Cecile A. Geitz, age 90, of Wellston, passed away peacefully Tuesday morning, March 25, 2014, at the Jenkins Care Community in Wellston. She was born March 29, 1923 in Cincinnati, Ohio, to the late Ray and Cecile Benke Lammers. Ceil was a 1941 graduate of St. Joseph High School in Cincinnati. As a young adult, Ceil was employed at the Central Trust Savings Bank in Cincinnati where she was the head teller and executive secretary. In addition, she also worked at the family business, Ray Lammer’s Music House.
In 1965, Ceil married Wellston businessman, Harold J. Geitz, and began her life in Wellston. Throughout the years, she was a member of, and actively involved in, numerous community clubs and organizations including the following: Wellston Mother’s Club; Wellston Jr. Study Club; Wellston Ohillco Society, of which she was treasurer; Jackson County Optimist Club; American Legion Post 371 Ladies Auxiliary; Ladies Auxiliary of the Elks Club in Jackson; SEORC; Wellston Bridge Club; the Holzer Hospital Board of Directors from 1983 thru 2003, of which she was bestowed Director Emeritus; Southern Hills Arts Council; Wellston Historical Association; Jackson County CIC; American Institute of Banking; Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission, and the Wellston Rotary Club, from whom she received the highest Rotary honor, the Paul Harris Fellowship Award.
For many years, Ceil enjoyed participating in the Wellston Rotary Minstrel show, where folks could always see her on the front row of the minstrel circle. She was a faithful member of the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Wellston, where she belonged to the Altar and Rosary Society and volunteered as the bookkeeper for both the church and the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School. Ceil served as the secretary for the Wellston Area Chamber of Commerce for many years and always enjoyed serving as the emcee each year for the Chamber banquet.
In 1984, Ceil was honored as the Grand Marshall of the Wellston Ohillco Festival; in 1992, she received the Columbus Dispatch Community Service award; in 1995, she was named Wellston Area Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year, in 1997 she was given the honor of Jackson County Republican Woman of the Year and the Jackson-Vinton Knights of Columbus Discovery Council #1341 Public Servant of the Year, and in 2007 she received the Wellston Community Investment Award. Her desire to fulfill her civic duties led Ceil to become a first ward city councilman in 1981, Wellston City Treasurer, and run for the office of Mayor for the city of Wellston. Ceil was proud of Wellston and showed her support by being a generous benefactor to the city, particularly the Wellston Fire Department and the Wellston Police Department.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Cecilia and Jeff Plummer of Wellston; two grandchildren, Grant Geitz Plummer and Cecilia Grace Marie Plummer; two sisters, Juanita Gerken and Joyce Hendy (Neal), both of Cincinnati, as well as two nieces, six nephews and several great-nieces and great-nephews.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harold J. Geitz in 1977; infant brother, Raymond Lammers; and her brother-in-law, Ivo Gerken.
Calling hours will be Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. at the McWilliams Funeral Home in Wellston, where rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church with Father Donald Maroon and Deacon Bart Supino officiating. Burial will follow in the Ridgewood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial contributions in Ceil’s name be given to the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School, 227 South New York Avenue, Wellston, Ohio 45692, or the Jenkins Care Community Activities Department, 142 Jenkins Memorial Road, Wellston, Ohio 45692. Online condolences can be given to the family at www.mcwilliams-funeralhome.com