Eloise Evelyn (Ramsier) Toth

Eloise Evelyn (Ramsier) Toth of West Salem, Ohio passed peacefully on Monday, December 9, 2024 at the age of 91 years young after a brief illness. Born on September 6th, 1933 to Henry and Cora Ramsier in Canaan, Ohio, Eloise was a life-long, proud resident of Wayne County.  In addition to her parents and parent-in-laws, she was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Toth, sister Ilean Mendenhall-Kratzer, brother Harry “Buck” Ramsier, and son-in-law Hance “Mike” Lantz. Surviving family members include daughter Kathleen Lantz of Lakeland, Florida, and daughter Kristine Fourman (Kevin) of Bucyrus, Ohio, sister-in-law Esther (Toth) Schaefer (Jerry) of Loudonville, Ohio.  In addition to her numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, Eloise has four grandchildren, Joshua & Amie Lantz (Lakeland, FL) and Kaitlyn Fourman Dunfee (Wesley) & Korey (Jennifer) Fourman (Bucyrus, OH) and great-grandchildren Dayna (Virginia), Madison, Logan, and Río, all of Florida, and one year old Amelia, of Bucyrus. As a young girl, the Ramsier family lived on a farm just outside West Salem and Eloise was quite fond, even in her elderly years, of watching her grandchildren fish and be outside on the family property. When given a choice to help her mother in the kitchen or go out into the barns, it was a certain choice that she’d be following “daddy” to help with the chores and to care for her horses that she would ride to school. After graduating with the last Class from Congress High School in Congress, OH, Eloise married Elmer on her birthday, September 6, 1953, at the age of 20, shortly before her new groom would leave for his United States Army Service in Germany from 1954-56 during the Korean War. It was during that time that she lived with Aunt Margaret Bard in Akron, working in the general store until Elmer’s return and their establishment of the couple’s permanent home in West Salem.  Eloise and Elmer celebrated 60 years of marriage prior to his passing in 2013. Eloise’s primary occupation was working as an office specialist to optometrists, Doctors Keener, Wright, and Norris, in West Salem, where she worked for 35 years until Dr. Wright’s retirement in 1994, all while raising her family and caring for aging family members and friends. Eloise was a friend to all she met and was especially fond of building connections with those who shared interest in genealogy and historical records of the church, or the Village of West Salem. Her family lovingly joked that she could travel across the state and make a connection with nearly any “stranger” she would meet. Eloise became a church member on May 20, 1956 and her passions for the church were evident as she belonged to multiple groups, including being a member of the West Salem United Women in Faith, serving as the church historian, and being a Life Member of the Ohio Methodist Historical Society. In the community, Eloise also dedicated her gifts as a Charter & Life member of the West Salem Historical Society (beginning November 4, 1996) where she held a variety of officer positions and chaired multiple committees over the years. Civically speaking, Mrs. Toth was a part of local and county political life, as she supported her husband, Elmer, in his efforts as Village Mayor and in various township and county committees.  She was a long time volunteer with the board of elections as a poll worker over many years of elections. Family and friends may call at the United Methodist Church in West Salem on Sunday, December 15th, 2024 from 1-3pm, with a memorial service beginning at 3:00pm. The family will hold graveside services on Monday, December 16th at 11:00am in the West Salem Cemetery, arranged by Matteson's Funeral Home and officiated by Pastor Marta Mathatas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either the West Salem United Methodist Church (80 E. Buckeye St., West Salem, OH 44287) or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org in the name of Eloise Toth. Matteson Funeral Home in West Salem is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences or a photo of Eloise may be shared with the family at mattesonfh.com