Thelma Hawk

Thelma W. Hawk, 98, died early Thursday, August 1, 2013, at the Laurels of Shane Hill, where she had been a patient for six years. She was born in Liberty Township, Mercer County Ohio on July 10, 1915 to Henry J. W. and Anna Diener Groth. On April 4, 1937, she married William B. Hawk, who preceded her in death July 26, 2000. She was valedictorian of the Rockford High School Class of 1932 and attended Bowling Green State University. In 1933, she began her teaching career at Joint Township in Liberty Township. She retired from Parkway School in 1980 after teaching 39 years. She had been a member of the former Rockford Presbyterian Church where she was organist for twenty-five years. She was a fifty-year member of Celina Chapter 91 Order of the Eastern Star with a total of 61 years and was an honorary member of the Twentieth Century Club of Rockford. She also enjoyed reading, sewing, embroidering, quilting, gardening and cooking. She was the traditional good German cook who loved baking pies. She and her husband enjoyed racing their standard bred horses after retirement. She is survived by two daughters, Miriam (Robert) Fetters of Mendon and Charlene Hawk of Rockford; grandson, Michael (Linda) Hawk of Rockford; five great-grandchildren: Nicole Marie Mosier, Curtis Matthew Mosier, Haley Alexis Hawk, Nicholas William Hawk and Zachary Michael Hawk. She is also survived by three great-great grandchildren: Alexis, Drayk and Jaylee. She was preceded in death by her son Roger Hawk, who died in 2012; granddaughter Victoria Mosier and sister Glendola Jewell. Funeral services will be at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at 10:30 AM with Rev. Catherine Costello officiating. Friends may call Monday, August 5, 2013 from 2:00 to 8:00 PM at the funeral home and 1 hour prior to the service on Tuesday. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Rockford, Ohio. Memorials may be directed to the Rockford Recreation Association's Shane Park Legacy Fund.