Orpha G. Reed

1925 - 2016

ST. PARIS — Orpha G. Hartzler Lantz Reed, 91, of Saint Paris, passed away on Sept. 2, 2016, in the Mercy McAuley Center, Urbana. Orpha was born on Feb. 16, 1925, in Champaign County, a daughter of the late Archie David and Anna Barbara (Hostetler) Hartzler.

Orpha married John Junior Lantz on June 2, 1945, and he preceded her in death in 1964. Together they had three children, two of whom survive: James (Susan) Lantz of Troy, and Charles (Mary) Lantz of Urbana.

On Feb. 28, 1969, she married C. Russell Reed, and he preceded her in death in 2005 after 36 years of marriage.

She is also survived by her stepchildren; Deborah (Louis) Boyd of St. Paris, Carole (Larry) Gehrlich of Wapakoneta, and Charles (Donna) Reed of Corinth, Ky.

She was a proud grandmother of 13 grandchildren: Kim (Bob) Curlis, Jaclyn (David) Murray, Jennifer (Chris) DeMarco, Sheila (Jeremy) Wyrick, Cathyln (Tyler) Adkins, Mike (Beth) Reed, Lisa (Mark) Hery, Gina (Don) Macy, Alexa (David) Schmackers, Bobbie Boyd, Tez (Dan) Laroch, Kellie (Tom) Baughman, and Tony Gehrlich; 19 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. A sister Bertha King of West Liberty also survives.

In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Linda Lantz; grandson, James Lantz Jr.; two sisters, Ruth Lapp and Irene Kanagy; and five brothers; Levi, Emory, Andrew and John Hartzler and Oliver Ross.

She graduated from Monroe High School in 1942 and attended Moore's Business School in Urbana. She worked at United Paperboard Company and Lear Aviation in Piqua, Ohio. She retired from Grimes in Urbana after 23 years of service.

Orpha was a member of the St. Paris United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women, and had a special love for the members of the Friendship Class.

Orpha loved sewing and made quilts for all of her children, and some of her grandchildren. She enjoyed her flowers, gardening, and baking cookies for her family.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, at 12 p.m. in the St. Paris United Methodist Church, 208 W. Walnut St., St. Paris, Ohio, with the Rev. Dave Kepple presiding. Burial will follow in Spring Grove Cemetery, N. Heck Hill Road, St. Paris, Ohio. Visitation for family and friends will be held two hours prior to the funeral service in the church beginning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

Memorial donations may be made to the St. Paris United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 564, Saint Paris, OH 43072.

Atkins-Shively Funeral Home is serving the family. Condolences to the family may be sent to www.shivelyfuneralhomes.com.