Clarabel Littler

Clarabel Littler, age 92 died July 22, 2019, at Bluebird Retirement Community in London, Ohio. The youngest child of Frank and Ruth (Heise) Phillips, she was born on June 17, 1927. Clarabel grew up on a farm outside of West Jefferson and later graduated from London High School. Her first job after high school was working in the VA office in downtown London, where she met her future husband, Richard Littler, after his return from World War II. Following their marriage in 1948, they spent six years on a farm outside Plumwood, where both of their daughters, Cheryl and Linda, were born. When Dick left farming, they moved to Pickaway County, where he began his career with Standard Oil and she worked as a secretary at General Electric in Circleville. In 1960 they moved back to London, where they spent the rest of their lives. Clarabel worked most of her adult life at the Madison County Courthouse, starting at the County Extension Service; the Board of Elections, where she eventually served as director, at the Bureau of Support; and later, as secretary for the county prosecutor, a position she held until her retirement. After Dick's death in 1986, she spent vacations from work traveling with friends, as well as developing her lifelong love of bridge and euchre, both of which she played until the week of her death. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of London, as well as a variety of organizations, including Phi Beta Psi Sorority, Twentieth Century Club, the London Country Club, the Coover Society, the Golden Girls, the Madison County Senior Center, and, of course, her monthly bridge and euchre clubs. Besides her parents and husband, Clarabel was preceded in death by sister Charlene(Bryson) Evans, sister Dorothy Mae (Harold) Siebold, and brother Charles (Sue) Phillips; parents- in- law James and Jeanette Littler; brother- in- law Robert Littler and brother-and-sister-in-law Robert and Janet (Littler) Wilson. She is survived by her daughters, Cheryl (Page) Vornbrock and Linda (Ken) Gerke; grandchildren Kelley (Vornbrock) Shellhaas, Kristin (Vornbrock) Rose, Sarah (Gerke) Coffmon, Daniel Gerke, Rachel Gerke; and eight great grandchildren; as well as sister-in-law Beverly Littler; cousin Susan McCain; numerous beloved nieces and nephews; and devoted friends and neighbors David and Marty Shaw. The family would also like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff of Bluebird Retirement Community for their exceptional care and concern for Clarabel over the past nine months. Many thanks, also, to the staff of Madison Health and to Hospice of the Miami Valley. Friends and family may pay their respects at the Rader-Lynch & Dodds Funeral Home, 124 E. High St. London on Wednesday July 24 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, and one hour prior to service, which will be held at the funeral home, at 11:00 AM, Thursday July 25, with Reverend Dave Leckrone officiating. Interment will follow at the Plumwood Cemetery. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Madison County Senior Center or First United Methodist Church of London. Online condolences for the family may be sent to: www.rldfh.com. ,