Vita L. Aul

Vita L. Aul, 88, of Ashland, Ohio and a former Strasburg, Ohio resident died Friday, January 23, 2009 in Samaritan Hospital in Ashland following an extended illness.

Vita was an employee of the former Garver Brothers Store in Strasburg. She was a recreational therapist at Apple Creek Development Center in Apple Creek for twenty one years until her retirement in 1981.

She was born on February 4, 1920 in Bergton, Virginia, the daughter of the late Isaac and Martha Catherine (Dove) Smith.

Vita was a graduate of Strasburg High School Class of 1939. She was a longtime member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Strasburg where she was active in the Womens Guild, Altar Guild, and the church choir. After moving to Ashland, she became a member of the Peace Lutheran Church.

On June 21, 1941, she was married to her husband of fifty two years, Charles Aul. He died November 6, 1993. In addition to her parents and husband, Vita was also preceded in death by her son, John who died July 18, 1979 along with her brothers, Isaac Smith Jr., Dr. Ralph Smith, Edward Smith and two sisters, Rachel Himes and Mabel Schenk.

Vita is survived by her daughter and son in law, Rebecca and Douglas Abel of Mansfield; grandsons, Eric (wife, Christy) Abel and Mark (wife, Jessica) Abel both of Ashland; great granddaughters, Esther, Ruth, Hope, and Megan Abel and great grandsons, Mark Douglas and Isaac David Abel; sisters in law, Margaret Reynolds of Dover and Mildred Smith of Charleston, W. Va., and a brother in law, Alvin Himes of Strasburg along with many nieces and nephews.

At Vita's request, private services for the family will be held Monday at Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory in Strasburg. She will be interred beside her husband and son in the Grandview Union Cemetery at Strasburg. There are no calling hours. Those who may wish to express a fond memory of Vita may sign the online register book by visiting the "obituaries" link on the funeral home website at www.tolandherzig.com

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, Tennessee 37214-0800 or the Peace Lutheran Church, 1360 Smith Road, Ashland, Ohio 44805.

Toland-Herzig, Strasburg
330 343-6132