IONIA STELLA PROUT, daughter of the late Walter and Stella I. Prout, was bom on September 12, 1917 in Baltimore, Maryland. She departed this life on March 22, 2013 after a brief illness. God was good to allow her ninety-five years of life on this side. She received her education in the Baltimore City school systems. Ionia Prout was a member of the Unity United Methodist Church until 1971 at which time she joined the St. Martin Catholic Church. In recent years three catholic churches combined and became the Transfiguration Catholic Community Church of which she became a member and remained until her death. Most of her life's employment was with the United States Government; first, as an employee of the Curtis Bay Ordinance Division in 1942, Signal Depot and later, at the Social Security Administration from which she retired. Late in life, Ionia had stayed at her home and several nursing homes or assisted living facilities before settling at the Future Care Nursing Home in Irvington for six years. She was basically healthy and vibrant for her age. She took pride in the health God had given her. All who knew "Oney", as she was called by many, will attest to her determination to eat a healthy diet. Grandma, as she was known by her three grandsons and two great grandchildren, enjoyed spending the holidays with them. When they called to visit her, she always had a list of foods she wanted or something she wanted you to bring. Whatever you did, it was best not to bring her something, including the brand and size that she had not requested. You had to either take it back or use it yourself! She had no problem speaking her mind. Oney also embraced others and adopted them into her heart with love. She was preceded in death by: her son, Julian Prout; mother and father, Walter and Stella Prout; and all of her siblings Ralph, Anita, Pearl and Vernon. She leaves to mourn their loss: three grandchildren, Julian (Melissa), Matthew and Vernon Prout; two great-grandchildren, Mikayla S. and Luke V Prout; one daughter-in-law, Rev. Dr. Delores E. Prout; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.