Alice Baum

Alice M. Baum (nee Sutherland), 95, of Elyria, passed away, Thursday, December 3, 2009 at New Life Hospice in Lorain on December 3, 2009. She was born November 10, 1914 in Solon to Floyd and Lily Sutherland. She grew up on a farm in Clarksfield. Alice was the last survivor of the New London High School 1931 graduating class. Following graduation Alice elected to forego higher education, deciding instead to work for a local grocery store. The manager of that store immediately took an interest in this new employee, and she too, had taken notice of him. Married in 1931, Alice and husband Curley began a partnership which later would take them around the world when Curley accepted a position with Lions International in Oak Brook, Illinois. As he attended to official business, Alice would handle all the office duties. She continued in the dual function until Curley's retirement in 1967. A strong volunteer spirit brought Alice to the Senior Activity Center in Port Charlotte, Florida, the community she and her husband chose for retirement, all the while welcoming her ever-growing family consisting of three children, eleven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. Though busy at Christmas time, Alice and Curley would personally prepare and include personal cards and notes to over 700 friends in nearly every nation in the United Nations. This, coupled with very strong church ties, kept her in demand for her time and talent. A few years after Curley's death, Alice returned to Elyria in 1983 and retired once again-this time to spend valuable time just catching up with her many offspring. Being a devout Christian, she was a member of Faith Lutheran in Avon, Alice spent a large portion of each day in bible study even though advancing blindness stripped here of her reading ability. Faith led her to the Cole Eye Center at Cleveland Clinic where doctors were successful in restoring her eyesight. During her extended bout with blindness, this intrepid achiever read over 3000 books on tape, so veracious was her appetite for learning. Her lack of eyesight interrupted this world-class crossword puzzle worker, usually at least three puzzles at any given time. Additionally, she took time to compile the family tree dating back to the year 1270. Survivors include daughters, Joanne (William) Pais of North Ridgeville, Betty (Hank) Janowicz of Elyria; son Floyd (Beverly) Baum of Medina. She was preceded in death by her husband, Curley in 1980; daughter in law, Clara Baum (nee Soboslai); grandson, Phillip Baum; great grandson, Kenneth Pais; brother, Ira Sutherland and infant sister, Grace Sutherland. Friends may call Monday, December 7 from 11:30 AM until the time of service at 1:00 PM at the David Bogner Family Funeral Home, 36625 Center Ridge Road, North Ridgeville. Rev. Wayne D. Decker will officiate. Burial will be in Resthaven Memory Gardens, Avon. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to New Life Hospice Center of St. Joseph, 3700 Kolbe Rd., Lorain 44053 or Ohio Lions Foundation Sight and Hearing Research, 1720 Zollenger Road, Columbus, OH 43221.

Alice Baum

November 10, 1914 - December 3, 2009