Carla Marie Robenalt, 86, of Van Wert, Ohio, entered her eternal home at 3:45 p.m., Wednesday, at the CHP Inpatient Hospice Center in Defiance surrounded by her family. Late in her illness, she longed to be with her Lord and Savior. She was born October 13, 1932, in Columbus Grove, Ohio, the daughter of the late Lawrence A. and Erma (Basinger) Schumacher.
On September 5, 1953, she married Marion Francis “Bud” Robenalt, who preceded her in death on February 28, 2013. Survivors include her daughters, Sherry (John) Rager, Deborah (Brent) Jones, her sons, Jeffrey (Kassandra) Robenalt, Mark Robenalt, all of Van Wert, and David Robenalt of Celina; thirteen grandchildren, Allen (Ellen) Rager, Andrew (Heather) Rager, Tamara (Kory) Mullenhour, Betsy (Joshua) Gleinser, Adam (Courtney) Rager, and Ryan Rager; Chad (Calley) Seibert, Becky (Cory) Hathaway, Kimberly (Joe) DiFede; Nathan Robenalt, Ian Robenalt; Shane Robenalt, and Taylor Robenalt; and fifteen great-grandchildren, Shaelynn, Addison, Landon and Evelyn Rager; Lucas Mullenhour; Charlie Rager; Cora and Joshua Seibert; Isaiah, Aaron, Rachel and Lydia Hathaway; Michael, Lexi and Gregory DiFede; and a 16th grandchild due in November. Also surviving is one sister, LaVerne Borgelt of Crestline, Ohio; a brother-in-law, Jim (Deanna) Robenalt of Tempe, Arizona; and many nieces and nephews.
Carla was a member of the Class of 1950 of Pandora High School, a class that still holds a reunion annually. She worked for the Ottawa Clerk of Courts following high school and then as a bookkeeper for Hart’s Jewelry Store in downtown Lima when she met her husband in the local coffee shop. After marriage, they resided in Lima until shortly after their first daughter was born and Bud was transferred to Van Wert by the Ohio Power Company.
Carla was a homemaker while the children were young and then worked many years as a bookkeeper at the Gospel Gift Shop. Carla faithfully attended First Baptist Church for the past eight years. Prior to that, she had been an active member of Calvary Evangelical Church, teaching preschool, organizing Angel Tree, serving as the Sunday School literature secretary for many years and also the church librarian.
Carla and Bud spent several years in their retirement traveling the United States and volunteering their time and skills at Southwest Indian School in Peoria, Arizona, during the winters. For many years and until recently, their group of friends met every Sunday night for games and fellowship. Carla enjoyed cross-stitch, needlepoint, crewel embroidery, and was an excellent seamstress, sewing the children’s clothing and anything needed for their home, a skill she passed on to her daughters.
She enjoyed playing games with friends and family, including thousands of games of Uno with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren over the years. Sometimes up to four generations had played together at one time! The young great-grandchildren fondly referred to her as “The Great One”.
She was always delighted to have them in her presence. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 18, 2019 at First Baptist Church in Van Wert, officiated by Dr. David Warren. Burial will follow at Van Wert Woodland Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at 4 – 8 p.m., Friday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home and one hour prior to services Saturday at the Church. Memorials may be made to Gideons International for Bibles in her memory.
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