GRACE MARIE UHLENHOP HOCH

Grace Marie Uhlenhop Hoch passed peacefully from this life on August 14, 2011. As was her style did this with dignity and grace. The daughter of William and Edith (Meyer) Uhlenhop. Grace was born at the family home north of Leonardville, Kan. on Dec. 7, 1915. She was the second child of four. Grace attended Leonardville High School and graduated in 1933. She attended Emporia State Teachers College where she received a teaching degree. She taught at Sunflower School located between Manhattan and Zeandale. The school was a one room schoolhouse and Grace taught grades one through eight. Grace returned to Emporia and received a lifetime certificate. She then taught third grade at Randolph for three years and fourth grade at Arkansas City for four years. On Dec. 23, 1946, she married Homer Hoch and moved to Topeka, Kan., where they had two children, Barbara (1947) and Jim (1950). In 1954 Homer and Grace moved to Prairie Village, Kan., where Homer worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone. Grace substituted and raised the family. In 1962 she went to work for Harzfelds and sold Clinique cosmetics for 20 years. She was a member of Southminster Presbyterian Church, the Women's Club there, Eastern Star, West Garden Club and teachers' organizations. Ties to the family farm were strong throughout Grace's life. Her love of the land, which remains in the family, was a great source of pride. She was preceded in death by her husband, Homer O. Hoch on Sept. 8, 2005, and two brothers, LeRoy and William Uhlenhop. Grace is survived by her daughter, Barbara Piepenbring and husband Jack of Maryville, Tenn., son, Jim Hoch of Merrian, Kan., granddaughter, Sara Salge and husband Jon of Franklin, Tenn., brother, Don Uhlenhop and wife Rosemary of Andover, Kan., and many nieces, nephews, and their children and grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17, at the Fairview Presbyterian Church north of Riley, Kan., followed by a graveside service in the Fairview Cemetery. Grace's paternal grandparents were founders of this church in 1874. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hospice c/o Vitas Charitable Foundation, 4041 S. Lynn Court Dr., Suite 300, Independence, MO 64055 or online at www.vitascharityfund.org.