Meriel Bump

CUYAHOGA FALLS -Meriel F. Bump, age 86, of Cuyahoga Falls left this life on April 14, 2010 after a short, but courageous battle with Melanoma. Meriel was born March 22, 1924 to Ilo Bodey Cotrell and Clarence E. Cotrell. She was preceded in death by her husband Winters J. Bump, sister Betty (Gene) Carney, brothers Bob (Nina) and Don (Dorothy) Cotrell and her first husband Kenneth LaRue. She leaves behind her sisters Elsie (Bob) Blake and Beverly (Buck) Myers.

Meriel was born in Urbana and worked at Robbins & Myers, then at Wright Patterson Air Force Base when she met the love of her life on a blind date at a dance. She married Winters in 1955 and together they raised four children, Ron (Loa) LaRue, Mona (John) Maruca, Mark (Carol) Bump, and Patty (Howard) Maag. Meriel worked for the Cuyahoga Falls school system first at Bolich Junior High School, then retired from Lincoln Elementary School. Meriel enjoyed watching her grandchildren grow to adulthood. She leaves behind grandchildren, Melissa Richards, Jennifer LaRue, Mark LaRue, Bryon Maruca, Nick Maruca, Elizabeth Maruca, Will Agler, John Agler, Keven Bump, Robert (Dena) McKee, Annette Renfrow, Dorey (Andrew) Pakenas, Dan Maag, Bill (Julie) Maag and 10 great grandchildren.

Meriel and Winters traveled extensively to all 48 continental states with their children on family vacations, and after their retirement Meriel and Winters traveled to Hawaii, Alaska, Australia and Spain. After losing Winters in 1997, Meriel became a frequent visitor to the Quirk Center where she enjoyed making ceramics, and loved to play games including Rummikub, Sequence and Dominos. She enjoyed spending time with her friends, playing games and they all met at Arbys on Saturday mornings to play cards. Meriel belonged to the Falls Travel Club and traveled quite a bit with her friend Bonna Knight after Winters passed away.

A celebration of Meriel's life will be held at the Clifford Shoemaker Funeral Home 1930 Front St. in Cuyahoga Falls at 1:00 on Thursday, April 22, 2010 with burial to follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Rev. Susan Lausch officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm on Wednesday, April 21, 2010. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 525 N. Broad St. Canfield OH 44406 or Hospice of Summa, PO Box 2090, Akron OH 44398-6153 in lieu of other remembrances. Arrangements handled by Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home, 330-928-2147. Meriel's video tribute may be view by clicking here: http://videos.lifetributes.com/MediaViewer2.0/MovieViewer.aspx?id=132526#