Obituary for Ella Gartrell

Ella Glee Gartrell, age 92, died peacefully in her Westerville home at 10:18 AM, February 13, 2018. Born Ella Glee Condon in Lockport, NY, she was the daughter of a lifelong railway station manager—almost entirely for the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway, which at times was also the Nickel Plate Railroad. Her, Father, Richard Mount Condon, and his wife Mabel (Tucker) Condon, moved their young family every few years, to small railroad towns in their native Ohio. Ella grew up a spirited and adventurous young girl, mostly in Kenwood, OH, a mining and railroad town near Cadiz, OH, the birthplace of Clark Gable. At Kenwood she started following her older friend Elsie Dodd to first grade. The teacher finally said, “if you’re going to keep showing up, we might as well enroll you.” At 94 years old, Elsie is still an active pastor in Massillon. The family is honored that Elsie will preside at Ella's funeral. Ella graduated from high school in Dundee, OH. She was to eventually marry her teacher, Samuel Kenneth (Ken) Gartrell. They were married for almost 65 years and had eight children, most of whom were raised in their home of 48 years in Annehurst Village, Westerville. (Ken was born in 1913 to a farm family in Leesville, OH—the “Gartrell Farm” was recently designated an Ohio Sesquicentennial Farm. A graduate of Bowerston High, he also held bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kent State. He wrestled for the legend Joe Begala at Kent State. After service in the Surgeon General’s Corps in WWII, he served many years as a high school principal, teacher and coach. He spent his last fifteen years as an Ohio Adult Basic Education supervisor, advancing the cause of adult literacy throughout the state. He had an incredible memory and would talk for hours with humility and humor right up until the day he died. He passed away in 2010 from complications resulting from moving a refrigerator. He was just short of 97 years old.) Ella was an extraordinarily kind and outgoing achiever. She was an expert bridge player who developed a detailed system for learning and advancing in bridge. She worked as a railroad telegrapher during the war years. She traveled to all parts of the Americas and was a dedicated genealogist, even writing essays for Columbia University. Mom, Mother, Maudy, Mummers, Mom, Gramma, or as she would often say, Hey You, was a proud member of the Lucy Knox Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (in recognition of the Revolutionary service of ancestor George Widrig). She is survived by a brother Grant (Beach City, OH), and children, Philip Garth (Carlsbad, CA), Richard Brian (Fairfax, VA), Connie Parsons (Dublin, OH), Stuart Joel (Westerville, OH), Eydie Kay Glasstetter, (Westerville, OH), and Kevin Condon (Columbus, OH). She was preceded in death by her husband and children Kenneth Douglas and Debra Lynn. She leaves 21 grandchildren and three great grandchildren, with one on the way. Friends may call 2 to 4 PM Sunday, February 18, 2018 at HILL FUNERAL HOME where services will be held at 11 AM Monday, February 19, 2018. Interment Kingwood Memorial Park