Lyda Mary Alexander

Lyda M Alexander, age 77, passed away peacefully Thursday morning, March 26.2026 at the Copley Health Center in Copley, Ohio from a chronic lengthy illness. Lyda was born in Alliance, Ohio on August 27, 1948, to Herbert J. “Jack” and Henrietta F. (Curtis) Alexander.

Lyda graduated from Minerva High School in 1966. She attended New York University Business in New York City while working in advertising at Union Carbide Corporation and continued on at First National City Bank of New York (Citibank). She returned to Minerva and worked as a loan teller for Minerva Banking, as she continued college courses and workshops to further her financial career as head loan officers with Central Trust Company, First Federal Savings and Loan in Canton, Midland Bank in Alliance, and Midwest Brokering in Minerva.

Lyda was an avid formula one racing fan to the various time trials and qualifying races at Mid-Ohio racing, to Watkins Glenn, New York, to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, and the Indianapolis 500. She became great friends with Parnelli Jones, A. J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, and Mark Donahue.

Lyda was an avid reader and loved books, so she opened Alexander’s Paperback Exchange on Market Street in Minerva as well. She loved genealogy and traced the family tree members back to Ireland where she visited as well.

Lyda was also a true-blue Ohio Sate football fan and a fanatic for the Pittsburg Steelers. To help Lyda with her MS and mobility issues, she became a rider, a volunteer, and supporter of Pegasus Farms thanks to her beloved horse partner there, “Joker.”

Lyda will be greatly missed by her surviving family, brother John H (Pat) Alexander of Minerva; nephews: Michael P Alexander of East Canton, Christopher R Alexander of Glendale California, John R Billiter Jr. of Copley; nieces, Suzanne B (Billiter-Claypool) Martin of Medina and Stephanie A (Mathers-Pennock-Kloos) Allison of Hanoverton; and great nieces: Jordyn Alexander of East Canton and Shannon Mathers of Bedford, New Hampshire; and a great-great niece, Jovie C. Mathers.

In addition to her parents, Lyda was preceded in death by a brother, Richard C. Alexander, sisters: Barbara K. (Alexander-Billiter) Baker and Joyce F. (Alexander-Mathers) Carman; an infant niece, Kathleen Mathers; and all of her beloved pets over the years.

There will be service for Lyda. At the family’s request, in lieu of flowers, please donate to your local animal shelter in her name.