Funeral held for Ohio student killed in fire

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio (AP) — More than 600 people crowded a suburban Cleveland church Saturday to remember a young Ohio woman, one of seven college students killed in a North Carolina beach house fire last weekend, a church minister said.

The one-hour, 15-minute service at The Federated Church-United Church of Christ was a celebration of the life of Allison Walden, 19, a University of South Carolina sophomore who enrolled at the school because of the warm weather and the campus sorority scene.

Walden was recognized for her energetic and cheerful ways and her commitment to her studies.

“There was lots of laughter, and lots of tears,” the Rev. Mark Simone said. “But it was difficult. It’s been such a loss to the community.”

Five other USC students and one student from Clemson University were killed in the Oct. 28 fire at a house in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., where they had been spending the weekend. Six students from USC survived.

“It just boils down to this: It was a tragic accident,” Simone said by phone after the service. “I told everyone that I don’t know how to make sense of this. I don’t believe God takes people. I believe he receives them.”

Jerry Brewer, the university’s associate vice president for student affairs, and a half-dozen of Walden’s sorority sisters traveled from South Carolina to attend the service, Simone said.