Carol Mae Gerhard

GERHARD, Carol Mae, age 83, of Piqua passed away Saturday March 11, 2017. She was born on April 13, 1933 to parents Edgar Isaac Gerhard and Mae Theresa Myers Gerhard. Carol attended Oakwood High School and Piqua High School. She graduated from Heidelberg College in 1955, majoring in Music Education, and later earned her MEd at Miami University. Initially a music teacher, she then chose 4th grade as her base. Miss Gerhard taught for McCutchenville, Bradford, and Covington school districts, retiring from Vandalia-Butler City Schools. She was a teacher to all who knew her. Carol also found her calling as an advocate and negotiator for Ohio teachers as a representative and Vice President of the Ohio Education Association. She had life-time memberships in NEA, WOEA, OEA-R, and ORTA. Her affiliation with the chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society of teachers was particularly enjoyable. Carol was a member of The 1st United Church of Christ and, most recently, St.Paul's Evangelical and Reformed Church of Piqua. Her faith was very important to her, which she practiced through her generous and caring actions. She was involved with Sigma Circle at her church for many years. Carol was also a member of the Heidelberg College Alumni, Brukner Nature Center, and the YWCA. She loved gardening, traveling, and cookie baking in her spare time. Her life was enriched by her canine friends Scrappy, Big Billie, Little Billie, and Lady. She was a loving daughter, sister, and aunt. Preceded in death by her beloved parents Mae and Edgar Gerhard, sister Marilyn Louise Gerhard Hahnel Hennessey, brother Edgar Isaac Gerhard, cousin Louise Rose Kantner, and nephew Joseph Edgar Hahnel. She is survived by nieces; Chris Hahnel, Linda Gerhard Hermann (Don), and Sue Gerhard Taylor (Ken). Great-niece, JulieYerington, great-nephew Todd Cooper (Kristi), great-great nieces Takoda, Olivia, Ella, and great-great nephews Jordan and Alex. Special thanks to caregiver/friend Vicki Morrison, gardener/handyman Tom Justice, and the amazing nurses from Hospice of Miami County. The family will receive friends from 10-11am on Thursday, March 16, at Routsong Funeral Home 2100 East Stroop Road. Funeral service will be held 11:00am at Routsong Funeral Home, with burial at David's Cemetery, followed by a reception at St. Paul's Church in Piqua. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations are welcome for Hospice of Miami Co., St. Paul's Evangelical and Reformed Church of Piqua, or the Brukner Nature Center of Troy. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.routsong.com.

Funeral Home:
Kettering Routsong Funeral Home
2100 E. Stroop Rd.
Kettering, OH
US 45429