Beatrice Ann Blosser

January 7, 1925 - November 11, 2019

Beatrice Ann “Bea Ann” (Shumaker) Blosser, 94, of Lancaster, formerly of Pleasantville, Ohio went to her eternal home on Monday, November 11, 2019 at the Pickering House. Beatrice was born Wednesday, January 7, 1925 at the Lancaster Hospital. She was the second of three daughters of the late Walter S. Shumaker (d. 1983) and Mary (Friesner)Shumaker (d. 1993) of Bremen, Ohio. Beatrice was preceded in death by her loving husband of 62 years, Merrill E. Blosser on 24 April 2007. Bea was raised on a farm near Bremen, Ohio. She graduated from Rushcreek Memorial High School, Bremen, Ohio, class of 1943. In her senior year she worked on Saturday at SS Kresege Store in Lancaster selling candy and popcorn. Following graduation she worked at the National Bank, Columbus, Ohio. She enrolled at OSU. She studied clothing, design and textiles in the Home Economics Dept. She also was employed at Montaldo’s and exclusive ladies apparel shop in Columbus. Later Bea worked at Madison’s clothing store in Columbus as manager of the Millinery Dept. Finally that dept. went out of business. Bea Ann then came to Lancaster and was manager of the millinery dept. at Manson’s store till it closed. Previously, she worked at Harpers Printing Company in Columbus. Later she served as the assistant to the Head Administrator of all civilians stationed at the Naval Air Base located at Port Columbus until WWII ended and the Base closed. Beatrice returned to her parents home and waited to be married to her high school classmate, Merrill E. Blosser, on July 14, 1946, following Merrill’s honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, when he returned from the battlefields in Italy. The happy couple moved to Toledo, Ohio where Merrill attended Barber college. Following his graduation they moved to Columbus, Ohio for Merrill to complete his apprenticeship term. During that time, Beatrice was employed as a sales person for the F&R Lazarus Dept. Store. When Merrill finished his apprenticeship they moved to Pleasantville, Ohio. They opened a barbershop and later an Insurance Agency. Beatrice joined the Insurance Business selling health Insurance for AFLAC Insurance Company. Together, they served the community for fifty-five years, until the business closed in 2003 due to Merrill’s illness and death. Beatrice hat making skills with the New York influence and her experience in millinery retail served her well later in life. She taught hat making classes and was a talented seamstress. She made many hats, bridal veils and clothing for many ladies. Bea was a 4-H member for 10 years and served as an advisor 5 years. She made her first doll dress at age 3 and her first dress for herself at age 10 in 4-H. It won a Blue Ribbon at the Fairfield County Fair. During her senior year in high school Bea was selected as an outstanding 4-H member of Fairfield County to attend the annual 4-H Club Congress week at OSU. 5 girls and 5 boys were those receiving the honor to attend Club Congress. Beatrice learned her sewing skills from her mother and grandmother Alice Friesner; Alice had her own dressmaking shop in Logan, Ohio in the late 1800’s. Bea lived a very purposeful and service driven life. Her many activities through the years included Insurance Agent, census taker in the 1970’s, past president of the American Legion Auxillary Post 9, past president of Dr. Lerch Hospital Twig #10 in Pleasantville; a member of Rebekah Lodge #196 IOOF Pleasantville, past member of the Business Ladies Delta Chi Sigma, Columbus, Mennonite Historical Society, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Rushcreek Grange, Bremen, Pleasantville Grange and current member of the Bremen Area Historical Society. Bea enjoyed a variety of hobbies including genealogy, collecting crosses and angels, playing scrabble, doing count cross stitch and going to Amish country in Pennsylvania and Ohio. In Bea’s younger years , she played piano for youth group church meetings and youth grange meetings. She played violin in high school orchestra and the clarinet in high school band. She also enjoyed taped music. Merrill and Beatrice were members of the Fun Timers and enjoyed dancing with the Country Swingers Dance Club in the late 1980’s. Beatrice was formerly a 50 year member of the Pleasantville United Methodist Church. Recently a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Baltimore, Ohio. While in Pleasantville, she served as past president of the WSCS Ladies Auxillary, past church treasurer, served as acolyte and cradle roll chairperson, pre-school and Sunday School Teacher; and served on many church committees. She served 2 years as president of the World Day of Prayer program sponsored by the District Council of Churches. Beatrice Ann is survived by her son, Alan E. (Sherry Sokolowski) Blosser of Toledo, Ohio; grandchildren, Kristin (Brian) Sheipline of Perrysburg, Ohio, Jena (Geoff) Szabelski of Maumee, Ohio and Callie Blosser of Toledo, Ohio ; great-grandchildren, twins, Blake and Haylee and little brother, Jase W. Sheipline; sisters-in-law, Betty (Ronnie) Brown, Linda (John) Craig, all of Lancaster, Ohio. In addition to her parents and her husband Merrill Blosser she was preceded in death by sisters, Eleanor (Shumaker) Ackers (2010), her husband, Harold Ackers (2000), Reba Jane (Shumaker) Ety (1988), her husband, Fred Ety (2012), brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Sarah Kathleen (Blosser) King (1999), her husband, Dean King (1985), Mildred (Blosser) Stoner (2013), her husband, Raymond Stoner (1978), Fred Blosser Jr. (2005), his wife, Jeanne (King) Blosser (2106), father-in-law and mother-in-law, Fred Blosser Sr (1938), his wife, Shirley (Robinson) (Blosser) Bell (1973); Aunt Fannie Friesner (1993), Uncle and Aunt Harold Miller (1968), his wife, Florence (Shumaker) Miller (1954). She is survived by cousins, Bernese (Miller) Friend, Newark, Ohio (husband deceased, William Friend), Hugh Miller, Worthington, Ohio (wife deceased, Juanita Miller), Pearl Miller, his wife, Mona Miller, Texas. Special friends, Paul Sheldon, his wife Wanda of Fond-du-Lac, Wisconsin, Steve Haugen, his wife, Gloria Haugen, Onalaska, Wisconsin and their respective families. Also survived are many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. (Special niece, Katherine Hughes, Arizona. Dear friends who helped Bea Ann in time of need, Jody Watson, Robert and Mary Ledget, Denise Snider, Phyllis Carpenter and Michelle Shumaker. A time to visit with Bea’s family will be Sunday, November 17th from 12 – 2 PM at the Morgan Funeral Home, Bremen. Funeral services will follow at 2 PM with Rev. Dr. Randy Hardman and Rev. Steve Rath officiating. Interment will follow at Grandview Cemetery. Contributions may be made in Bea’s memory to Christ UMC, 700 Main St., Baltimore, Ohio 43105 or Bremen Area Historical Society, 161 Carter Street, PO Box 33, Bremen, Ohio 43107. Online condolences may be made and a more details about Bea’s life may be read at www.morganfuneralhomeohio.com