Alice Jayne Hilbish Ake 92, of Indianapolis, Indiana and Akron, Ohio passed away on August 7, 2011. She is the great granddaughter of Benjamin Hilbish who came from Pennsylvania with his wife Wilhelmina Smith to settle in Akron before 1850. The house that Benjamin (after whom Hilbish Avenue is named) built for his family still stands on Eastholm Avenue, which was then part of his 300 area farm. Alice was born December 12, 1918 to George H. and Bertha L. Walker Hilbish. She graduated from Akron University and enjoyed a brief career as an elementary school teacher. After marrying James H. Ake she became a devoted mother to her two children and a volunteer for a plethora of Akron institutions.
While serving on the PTA board at Fairlawn School she was one of the founders of FLESA formed to promote the teaching of foreign languages in Akron elementary schools. Alice was active at Westminster Presbyterian Church serving as Deacon, Elder, President of the Women’s Association, teaching Sunday School and summer vacation Bible School. She served on the boards of Rockynol, Victim’s Assistance, The Summit County Children’s Home and helped found the Women’s division of the United Way. She was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority, D.A.R., P.E.O, and a long time member of the Akron Women’s City Club.
She received numerous honors for her work on the Summit County Children’s Home Board and named as Victim Assistance Emeritus. The awards she received from United Way included: the Betty Jay Cox Award; the Crusader’s Award; the Award of Merit; and the Distinguished Service Award. Alice received the 10 Year Service Award and the J. C. Penny Golden Rule Award for her work as a volunteer Ombudsman in Senior Care from the Ohio Department of Aging. In 1990, the University of Akron selected Alice to receive the Alumni Award for Excellence in Community Service.
Her husband, James H. Ake, passed away in Akron in 1997. She is survived by her daughter Wendy Salta Schildwachter, and her husband, David C. Schildwachter Sr, of Westchester NY; her son, James T. Ake, and his wife, Mary E. Ake, of Westfield, IN; her three grandsons, John T. Saltalamacchia, and his wife Heidi L. Saltalamacchia, of NY City; Francis Rattigan and Timothy Rattigan of Indianapolis IN; great grandson, James Oscar Saltalamacchia of NY City and her sister, Cynthia H. Levine of Jupiter Island FL.
Visitation and a celebration of her life will be held Sunday August 14, from 2-4 and 7-9pm at Catavolos Funeral Home, 3653 W. Market St., where funeral services will be held Monday at 10:30am. Internment at Rose Hill Memorial Burial Park will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to New Covenant Community Church, 2095 W. Market St., Akron or the Victims Assistance Program, 150 Furnace St. Akron.
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