Obituary of Idabelle Hopper Taggart

STOW - Idabelle Hopper Taggart of Stow, died on December 29, 2014.  She was born on her grandparents’ farm near Portersville, PA on July 12 1922.  She attended schools in Butler, PA, graduating from Butler High School. Idabelle met Frank (Hank) Taggart in Butler, and when he was drafted in WWII and before he was shipped to the South Pacific, they married in North Carolina. During the war Idabelle moved to Akron with her parents, where she worked at Goodyear on the Corsair airplanes, and in later years was given recognition as a Rosie the Riveter. After the war, she left the workforce and embraced the role of wife, mother and homemaker in Akron.  Later they moved to Stow where she participated in the PTA and was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader.  Idabelle was a talented seamstress, making many of her daughters' clothes. She was also accomplished at knitting and needlepoint, with many beautiful framed pictures to exhibit. An avid card player, Idabelle excelled at Bridge, Pinochle, and Court Whist with her many friends, and also enjoying word games. She and Hank served as ushers at Severance Hall in Cleveland for years of performances, took ballroom dancing classes, and traveled coast to coast to visit friends and family. Recently honored by Emmanuel United Church of Christ as one of the longest attending members, she was involved with church leadership, taught Sunday school and volunteered for many activities. Idabelle was preceded in death in 2005 by her husband of 61 years, Frank (Hank) and by two brothers. She is survived by her sister, Loretta Hopper Raiter, sisters-in-law Ginny Hopper and Yvonne Taggart Allen. Also surviving are daughters Lynn Taggart (Russell Lane) of Massachusetts and Karen Taggart-Hatlen (Richard Hatlen) of California and her son, Ron Taggart of Stow. She also leaves her grandson, Graham Taggart Reinhart of Oregon, nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren. She was especially close to beloved niece Kendra (Jim) Boulton and their sons Chad and Jesse of Stow.  There will be a memorial service on Saturday, January 17, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Emmanuel United Church of Christ, 1480 Eastwood Ave., Akron, Ohio 44305. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Emmanuel UCC.