Obituary of Gladys Mae Foglesong Etz

STOW - On January 22, 2022, Gladys Mae Foglesong Etz, 93, went to be with her Lord and Savior. Gladys was smart, feisty, active, and outgoing - and she never stopped learning. Gladys grew up on a farm in Bath where she spent more time with her father in the field than her mother in the kitchen. Her interests in being a member - and holding office - in a variety of organizations started young. Her parents took her to her first meeting at the Bath Grange Hall when she was just five years old. She became a member then and remained a member the rest of her life. The Grange strengthens individuals, families and communities through grassroots action, service, education, advocacy, and agriculture awareness. The Grange was also where she met her husband, John Etz, when they both were members of the youth group. Part of John’s attraction was that he was the only one in the group who had a car. They married in 1949 and moved to Stow where they had three children - Jim, John, and Judy. Gladys and John were true partners in life and did everything together - from driving together to their jobs at First National Bank, to joining a bowling team together, to working at the Summit County Fair where John was the treasurer for many years while Gladys shared his duties. Together they were long time members of the Stow Community United Church of Christ where, among other things, John helped with the spaghetti dinners while Gladys, who didn’t like spaghetti, created a chef’s salad bowl entree for the menu - though her family will say they preferred her famous potato salad. In addition, Gladys also was involved in 4-H, Women in Construction, Stow Sunshiners, Stow Historical Society, Stow Community Farmers Market, and acting as secretary/treasurer for the Foglesong Family Reunion - an annual event for over 90 years, the last two occurring virtually - and Gladys attended every single one. Each year there was not so much an election as a “railroading of officers” and Gladys never objected to retaining her role. She also was in charge of Bath High School reunions - not just for her class, but for all of the classes. As a result of John and Gladys’ participation in so many organizations, their children - and grandchildren - knew that wherever the family went - errands, restaurants, etc., someone would come over and say hello. They really seemed to know everyone - which may have led to them being chosen Grand Marshals in the Stow 4th of July Parade in 1995. John and Gladys were parted by his death in 2002 after 52 years of marriage. Gladys continued her busy list of activities while also engaging with her grandchildren and acting as an assistant for ten years for her daughter’s Creative Memories business. She also kept up the holiday family tradition of making peanut brittle, started by her sister, who sold it for income. Gladys would sell it to anyone and everyone she encountered. Never one to slow down, in her later years Gladys learned to use a computer, text her family and friends, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning with her Alexa. So, it was challenging for her when growing health issues over the last eight months increasingly limited her abilities and activities. She knew God was preparing her homecoming. Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, Clota and Ada (Harper) Foglesong; her husband of 52 years, John Etz; brothers, Gaywin, Russell, and John C.; sisters, Marie Baker, and Lucille Michaels, and great-grandchild, Tyler McGaha. Gladys is remembered by her children, Jim (Robin Taylor), John (Vicki), and Judy (Craig) Holloway, as well as grandchildren, Joe (Julie), Janine Samano, John David (Haley), Lauren (fiancé Yianis Capinis), Cameron (Abigail) Holloway, Connor (Mary) Holloway; great-grandchildren, Samantha, Sabrina (Jacob Benson), Destiny McGaha, Tanner Mills, Harper, and Wyatt Etz; great-great grandchildren, DeAngelo Joseph Comeriato and Jaxtyn Benson; friend and neighbor, Dale Boettner, as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. The family will receive visitors Friday, January 28 from 4-6 PM, followed by a service performed by Pastor Jim Case, at 6 PM at the Redmon Funeral Home, 3633 Darrow Road, Stow, 44224. Masks are optional. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Darrow Street Grange #751 Scholarship Fund, 5215 Fishcreek Road, Stow, 44224, or Stow Community Church Memorial Fund, 1567 Pilgrim Drive, Stow, 44224 ~ stowcommchurch.org