Thursday, August 15th, 2024
Cindy Piper
Cindy Lu Piper, of Celina, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family, on August 14th, 2024.
Born August 2nd, 1952, in Portland, Indiana, to Robert I. and E. Maxine (Glassford) Davidson. Married Thomas A. Piper on June 2nd, 1979. In addition to her husband, Cindy is survived by her children and grandchildren: Sarah Young (Nate), Nash and Knox of Celina, Ohio; Megan Witkowski (Evan), Abigail and Harrison of Highland Park, Illinois; Erynn Piper, Rio of Celina, Ohio; sisters: Sandra Davidson-Sanders of Portland, Indiana and Tracy Johnson (Curt) of Lynn, Indiana; brother, Rob Davidson of Bryant, Indiana; and sister-in-law, Paula (Ed) Davidson of Portland, Indiana; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Ed Davidson.
Cindy graduated from Bryant High School in Bryant, Indiana in 1970. She attended Ball State University, earning both a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Arts in Education in 1973 and 1976, respectively.
Cindy wore many "hats" throughout her walk of life: Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Cousin, Friend, Teacher, Colleague, just to name a few. She loved working with children, and devoted her life's work to education and building the future of her community. While volunteering as a church counselor for a youth bicycle trip to Kings Island, she met the love of her life, Tom.
Cindy devoted 35 years of her career to education, the first few at Jay School Corporation in Portland, Indiana, with completion at St. Henry Local Schools in St Henry, Ohio. During her career, she was designated a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar, a Grand Lake Scholar, and was nominated as an Ohio Teacher of the Year in 2000. She also served for 16 years as a member of the Celina City Schools Board of Education.
In addition to memberships in various clubs and service organizations, she was an active member of the Grand Lake United Methodist Church. For many years she was a beekeeper with her husband, which later inspired a family honey business. Cindy was a crossword puzzle queen, Scrabble fanatic, crafter of everything, and multi-ribbon winner for various floral arrangements locally. She was an avid seamstress, having made her own wedding dress, multiple costumes, and her daughters' matching holiday outfits. She enjoyed gardening, the outdoors, and family horse camping trips with her horses, "Doc and Reba". She was a true cowgirl at heart.
Most of all, she loved family; her grandchildren were wonderful blessings.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, August 19, at Grand Lake United Methodist Church - St. Paul's Campus, 119 E. Fulton St. in Celina, with Pastor Diane Mendelson, officiating. Burial will follow at North Grove Cemetery in Celina.
Calling Hours are from 1:00 to 5:00 PM, Sunday, August 18, at W.H. Dick & Sons-Hellwarth Funeral Home in Celina, and on Monday, August 19, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM, at St. Paul's Church.
Memorial Contributions may be made to the Mercer County Retired Teachers Scholarship Fund through the Mercer County Civic Foundation or to the Cancer Association of Mercer County, Ohio.
Condolences can be expressed to Cindy's family at dickandsonshellwarthfh.com.
