Gruber, Lydia Fay

1918 - 2009  (91 years)

• Name	Gruber, Lydia Fay  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]
  		Lydia_ (Gruber) Levinson
  Alt. Birth	Sep 1918	Ohio, USA   [1, 9]
  Born	6 Sep 1918	Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, USA   [2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13]
  Gender	Female
  Residence	1920	Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, USA   [2]
  Residence	1930	Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, USA   [4]
  Died	20 Sep 2009	Rockville, Montgomery, Maryland, USA   [5]
  Buried	Rose Hill Cemetery
  Person ID	I12333	Our Family
  Last Modified	21 Feb 2025

  
  

  Father	Gruber, Harry,   b. 28 Apr 1877, Hannover, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany ,   d. 27 Sep 1951, Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, USA  (Age 74 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Bonowitz, Lillian Bertha,   b. 8 Jan 1886, Suvalki, Poland ,   d. 17 Sep 1962, Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, USA  (Age 76 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Married	3 Apr 1906	Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, USA   [14, 15, 16, 17]
  Family ID	F6560	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Levinson, Gustave Leon,   b. 9 Apr 1915, Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, USA ,   d. 13 Jun 2009, Rockville, Montgomery, Maryland, USA  (Age 94 years)
  Married	12 Oct 1947	Franklin County, Ohio, USA   [7, 18, 19, 20]
  Children	1. Levinson, Sandra Lee   2. Levinson, Pamela Gay   3. Levinson, Judith Ann   4. Levinson, Laurie Hope
  Last Modified	21 Feb 2025
  Family ID	F6663	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Alt. Birth - Sep 1918 - Ohio, USA Born - 6 Sep 1918 - Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, USA Residence - 1920 - Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, USA Residence - 1930 - Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, USA Married - 12 Oct 1947 - Franklin County, Ohio, USA Died - 20 Sep 2009 - Rockville, Montgomery, Maryland, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos

  Lydia_ (Gruber) Levinson

  
  

• Notes

  Lydia F. Levinson (nee Gruber), beloved wife, mother, grandmother and sister, died on September 20, 2009, in Rockville, Maryland. Born in Columbus, Ohio, September 6, 1918, Lydia graduated from South High School in 1936. After graduation, she worked as a bookkeeper and secretary in Columbus for several years. During this time, she developed many close friendships, often traveling with her friends to Miami, New York and other destinations. In 1946, a friend from Akron, Trudy Levinson, invited Lydia to visit over a holiday weekend and meet Trudy's brother, Gus. Lydia and Gus hit it off, and their relationship blossomed through several visits and numerous, beautiful love letters. They were married on October 12, 1947. They set up their home in Akron, and welcomed four daughters over the next 12 years. Lydia worked for several years as a legal secretary for attorney Jack Rich, and later became secretary to the head of the Art Department at the Akron Board of Education. In addition to her role in organizing various art programs throughout the Akron public schools, she proudly coordinated student art shows at O'Neil's Department Store. After Lydia retired from the Board of Education, she maintained close friendships with many of her former colleagues, attending luncheons and other social events with them. She also enjoyed extended family trips with Gus, her children and their families, traveling throughout the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Europe, Israel, and Egypt. Lydia was very active with the American Friends Service Committee, organizing phone trees and attending marches locally, regionally and in Washington, D.C. to advocate for nuclear non-proliferation, civil rights, and other important social issues. She also regularly contributed to many charitable organizations addressing a range of issues including human rights, women's issues, environmental protection, educational advancement, and support of the arts. Lydia spent many years as an active volunteer with her synagogue, Beth El Congregation, and was a Life Member of Hadassah, an international organization that supports health care, medical research, and education in Israel and the U.S.. She was an avid reader, and along with Gus and their friends, enjoyed attending musical and theatrical productions at local and regional theaters. Family was always her priority, however. She would drop everything to be of assistance to her children and their families when needed, or to join them in celebrating significant events in their lives. At the age of 88, she moved with Gus to the Washington D.C. area, where three of their four daughters live. While there, she continued to enjoy going out to restaurants and museums, and was able to attend a theatrical production at the Kennedy Center with other members of her family. Lydia and Gus celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in 2008 in Washington in the company of their daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren. Lydia's friends remember her as a real "force" -- a very independent and determined woman who was filled with life and believed in the power of women to bring about change. Despite her battle with Alzheimer's disease in the last few years, Lydia always kept her independent nature and maintained her fighting spirit. Lydia is survived by her brother, Howard (Martha); her daughters, Sande Brecher (Mitchell "Rick"), Judy (Bill Rogers), Laurie (Mike Kukura), and Pam (Dana Bowden); and her grandchildren, Todd and Jordan Brecher, Andrew Levinson, Sarah, Emily and Melanie Kukura, and Solon Bowden. Lydia was predeceased by her husband, Gus; her grandson, Reid Brecher; her brother, Gerald Gruber; and her sisters, Amelia and Matilda Gruber, Helen Winter, and Madelyn Hirsch. Graveside services will be held Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Rose Hill Cemetery, Beth El Section 11. Memorial observance at the family home through sundown Friday, September 25, 2009. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Lydia's name to: The , 225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60601-7633. Published in Akron Beacon Journal on Sept. 22, 2009 Published in Akron Beacon Journal on Sept. 22, 2009 Lydia F. Levinson (nee Gruber), beloved wife, mother, grandmother and sister, died on September 20, 2009, in Rockville, Maryland. Born in Columbus, Ohio, September 6, 1918, Lydia graduated from South High School in 1936. After graduation, she worked as a bookkeeper and secretary in Columbus for several years. During this time, she developed many close friendships, often traveling with her friends to Miami, New York and other destinations. In 1946, a friend from Akron, Trudy Levinson, invited Lydia to visit over a holiday weekend and meet Trudy's brother, Gus. Lydia and Gus hit it off, and their relationship blossomed through several visits and numerous, beautiful love letters. They were married on October 12, 1947. They set up their home in Akron, and welcomed four daughters over the next 12 years. Lydia worked for several years as a legal secretary for attorney Jack Rich, and later became secretary to the head of the Art Department at the Akron Board of Education. In addition to her role in organizing various art programs throughout the Akron public schools, she proudly coordinated student art shows at O'Neil's Department Store. After Lydia retired from the Board of Education, she maintained close friendships with many of her former colleagues, attending luncheons and other social events with them. She also enjoyed extended family trips with Gus, her children and their families, traveling throughout the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Europe, Israel, and Egypt. Lydia was very active with the American Friends Service Committee, organizing phone trees and attending marches locally, regionally and in Washington, D.C. to advocate for nuclear non-proliferation, civil rights, and other important social issues. She also regularly contributed to many charitable organizations addressing a range of issues including human rights, women's issues, environmental protection, educational advancement, and support of the arts. Lydia spent many years as an active volunteer with her synagogue, Beth El Congregation, and was a Life Member of Hadassah, an international organization that supports health care, medical research, and education in Israel and the U.S.. She was an avid reader, and along with Gus and their friends, enjoyed attending musical and theatrical productions at local and regional theaters. Family was always her priority, however. She would drop everything to be of assistance to her children and their families when needed, or to join them in celebrating significant events in their lives. At the age of 88, she moved with Gus to the Washington D.C. area, where three of their four daughters live. While there, she continued to enjoy going out to restaurants and museums, and was able to attend a theatrical production at the Kennedy Center with other members of her family. Lydia and Gus celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in 2008 in Washington in the company of their daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren. Lydia's friends remember her as a real "force" -- a very independent and determined woman who was filled with life and believed in the power of women to bring about change. Despite her battle with Alzheimer's disease in the last few years, Lydia always kept her independent nature and maintained her fighting spirit. Lydia is survived by her brother, Howard (Martha); her daughters, Sande Brecher (Mitchell "Rick"), Judy (Bill Rogers), Laurie (Mike Kukura), and Pam (Dana Bowden); and her grandchildren, Todd and Jordan Brecher, Andrew Levinson, Sarah, Emily and Melanie Kukura, and Solon Bowden. Lydia was predeceased by her husband, Gus; her grandson, Reid Brecher; her brother, Gerald Gruber; and her sisters, Amelia and Matilda Gruber, Helen Winter, and Madelyn Hirsch. Graveside services will be held Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Rose Hill Cemetery, Beth El Section 11. Memorial observance at the family home through sundown Friday, September 25, 2009. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Lydia's name to: The , 225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60601-7633. Published in Akron Beacon Journal on Sept. 22, 2009

