S. Lee Hope

S. Lee Hope, 93 years-old,of Sebring passed away on Sunday, January 31, 2016 at Salem Regional Medical Center. He was born in Painesville, Ohio on April 3, 1922, the 3rd child of S. L. and Bernice Hope. His brother, Grant, and sister, Edith (Harris) were 7 and 5 years older. He was a graduate of Harvey High School in the class of 1941. That fall he enrolled at KSU and in December of the same year he joined the Navy in their V-12 program. On July 1st 1943, he was sent on active duty to Ohio Wesleyan V-12 program and from there to Columbia Mid-Shipman School where he was commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve after that he was sent to LST 843 as a Communications Officer and later to be the Executive Officer. Lee served in the Pacific Theater; his military service ended in May of 1946 and he returned to KSU and received his degree in Education. Lee taught in Russel Township, Ravenna City and Cuyahoga Heights High School Typing, Business and Accounting for 37 years. He received his Master’s Degree from Columbia University in 1950. While there he met Mary Jane Wertenberger and they were married on December 27, 1950. Other than a three year residence in Parma they lived in Ravenna till Mary Jane’s death in 1985. He married Marjorie Roberto, family friend and also recently widowed on January 2, 1988 living in Ravenna for a few years on Summit Road before moving to Copeland Oaks retirement community. Marjorie recently passed away on June 15, 2015. Lee was a gardening enthusiast, and enjoyed traveling as well as being an active Lakeside delegate and member of First United Methodist Church in Ravenna.

Survivors include a son, Dr. Grant Jeffrey (Patty) Hope of Bucyrus, a son-in-law, Joe (Kathy) Kasper, a brother, John Alvin (Mary Lou) Hope of Thompson, Ohio, grandchildren

Simon David (Bethany) Hope Kasper, Carl Alexander (Faith) Hope Kasper, Maralee Hope and Jeffrey Hope, great granddaughter Fiona Kasper, stepchildren, Cathy Rufener, Elizabeth (Jeff) Miller, Marcus (Natalie) Roberto, and daughter-in-law, Kathy Brown along with step grandchildren Erin Rufener, Rachel (Dru) Cosner, Robert (Amanda) Rufener, Dan (Erica) Rufener, Anna( Jason) Fullen, Nate Roberto, Lucas Miller and 4 great stepchildren. Besides his parents, siblings and wives, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Rebecca Jane Hope Kasper, on February 1, 1990 and stepsons, John Brown and Richard Rufener. A Memorial Service for S. Lee will be held at Bennett Chapel at Copeland Oaks in Sebring on Friday, February 12th at noon.  A gathering of friends and family will take place the hour prior to the service in the Williamsburg Lounge. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his honor to the Copeland Oaks Life Care Fund, 800 South 15th Street, Sebring, Ohio 44672. Friends may send condolences and sign the guest register online at www.grfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are by Gednetz-Ruzek Funeral Home Sebring, OH (330) 938-2526. 

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