Miriam "Red" Newman

1925 - 2018

Miriam "Red" Newman

Brick - Feb 23, 1925 - Jun 18, 2018

Miriam was born in Elizabeth, grew up in Linden, Belford & Asbury Park. After graduating from Asbury Park High in 1942, she was trained by the Army (along with several of her girlfriends) at Ft. Hancock, Sandy Hook. As a draftsman, she prepared blueprints for electronic equipment, some of which are still in use today or on display at InfoAge Museum, Wall. After the war, she continued her electrical draftsmen work at Federal Telephone & Radio Corp in Newark. In 1944 she met her future husband at the Casino Roller Rink and they skated through life together until his passing in 1994. She also was kitchen manager of the Belmar Fishing Club and a saleswoman at Steinbachs. Miriam was a devoted, beloved and very involved mother to 4 children. Always active in the community, she was a Girl Scout & Brownie leader, Cub Scout den mother, PTA President, Juvenile Court Secretary, Eastern Star Matron and organist for Ocean, Wall & Faith Chapters, 70+ year member of Wall United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School, Bible School, edited the church newsletter, was President of UMW, served on the finance committee and was famous for her vivacious & humorous Junior Sermons. Extremely multi-talented, she sewed (everything from pot holders to men's suits), crocheted, knit, was a self-taught organist, avid square dancer and a consummate artist including Old English lettering "freehand"! In 2005, Miriam sold the old homestead in Spring Lake Heights and moved to Brick where she enjoyed her home and several clubs + activities for 10 years before moving to the Chelsea at Brick.

Miriam was always the one person everyone wanted to sit next to - so they could enjoy her many (sometimes bawdy) jokes. She loved her weekly meetings with the McDonald's girls, her Diet Club ladies, the "Happy Losers" - later called "STC" (can't print that meaning here). She loved any dessert as long as it had "whippee" on it. She was a wonderful lady and the greatest Mom, Grandmom & Great-Grandmom anyone could ever ask for! She touched so many people (friends and strangers alike) and had a joke for EVERY occasion!

She was predeceased by her parents, Maude and Eber Kempson; her husband of over 50 years, Kenneth "Mike" Newman; her 2 sons, Lee and Jon; her brothers, Walter and Eber "Hallie" Kempson.

She is survived by daughter Pat Newman, Lakewood; daughter Jil and Don von Ohlen, Brick; daughter-in-law, Cindy Newman; 3 grandchildren: Kimberly, Shawn, and Sara; 4 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Saturday June 30, 2018 from 9-11 am at Wall United Methodist Church, 2414 Old Mill Road, Spring Lake Heights, NJ 07762 with the service to begin at 11 am. Interment to follow at Wall Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: "The Chelsea at Brick" (for Employee Holiday Fund), 458 Jack Martin Blvd, Brick, NJ 08724; or "Wall United Methodist Church". To send condolences to the family or share a funny story about Miriam "Red", please visit www.orenderfamilyhome.net.