Margaret Jean Arledge Rausch, 84, of Marysville and formerly of Plain City, died Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, at Memorial Gables following an extended illness.
A longtime member of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chuckery, she was baptized at King Avenue United Methodist Church and was confirmed at The Ohio State University Lutheran Chapel.
She graduated from West Liberty High School where she was class salutatorian. She attended Ohio University.
She was associated with the Logan County Extension Service and then worked for the Ohio State Extension Service. She was also a former associate of H&R Block for many years.
An accomplished painter, seamstress, homemaker and gardener, she was known for her extraordinary culinary skills. Her specialty was home-baked pies made with fruit and berries grown in her own garden. She worked side by side with her husband with farm chores and together they provided family and friends and farmers’ market patrons with delicious vine-ripened produce. She was also known for producing a beautiful flower garden.
She was born July 27, 1932, in Carroll, to the late Carl Sr. and Mamie Alspach Arledge and was also preceded in death by her siblings, Janet Watkins, Donald Arledge and Betty Smoke; and a brother-in-law, James Puckett.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Carlton W. Rausch, whom she married Dec. 19, 1958, at King Avenue United Methodist Church; her children, Ronald (Karen) Rausch of Marysville, Joyce (Paul) Ries of Salem, Oregon, and Linda (Anthony) Jula of Blacklick; eight grandchildren, Elizabeth (Matt) Jones, Rebekah (Nathanael) Yellis, Wendy (Ryan) Tribble, Christine Rausch, Catherine Jula, Megan Jula, Kendra (John) Clendineng and Nathaniel Jula; eight great-grandchildren Silas, Titus, Micah, Lydia, Rosie, Edward, Arthur and Alexis; two brothers, Carl (Shirley) Arledge Jr. of Bellefontaine and Jim Arledge of Florida; her sisters-in-law, Luella Puckett of Washington Court House, Eleanor (Lewis) Sale of Columbus and Margaret (Don) Bailey of Marysville; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Milford Center (Chuckery). Burial will be at Dayton National Cemetery at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Ladies Aid or Disabled American Veterans, Union County Chapter 55.
Underwood Funeral Home, Marysville, handled arrangements and condolences may be expressed at www.underwoodfuneralhome.com