By Rebecca Billman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MONTGOMERY - Thanks in large part to Juanita Conklin, this town has an annual Fourth of July parade and a Bicentennial Plaza that boasts a fountain.

Mrs. Conklin, a member of Montgomery City Council from 1985 to 1989, died Nov. 5 of cancer at Hospice of Cincinnati in Blue Ash. She was 74.

It was her quest to figure out what needed to be built, fixed or improved in Montgomery.

Whether it was saving a historic tavern, renaming an alley to honor a businessman from a bygone era, repairing stained-glass windows that bore the names of Montgomery's early families, pushing for a new carillon or starting a chili festival - all among her projects - she pushed to get it done.

Mrs. Conklin "gave so much of herself to the community," said former Montgomery Mayor Ivan Silverman. She made the community "so attractive to new residents."

"The present and future residents may not have known Juanita personally," Mr. Silverman said, "but, I assure you, they moved to Montgomery because of her efforts."

As a councilwoman, Mrs. Conklin served on the planning commission and the charter commission. She chaired the City Landmarks Commission and co-chaired the city's bicentennial celebration in 1995, overseeing the beautification of Montgomery prior to the event. She also founded the Chili Festival and revived the Fourth of July parade in 1975.

In addition to her interest in government, Mrs. Conklin was interested in discovering and preserving Montgomery's history. She was a member of the board of the Montgomery Historical Society, co-founder of the Montgomery Preservation Association and the official keeper of the Wilder-Swaim House, a city landmark and headquarters for the historical groups.

"No one has given more effort to the historic preservation effort in Montgomery than Juanita," said Mary O'Driscoll, a Montgomery Historical Society board member.

Mrs. Conklin was a past president of the Montgomery Woman's Club, served on the board of the Town Hall Lecture Series and was a co-chair of the Special Olympics.

She was a gourmet cook and loved antiques. She started the Town Hall Lecture Series, an annual antiques show that is in its 35th year.

Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Richard J. Conklin; a son, Mark J. Conklin of Denver; a daughter, Holly Conklin of Montgomery; and three grandchildren.

A memorial service is 2 p.m. Saturday at the Blue Ash Presbyterian Church at Cooper Road and Reed Hartman Highway, followed by a reception in the church's Fellowship Hall. Her remains were donated to the University of Cincinnati Medical School.

Memorials: Blue Ash Presbyterian Church, 4309 Cooper Road, Cincinnati, 45242; or Hospice of Cincinnati, 4310 Cooper Road, Cincinnati 45242.

E-mail rbillman@enquirer.com