Annabelle Charlotte Burggraf-Garforth, age 93 formerly of Cardington, died Thursday, September 9, 2021, at Abbington of Pickerington. She was born on July 10, 1928, to Robert L. and Edith C. (Williams) Oler who preceded her in death.
Annabelle went to Cardington-Lincoln High School. In 1972 she graduated cum laude from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor's in education with a Psychology minor. She graduated in 1976 from Ohio State University with a Master's in Speech Pathology, where her thesis was titled "Sign Language as a Verbal Facilitator with Handicapped Children". She later went on to receive her Guidance Counsellor Certification from Bowling Green State University. Annabelle worked as a teacher and guidance counselor at Cardington-Lincoln Local Schools and had worked as a Speech Pathologist at MARCA. She was the first woman on the Cardington Board of Education since its formation (70 years). She served on the school board for 12 years, 8 of those years as the president.
Annabelle was a member of the Cardington Nazarene Church from 1938-1995. During that time, she served as a member of the Church board for several decades. She attended Avon Park church from 1995-2006 where she received the Distinguished Service Award for her support of church activities in 2006. In 2011 she received the Distinguished Service Award for her support of missions at her church in Manchester, Tennessee.
On November 16, 1945, Annabelle married Wilson Burggraf in Cardington, Ohio who preceded her in death on August 6,1991. On September 5, 1992, she married Delmar Garforth at the Cardington Church of the Nazarene and he preceded her in death as well.
Annabelle is survived by her children: Dr. Larry (Joyce) Burggraf of Dayton, Jennifer (Mark) Grady of Doyle, TN, Rev. James (Kelley) Burggraf of Cleosprings, OK., brother: Wilbert (Norma) Oler of Columbus; nine grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and husbands, Annabelle was preceded in death by son Dennis Burggraf and daughter Judie Garvin, five of her brothers: Chester Shaffer, Melvin Shaffer, Louis Shaffer, Carl Oler, and James Oler.
Friends may call on Friday, September 17, 2021, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Gompf Funeral Home, 440 Center St. Cardington, Ohio 43315. The funeral service will begin at the conclusion of calling hours at 2:00 PM with Annabelle's son, Reverend James Burggraf officiating. The burial will follow in the Glendale Union Cemetery.
Those wishing to make a memorial contribution are asked to consider the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.
Those wishing to share a memory of Annabelle or to express a condolence to the burggraf-Garforth family may do so by visiting www.gompffh.com.