Beth (Gronemeier) Hanks

Beth (Gronemeier) Hanks, 101, of Alliance and Copeland Oaks, passed away peacefully Dec. 22, 2017 at Crandall Medical Center.
Born Jan. 30, 1916, in Bloomington, IL to William H. and Eula Mae Gronemeier, Beth loved to walk barefoot, stick her toes in the ocean and get her hands dirty in the garden. Traveling with her husband and entertaining her grandchildren brought great joy. Known as "Grammie," she shared her sense of adventure and instilled the importance of education and independence.
In 1938, the University of Illinois graduate became a pioneer in the accounting world, moving to New York City as one of the first women to work for Arthur Andersen. She was very proud of that, showing her children and grandchildren you can dream and achieve. She continued her career as an accountant with Mount Union Lumber Co. and Clem Lumber & Distributing Co. in Alliance.
Beth was a member of Union Avenue Methodist Church since 1953, serving on many committees and for 20 years as church treasurer. She was also active with the Community Concert Association, League of Women Voters, Inter-racial League, Alliance Better Homes and Alliance Homeless Shelter. Her volunteer efforts with the Mayor's Commission on Aging helped build the Senior Citizens Center.
Passionate about staying healthy, she began swimming competitively in local Senior Olympics and qualified for Senior Nationals in 1989. From 1993-2009 she swam all over the U.S., competing in every Senior National. In 2007, she won all six of her events, breaking national records for her age group. She was named an All-American Masters Swimmer four times.
Beth is survived by three children, Sue (Fred) Zellers of Lancaster, Chuck (Sharon) Hanks of Enon, and Barbara (Tom) Richmond of Alliance; eight grandchildren, Keith Zellers of Dallas, TX, Christine Zellers of Lancaster, Drew (Jodi) Zellers of Lewis Center, Darlene (Mike) Campbell of St. Louis, MO, Jill Hanks of Scottsdale, AZ, Amanda (Nic) Briseño of Salinas, CA, Jaime (Aaron) Buran of Medina, and Eric (Emily) Richmond of Rocky River; 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson. She is also survived by her sister and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, two sisters, and her beloved husband, Charles, who died in 2009, shortly after celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, February 24, 2018 at the Bennett Chapel at Copeland Oaks.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Union Avenue United Methodist Church Endowment Fund for Building Improvements, 1843 S Union Ave, Alliance OH 44601.
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home 75 S. Union Ave., Alliance, OH 44601.