Alan Ray McAninch

Alan Ray McAninch was born on a mild late spring day in Toledo, OH. On that 11th day of June 1937, his mother Berneice (Moon) McAninch and father Ray McAninch were pleased as punch at the birth of their son. A prolific lifelong napper, Alan left this life much like he lived it: snoozing peacefully. His short bout with terminal brain cancer was also a contributing factor. He departed this life on February 16, 2023, at the age of 85 years young in Columbus, IN. Growing up in the Toledo Public School system, Alan relished his years at Cherry Elementary School and then later Scott High School. He loved his hometown of Toledo so much that he remained there through college, where he earned a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toledo. (Go, Rockets!) He studied history and Spanish, both of which he would go on to teach. While at the university, he was a proud member of Pershing Rifles, Scabbard and Blade, and Sigma Delta Pi, which was the Spanish Honor Society at his school. In 1960, Alan put his hard-earned education to work when he got a job teaching at Jefferson Schools near Monroe, MI. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Carolyn Lee Mathes, also a teacher, whom he married on May 12, 1973. Two years, two months and 11 days later, their only son was born. When Alan had had enough of teaching young minds about the history of the United States and how to properly pronounce “por favor,” he retired and went to work at Ernie’s in Monroe as a line cook. Some years later, he decided that frying fries and banging out burgers was no longer fun, so he quit. Not one to sit still for long, he then went to work at the Meijer deli, where he retired for a second time in 2013. When Carolyn passed away in late 2014, Alan made the decision to head south, joining his son and daughter-in-law in Columbus, IN in mid-2015. He spent his days reading, particularly science fiction, traveling, finishing crossword puzzles (in pen!), cooking, and baking cookies. Never one to keep his cookies to himself, Alan earned the nickname “Cookie Man” because he was always passing them out at the leasing office of his apartment complex, his local bank branch, friends, family, and friends of the family. His most popular cookie was a pumpkin one with cinnamon chips. Alan is survived by his son James (Sara) McAninch, cousins Geraldine (Gerrie) Ortiz and Evelyn Koch, who are like sisters to him, and nephews Jonathan, Jeremy, Justin, Jared and Joel Mathes. Instead of flowers, which Alan had no use for in life unless they were fake, donations can be made to The Trevor Project (https://www.thetrevorproject.org/) and/or the American Parkinson Disease Association (https://www.apdaparkinson.org/). There is no service or showing because he didn’t like to make a fuss and that’s that. Arrangements have been entrusted to Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home.

Alan Ray McAninch

June 11, 1937 - February 16, 2023