Susan D. Grant

Susan D. Grant, 89, of Bexley, Ohio, died peacefully on Tuesday, Nov. 5, “Election Day” 2013, which is fitting, because she relished her job of many years as a poll worker at Jeffrey Mansion for the Franklin County Board of Elections. Known for her radiant smile and good humor, she was born Jan 16, 1924 in Raton, N.M., where her parents had moved from Newark, Ohio, to benefit her father’s health and to run his Purina Feed Store. Thus began her affinity for the Southwest’s land and native culture. She was preceded in death by her father Milton Orr and revered mother Freda (Wagenheim) Drumm, and a baby brother, Sonny. Susan was 3 when her father passed away and returned to central Ohio with her mother and big sister, Barbara. She attended Bexley High School and East High School. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Bexley and worked for her mother at the Hi-Grade soda fountain on E. Main Street. A gregarious young man from Galloway named Donald Herbert Grant sat down for lunch one day and proceeded to win her heart, although at first she found the salesman from the Whitehall Cussin-Fern store rather obnoxious. Susan handled clerical work for the Curtiss-Wright Corp. and sold accessories at the Downtown Lazarus store. After marrying Donald in July 1946, she stayed home to raise their son until the early 1970s, when she flourished in her second career as an Avon representative, and won many sales awards and a lifetime of friends. Short of stature but strong of spirit, Susan embraced people of all backgrounds and circumstances, opening her door to neighborhood children, teenagers, musicians, transients, ministers, AIDS patients, exotic dancers, politicians, mailmen, vacuum-cleaner salesmen and single moms drawn to her kindness and non-judgmental character (and love of a good joke). Born with a song in her heart and a crush on Frank Sinatra, the single Susan fancied herself a lounge singer and took a train (filled with military servicemen) to Chicago to fulfill a dream, which didn’t pan out. Years later, as a young mom and housewife, she joined the Columbus PTA Mothersingers, and imparted her love of all music to her son, who delighted her at the piano. She was an unflinching supporter of the Ohio State University Buckeyes and the Democratic Party, and lived for her raucous July 4 parties and participation in the award-winning Bexley Thrift Shop float in the Bexley parade. She also was a member of Eastern Star, Beacon Chapter #593. Besides her parents and brother, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband Donald, dogs Abbie and Mopsy, and cats Tommy, Toby and Punkin, the toothless wonder. Survivors include her son Donald (Anne Rizzutti Gieser) Herbert Grant II, grandchildren Liza Grant, Kathleen Haines and John Kennedy, great-grandson Jamal Erby, sister Barbara Ann Carfrey, several nieces and nephews, and special friends Sherrie Grant, Maria Riffe, Lana Turner, Marcia Wood, and Stuart and Dougie Gieser. Visitation will be held Thursday 5 to 8 p.m. at Schoedinger Midtown Chapel, 229 E. State St., Columbus. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, November 8, 2013 at Christ Lutheran Church, 2314 E. Main St. in Bexley, OH 43209 with Pastor Tim Iseringhausen officiating. The family asks that donations be sent to Christ Lutheran Church and Hospice of First Community Village, 1800 Riverside Dr., Columbus, OH 43212.