Wilma D. Gintz

Wilma D. Gintz, 99, formerly of Dover died on Tuesday, March 21, 2000 in Palo Alto, California following a brief illness. Born to William and Mary Meyer Dowling in 1900 in Cleveland, Ohio, Wilma moved with her family to New Philadelphia in 1904. She began her teacher training at Normal School in 1919 and completed her studies later at Kent State University. Wilma taught in New Philadelphia for six years prior to her marriage to Carl Gintz. They built a home in Dover in 1926 and she stopped teaching at that time, since teachers could not by married. Carl and Wilma began a family in 1929, having two daughters and a son. Wilma subsequently resumed her teaching career in a two-room country school at Somerdale. Because of a manpower shortage at that time, married teachers were welcomed to the war effort. Wilma drove her model ''A'' Ford to this little school for three years through the hazards of snow, ice and mud. An ''iron will'' to be there every day earned many acclamations over her following thirty year tenure as a fourth grade teacher in New Philadelphia schools. She was well known for her projects and plays written and acted out by her students; plays for all seasons, comedies about travel, geography and cultural diversity. She organized all aspects of plays form scripts and props to parent cooperation in costume making. A consummate club member, she helped to organize card clubs, bicycle clubs and later lunches for senior citizens and AARP. Wilma also enjoyed memberships in Blue Star Mothers and the Rebecca Circle of St. Johns United Church of Christ at Dover. She was an active member of Senior Citizens, participating in the band choir and playing ''Raggedy Ann'' in a costumed skit for nursing homes and schools. After hr husband Carl died in 1969 she lived alone in her own home until 1995 when she fell and suffered a fracture requiring care in a Dover nursing home. Her final years were spent in Arizona with her daughter and in California with her son. After retirement Wilma had traveled extensively with seniors on bus tours and cruises. At first afraid of lying, she later became a ''senior frequent flyer'', enjoying a ''family roots'' trip to Ireland and Switzerland in the 1980's, followed by similar three-generation family tours to Mexico and Hawaii. She loved to watch people and empathized with children and the underprivileged. In addition to her parents, Wilma was preceded in death by her sister Jeanette Trustdorf. She is survived by her children William and Bea Gintz of Palo Alto, Norma and Rodman Ralston of Phoenix and Dorothy Marlowe of Dover. In addition there are 9 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, March 26, 2000 at 2:00 pm in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home at Dover. Interment will be in the Evergreen Burial Park at New Philadelphia on Monday, where Rev. Steve Daniels will conduct the committal service. Friends may call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home one hour prior to the service on Sunday. Those unable to attend may sign the on-line register book for Wilma by visiting the ''on-line obituaries' link on our website at www.tolandherzig.com. Toland-Herzig, Dover 343-6132

Funeral Home:
Toland-Herzig Funeral Home
803 N. Wooster Ave
Dover, OH
US 44622