Flora Street

Flora May Zumbar Street passed peacefully on February 10, 2021 at her daughter, Lisa’s home in Birmingham, Alabama at the age of 96. She was preceded in death by her husband, Victor H. Street of 45 years. Parents: Louis Zumbar and Bula Shuster Zumbar. Brother; Eugene Zumbar and Nephew; Eugene “Genie” Zumbar.

She is survived by her daughters Susan (Larry) Hoffmann, Colleen (Michael) Mellors, Lisa (Tim) Smith and son Stephen Street. Flora, known affectionately as Mimi, loved her 12 grandchildren: Scott, Samantha, Ben, Ashley and Abigail Hoffmann. Katharine, Thomas, Victor Alexander, and Sam Mellors. Alex, Aidan and Noah Smith., and 7 great grandchildren.

Flora was born in Alliance, Ohio on March 31, 1924 to Louis and Bula Zumbar. She graduated from Alliance High School in 1942. Flora worked as a riveter during WWII. She met Airman Victor H. Street while he was stationed at Mount Union College, and they married in 1944. They eventually settled in Richmond, Ohio where she lived for 62 years. The last six years were spent with her daughter, Lisa, in Alabama.

It’s amazing Flora lived to nearly 97! As an 18th month old toddler, she pulled the cord attached to a gallon of coffee which spilled on her and scalded her left shoulder and arm, She was rushed to Alliance Hospital, lathered in butter and bandages, and eventually given last rights.  After weeks in the hospital, her maternal grandfather, George Washington Schuster, finally marched into the hospital and carried her on his pillow, declaring if Flora May was going to die it would be at home with her family.

Thankfully (for several generations of our family), she lived and inherited her parents’ love of music, dancing and singing. She loved music and possessed a beautiful singing voice. Flora’s voice became legendary.  Her schools requested singing solos every Arbor Day and other special occasions. Her Welsh neighbor, recognizing her talent, approached her parents to permit her to join the Alliance Presbyterian Church to sing in the church choir. Flora’s dance lessons began with tap at nine years, then progressed to dancing every Saturday night to her father’s band, jitterbug/swing dancing with her parents’ friends. She was never short of a partner.

Her love of dance led down another path when she met the  young Airman Victor Street at a Mount Union College dance for locals to meet the hundreds of newly enlisted men stationed in Alliance at the beginning of WWII. The rest is history, and he couldn’t dance. She must have liked him.

Flora was a faithful Christian all her life. She belonged to the Richmond United Presbyterian Church. She taught Sunday School and Bible School and sang in the choir. She loved going to any denomination and meeting people. She was an avid gardener and belonged to the Countryside Garden Club for 60 years. She was a 65-year member of the Eastern Star.

Flora enjoyed traveling, playing cards, watching old films, and spending time with her family and friends She belonged to bridge/card clubs wherever she lived. She loved babies and children. Like her father, she was outgoing and never met a stranger. Like her mother, she was a lady in every sense of the word.  Flora thoroughly loved and enjoyed life and will be missed by many for her compassionate loving nature, beautiful smile, and wonderful sense of humor.

A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations be made to Alzheimer’s Disease Research or to a charity of your choice.