  
  

• Sources

  [S448] 1920 United States Federal Census. [S527] 1920 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data - Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Rec;), Year: 1920; Census Place: Columbus Ward 3, Franklin, Ohio; Roll: T625_1380; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 60; Image: 1037. Birth date: abt 1919 Birth place: Ohio Residence date: 1920 Residence place: Columbus Ward 3, Franklin, Ohio 1920 United States Federal Census [S527] 1920 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data - Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Rec;), Year: 1920; Census Place: Rochester Ward 5, Monroe, New York; Roll: T625_1121; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 67; Image: 70. [S361] 1930 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626,;), Year: 1930; Census Place: Columbus, Franklin, Ohio; Roll: 1794; Page: 20A; Enumeration District: 22; Image: 211.0; FHL microfilm: 2341528. Birth date: abt 1919 Birth place: Ohio Residence date: 1930 Residence place: Columbus, Franklin, Ohio 1930 United States Federal Census [S508] Social Security Death Index, Ancestry.com, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.Original data - Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security ;), Issue State: Ohio; Issue Date: Before 1951. [S1485] Summit County, Ohio, Marriage Records, 1840-1980, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;). Summit County, Ohio, Marriage Records, 1840-1980 [S33] Ohio, County Marriages, 1774-1993, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;). Ohio, County Marriages, 1774-1993 [S195] 1940 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;), Year: 1940; Census Place: Columbus, Franklin, Ohio; Roll: m-t0627-03242; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 93-67. 1940 United States Federal Census [S214] 1920 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;;), location inferred. Family lived in the same house for many years. [S157] Marvin Bonowitz, 1919. [S582] Social Security Death Index, (Name: Name: Ancestry.com. Social Security Death Index [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.;;), 1918, confirmed by Laurie Levinson (Reliability: 2). [S509] SSDI, 1918, confirmed by Laurie Levinson. [S4635] Marvin Bonowitz, 1919 (Reliability: 2). [S1208] Ohio Marriage Records. [S101] Ontario Birth Records, for Helen. [S1208] Ohio Marriage Records, record for goldie. [S101] Ontario Birth Records, for Helen (Reliability: 3). [S15] Obituary, Akron beacon journal, 6/15/09. [S661] Ohio County Marriages. [S686] United States Obituary Collection, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc;), Newspaper: Akron Beacon Journal; Publication Date: 15 6 2009; Publication Place: Akron, OH, USA.