Rachel Woodward Morkel

Rachel was raised in Wayne County and graduated from Wooster High School in 1940. She earned her Registered Nurse degree from Mansfield General Hospital School of Nursing in 1942. She was married to Dr. Gordon F. Morkel who had a family medicine practice in Mansfield for 40 years. Rachel worked at his side off and on, occasionally taking time off to care for their four children.

A member of Central United Methodist Church for over 50 years until it closed, she then became a member of First United Methodist Church for the past 15 years. Rachel was very active in her church, teaching primary grade Sunday school and shared her culinary talents at countless harvest buffets, ice cream socials and fellowship dinners over the years. She was an active member of the United Methodist Women, several church circles and Church Women United.

Rachel was also very civic minded and involved in the community as a member of the Richland Medical Auxiliary, Red Cross volunteer, and Kingwood Center Garden Club. Her husband piloted his own plane and they were members of the Flying Physicians Organization which helped to satisfy the travel bug in them. She had many hobbies including reading and playing Bridge. Rachel was an avid Cleveland Indians and OSU football fan.

Many saw Rachel as a classy, beautiful woman! Those who really knew her saw her as an even more beautiful woman inside than out. Her family and dearest friends knew her as a Christian who had the loveliest way of feeding both the "body and spirit"! Rachel's meals were always delicious! Her homemade applesauce, every kind of pie and German chocolate cake were unforgettable! When in Rachel's presence, you knew you were loved and she always made you feel better about yourself.

She is survived by three children, Karen (Gene) DeMoss of Mansfield, Karla (Dave) Roth of Loudon, TN and Keith Morkel of Kettering; daughter-in-law, Maria Morkel; ten grandchildren, Lincoln Smith, Chris Roth, Jason Roth, Travis Smith, Fred Roth, Ben Morkel, Rachel Morkel, Annie Smith, Jose Castillo and Juan Castillo; seventeen great-grandchildren and one arriving in July; and a brother, Jay Woodward of Pickerington, OH. Her treasured family is spread across 10 states!

In addition to her parents, Rachel is preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Gordon F. Morkel; son, Kevin Morkel; and three sisters, Grace Heyl, Georgia Oswalt and Jane Snyder.

The family will receive friends from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 30, 2018, at the First United Methodist Church, 12 N. Diamond St., Mansfield. The funeral service conducted by Rev. Paul Beal will follow at 11:30 a.m. She will be laid to rest beside her husband in Mansfield Memorial Park at 2:15 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Bone Marrow Transplant Fund (305404) at The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, 660 Ackerman Rd., PO Box 183112, Columbus, OH 43218; the First United Methodist Church; or Hospice of North Central Ohio, 1050 Dauch Dr., Ashland, OH 44805.

The Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors is honored to serve the family.