Lillian Raffel Kleinberg, 98, of Ashland, Ky., widow of Charles Kleinberg of Patterson, N.J., died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003.
Born in Rezekne, Russia, on May 26, 1905, Lillian immigrated to the United States with her parents, Elias and Bertha Raffel, settling first in Pocahontas, Va., then moving to Ashland.
She was a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University and taught for a time in a one-room school in Coalton, Ky. She was married for 62 years to Charles Kleinberg of Patterson. After World War II, she worked with the American Red Cross to reunite displaced persons and was awarded for exemplary efforts in helping British Brides of American soldiers adjust to life in America. She attended graduate school at Rutgers University and worked for the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research as a field supervisor from 1946 to 1975.
She traveled the world extensively for many years with numerous fascinating trips to Israel, the Far East, Bangkok, Burma, Nepal and Northern Italy. She is survived by two brothers, Samuel Raffel of Annapolis, Md., and Bernard David Raffel of Akron, Ohio; a devoted niece, Beatrice Miller Gehringer of Ashland; and numerous loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister, Hannah Raffel Miller, and her brother, William Raffel.
Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, 2003, at Steen Funeral Home-Ashland Chapel by the Rabbi David Wucher and the Rev. Stewart Schnieder. Visiting will be from noon to service time Sunday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Community Hospice, 1538 Central Ave., Ashland, KY 41101, or the Boyd County Animal Control Center.
