In Memory Of
Neva Irene Ucker
2020
2024
Neva Irene Ucker
November 17, 2020 — May 8, 2024
Neva Irene (Benson) Ucker, 103, passed away peacefully May 8, 2024 in her home. Born November 17, 1920 in Londonderry, Ohio to Orland and Viota (Swaney) Benson, she resided in the Akron, Ohio area most of her adult life. She was a graduate of the Holzer Hospital School of Nursing in Gallipolis, Ohio, and held the rank of 1st Lieutenant as an Army nurse during WWII. She later worked in the surgical center at Akron City Hospital as a Registered Nurse and volunteered with the Red Cross.
Neva grew up on a farm during the Depression as one of eight children. She attended a one-room schoolhouse and later graduated from Coalton High School at age 16. She began her nursing career before penicillin and many vaccines were available. She cared for patients in iron lungs and dealt with smallpox and typhoid fever quarantines. Neva left her stateside nursing career to join the Army "because it was the right thing to do". She traveled extensively and helped establish hospitals in what would eventually become South Korea, took care of quarantined Italian and German POWs aboard ship, survived a typhoon while on a military ship, stunted in a prop plane over the Pacific and survived a crash in a C-47 in Korea.
Neva had many fond memories of being a Girl Scout troop leader, including planting trees at many of the Summit Metro Parks, which still stand today. An avid photographer, she loved being outdoors and sharing special days discovering the natural beauty of the world together with her grandchildren. The trees, birds and wildflowers; she knew them all. Neva especially enjoyed the Summit County Metro Parks Fall Hiking Spree events. As one of the Originals who began these hikes in 1963, Neva completed them annually with family and friends, and celebrated her 60th year of hiking in 2023. She greatly appreciated the wonderful staff at Seiberling Nature Realm Visitor Center in Akron.
On a personal note, she wanted it known that she made "a mean lemon meringue pie".
In addition to her parents, Neva was preceded in death by her husband, George Ucker; siblings Nelda (Clyde) Maxwell, Myron (Lucille) Benson, and Willard (Betty) Benson. She will be sadly missed by her two children, G. Eric (LuAnn) Ucker, and Erin (Larry) Billings; grandchildren, Andrew (Courtney) Ucker, Emily (Michael) Bertschinger; step-grandson Joshua Billings, great grandchildren, Avery and Audrey Ucker, Ann-Marie and Kenneth Bertschinger; siblings, Ruth Littlejohn, Coral Ward, Donald Benson, and Leland Benson; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
In her memory, please remember to feed the birds in winter and show compassion to all.
Neva was laid to rest on May 15 in a private ceremony at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery.
To share a memory of Neva or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
Neva grew up on a farm during the Depression as one of eight children. She attended a one-room schoolhouse and later graduated from Coalton High School at age 16. She began her nursing career before penicillin and many vaccines were available. She cared for patients in iron lungs and dealt with smallpox and typhoid fever quarantines. Neva left her stateside nursing career to join the Army "because it was the right thing to do". She traveled extensively and helped establish hospitals in what would eventually become South Korea, took care of quarantined Italian and German POWs aboard ship, survived a typhoon while on a military ship, stunted in a prop plane over the Pacific and survived a crash in a C-47 in Korea.
Neva had many fond memories of being a Girl Scout troop leader, including planting trees at many of the Summit Metro Parks, which still stand today. An avid photographer, she loved being outdoors and sharing special days discovering the natural beauty of the world together with her grandchildren. The trees, birds and wildflowers; she knew them all. Neva especially enjoyed the Summit County Metro Parks Fall Hiking Spree events. As one of the Originals who began these hikes in 1963, Neva completed them annually with family and friends, and celebrated her 60th year of hiking in 2023. She greatly appreciated the wonderful staff at Seiberling Nature Realm Visitor Center in Akron.
On a personal note, she wanted it known that she made "a mean lemon meringue pie".
In addition to her parents, Neva was preceded in death by her husband, George Ucker; siblings Nelda (Clyde) Maxwell, Myron (Lucille) Benson, and Willard (Betty) Benson. She will be sadly missed by her two children, G. Eric (LuAnn) Ucker, and Erin (Larry) Billings; grandchildren, Andrew (Courtney) Ucker, Emily (Michael) Bertschinger; step-grandson Joshua Billings, great grandchildren, Avery and Audrey Ucker, Ann-Marie and Kenneth Bertschinger; siblings, Ruth Littlejohn, Coral Ward, Donald Benson, and Leland Benson; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
In her memory, please remember to feed the birds in winter and show compassion to all.
Neva was laid to rest on May 15 in a private ceremony at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery.
To share a memory of Neva or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Neva Irene Ucker, please visit our flower store.
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