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Flora Elizabeth (Brantley) Hilbert passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at the amazing age of 105.
Flora was born on June 23, 1907 in Union County, Tennessee and moved with her family, Susie and Lee Brantley, to Anchor, Illinois in 1908.
Flora’s family relocated to Hicksville, Ohio in 1919 where Flora, along with her twin sister Flossie, sister Goldie, and two brothers, Elmer and Virgil, attended the Hicksville Public School. The family all were members of the United Methodist Church in Hicksville.
Flora was married to Carl E. Hilbert of Farmer, Ohio in 1925 and moved to Three Rivers, MI in 1927.
Preceding Flora in passing were her husband Carl, twin sister, Flossie, both brothers, Elmer and Virgil, and her mother Susie Brantley Nowels, who established and operated a rest home in Hicksville for many years.
Surviving Flora are her four daughters, Delores(Edward)Meringa, Marlene(William )Roberts, Betty Boydston, and Phyllis Lehman-Ward, all of Three Rivers; nine grandchildren, Chan, and Merle Wayne Meringa, Laura Roberts -Chupp, Matthew Roberts, Rebecca( Roberts) Harvey, Elizabeth (Roberts) VerHey, Darcy Carlene (Lehman)Shugars, Col. Aaron D. Lehman, and Jason Lehman.
Flora is also survived by her sister, Goldie Nusbaum-Gouker of Elkhart, IN; seventeen great grandchildren, Abby, Molly, Emily, Jake, Shelly, Christina, Will, John, Paul, Madeline, Sam, Scott, Melissa, Katy-Flora, Carl, James, and CarliJo. She also leaves nine great-great grandchildren.
Flora was very active in her past with Three Rivers Community Schools, thru P.T.A., Room Mothers Association, and the taking of school censes. She worked many years on the Three Rivers Election Board and took Three Rivers city censes.
Flora, along with eleven of her friends in Three Rivers, formed Forget-Me-Not Bunco Club. The Forget- Me-Nots met every week for forty-five years. Flora was the last remaining member.
After her husband Carl’s passing in 1960, Flora worked at Reen’s Super Market, which was owned and operated by her daughter Dee and husband Ed Meringa. Flora retired at age of 72.
Flora was very proud of the fact she remained in her own home on South Main, still baking pies and her famous noodles at age 100.
Graveside services will be held on Friday, March 1, 2013, 11:00a.m. at Farmer Cemetery, Farmer, Ohio as she joins her husband, mother, and twin sister. Flora’s spirit lives on within her remaining family members. Her stories continue on Main Street.
Memorials may be made in honor to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Three Rivers Community Schools, or by planting a geranium. Envelopes available at Hohner Funeral Home; P.O. Box 1018; 1004 Arnold St; Three Rivers, MI 49093 in care of arrangements. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.hohner fh.com.
