Gladys May Musser Rinehart

Our beloved mother, surrounded by family, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, September 2, 2023. She was preceded in death by husbands, Vernon Musser and Robert Rinehart, her beautiful son Billy, parents Lester and Rueah Stout, brothers, Harry, Chester, Leroy and Kenneth, sisters, Doris, Rosella, Grandson Randy and best friend of 70 years Ellen. Left behind to cherish her memory are her children, Vernon, Paul, Kathy (Ken), James, Glenn (Cheryl), Daniel (Brendia). Grandchildren, Clint (Melissa), Jaime (Brian), Daniel (Duong), Jessica (Ryan), Gabriel (Jamie), Emma (Chris), Jenny (Glen), Anna (Jay), Greg (Delores), Danielle and Branson. Great-grandchildren Naomi, Cole, Samantha, Noah, Seth, Luke, Logan, Nicole, Skyler, Bryson, Scarlett, Arya, Will, Riley, Bella, Addy, Weston, Evelyn, James, Evan, Josie, Penelope, Angel, Olivia, Morgan, Carter and Great-Great- Grandson Brooks. Her sister Pauline and, her two caregivers, who were angels sent from God, Wendy and Melissa, her 3 former daughters’ in-law, Alice, Melissa and Bridget, the mother of her grandchildren, who always had a special place in her heart. She also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews. How do you fit a life of 91 years into a few paragraphs? It seems a most impossible task. Mother was born May 8, 1932, in Greensboro Pennsylvania and moved to Akron in the late ‘40’s. She graduated from East High school in 1951 and was the first of her family to graduate from high school, which she was very proud of. Our Mother and Father met in 1951 and married in December of that year. After the birth of their first 4 children, they bought a small farm in Copley. Then came 3 more boys. Within 12 years they had 7 children. She was an excellent seamstress, barber, cook and gardener. Together we raised cows, pigs and chickens to feed our large family. Sadly, in 1967 our father died from cancer, and she was left to raise 7 children on her own. 5 years later she lost her son Billy in an automobile accident. Also at this time, her siblings became ill and passed away from Huntington’s disease. She continuously picked herself up and kept going. She sang in the church choir and was on a bowling league. Ellen and Mom were the best dancers in the area and are probably dancing in Heaven right now. She was very proud of her children attending and graduating from Copley High School. She still has great grandchildren attending there. She met and married her second husband Robert in 1986.  She was also diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy that same year. Together they enjoyed camping, gardening and watching her grandchildren. She had a major stroke in 2017 and 2 small ones in 2018. She could no longer do the things she loved. Soon she took up adult coloring books and they are works of art. Mother and Robert also enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles and you almost always saw one on the kitchen table.  Robert passed away in 2021 and Mother moved in with her daughter and son in-law. Her dementia also began to take its toll on her. She began attending the Barberton Adult Day Center one day a week and loved her time there.They would do a craft every week and she would bring it home and be so proud of it. She overcame so many struggles and was such a strong woman. She loved the Lord and relied on him for her strength and courage to carry on.  Since the beginning of 2023 she had more illnesses and falls, and they had taken a lot out of her. She began hospice on August 21, and we believe she was ready to say goodbye. All her children gathered for dinner and visits on August 27, and we feel it’s what she needed to know her job on Earth was finished. She was joking and feisty until the end. Above all she loved her family so much and enjoyed spending time with them. All of us will miss her terribly, until we meet again. Gladys’ funeral service will be held Friday, September 8, 2023 at 12 Noon at the Campfield-Hickman-Collier Funeral Home, 566 W. Park Ave., Barberton with Rev. Dr. T.M. Hines officiating. Burial to follow at Mt. Zwingli Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until time of her service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Huntington’s disease Society or Alzheimer’s association. 

Condolences may be made and her Video-Gift tribute may be viewed at www.Campfield-Hickman-Collier.com.

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