Hazel Burkholder

Hazel Burkholder passed away on January 7 at the age of 95. She was born on November 1, 1928, in Mansfield, Ohio. She was the youngest of 4 children. After graduating from Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, with a bachelor’s degree in biology, she worked at Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio until she married the love of her life, Jerry. They set up housekeeping in the Chicago area and raised 4 children. Hazel took Bolingbrook for several years before moving with her family to Arkansas. While owning and operating a small fishing resort on the Norfork River, she taught junior high and high school science. Once her children were grown, Hazel and Jerry moved to the Columbus, Ohio area where Hazel went back to school and got a second bachelor’s degree in chemistry also from Otterbein University. She went back to Battelle and worked for many years as an analytical chemist. After retiring from Battelle, she and husband, Jerry traveled in their RV until his death in 2000. After Jerry’s death, Hazel joined the Methodist NOMADS, traveling around the country in her RV doing mission projects. Hazel also enjoyed many other hobbies including reupholstering and refinishing furniture, woodworking and sewing and knitting. She was an expert seamstress making most of her own clothes including her own wedding dress. Hazel was predeceased by her husband Gerald “Jerry”, her parents T. Leonard and Maurine (nee Slick) Hockett, her sister Ruth (Joe) Subich, her brother Charles (Sara) Hockett, and her sister Pauline (James) Scherrer. She is survived by her children Dawn (Agostino) Tullio, Amy (Robert) Gustaferro, Paul (Julie) Burkholder, and Carl (Geraldine) Burkholder as well as many grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Visitation will be on Saturday, January 13 at 10:00 am followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 11:00 am at Lewis Center United Methodist Church, 1081 Lewis Center Rd, Lewis Center, OH 43035. In lieu of flowers, a donation in honor of Hazel can be made to Methodist Nomads or Lewis Center United Methodist Church.

Hazel Burkholder

November 1, 1928 - January 7, 2024