IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Lela Rose
Kafton
January 23, 1924 – December 30, 2016
Obituary
Lela Rose Kafton, 92, formerly of Cameron, WV, passed away December 30, 2016, at Belmont Manor in St. Clairsville, OH.
Lela was born on January 23, 1924, near Steubenville, OH, the daughter of the late Dee and Edith (Lantz) Birkhimer. She lived in Holidays Cove and graduated from Follansbee High School in 1942. After graduation, Lela secured a Civil Service appointment with the U. S. War Department at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, as a secretary. The first jet plane was flown during her time at Wright Field.
In 1945 Lela's brother, Robert, returned home accompanied by a shipmate, Karl C. Kafton. Lela later married Karl on May 4, 1946, in Charleston, SC, while Karl was serving in the U.S. Navy. They returned to the Follansbee area after the war. Lela loved to travel around the country and lived in New Mexico before buying a farm in Marshall County near Cameron, WV, where she lived for nearly 40 years.
She was passionately dedicated to her husband, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Lela was a member of the First Christian Church, Cameron, WV. After Karl's death, Lela moved to St. Clairsville, OH, where she enjoyed activities in the community with her daughters and granddaughters.
Preceding her in death were her husband Karl and siblings Stanley, Laddie, Robert, Edith Rhodes, Catherine Dodson, and Ruth Gardner.
She is survived by daughters Linda L. (Allan) Gereg, St. Clairsville, OH, Marsha J. (Larry) Bland, Holbrook, PA, Joyce L. Surbaugh, Alderson, WV, and six grandchildren, Jerri L. McCombs, Wheeling, WV, Deedra (Troy) Balgo, Kristopher Gereg, and Colleen Gereg, St. Clairsville, OH, Denise (Joe) Piontek, Boston, Mass, and Seth Surbaugh, Alderson, WV. Lela had ten great grandchildren, Leyna Jae and Bradon Conway, Victoria, Sydney, Brock, Cade, and Kira Balgo, Isaac Nicot, Noah Gereg, and Lyrra Piontek.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Toothman Funeral Home, 141 South Marietta, St., St. Clairsville, OH where a private service will be held with the Rev. Dr. Walter McNutt officiating. Entombment will follow at Halcyon Hills Memorial Gardens, Sherrard, WV. Condolences to the family may be made online at www.toothmanfuneralhome.com
Lela was born on January 23, 1924, near Steubenville, OH, the daughter of the late Dee and Edith (Lantz) Birkhimer. She lived in Holidays Cove and graduated from Follansbee High School in 1942. After graduation, Lela secured a Civil Service appointment with the U. S. War Department at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, as a secretary. The first jet plane was flown during her time at Wright Field.
In 1945 Lela's brother, Robert, returned home accompanied by a shipmate, Karl C. Kafton. Lela later married Karl on May 4, 1946, in Charleston, SC, while Karl was serving in the U.S. Navy. They returned to the Follansbee area after the war. Lela loved to travel around the country and lived in New Mexico before buying a farm in Marshall County near Cameron, WV, where she lived for nearly 40 years.
She was passionately dedicated to her husband, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Lela was a member of the First Christian Church, Cameron, WV. After Karl's death, Lela moved to St. Clairsville, OH, where she enjoyed activities in the community with her daughters and granddaughters.
Preceding her in death were her husband Karl and siblings Stanley, Laddie, Robert, Edith Rhodes, Catherine Dodson, and Ruth Gardner.
She is survived by daughters Linda L. (Allan) Gereg, St. Clairsville, OH, Marsha J. (Larry) Bland, Holbrook, PA, Joyce L. Surbaugh, Alderson, WV, and six grandchildren, Jerri L. McCombs, Wheeling, WV, Deedra (Troy) Balgo, Kristopher Gereg, and Colleen Gereg, St. Clairsville, OH, Denise (Joe) Piontek, Boston, Mass, and Seth Surbaugh, Alderson, WV. Lela had ten great grandchildren, Leyna Jae and Bradon Conway, Victoria, Sydney, Brock, Cade, and Kira Balgo, Isaac Nicot, Noah Gereg, and Lyrra Piontek.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Toothman Funeral Home, 141 South Marietta, St., St. Clairsville, OH where a private service will be held with the Rev. Dr. Walter McNutt officiating. Entombment will follow at Halcyon Hills Memorial Gardens, Sherrard, WV. Condolences to the family may be made online at www.toothmanfuneralhome.com
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