Mary Kline Obituary

Mary Ruth Kline

Apr 29, 1927 - Oct 20, 2024

Norwalk

Mary Ruth (Landoll) Kline, 97, of Norwalk, died peacefully Oct. 20, 2024, at her beloved home, surrounded by family.

Eldest of nine siblings, Mary was born at her family home on April 29, 1927, in Norwalk to Mary (Miller) and John Francis Landoll.

Mary graduated from St. Paul High School as Salutatorian of her class of 1946 and married Robert E. Kline on Aug. 28, 1946. Mary rarely missed a class reunion in the 78 years since high school graduation.

Mary's many interests began early in life, centering on reading as she walked to the public library while recuperating from tuberculosis as a 10 year old. She enjoyed books of many genres, worked crossword puzzles daily, played Scrabble, chinese checkers with her children, kept a diary, assembled scrapbooks, jigsaw puzzles, and wrote a family newsletter. She was very articulate, using precise words to express her thoughts. Mary was interested in her family's genealogy and organized family reunions for many years. She traveled in the USA and Europe to reconnect with relatives discovered through her genealogy work. Mary always gave people the benefit of doubt and believed in the goodness of people. Faithful to her Catholic faith and St. Paul Church, she served on St. Paul School Board, Daughters of Isabella, and the Rosary and Altar Society. She supported many missions and charitable causes to help the less fortunate have a better life. Mary enjoyed listening to and playing classical music on the piano. She loved hosting holiday meals and soup suppers with family and friends. She was Norwalk's Bicentennial Queen in 2011.

Mary is survived by her 13 children whom she felt were her greatest achievement, her treasures, and her gifts from God, John (Joanna) Kline, Alpharetta, Georgia, James Kline, Corvallis, Oregon, Tim (Dianne) Kline, Norwalk, Christopher Kline, Marietta, Georgia, Paula (Chuck) Hathaway, Coshocton, Ohio, Claudia (Mark) Ciancarelli, Ft. Myers, Flordia, Marianna (Rick) Minniear, North Fairfield, Ellen (Bob) Burris, Overland Park, Kansas, Matthew (Gail) Kline, Warner Robbins, Georgia, Martin Kline, Milan, New York, Barbara (Greg) Vaith, Berlin Heights, Ohio, Thomas Kline (Mellanie), Huron, Ohio, and Carolyn (Dave) Pigman, Norwalk; 23 grandchildren; 48 great grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren; brothers, James Landoll and Fred Landoll; sisters, Lois Withrow, Dorothy Hottenroth, and Angela Cook; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; sons-in-law, Bill McGraith and Stephen Mazoh; grandson, Charles Hathaway IV; and siblings, Phil Landoll, John Landoll, and Rita Hohler; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation for friends will be from 3-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Evans Funeral Home, 314 E. Main Street, Norwalk. Her life will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday with a Mass of Christian Burial, at St Paul Catholic Church, 91 E. Main Street, Norwalk. The Reverend Father Valerian Larawa will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Paul Cemetery.

Mary valued her Catholic education at St. Paul Schools and had established a scholarship in her name to help current and future Flyer families who may need tuition assistance. Memorial Donations may be made to Norwalk Catholic Schools with the memo line reference, Mary Ruth Kline Scholarship. Send to FCEDO Norwalk Catholic Schools, 93 East Main Street, Norwalk, Ohio, 44857 or Southern Care Hospice, 9501 US Hwy 250 N, Suite. 2, Milan, Ohio, 44846.