Rebecca Rae (Fry) Milhoan, a woman whose heart was as warm as the beaches she loved, passed away peacefully at her home in Salem on Sunday, April 5, 2026, at the age of 81.

Born on November 1, 1944, in Youngstown, Ohio, to the late Raymond Charles and Winifred Joan (Smith) Fry, Rebecca grew up with a spirited soul. In her younger years, she could often be found riding horses, a testament to her lifelong love for movement and the outdoors. This love eventually found its way to the dance floor, where she spent many happy hours dancing the night away.

Rebecca was a dedicated and hard worker, retiring after 25 years in the packaging department at Carriage Hill Foods (Fresh Mark). On April 19, 1980, she began a beautiful 46-year journey of marriage with her husband, Benjamin Dale Milhoan. Together, they were true partners in adventure, traveling the world and setting sail on many cruises, always seeking out new horizons hand-in-hand.

To know Rebecca was to know a "true bargain hunter." She had a legendary gift for sniffing out a good deal at any garage sale or shop—a skill she wore with a proud, mischievous smile. When she wasn't hunting for treasures, she enjoyed the simple comforts of life: listening to a good country song, getting lost in a book, watching Judge Judy, or simply laying out in the sun to soak up every bit of warmth.

Above all, Rebecca’s world revolved around her family. She was the steady, loving heartbeat of her home, happiest when the room was full of laughter and the people she cherished most.

Her memory will be carried forward by her devoted husband, Benjamin Dale Milhoan; her daughters, Robin Lorraine (Paul) Brown of Salem and Lisa Diane (Ronald) Aylor of Wakefield, KS; her siblings, Barbara Moore, Betty Piper, Lucy Burtner, and Larry (Paulette) Fry; as well as her nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, all of whom brought her immense pride.

She now joins those who went before her: her son, Donald Stanley; her brother, David Fry; and her parents.

Friends and family are invited to celebrate Rebecca's vibrant life on Thursday, April 9, 2026. A time of Visitation will be held from 11 AM – 1 PM, followed by a Service at 1 PM at the Arbaugh-Pearce-Greenisen & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services, Salem. The Rev. Byron Bufkin of the Salem First Methodist Church will be officiating the services. Rebecca will be laid to rest at Grandview Cemetery in Salem.

Rebecca’s life was a beautiful reminder to find the joy in a good deal, the peace in a sunny afternoon, and the lasting strength found in a family's love.