Mary “Olive” Rexford, age 95, formerly of Mount Gilead, died early Saturday morning, June 25, 2011, at the Friendship Village of Columbus following an extended illness.
On February 5, 1926, Olive was born in DeGraff, Ohio, one of five children of the late Martin “Calvin” and Lillie Ann (Neer) Baughman. She graduated from DeGraff High School in the Class of 1934.
Shortly after graduating from high school, Olive moved to Dayton, where she would meet her husband to be, Kenneth Rexford, at a singles fellowship evening at a Presbyterian church. From the moment they met their love continued to blossom. In 1939, Kenneth then found work at the H.P.M. Corporation in Mount Gilead, but they continued their courtship. On August 31, 1940, Olive and Kenneth were married, and she then joined him in Mount Gilead. Together they shared over sixty three wonderful years of marriage. He preceded her in death on January 24, 2004.
Olive served as treasurer at the Mount Gilead Public Library for over twenty years. She thoroughly enjoyed working with the library staff and patrons.
A woman of faith, Olive was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Mount Gilead. She also was a member of Beta Progress and the Alpha Couples Twig at the Morrow County Hospital.
Having green thumbs, Olive and Ken were best known for their extravagant flower gardens, as they were always trying to grow something new and unique. Every year they would also get up before sun up to cut their best flowers to show them at both the Morrow County and the Ohio State Fairs. They also had an extensive fruit and vegetable garden, which they would can and freeze to make sure they could enjoy it all year long. They were members of the Wayside Garden Club and later the Green Pairs Garden Club.
An excellent cook, everyone in the family loved to return home to for all holidays and birthdays to enjoy whatever Olive would put on the table.
An avid bridge player, Olive was a member of the Couples Bridge Club and the Women’s Bridge Club.
Always hard at work, it seemed as if Olive never rested until everything was done. It was only Ken “who was able to tell her to slow down.”
Olive will be dearly missed by her three children: Rita (fiancé Tom Turk) Murphy of Gahanna, John (Lee) Rexford of Columbus, and Mary (Mark) Scholl of Columbus; six grandchildren: Kurt (Sarah) Murphy, Kenneth (Leah) Rexford, Brandon (Tracy) Rexford, Sarah (Garret) Robinson, Jason Scholl and David Scholl; seven great grandchildren with one more on the way; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Including her husband and parents, Olive was preceded in death by her daughter-in-law, Burdetta Rexford; two brothers: John and Charles Baughman; and two sisters: Gladys Brenner and Georgie Mummey.
The Rexford family will greet friends from 2 – 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28, at the First Presbyterian Church, 55 N. Cherry St., Mount Gilead. Services celebrating her reunion with her husband and the Lord will follow immediately after at 3:00 p.m., with Pastor Dennis Braun officiating. Burial will follow in Rivercliff Cemetery.
Snyder Funeral Homes of Mount Gilead is honored to have been chosen to serve Olive’s family.
Memorial contributions may be made to either the First Presbyterian Church or the Alzheimer’s Association, and they may be sent to the care of the funeral home.
For those wishing to express their private condolences online to Olive’s family, you may do so by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
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