Grayce Dale Panak

Kinsman, Ohio - Grayce Dale Panak, age 93, died at home on Monday, November 16, 2020. She was born on July 15, 1927, in Bristolville, Ohio, a daughter of Hazel (Williams) and William Goddard. Grayce was a 1945 graduate from Kinsman High School. She graduated from the Youngstown School of Nursing back when the train still ran between Youngstown and Kinsman Station. She began her nursing career at the Crile Veterans Hospital in Cleveland (she first stabled a riding horse in Cleveland during this time) and then at the Veterans Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. Grayce joined the regular Army at the end of the Korean War and was promoted to First Lieutenant, and later a Captain in the Army Reserve. During that service Grayce specialized in the treatment of spinal cord injuries at Camp Gordon, Georgia, where she also was a riding instructor for local children. One of her Army camp assignments was mucking and exercising General George Patton's last mount. After leaving the Army Grayce graduated with a degree in Psychology from Hiram College, where she also worked as the college infirmary nurse.
On November 26, 1960, she married Philip Frank Panak; Phil was her date to his senior prom sixteen years earlier. She provided volunteer nursing services for a number of years while her boys were young, Grayce was hired by the Joseph Badger School District as a part-time nurse, and over the years she became a full time nurse across 4 local schools covering 100 square miles, retiring in 1987.
Grayce was a member of the Harry Lees Post 506, American Legion of Kinsman, and two card clubs, one at the Kinsman Library and also at Lake Vista of Cortland. She enjoyed horse jumping, traveling and sight-seeing with friends and family, Kinsman Tourist Club, sewing clothes for her boys and doll costumes as gifts and conversation pieces, growing irises and tomatoes for canning, going to casinos and mostly winning, and she was an avid reader. Kinsman Free Public Library was her favorite place outside of her home on Main Street where she moved to as a young woman in the late 1930's. There she passed on her own terms, in her home town, the canvas of her story.
Grayce is preceded in death by her parents. Survivors include her husband of nearly sixty years, Philip Panak of Kinsman; three sons, Steve (Chris) Panak of Kinsman, William (Shelton) Panak of Richmond, Virginia and Michael (Peggy) Panak of Zephyrhills, Florida; five grandchildren, Bradley, Zachary, Claire (Nathaniel) Tombes, Laura, and Rachel; a great grandson, Benedict Tombes; a brother, William (Joann) Goddard of Raleigh, North Carolina, and her niece Wendy.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2020, at 11:00 AM at Kinsman Cemetery. Calling hours will be held on Friday, November 20th from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Baumgardner Funeral and Cremation Service, 8569 Main Street, Kinsman, OH 44428. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kinsman Public Library, PO Box 166, Kinsman, OH 44428. Masks will be required for entry, with all social distancing practices observed. Share a fond memory or condolence at www.baumgardnerfuneralhome.com

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Visitation

NOV 20. 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (EST)

Baumgardner Funeral & Cremation Service of Kinsman
8569 Main St. P.O. Box 285
Kinsman, OH 44428

Service

NOV 21. 11:00 AM (EST)

Kinsman Cemetery
Church St.
Kinsman, OH 44428