Louise A. Gearhart, age 74, of rural Edon, Ohio, died at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2009, in her home after an extended illness. Louise was a graduate of St. Joseph Catholic School in Blakeslee, Ohio, and graduated from Edon High School in 1953. She was a cookie baker at Bryan Community Hospital for ten years, retiring in 1989. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Blakeslee and the Rosary Altar Society of the church. For many years she was charged with the care of the sacristy of the church.

Louise A. Gearhart was born on January 28, 1935, near Blakeslee, Ohio, the daughter of Albert and Leona (Siebenaler) Wehrle. She married Larry V. Gearhart on October 29, 1955, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Blakeslee, Ohio, and he survives.

Mrs. Gearhart is also survived by three sons, Ronald Gearhart, of Bryan, Ohio, Gary (Laura) Gearhhart and James (Sandra) Gearhart, both of Edon, Ohio, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and one sister, Hilda (Jake) Hartman, of Bryan, Ohio. She was preceded in death by a son, Dr. Mark Gearhart, in 1989, and two brothers, Hillis and Lavon Wehrle.

Visitation for Louise A. Gearhart will be on Sunday, April 19, 2009, from 2-8 p.m. in the Krill Funeral Home, Edon, Ohio. A scripture service will follow at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday. Services will be held on Monday, April 20, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Church in Blakeslee, Ohio, with Fr. Fred Duschl and Fr. John Wehrle officiating. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery near Blakeslee, Ohio.

Memorials in the name of Louise A. Gearhart may be given to the Arthritis Foundation, Northwest Ohio Branch, P.O. Box 040512, Toledo, Ohio 43614-0512 or to the Dr. Mark Gearhart Memorial Scholarship with the Bryan Area Foundation.