Mary Jane Peckham, Cuyahoga Falls' first clerk of courts, WWII Marine Corps veteran

Marie Jane Peckham served as in the 1950s.

The longtime Cuyahoga Falls resident, who died Feb. 6, previously served as secretary to Harding A. Wichert.

Peckham became the first records and personnel officer when Cuyahoga Falls became a chartered city in 1960.

Her service to the community extended beyond her employment.

Peckham, who retired in the mid-1980s, and her late husband, Jack, served on the committee that started the Cuyahoga Falls Octoberfest.

They and other committee members donated their own money to pay for tents, entertainment and other expenses to make the first Oktoberfest in October 1980 a success. Money generated from the annual event at Riverfront Square benefits the community.

Peckham, whose maiden name was Cascioli, served with the Marine Corps during World War II . She was assigned to the Marine air wing at Congaree Air Field in South Carolina as a link trainer for corsair pilots.

“When they were ‘undercover,’ as we called it, and they couldn’t see very well, they had to learn to fly by instruments,” she told reporter Ian Graham, who interviewed her for American Forces Press Service in July during a visit to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. “So I sat at a desk and watched what they did in the trainer and made sure they were doing it right.”

She also taught plane and ship recognition to fighter pilots.

Peckham was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, but didn’t like to say when. She was secretive about her age.

She grew up in Akron, where she graduated from North High School and Actual Business College, attended the University of Akron and taught at Sacred Heart Academy.

At one time, she was a Braillist for the Library of Congress.

Peckham was a past president of the Cuyahoga Falls Woman’s Club and the Soroptimist Club of Akron. She volunteered in many capacities at , where she belonged to the women’s fellowship.

She also belonged to the Marine Corps League’s Chesty Puller Detachment and the 2nd Marine Division Association.

Other memberships include Order of the Eastern Star Falls Chapter 245, Summit County Historical Society and Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary.

Peckham's husband, a fellow Marine and a retired Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. electrical design engineer, died about 20 years ago. In 2001, the widow established the Jack W. Peckham Memorial Scholarship Fund at the University of Akron.

She leaves no immediate surviving relatives.

Calling hours are 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9, at , 1930 Front St.

Committal service is planned for 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, at with military rites by American Legion Charles Faust Post 281 Honor Guard.  

A memorial service will follow at 4 p.m. at Pilgrim United Church of Christ, 130 Broad Blvd., Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221.

Donations may be made to the church.