Eloise R. Burkhart

Eloise R. Burkhart, 95, passed away on March 7, 2019, in Marietta surrounded by her family and friends. She was born in Ritchie County, WV, on August 14, 1923 and was the oldest child of Claude B. and Shady Huff Rexroad.

She was a 1941 graduate of Marietta High School and attended nurses training at Gallinger Municipal Hospital in Washington, D. C. On July 3, 1947, she married James J. Burkhart who preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughter, Claudia Martin (Mike) of Longwood, FL; a sister Ruth Strickler of Winchester, VA and a sister Janice Kindelberger of Marietta. Eloise was also preceded in death by a son David J. Burkhart, her parents and brother Paul Rexroad of Columbia., MD.

Eloise is survived by six grandchildren: Sherry Wittekind (Tim) of Marietta, Michele Paxton (Gene) of Waterford, Scott Weppler (Melissa) of Williamstown, David Burkhart, James D. Burkhart (Kelley) of Hilliard, OH and Amy Griffith (Kevin) of Westerville, OH. She also has 13 great grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

Jim and Eloise farmed in Devola for many years. They were famous at the Cleveland produce markets for their Marietta tomatoes, the Old Settler Brand. Eloise was an accomplished seamstress and worked for many years at Bonham’s Dept. Store, then Kremer’s and First Settlement Shops. She sewed almost every day and has passed her love down to her daughter and granddaughters. She had worked for years with her friends at church making sleeping bags for the homeless and has knitted countless afghans over the years for her grandchildren. She sang in the choir for many years and was a faithful greeter each week at Christ United Methodist Church.

Funeral services will be held on Monday (March 11) at 10:30 am at McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home with Reverend Don Archer officiating. Interment will follow in Putnam Cemetery. Family will greet friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 4 until 7 pm. Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.Lankfordfh.com.