded in death by a son, John Paul Gingrich; brothers, Herb, Fred, Bill, Harley, Harvey, and Dean Shane; sisters, Laura Young, and Lois M. Gingrich.
Friends may call on Friday, August 6, 2021, at Auble Funeral Home, 512 East Oak Street, Orrville, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, or one hour prior to the service.
Services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, at Auble Funeral Home, 512 East Oak Street, Orrville, with Pastor Stephen Olsen officiating. Burial will take place at the Sherwood Memorial Gardens in Wooster.
The family is grateful to the staff of hospice and the care and compassion they provided. Memorials may be made to Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, 1900 Akron Road, Wooster, OH 44691 www.lifecarehospice.org.
Auble Funeral Home in Orrville is handling the arrangements. Online registry and expressions of condolence may be made at www.aublefuneralhome.com.
