Anna Mae Etling

Anna Mae Etling, 92 of Sterling, died Monday, March 28, 2016 at LifeCare Hospice in Wooster following a period of declining health.

Anna Mae was born Feb. 10, 1924 in Rittman to the late Phillip Henry and Clara (Lance) Wirth and was a 1942 graduate of Sterling High School. On May 10, 1947 she married John Etling and together they shared 68 wonderful years together until his death on Dec. 12, 2015. For 38 years she and John owned and operated the Etling Grocery Store in Sterling and she had previously worked at the PCA in Rittman, the Sterling Commercial Bank and the Sterling Post Office. She had made his home in Sterling most of his life moving to Wooster in 2008. Following John’s death she was able to move back to Sterling and live with her granddaughter, Erica in the home that John and Anna Mae had lived in. She was a lifetime member of Sterling United Methodist Church where she held various offices over the years, was a Youth Fellowship Advisor and was a member of the women’s quilting group. Anna Mae was a member of the Pythian Sisters and was a member of the former Rittman Grange. She was a pole worker for the election board and enjoyed working puzzles.

Surviving are her son, Ric (Holly) Etling of Creston; her daughter, Vicki McCombs of Bellefontaine; grandchildren, Erica Etling and Bryant Boley, Kimberly McKee, Kelli Bailey Robinson, Bobbi Bailey and Annie Bailey Manbevers; 10 great-grandchildren, Ashlyn, Alexis and Chandra Reed, Zayne, Zylar and Zaige Huffman, Amara McKee, Elijah Moore, Parker and Brooklyn Robinson and Allison Cherry; sister-in-law, Treva Wirth of Wooster and nieces and nephews and many dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, an infant granddaughter, Michelle Etling; a sister, Mary Chase and brothers, Roy and Dale Wirth.

Services will be Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Sterling United Methodist Church with Rev. Tami Toothman-Shoup officiating. Burial will be in Sterling Crown Hill Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday from 5-7 p.m. at Murray Funeral Home in Creston. Tributes may be shared at www.Murray-Funeral-Home.com. Memorials may be made to LifeCare Hospice, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, OH 44691. A special thanks to Dr. Lance and the staff at LifeCare Hospice for their wonderful care of Anna Mae and the family over the last few weeks. Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.