Anna Laura (Merwin) Rheinbolt

Anna Laura (Merwin) Rheinbolt, age 88, of Mount Gilead, passed away Thursday morning, March 24, 2011 at the Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, following a long illness. Anna was born at home on U.S. 42 Highway near Shauck, Ohio, the daughter of the late Vinton N. and Laura A. (Coriell) Merwin. Anna graduated from Johnsville High School and went on to receive a Bachelor's Degree at Ashland College, and a Master's Degree in education from the Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway. She also studied at Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas. Anna was quite a scholar and maintained a profound interest in history and civics. She had an in depth historical interest in the areas where she lived and traveled including Ohio, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Central and South America. Mrs. Rheinbolt's professional teaching career started in Morrow County, teaching at Chesterville Elementary School and Iberia Elementary School. She also taught at Rose City School in North Little Rock, Arkansas, Mansfield-Madison Township Schools, and in Mansfield City Elementary Schools before her retirement. She enjoyed raising Short-horned Hereford Cattle on her farm. She also raised Golden Retrievers after she retired from teaching. Anna's many memberships included: the Morrow and Richland County Teachers Association, the Morrow County and Ohio Historical Society, the First Family of Ohio, the Republican Party, and the Ohio and National Education Association. Anna was also a member of the Perry Church of Christ in Darlington, Ohio. There she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and worshiped all of her life. She was an avid student of the Bible, which she read daily. Anna will be dearly missed by her three sons: Richard Merwin Rheinbolt of Barnsville, North Carolina, Raymond David Rheinbolt of Mount Gilead, John Norman Rheinbolt of Highmore, South Carolina; one daughter, Michale Jane Rasberry of Bartlett, Tennessee; her grandchildren: Ranee' Marie Uribe of Columbia, Joel Rheinbolt of Peru, Robin Rheinbolt of Guatemala, Joshua Rheinbolt of North Carolina, Rachel Terry of Albany, Ohio, Luke Norman Rheinbolt of South Dakota, Richard Dwight Rasberry of Mansfield, Ohio, Martin Wesley Rasberry of Arlington, Tennessee; 18 great grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Anna was preceded in death by her husband, William Richard Rheinbolt; her three sisters: Ethel V. Merwin, Coriel Rauch, Velva Morgan; and one grandson, Johnathan Rheinbolt. Friends had called on the family on Monday, March 28, 2011 from 4-7 p.m. at the Snyder Funeral Home, 76 South Main Street, Mount Gilead. Funeral Services were held there on Tuesday at 10 a.m. with Leroy Bumpus officiating. Burial will follow in Shauck Cemetery. For those wishing to express their condolences to Anna's family, you may do so by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.