Sarah Emberger passed into eternal life on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at the Carmel Home in Owensboro. She was born in Daysville to the late Ethyl May Lee Oakes and Thomas Milton Oakes.
She graduated Valedictorian from Todd County High School. After one year at Transylvania University in Lexington, she began her teaching career at Olmstead with their senior class. She was invited to all of their reunions. She married Henry Thomas Mason, but was widowed before their first anniversary. Sarah worked at the office of Dr. John P. Glenn for a few years.
In 1950 she married Joseph Henry Emberger, the love of her life. When her son, their youngest, began school, Sarah commuted to Western Teaching College to finish her degree. Mrs. Emberger then began her 43 years educating 3rd and 4th grade youth at Russellville Elementary and finally Stevenson Elementary. Teaching was never a ‘job.’ It was always her vocation. She loved every student and was so happy to see them at high school graduations. Her students will remember her story time as she read to them from her rocking chair and her game of ‘conductor.’
Mrs. Emberger served as president of Russellvile Education Association, belonged to Kappa Delta Teachers Society, the DAR and PEO. She was a member of her bridge group for over 50 years.
Mrs. Emberger loved her First Christian Church where she was an Elder Emeritus. For years her prune cake was always found at the church social.
She survived her parents, and her brothers, Charles, Bill, and James Oakes and her husbands, Henry Mason and Joseph Henry Emberger.
She will be missed by her children, Sarah Beth Emberger of North Canton, Ohio, Mary Ann (Shelby) Thompson of Owensboro and Joseph H. (Tracy) Emberger Jr. of Columbus, Ohio; her grandchildren, Blake (Becky) Thompson, Mary Katherine (Will) Wathen, Andrew (Missy) Thompson, John (Kristen) Thompson, Ben (Brittany) Thompson, Sam (Whitney) Thompson, Joe Emberger III, Daniel (Carly) Emberger, Laura Emberger, Katie Emberger; her almost 18 great grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Barbara (James) Oakes; and her many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Sarah Emberger will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at Summers, Kirby and Sanders Funeral Home with Rev. Dann Masden officiating with burial to follow in Maple Grove Cemetery. Visitation at the funeral home will be held Friday, March 9, from 5-8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. until the service hour.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of donations to the First Christian Church or the Carmel Home in Owensboro. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Pallbearers: Blake Thompson, Mary Katherine Wathen, Andrew Thompson, John Thompson, Ben Thompson, Sam Thompson, Joe Emberger III, Daniel Emberger, Katie Emberger and Laura Emberger