Orpha Eileen Arnett Wilson

Orpha Eileen Arnett Wilson, age 88, a long time resident of New Straitsville, Ohio, passed away Sunday, August 29, 2010 at Grant Hospital in Columbus following a long illness. She had resided at her daughter’s home in Powell for the past four years. Orpha was born in 1922 in Gore, Ohio to the late Lon and Della Arnett. She was a 1940 graduate of Logan High School. Upon graduation, she worked as a waitress at Mills restaurant in downtown Columbus. Later, during WWII, she worked as “Rosie the Riveter” at Curtiss-Wright, building airplanes for the war effort. Orpha married Thomas Wayne Wilson on July 27, 1943. Together, they made their home on Davis Street in New Straitsville for over 60 years in a house Orpha picked out while Wayne was in Europe during WWII. Orpha was active in Electa Chapter #148, New Straitsville, OES, where she served as Worthy Matron on several occasions. Orpha joined her husband as the owner and operator of his family’s grocery store in New Straitsville, Wilson Brothers Grocery, known for their cave-aged cheese. They worked together in the store for nearly thirty years until their retirement. Orpha enjoyed preparing meals for family and friends and working in her yard. Orpha was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband of 61 years, Wayne, on May 1, 2005 and two brothers Lloyd Arnett (killed in action in WWII) and Sam Arnett (2004). She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Judy and Tom Tansky of Powell, son and daughter-in-law Tom and Sharon Wilson of Grove City; six grandchildren: Jeff (Ida) Wilson, Annette (Steve) Roose, Erica Wilson, Julie Fitch, Katie (Slate) Ribic, and Nate Tansky, six great-grandsons; Jon (Lauren) Wilson, Curt Wilson, Brady Roose, Jaret Roose, Rylan Roose, and Parker Ribic, three sisters: Margaret Wallace, Wanda (Gene) White, and Ruth (Shorty) Briggs, brothers-in-law Dick (Alice) Wilson and Robert Denney, sister-in-law Elsie Wilson. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. The family wishes to thank Visiting Angels, The Greater Columbus Regional Dialysis Center and The Grant Medical Center 5th Floor Nursing Staff. Family will receive friends from 5:00-8:00pm. WEDNESDAY at the RUTHERFORD FUNERAL HOME AT POWELL, 450 West Olentangy St., Powell, OH 43065 (614)-792-1471 where a Prayer Service will be held at 7:30pm. (The funeral home is located on W. Olentangy St./Powell Rd./SR 750 ¼ mile east of Sawmill Parkway.) Family will also receive friends from 9:30am-11:30am. THURSDAY, September 2, 2010 at NEW HOPE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 9825 Gore Church Road, Logan, OH 43138 where funeral service will be held at 11:30am. Burial will follow at New Straitsville Cemetery. If they choose, memorial contributions may be made to New Hope United Methodist Church in Orpha’s memory. Condolences may sent to the family at: www.rutherfordfuneralhomes.com