Jeannette Burkholder

Leola Jeannette (Carpenter) Burkholder, 96, of Wapakoneta, died Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 1:30 a.m. at the Cridersville Health Care Center. Jeannette was her strongly preferred given name!

Jeannette was born in Elida, Ohio on February 22, 1926 to the late Margery (Ridenour) and Burt Carpenter.  Jeannette had three siblings, Joe (Ann) Carpenter of Elida, Ohio, Glenn (MaryBeth) Carpenter of Wapakoneta and Esther Bertrand of Wapakoneta all preceding her in death.

Jeannette was also preceded in death by her husband Bill (d. 1974), son Timothy (d. 2008) (wife, Kathy) and second husband Virgil Baber (d. 1994) as well as her in-laws Melvin (d. 1969) and Mayme (1988 d) Burkholder, nephew Mike (2020 d) (Carol Noonan) Carpenter and niece Nancy McClintock (2006 d) (Alan d 2022).

Survivors include son David (Penelope Pettis) Burkholder of Guilford, Connecticut; a grandson Joshua (Suzanne Crossley) Burkholder; a great granddaughter Maia of Columbus, Ohio; a grandson James (Dawn) Burkholder; a great granddaughter Maddie of Beaverdam, Ohio; a grandson Justin (Sarah) Burkholder; great-grandchildren Macie Burkholder, Reece Sproul, Lucas Sproul and Caleb Sproul of Battle Creek Michigan.  Also surviving are nieces Linda (Roger d.) Shade of Wapakoneta, Cindy (Tom) Carter of Lima and Sue Ann (Lloyd) Leber of Miamisburg and nephews Bruce (Jackie) Carpenter and Kevin Bertrand. Jeannette is also survived by numerous grand and great grand nieces and nephews.

Jeannette grew up in Elida and Fort Jennings and shortly after graduating from Fort Jennings High School met the love of her life, the late Maurice (Bill) Eugene Burkholder of Beaverdam, Ohio.  She began work at the Tank Depot in Lima, Ohio and Bill was inducted to the Army in November, 1942.  Bill volunteered for the First Special Service Force and fought in multiple theatres of WW II.  Jeannette worked at the tank depot until the war ended and Bill was honorably discharged from service in October of 1945.  Jeannette and Bill were married in Fort Jennings on January 12, 1946.

Jeannette and Bill resided for a short time in Lima and then moved to Beaverdam first on Prospect and then on Pearl Street. The Pearl Street house was directly across the street from Burkholder’s Garage where Bill worked with his father Mel for more than 20 years.  When Jeannette’s parents died, Esther came to live with them in Beaverdam.  With the children in school, Jeannette attended the Lima Beauty Academy and became a licensed beautician.  A room in the Pearl Street house was converted to a Beauty shop operated by Jeannette for twenty some years.  Family gatherings and card games were a prominent part of life during these years.

In July 1974 Bill died suddenly of a heart attack. Jeannette sold the Pearl Street house and married Virgil Baber.  Jeannette and Virgil settled in Wapakoneta and Jeannette worked for many years in a Lima beauty shop.  Jeannette became grand and great grandmother to the Baber family children.  Jeannette and Virgil divorced in 1991, however, they reunited and lived together in Lima until Virgil’s death in 1994.  

Jeannette moved back to Wapakoneta, settled in an apartment on Rauthland Street where she lived for twenty more years including the last years with her much loved dog, Maggie.  The Passport Program of the Area Agency on Aging was instrumental in keeping Jeannette in her apartment until 2020.  Jeannette then moved to the Gardens Assisted Living in Wapakoneta and was happy and well taken care of for nearly three more years.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Hospice Foundation of America, 1707 L Street NW, Suite 220, Washington, DC 20036, www.hospicefoundation.org

Condolences may be expressed at www.schlosserfuneralhome.com