Melissa Bookwalter Bennett

Melissa Jobe (Bookwalter) Bennett, 89, passed from this life January 8, 2007, at Heartland of Chillicothe where she had been a resident since October of 2003. She was born September 27, 1917, in Louisa, Kentucky, the daughter of the late Lindsay and Carrie (Jordan) Jobe. Although she lived most of her life in Clarksburg, she resided for 17 years in DeLand, Florida. Her strong belief in education was demonstrated by her willingness to sacrifice a year of high school to care for her ailing parents then returning to graduate with the Class of 1938 from Clarksburg High School. She was a member of the Clarksburg United Methodist Church and the Deland First United Methodist Church. While a devoted homemaker, she owned and operated the Bookwalter's Sundry Store for several years and later worked at Wright's Key Market. She was a member of the Elmdale and Pomona Granges, the DeLand Shuffleboard Club and was a charter member of the Clarksburg Young Married Women's Club. She also volunteered at the V. A. Medical Center as a seamstress. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Sylvester Bookwalter, on October 2, 1980, and by her second husband, Charles W. "Buck" Bennett on September 27, 2002. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Charles M. Jobe; sister, Elsie Miller; stepdaughter, Marilyn Campbell; and stepson, Jack Ruth. Surviving are four daughters: Joan (Dr. Andrew) Sepsi, Grove City; Carolyn (Emmitt) Collins, Waverly; Margaret Sue (Roger) Crago, Chillicothe; and Marsha Jane (Todd) Metzger, Chillicothe; two sons: Allen (Jeri) Bookwalter, Clarksburg, and Bob (Teresa) Bookwalter, Clarksburg; two brothers: Harmon (Bonnie) Jobe, Chillicothe, and Jay (Martha) Jobe of Washington Court House; one sister-in-law: Lucille Jobe, Waverly; one stepdaughter: Dorothy (Dan) Finley, Cincinnati, and one stepson: Jim (Debbie) Ruth, Cincinnati; grandchildren: Robert (Deb) Ryan, Susan Ryan, Tim (Jennifer) Sepsi, Andrea Sepsi, Brian Collins, Bret (Sharon Detty) Collins, Cindy (Dr. Michael) Clark, Angi (Jeff) McClish, Jami Lynn (Jamie) Caldwell, Sam (Dawn) Bookwalter, Matt (Sarah) Bookwalter, Courtney Bookwalter, Katie Bookwalter, Scott (Jamie) Metzger, David (Annie) Cochenour, Lindsay (Jacob) Bickenheuser, and Airman First Class Justin Metzger; step-grandchildren: Scott (Jenny) Ruth, Allison Ruth, Terry Finley, Mike (Susan) Finley, Danny (Katie) Finley and Kathy (Paul) Zombolas; 14 great-grandchildren; 12 step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. During Melissa's years at Heartland, she received loving support and kindness from all her caregivers. She was a loving and caring Mother who instilled and nourished patience, compassion, tolerance, rules to follow and most of all, a love for Our Heavenly Father, our dad, stepfather, family and friends. Funeral Services will be held 11:00 am, Friday, January 12, 2007, at the Fawcett-Oliver-Glass & Palmer Funeral Home with Pastor Rick Hinger officiating. Burial will follow in the Brown's Chapel Cemetery near Clarksburg. Friends may call at the funeral home Thursday, January 11, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with Elmdale Grange services beginning at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to the Clarksburg United Methodist Church, c/o Barry Zurmehly, Treasurer, 17264 High Street, Clarksburg, OH 43115.