June 3, 2004

OBITUARIES

Mary Elizabeth Letson
Mary Elizabeth (Osborne) Letson of Yellow Springs died Thursday, May 27, at Grandview Hospital in Dayton. She was 71.

She was born in western North Carolina, the daughter of Ray P. and Hester Osborne. She grew up in the mountains of North Carolina and loved returning to visit.

She received her bachelor’s degree from Berea College, in Berea, Ky., and later continued her education at Wright State and other local institutions.

She worked as a teacher and after her retirement served for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Belize, working on education issues. Everywhere she lived and worked she made great friends. She later enjoyed traveling to spend time with friends and family in many places around the world. She worked tirelessly on environmental, social justice and human dignity issues, and served on boards and committees of many organizations furthering these causes. She was also active in the Society of Friends, acting in many capacities from meeting day care to global committees.

In recent years her greatest pleasure came from young people. She loved the company and appreciated the accomplishments of her grandchildren. She also took great pleasure in the company of the students at Mills Lawn whom she aided in their reading.

Mrs. Letson was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joseph; her sister Sarah; and her brother Harold.

She is survived by two sisters, Carolyn and Virginia; three brothers, Robert, George and William; children, William, Ruth, Thomas, Penne and Philip; and grandchildren, Andrew, Ruth, J.P., Christine, Joe, Bridget and Joshua.

A memorial service will take place under the care of the Yellow Springs Friends Meeting. Contributions in her name can be made to environmental, human rights and social justice organizations.

Tree-planting ceremony to remember Letson
A tree-planting ceremony in memory of Mary Letson will be held Friday, June 4, 1:30 p.m., behind Mills Lawn School.

Letson was a longtime reading volunteer at the school. The ceremony will be short and child friendly.

Yvonne A. Follrath
Yvonne A. Follrath of Springfield died Monday afternoon, May 31, in The Summit of Park Hills in Fairborn. She was 75.

Born July 25, 1928, in St. Cloud, Minn., she was the daughter of the late Oscar and Madeline Savig. A graduate of St. Cloud University, Yvonne was an American government and history teacher at Beavercreek High School from 1959 to 1964.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Jack K. Follrath, and her brother, George Savig.

She is survived by her children, Larry and Lourdes Mengelkoch of Florida, Jerry and Cary Mengelkoch of Georgia, Terri and William Mazur of Cedarville and formerly of Yellow Springs, Shannon and Laurence Eichhorn of North Carolina, Kristina (Kiki) and Frank Wilson of Georgia, Kevin Follrath of Florida and Noel and Minnie Follrath of Georgia; and eight grandchildren, Dustin Mengelkoch, Joel Mengelkoch, Kaitlyn Follrath, Ashley Mazur, Megan Follrath, Paul Mengelkoch, J.B. Follrath, and Laura Mengelkoch.

Private services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice, 3131 Dixie Drive, Dayton 45439. The family is being served by Littleton & Rue Funeral Home in Springfield.