Birdia Ann Groves Koch

Birdia Ann Groves Koch was born on Sept. 30, 1932, in Reynoldsville, the daughter of Hiram and Josephine Sharp Groves, and died on March 11, 2017.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James J. Koch, of Tucson, Ariz.; a sister, Vivian Groves Foster of Elmwood; and Ott Sharp and Jim Hutchison, who were raised as brothers.

She is survived by her sister, Doris (Ernest) Rhodes; and by her seven children, Brenda (Alan) Sauer, Richard Koch, Suzanne (John) Richards, Cynthia (Phillip) Stern, Mary Ellen (Robert) Franz, Jonathan (Dee Gallagher) Koch and Daniel (Casey) Koch; 16 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and all the others whom she “adopted” over the years.

She worked as a nurse for Dr. Rife in Anna during the 1950s before moving away.

A celebration of her life was planned Wednesday, March 15, in Tucson, Ariz.