Red Hatter known for volunteering, comfort cooking, dies in Germantown

Carol Freeman Peck, a former Ten Top Women in Dayton member, served as the secretary in her church for 50 years and was an active volunteer in the Germantown community.

Peck died March 21 after suffering an Ischemic stroke. She was 80 years old.

Peck was selected in 1995 by the Dayton Daily News as one of the Ten Top Women in Dayton for her community service, volunteerism and dedication to the St. John's United Church of Christ in Germantown, according to her obituary.

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Peck was also recognized for “her unwavering support and care given to her husband as he battled multiple sclerosis,” according to the obituary. Her husband, Harold Peck, died in 2001.

Peck was a member of the Farm Bureau Counsel as well as the Red Hatters of Germantown and Jefferson Twp. In addition to working as the secretary at St. John’s, she was a member of the choir and bell choir and held other titles over the years, including Agape president, a Christ Care Leader, Sunday school and Bible school teacher and a Love is a Hug teacher, according to her obituary.

Her volunteer contributions included the Germantown Pretzel Festival and serving on the Germantown Bi-Centennial Committee. In addition, Peck was a member of the Mother Singers of Germantown, a cast member in Rescue Squad Musicals, a Girls Scout leader, a Valley View Band parent, a member of the M.O.M.S club and the 20th Century Club.

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“More recently, Carol found great joy in being a grandma. Through all of this, she was best known for her comfort cooking. She prepared hundreds of funeral dinners, ran a concession trailer, cooked for the church bazaar, and loved to provide or donate food whenever needed,” Peck’s obituary reads.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. John's United Church of Christ, 201 W Market St. Germantown, followed by interment at the Preble Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends at the church from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Germantown Rescue Squad or the Alter High School Girls Basketball Program. Online condolences can be made at arpprootfh.com, the website for ARPP, ROOT & CARTER FUNERAL HOME, 29 N Main St., Germantown.

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