Gwendolyn M. Minamyer 1939-2025

She will be greatly missed by her surviving brothers, Bob and Linda Lutz, and Ron and Linda Lutz of Salem; and children, Tamala Ann, Deborah Michele and Amy Lynn Minamyer; as well as her three grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Minamyer, on April 19, 2021.

Gwen would proudly proclaim “I’m 5 foot in heels and never measure without.” This statement completely describes Gwen. She knew that her height may cause some to underestimate her or be an impediment to her goals, but she never permitted that.

She embraced her uniqueness. She took the thunder away from any who may have tried to insinuate that she would not be good enough just because of her stature. Gwen took what God gave her and made the most of it.

Gwen was a charmer starting at a very young age. She would wander her childhood neighborhoods, talking with everyone and helping as she could. She was the family darling and her grandmother and aunts doted upon her.

She excelled in almost all of her school subjects. We won’t talk about typing class. After graduation, she attended cosmetology school in Akron, winning an award at one point. But that was far from the end of her accomplishments.

From there, she married Fred (deceased) and started her own family. Since he was in the Air Force, she was often moved and stationed around the country. Each place she settled in, she made it home and made good friends.

Once they settled back in Ohio, she continued to add to her skills. She owned and operated The Hyde-A-Way Golf Course in Beloit and then owned and operated The Towne Decorating Shoppe in Canfield.

People would love to get her opinions on what would best go with their redecorating. She was successful in everything she tried.

Gwen was far from being all work. She loved to play cards and cherished the monthly get-togethers with her card-club girls. She was adept at bowling and enjoyed some board games as well. As children, she would squeeze fresh orange juice each morning and would have delicious cookies baked when we got home from school.

She would stay up late at night hemming cheerleader skirts. She was always excited to plan parties, make creative Halloween costumes and still do all she could for the older relatives in the area. Some of our fondest memories are of sitting on her grandmother’s front porch and watching the world go by.

Gwen continued to inspire us with the strength she displayed after Fred died. Her “5 foot in heels” contained so much more than she appeared. She was steadfast in her opinions of what she wanted right up until her last breath.

So there will be a five-foot hole in our hearts now, but she would never want us to be sad. She would want us to remember that grief is only future love we didn’t get to give — something that should be embraced and not avoided.

Please join the family at Stark Memorial on State Street in Salem on Friday, April 11, 2025, with calling hours 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a funeral service to follow at 1 p.m.

Burial will be held in Grandview Cemetery.

To view this obituary, send condolences or order flowers, visit www.starkmemorial.com.

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