Violet Grace Zimmerman

Violet Grace Zimmerman, 103, of Dover, passed away Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Hennis Care Centre, Bolivar.

Born February 13, 1913, in Warwick Township near Gnadenhutten, Violet was a daughter of the late Philip Edward and Florence Mabel (Smith) Mathias. Violet lived in Gnadenhutten until 1965 when she and her husband moved to Dover.

The oldest of six children, she graduated from Tuscarawas High School in 1931 as senior class president. While in high school, Violet was a cheerleader and participated in class plays.

On November 15, 1936, she married Paul P. Zimmerman in the John Heckewelder Memorial Moravian Church in Gnadenhutten. They enjoyed 67 years of marriage until Paul's passing in 2004. Together they reared two children, Ronald Paul Zimmerman of Riverside, California and Marilyn Sue (Richard) Rainsberger of Dover.

Violet was a member of the Gnadenhutten Moravian Church for 30 years and the Dover First Moravian Church for over 50 years. During her childhood, she and her family attended the Gnadenhutten Methodist Church. Violet was involved in many community and church activities over the years in both Gnadenhutten and Dover.

In addition to her two children, Violet is survived by her two grandchildren, Heather (Clint) Thompson of Ankeny, Iowa, and Philip E. Rainsberger of Moon Township (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania; her great-grandchildren Ryan and Meghan Wolf, of Ankeny, and Cole and Ella Rainsberger of Moon Township. Also surviving are two sisters-in-law, June Mathias of Gnadenhutten, and Grace Day formerly of Gnadenhutten, now residing in Newcomerstown. She also has many nieces and nephews with whom she has remained close over the years.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Paul, Violet was preceded in death by her three brothers, Raymond, Eugene and Robert Mathias, and her two sisters, Gladys Zimmerman and Betty Oliver.

A funeral service will be held Wednesday, June 22 at 11 a.m. in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, Dover with Rev. Brian Flood officiating. Interment will be in Dover Burial Park. Visitation will be Wednesday, 10 11 a.m. in the funeral home.

Following the committal, there will be a lunch in the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center on the Boulevard, Dover.

The family suggests that contributions in Violet's memory be made to First Moravian Church, 319 N. Walnut St., Dover, OH 44622, or Community Hospice, 716 Commercial Ave. S.W., New Philadelphia, OH 44663.