Grace Rebecca Koehl

Mrs. Grace Rebecca Free Koehl, 87, of Rocky Springs, died on Saturday, June 11, 2011, at the Frederick Memorial Hospital. She was the wife of the late Joel Koehl, who died in 1992. They had been married for 46 years.

Born in Rocky Springs on November 8, 1923, she was a daughter of the late Harry Milton and Estie Kline Free.

Grace graduated from the Frederick High School in 1941 and attended the Visitation Academy. She had lived in Cincinnati, Brooklyn and Richmond in her early years of marriage, but moved back to Rocky Springs where she resided for over 60 years.

She had worked for Potomac Edison prior to her marriage, was the first secretary at the Yellow Springs Elementary School when it opened. She worked along with her husband who operated J. P. Karn Lumber in Brunswick and Dependable Constructors.

Grace was an active member of the Rocky Springs Union Church, where she taught the children's Sunday School Class. She organized and held class reunions for students who had attended the old Rocky Springs School. She was also active in the United Civic Association of Shookstown, Edgewood and Rocky Springs, and also a member of the Gambrill Homemaker's Club and the 4H. She enjoyed the fellowship of family, friends and neighbors.

Surviving are her three sons, Gerald Koehl and wife Elaine and Stephen Koehl and wife Kimberly, all of Frederick, and Michael Koehl, of Sharpsburg, grandchildren, Benjamin Koehl, Samantha Koehl, Kendra Koehl, Victoria Koehl, Case Koehl, Kelley Clark Smith and Christine Clark Caffee, great grandchildren, Kyle White, Ryder Christenberry, Chole and Tanner Caffee; Caroline, Mason, Jackson and Carter Smith. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Koehl was preceded in death by a son, Mark Koehl, five sisters, Dorothy Putman, Helen Griffin, Jeanette Campbell, Sara Stup and Ruth Miller, two brothers, Harold Free and Monroe Free. She was the last of her immediate family.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., on Monday, June 13, 2011, at the Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 East Church Street, Frederick. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 14, at 10:00 a.m., in the Etchison Memorial Chapel of the funeral home. The Rev. Dr. James S. Flora, will officiate. Interment will be in the Rocky Springs Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers will be; Thomas Denn, Howard Stup, Harry Free III and James Campbell. Active pallbearers will be; James Kepler, Joe Free, Monty Free, Wayne Putman, Ben Koehl and Kyle White.

In lieu of flowers, please honor Grace's memory by making a memorial donation to the historic Rocky Springs One-Room Schoolhouse Preservation Fund: "Rocky Springs Union Church", 5616 Shookstown Road, Frederick, MD 21702.

Online condolences may be shared at www.keeneybasford.com.