V. Marie Lorson

V. Marie Lorson, age 91, of Dover, passed away peacefully Friday, March 27, 2015, in Park Village Health Care Center.

Born April 6, 1923, in Rittman, she was a daughter of the late Edward and Viola (Wagner) Musser. Marie graduated from Orrville High School, and went on to earn her bachelor's degree in education from Kent State University in 1946. She was an educator, having taught kindergarten in Wooster, Orrville, Iowa and Wyoming, before coming to the Dover City Schools, retiring in 1986 from East Elementary.

Marie was a member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Dover, and its Dr. Mary Baer Circle, Order of St. Luke and the Quilters group. She was both a former Girl Scout leader and Cub Scout den mother, and belonged to the College Club, Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority and the Retired Teachers Association.

A lifelong learner, Marie loved to read. She was also an artist all of her life, taking her first art class when she was thirteen beginning with watercolors and then moving on to oils. She often made gifts of her work to family and friends. Additionally, Marie liked to bake (amazing cookies, loved by all) and made special popcorn balls at Halloween. Some of her other favorite pastimes were gardening, fishing, camping, hiking, ham radio, crafts and playing games.

Survivors include her daughter, Emily (Bob) Hoff of Kent; her sons, Howard W. (Alice Cain) Lorson Jr. of Canton, Ed Lorson of Malvern, Ted (Mary Jane) Lorson of Dover, and Mark (Cheryl) Lorson of Hilliard; her grandchildren, Lynda, Robert, Beth, Julie, Tracy, Ian, Jacob, Eric (Felicia), Sarah, Ann Marie (Levi), Valerie (Jeff), Mark (Carrie), Bill and Katie; her eighteen great-grandchildren; her brother, Emmet Musser of Texas; her many nieces and nephews, including Nora, to whom the family is so grateful for the loving care she provided Marie; and her cousins.

Besides her parents, Marie was preceded in death by her husband, of nearly sixty years, Howard W. "Sparky" Lorson Sr., on January 31, 2003; her sisters, Pauline Berger, Josephine Heppert and Mida Cook; her brother, Vernon Musser; and her aunt, Emma Wagner, with whom Marie was very close.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, March 31, at 10:30 a.m., in the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, with Pastor Donald L. Rice Jr. officiating. Immediately following the service, there will be a luncheon in the church's Luther Hall. Burial will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. in St. Michael's Lutheran Church Cemetery, Marshallville. Family and friends are invited to call Monday, March 30, 5:30 7:30 p.m., in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, Dover, and Tuesday, 9:30 10:30 a.m., in the church. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Marie, please visit the Obituaries and Flowers link on the Toland-Herzig website.

Marie's family will dearly miss her loving smile, generosity, kind heart and caring spirit, creative ideas, and ability to make everyone feel special.

It is suggested that contributions in her memory be made to Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church Service Ministries, 216 N. Wooster Ave., Dover, Ohio 44622.