Helen Ann Kunze

Helen Ann (Hites) Kunze of Toledo Ohio, age 86, passed away peacefully from surgical complications on Thursday October 1, 2020. She was born on July 31, 1934 in Ashland, OH to Cloice and Cecile (Patterson) Hites. Mrs. Kunze received her diploma from Ashland High School in 1952 and graduated from Samaritan Hospital Nursing Program, and passed her nursing exams in 1956. She specialized in surgical nursing and assisted in pioneering corneal transplant surgery with Drs Keats and Lembach at Ohio State University Medical Center. She worked tirelessly to institute routine eye testing in elementary schools, and helped develop the “E” vision test for children too young or unable to read. She went on to work at St. Vincent Hospital in Toledo where she was Director of Surgical Admissions until she retired. She was a board member of the National Society to Prevent Blindness where she met her husband Ralph Kunze, and they were married 1978. She was previously married to Daniel Sutton. Mrs. Kunze’s faith was central to her life and was the foundation of her lifelong commitment to service. She found a spiritual home at Hope Lutheran Church in Ottawa Hills, OH where she served for many years on the pastoral care team. She was preceded in death by her son Michael and her sister Betty. She is survived by her husband Ralph Kunze, and children Brad Kunze, Scott Sutton (Shelly), Jim Kunze (Pensi), Diane Kunze Cowgill (Doug), Wendy Sutton Meyers (Jon), her grandchildren Rudy, Jack and Henry Meyers, Kaar Sutton, Jon Kunze (Tera), Josh and Joel Cowgill, Dawee Dodson, Duranee Dodson, Dutee Dodson, Dawnee Dodson-Williams and great grandchildren, Ava and Aiden Kunze, Lily (LeVan) Powers and Lauryn LeVan, Brodee Dodson, Emma Dodson, Grayson Dodson, Asa Jane Dodson-Williams and Abigail Dodson-Williams. The Memorial Service will take place at Hope Lutheran Church, 2201 Secor Rd., Toledo Oh at 11 am on Wednesday, October 7. She was interred at the Ashland County Memorial Park in Ashland OH. For more information please contact Walker Funeral Home at (419) 841-2422 Donations may be made in Mrs. Kunze’s honor to Doctors Without Borders. https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/onetime.cfm Doctors Without Borders USA P.O. Box 5030 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5030