Muriel Frances (Woodson) GITZ

WOODSON, GITZ, TICE, PRUCHNICKI

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/23/2010 at 10:53:16

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
July 23, 2010

CLARION, IA — Muriel Frances Woodson Gitz, 89, of Clarion, passed away quietly on July 21, 2010, at the Wright Medical Center Hospice room from complications associated with congestive heart failure. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, July 24, 2010, at the United Methodist Church, 201 Third Ave. N.E., in Clarion. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today, Friday, July 23, 2010, at the church.

Muriel was born on April 7, 1921, in Mansfield, Ohio, to James Clay Woodson and Eula Tice Woodson. She was the eldest daughter of five; James, Elizabeth, Robert and Mort. Muriel was very active in high school activities, plays, sports and loved to dance and play golf. She was an avid card player and especially loved bridge. The love of all of these continued through her college and adult life. She graduated from Horace Mann High School in Bay Village, Ohio, in 1939. Muriel continued her education at Iowa State College in Home Economics and graduated in 1943. While at ISC she met her lifelong partner, Dr. George H. Gitz, and they were married in Bay Village, Ohio, in 1943. The couple moved around as George served in the Army Air Corp during World War II and the early years in George’s veterinary practice. They moved to Clarion in January of 1954 where they resided until their deaths.

Muriel was an advocate for her family and her community and was integral in implementing Parent-Teacher Associations in the communities she lived. She touched the lives of many young people as an adult leader of 4-H, Campfire Girls, Sunday School and Bible School. Muriel believed in giving back to her community and was an active member of American Association of University Women, Daughters of the American Revolution, Iowa Veterinary Medical Association Auxiliary, Eastern Star, Clarion Federated Club, Clarion Centennial Committee and Clarion’s “Festival in the Park” committee. She held many offices in these organizations over the years. Her church was an essential part of her life. She was very active in her circle and served as president of United Methodist Women and on the UMW Executive Board, the church choir and Sunday school, bible study and the many bazaars. She received a special recognition pin from the United Methodist Women for the many roles she played in the organization.

Muriel loved cooking and trying new things to bake. It was a rarity not to find something homemade in the house. An accomplishment she was especially pleased with was winning an award at the Pillsbury Bake-Off. She also loved being involved in the adult education courses that were offered especially if they were art oriented or dance. She taught some sessions at ICCC and made many presentations to various service organizations about the history of buttons and aprons, sharing her love and interest in textiles and clothing. She also volunteered her services at Clarion Elementary School.

Those grateful in sharing in her life are her children, Judi (Mike) Pruchnicki, of Des Moines, Betty Gitz, of Elkader, and Cheri Gitz, of St. Joseph, Ill.; grandchildren, Todd, Amy, Sarah, James, Elizabeth, JoJo, Shelly, Becky and Jake; 11 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews in Iowa, Texas, Kansas and California. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, George; her parents and siblings.

Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice for Wright County, United Methodist Church of Clarion, or Clarion Public Library. Arrangements are with Andrews Funeral Homes, 516 First St., Belmond, Iowa.