“I wake up every day and thank God for his blessings,” is a phrase Annabelle Heston used quite often. It revealed a heart focused on her Heavenly Creator and optimistic in her outlook on life. Having finished the fight and kept the faith, God has called Annabelle home.
Annabelle May Heston peacefully passed away Saturday morning, August 1, 2015 in her Lexington home surrounded by family. She was 93.
She was born September 15, 1921 to parents Samuel “Howard” & Dora Ethel (Pollock) Yarger in Richland County. Annabelle was graduated from Bellville High School in1939 as valedictorian and was the last surviving member of her class.
At a free movie show on Orchard Park Road she met a young man named Richard Dale “Dick” Heston. When he later proposed at the Chippewa Lake amusement park Annabelle said, “Let me think about it,” and after a one-second pause she said…“YES!” The pair married on June 28, 1941 and they shared 72 wonderful years of marriage until he passed away in 2012. They are now together again.
Annabelle worked at the Lexington High School cafeteria where she worked for over 27 years until her retirement in 1977 as head of the high school cafeteria. She was a fantastic baker and cook and her specialty was pie. Her peach and rhubarb pies were a favorite to many, and she would make custom orders for her kids and friends at Deckers.
In spare time, she enjoyed sewing clothes and making crafts. Annabelle and Dick would often go fishing together and for many years they had a trailer at Marblehead—she even won an award in Ohio for the size of a large catch! But above all, Annabelle cherished spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her friends and family will remember her as a woman who genuinely loved people and they will miss her bright smile.
Annabelle was a faithful member of the Lexington Congregational Church where she taught Sunday School (for both kids and adults) and served as President of Ladies Fellowship for over 40 years . In younger years, she was active with the Progressive Mother’s Club and was a Brownie Leader.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Robert & Ellie Heston of North Ridgeville; daughter and son-in-law Linda & John Barr of Jeromesville; two grandsons Chris Barr of Columbus and Brent & Leeanna Barr of Bainbridge Township; two great-grandchildren: Adam Richard Barr and Julianna Marie Barr; three sisters: Lucinda & Norm Johnson of Mansfield, Florence Thornton of Johnsville, and Frances Pryor of Johnsville; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.
In addition to her loving husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters: Sadie & Earl Hiser, Nellie & Dean Pocock, Galena & John McDowell, and Wanda Ruhl; and two brothers-in-law Arthur “Mack” Pryor and Donald Thornton.
Her family will receive friends 11-2 p.m. Monday, August 3, 2015 in the Lexington Avenue Snyder Funeral Home where a funeral service celebrating her life will begin at 2 p.m. Pastors Dave Smith and Drew Meziere will officiate and burial will follow in Oak Grove Memorial Park near Lexington.
Contributions in her memory to the Lexington Congregational Church may be made at the funeral home.
Snyder Funeral Homes is honored to serve Annabelle’s family and encourage you to share a fond memory or message of condolence to them—and watch her tribute video—at SnyderFuneralHomes.com
