Adams County History & Genealogy

Irma Ethel Newman

Irma Ethel Newman, daughter of Roby C. and Bertha Martin Hafer, was born January 6, 1916, in Jefferson Township, Adams County, Ohio, and departed this life March 20, 1996, at the Eagle Creek Nursing Center, West Union, Ohio. She graduated from Jefferson Township High School in 1935, and was employed several years by the Williams Shoe Company in Portsmouth. On May 27, 1939, she married her high school sweetheart and classmate, Oscar Glenn Newman, son of Ed and Mary Baldwin Newman, and they established a home near Wamsleyville where they farmed and grew garden plants and flowers. They were widely known for the hundreds of beautiful dahlias they produced every year. In the early 1960s, they moved to a farm in Liberty Township near West Union and operated a greenhouse in addition to general farming. The business grew, and folks came from miles around to buy their vegetable and flower plants. During the winter months, Irma pieced and quilted quilts for members of her family, and she and her daughter-in-law made crafts to sell in the greenhouse. Because of ill health, Irma and Glenn had to give up their farm home and greenhouse business, and for several years both have been residents of the Eagle Creek Nursing Center. In 1993, they were crowned King and Queen at the Center's Valentine Sweetheart Party. At that time, they had been married almost 54 years. Irma faithfully attended services at the Church of Christ in Christian Union as often as possible. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters; Clarice Neely Stevens in 1970 and Adria Vogler in 1967; three brothers-in-law: Bill Neely in 1959, Harry Vogler in 1965, and Harry Brooks in 1965; nephew Billy Neely, and great-nephew Stephen Neiderkorn. She is survived by her husband, Glenn; a son, Edgar Glenn Newman, and wife Vivian, of Cincinnati; a daughter, Carolyn Sue Forsythe, and husband Ronald of Loveland; a grandaughter Annalea Newman of Cincinnati; three sisters, Ruby Brooks Reeves and husband Raymond of Mt. Orab; Dorothy Partin and husband Cecil of Florida; Joan Robeson and husband Thane of Virginia; several nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services were held March 23, 1996, at the Lafferty Funeral Home with Rev. Cecil Appleman officiating and burial in the Kirker Cemetery.