WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Geraldine Marie “Geri” Zarza, age 91, of Marietta, Ga., and a former Nottawa resident, passed away Friday, July 13, 2012, at Tranquility at Kennesaw Mountain.
She was born Feb. 13, 1931, in Groton, N.Y., a daughter of the late Clinton and Cornelia (Rockwell) Cunningham.
Geri resided in Berkshire, N.Y., Bath, Md., Flint, Sturgis and Nottawa, and Marietta. Ga., at Winnwood Retirement Community.
She had been employed by Froh Home and Sturgis Memorial Hospital as a housekeeper.
Geri enjoyed writing to her many friends and family members, cooking, telling stories, traveling to Maine and visiting her family. She was a founding member of Sturgis Wesleyan Church and regularly attended St. Andrew United Methodist Church and Roswell Street Baptist Church, both in Marietta.
She is survived by a son, Larry Gowen; two grandchildren, Tim (Amanda) Hendricks and Lisa (Gordon) Mosley; three great-grandchildren, Cole, Jack and Amanda Hendricks; two sisters, Edith Williamson and Louise (Don) Gerheauser; a brother, Irving (Shirley) Cunningham); and stepchildren, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Urban Lawrence Gowen, Albert Fuller and Ray Zarza; two daughters, Sally Gowen and Susan Marie (Gowen) Hendricks; and five brothers, Clinton, Curtis, George, Charles and Everett Cunningham.
The family will received friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Hackman Family Funeral Homes Rosenberg Chapel, 807 E. Chicago Road, Sturgis. A graveside service and burial will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday at Nottawa Cemetery in Nottawa. The Rev. Steve Bean of Sturgis Wesleyan Church will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations be made to KSU Foundation toward the Susan M. Hendricks Memorial Scholarship and mailed to Darlene Schlott/Kennesaw State University, 1000 Chastain Road, MB 9102, Kennesaw, GA 30144.
“But those who trust in the Lord will find strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” — Isaiah 40:31.
Her obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.
