1917
Neva
2012
Neva Lucas Humphreys
January 15, 1917 — September 29, 2012
Neva Lucas Humphreys passed from earthly life on September 29 after a long and full 95 years. Family, faith, and community were important values in her life.
Raised in Tiffin, Ohio, Neva was the daughter of Goldie Staley Lucas and W. W. Lucas, a country doctor who later became an Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist. She was the beloved younger sister of brothers, Eldon and Merritt. Neva graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Ohio Wesleyan where she met John R. Humphreys. After college she studied a year in Boston at Katherine Gibbs and then worked as an assistant to a botanist/author at the Harvard Arboretum. She also worked at the Ohio State Univ. Agricultural Extension Office in Columbus where she had a radio show on plant care.
After they married, Neva and John made their home in Akron where they raised their daughter, Holly and son, John W. Together they gave benefit fundraiser meals for Good Neighbors of Akron, and enjoyed duplicate bridge, golf, and activities with John's colleagues at Ohio Edison. Neva and her husband celebrated their golden anniversary in 1993.
Among Neva's many contributions to the community, she was a Deacon, an Elder, and President of the Women's Association at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Akron. She was a Board member and a volunteer at Summit County Children's Home. She was an officer of the Woman's City Club, president of P.E.O., the AM group, and volunteer at Akron Family and Children Services.
Neva had lived at Rockynol Retirement Community in Akron since 1999, a place where she and her husband volunteered in earlier years. Although she experienced memory problems in recent years, Neva played winning bridge until the month before her death. She and her daughter arranged for the development of the Rockynol Tree Trail with the assistance of family friend, Chester Lowry. Neva gave the Tree Trail in appreciation for the care that she received at Rockynol and in memory of her late husband, John R. and late son, John W. Humphreys.
She will be missed by her daughter, Holly, and daughter-in-law, Anita Gram of Boston; daughter-in-law, Connie Humphreys of Jackson, Mich.I; and granddaughters, Carolyn Humphreys of Encinitas, Calif., and Jennifer Humphreys of Austin, Texas; nephew, John and Mina Lucas of Steilacoom, Wash.; and niece, Christine and John Roddy and their family of Hudson, Ohio.
Burial will be at Radnor Township Cemetery on Friday, Oct. 19 at 12:30 p.m. All are invited to Neva's Memorial Service to be held at Rockynol, 1150 West Market, Akron, on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Neva's memory are requested to: Westminster Presbyterian Church, Neva & John Humphreys Endowment Fund, 1250 West Exchange St., Akron 44313; Good Neighbors, 1453 Goodyear Blvd., Akron 44305; Rockynol Life Care Fund, 1150 W. Market, and Senior Independence (Hospice) Programs, 1815 W. Market St, Akron 44313.
(Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)
Raised in Tiffin, Ohio, Neva was the daughter of Goldie Staley Lucas and W. W. Lucas, a country doctor who later became an Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist. She was the beloved younger sister of brothers, Eldon and Merritt. Neva graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Ohio Wesleyan where she met John R. Humphreys. After college she studied a year in Boston at Katherine Gibbs and then worked as an assistant to a botanist/author at the Harvard Arboretum. She also worked at the Ohio State Univ. Agricultural Extension Office in Columbus where she had a radio show on plant care.
After they married, Neva and John made their home in Akron where they raised their daughter, Holly and son, John W. Together they gave benefit fundraiser meals for Good Neighbors of Akron, and enjoyed duplicate bridge, golf, and activities with John's colleagues at Ohio Edison. Neva and her husband celebrated their golden anniversary in 1993.
Among Neva's many contributions to the community, she was a Deacon, an Elder, and President of the Women's Association at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Akron. She was a Board member and a volunteer at Summit County Children's Home. She was an officer of the Woman's City Club, president of P.E.O., the AM group, and volunteer at Akron Family and Children Services.
Neva had lived at Rockynol Retirement Community in Akron since 1999, a place where she and her husband volunteered in earlier years. Although she experienced memory problems in recent years, Neva played winning bridge until the month before her death. She and her daughter arranged for the development of the Rockynol Tree Trail with the assistance of family friend, Chester Lowry. Neva gave the Tree Trail in appreciation for the care that she received at Rockynol and in memory of her late husband, John R. and late son, John W. Humphreys.
She will be missed by her daughter, Holly, and daughter-in-law, Anita Gram of Boston; daughter-in-law, Connie Humphreys of Jackson, Mich.I; and granddaughters, Carolyn Humphreys of Encinitas, Calif., and Jennifer Humphreys of Austin, Texas; nephew, John and Mina Lucas of Steilacoom, Wash.; and niece, Christine and John Roddy and their family of Hudson, Ohio.
Burial will be at Radnor Township Cemetery on Friday, Oct. 19 at 12:30 p.m. All are invited to Neva's Memorial Service to be held at Rockynol, 1150 West Market, Akron, on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Neva's memory are requested to: Westminster Presbyterian Church, Neva & John Humphreys Endowment Fund, 1250 West Exchange St., Akron 44313; Good Neighbors, 1453 Goodyear Blvd., Akron 44305; Rockynol Life Care Fund, 1150 W. Market, and Senior Independence (Hospice) Programs, 1815 W. Market St, Akron 44313.
(Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)
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