Milora "Lori" Beachy VanAntwerp

Milora Beachy VanAntwerp, “Lori,” born October 2, 1929, passed away Monday, April 10, 2023.

Milora was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. Growing up, her family frequently visited her grandparents, James and Emma Perry, in Indiana and grandparents, Oliver and Arletta Beachy, in Maryland, where she enjoyed spending time on their maple syrup farm.

Milora attended Garfield High School and played the clarinet in the band. She graduated from the University of Akron with a bachelor’s degree in home economics, where she was a sister of Zeta Tau Alpha. She eventually became a 75-year member of the sorority.

Milora married her husband, Jack — whom she met when they were in the nursery together at St. John’s Lutheran Church — on June 30, 1951, at that very church. Milora and her brother, Ross, grew up with such a strong bond of friendship, that they shared their wedding day in a joint ceremony. Throughout their marriage, Milora and Jack had four children together. Milora and her family enjoyed going on camping trips and visiting dear friends across the country.

Milora enjoyed her career as a teacher, where she taught home economics at Cuyahoga Falls High School for 19 years and created a child development program. She went on to complete her master’s degree at Kent State University.

Milora and Jack were founding members at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Cuyahoga Falls, where they met a tight-knit group of close friends and began a bridge club. They later joined St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. Throughout the years, Milora developed many dear friendships with her neighbors, bridge club friends, sorority sisters, church members, and people she met through her volunteer work.

Milora and Jack moved to Rockville, Virginia, where they became certified Master Gardeners and Milora volunteered with Keep Virginia Beautiful. When they moved back to Ohio, Milora and Jack continued to be very involved in their community. Together they volunteered at First Night Akron, the Akron Children’s Hospital Holiday Tree Festival, and Soup for Hospice at Faith Lutheran Church, where they were longtime members. As an avid supporter of the arts, Milora enjoyed attending Cleveland Orchestra performances at Blossom Music Center and Severance Hall and musicals at Porthouse Theatre.

She loved her family dearly, cherished the friendships she made, had a passion for helping others and volunteering, and was known for her green thumb. Her husband, Jack, had a passion for gardening, while she loved her houseplants. She enjoyed cooking, canning, freezing, and making preserves from the extensive garden that Jack grew.

Milora’s greatest joy was spending time with her children and grandchildren and hosting family gatherings at their Medina home that her brother, Ross, built. Her family gathered together for holiday dinners, strawberry picking, bonfires, Easter egg hunts, tractor rides, Christmas tree cuttings, and card games.

She will be remembered and dearly missed by her daughter, Elizabeth Brillhart; nine grandchildren, Heather Oakes (Brian Tydings), Holly Schoenstein, and Kara Jackowski; Laura Doncaster; Jennifer Kinnen (Kelly), John Van Antwerp (Allie), Emily Van Antwerp, and their mother, Wendy Prince; and Ashley Brillhart (Chris Balint) and Jonathan Brillhart (Erin); and nine great-grandchildren, Jayden and Carson Oakes; Marit and William Schoenstein Turner; Anna, Colin, and Milo Jackowski; and Jackson and Minnie Brillhart.

She is preceded in death by her husband of almost 65 years, John VanAntwerp; parents, Lloyd and Edith Beachy; brother, Ross Beachy (Mary Ann, surviving); and children, Susan Schoenstein, Sarah Doncaster (Richard, surviving), and Robert VanAntwerp (Ursula, surviving).

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 20, at Faith Lutheran Church, with pre-service music beginning at 10:30 a.m. Please join the family in the Fellowship Hall following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Kent State University Foundation/Porthouse Theatre and mailed to Kent State University Foundation, 350 S. Lincoln St., P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242 or to Holden Forests & Gardens at P.O. Box 74422, Cleveland, OH 44194-0002 to support the Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden. 

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory, Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N. Miller Road, Akron, OH  44333.

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