Ada Kathryn (Stetler) Hendershot

Ada Kathryn Stetler Hendershot, 101, of San Benito, Texas, formerly of Zanesville, passed away at 3:30 a.m. Saturday, March 5, 2011 at Angel Care Hospice in Harlingen, Texas. She was born April 13, 1909, in Monaca, PA, the daughter and eldest of eight children, to the late Reverend Isaac Henry and Emma Louise Fuhrer Stetler. She lived in Monaca for a short time then moved with her family to Fultonham, Ohio for nine years before moving to Doylestown, Ohio, where she graduated from high school. She attended Kent State University and Akron University. She also lived in Wadsworth, Ohio, New Martinsville, WV and finally most of her life in Zanesville, Ohio. Ada was a most generous and devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother always going out of her way to help and assist her family and others in need. She was a lifelong Lutheran with an extremely strong faith being a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Zanesville where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir along with volunteering for many other committee positions. She also participated in the meals-on-wheels program. Her community involvement included the office of president of both the local and state National Parent Teacher Association. While her sons were in college, she was the national president of The Ohio State University Mother's Club. As an avid sports enthusiast, having played four years of high school basketball, she closely followed her sons and grandchildren in their games, especially as a Zanesville "Blue Devil" and OSU "Buckeye" booster. In her spare time, she enjoyed gardening, bridge "with the girls", handwork and collecting milk glass. She was gifted with the ability to play the piano by ear and up until very recently would entertain the other residents of the Angel Care assisted living home with her talent. Surviving are two sons, Kenneth E. (Phyllis) Farst of Johnson City, TN and Dr. Don D. (Jan) Farst of San Benito, TX; two brothers, Mark L. Stetler and Harry N. Stetler, both of Missoula, MT; a daughter-in-law, L. Jacqueline Farst of Little Rock, AR; two step daughters, Patricia Hendershot (Jim) Price of Cross Plains, TN and Sally Hendershot (Al) Litwak of Elizabeth, CO; thirteen grandchildren; twenty four great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Walter K. Farst; her second husband, Roy Culver; her third husband, Charles S. Hendershot; an infant son, Robert; a son, James R. Farst; a half sister; three sisters; and two brothers. Friends and family may call from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. Friday, March 11, 2011 at the Bolin-Dierkes Funeral Home, 1271 Blue Ave., Zanesville. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 12, 2011 at the funeral home with Rev. Mark Combs officiating. She will be laid to rest at Zanesville Memorial Park Cemetery. To send a note of condolence, a sympathy card or comfort food to the Hendershot family: www.bolin-dierkesfuneralhome.com