April 12, 2007

OBITUARIES

Dorothea Barnett
Dorothea “Dottie” Nylin Barnett died April 5 at Friends Care in Yellow Springs. She was 96.

The daughter of Swedish immigrants, she was a graduate of the University of Minnesota in physical education. She taught at various locations in the United States and in Mexico City for one summer and was a recreation director for the USO in Hawaii during World War II. She had the distinction of being the first female USO worker in Honolulu after Pearl Harbor, arriving there in May 1942. She met her husband, Bill, in Honolulu and married in 1945. They returned “stateside” in 1949 to Lebanon, Ill., with the family now consisting of daughter Bette, and stepsons Peter and Mikal. She taught a wide variety of subjects besides physical education, including swimming and hula.

Dottie and her family moved to San Antonio in 1957 and she resided there until 1995. She and her husband loved to travel and did so extensively. She firmly believed in getting to know people from other countries.

In May of 1995 she moved to Dayton and in 2000 she moved to Friends Care in Yellow Springs to be near her daughter, Bette. She will be remembered at Friends Care for her many sayings: “I feel like a nickel half spent,” “4-0,” “Do you like your job or do you need to eat?” While at Friends she taught exercise classes and was still giving hula lessons. She loved being outside and going for a walk remained her favorite activity next to reading. She passed on her love of travel, adventure, reading, the outdoors, value of education and her love of jewelry to her daughter. She will be sorely missed.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Bette Kelley and Wayne Gulden; her grandson and his spouse, Trey Kelley and Kathy Stone; great granddaughter, Avery Stone, her stepson and his spouse, Mikal and Aggie Barnett and their children, Mike Jr. and Kathy, Maureen and Sean, Father Daniel, Sheila and Aaron, Patrick and Rebecca, and a host of great grandchildren in Washington State, her niece Mrs. Darold Strand of St. Louis, Mo., and two nephews, Peter and Danny Nylin of Minneapolis and their children.

Bette and Wayne would like to give their heartfelt thanks to everyone at Friends Care for creating a vibrant atmosphere for their residents as well as providing them with the utmost care in a loving environment. They would also like to thank Hospice of Dayton and Liz, Melodie and Joy.

Those desiring may send a donation in her memory to either Friends Care or Hospice of Dayton.

Mildred L. Paul

Mildred L. Paul of Xenia died Monday, April 9, at the Friends Care Center in Yellow Springs. She was born Oct. 7, 1910, in Decatur, Ohio, the daughter of Leroy and Gertrude (Brooks) Reid. She was 96.

She had worked at the dime store and at Furay’s Variety Store, both in Yellow Springs, and was a cook at Mills Lawn Elementary School. She was a member of Faith Community United Methodist Church and had been active in the Methodist Church her entire life. She was also a member of the Rebeccah Lodge.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Alva H. Paul; sons, Donald A. Paul and Jerry Thomas Paul; and six brothers and sisters.

She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Johnnie R. and Ann Paul of Jamestown; daughter and son-in-law, Lavonne and Gary Riley of Xenia; daughter-in-law, Marjorie Paul of Kentucky, 15 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; three brothers, Ray Reid of Georgetown, Ohio, and Ernest and Floyd Reid both of Washington Courthouse, Ohio.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 12, at McColaugh Funeral Home, 826 N. Detroit Street, Xenia. The family will receive friends Thursday from 1:30 p.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Interment will be in Valley View Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Paul’s family would like to express their appreciation to the staff and residents of Friends Care Center for their care and support.

Mary B. Leuba

Former Yellow Springs resident Mary B. Leuba of Raleigh, North Carolina, died on March 24 from injuries sustained in a fall. She was 80.

Mary was raised on a farm, near Weiser, Idaho, and was valedictorian of her high school graduating class. She earned a bachelors degree from Antioch College in 1950 and a masters of social work from the University of California at Berkeley in 1960. She first worked as a social worker with the juvenile court, and her work with disadvantaged youth led to her becoming a founding official of Partners of Wake County, where she was the senior counselor until her retirement in 1991.

Mary lived in Yellow Springs from 1968 to 1970, when her husband, Dick, was on the Antioch faculty.

Since her college days, Mrs. Leuba was a steadfast member of the Society of Friends, and regularly attended the Raleigh Friends Meeting.

She and Dick made almost yearly visits to Yellow Springs from 1971 to 2004, to visit friends and family, including their son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Tammy Leuba and children. A 2004 visit was at the specific request of Coretta Scott King to be there when she received her Horace Mann award. Mrs. King had been one of two bridesmaids at Mary’s Yellow Springs wedding, Dec. 24. 1950. Dr. Carl Hyde is one of the signatories to the wedding certificate.

Mary traveled in all 50 states and toured Europe, Egypt, parts of Central and South America, Mexico, Canada and New Zealand. With cycling groups, she bicycled in Cuba, from Raleigh to Ohio, across Iowa, in four countries in Africa,, and the full length of England plus Scotland. She trekked in Nepal, and at the age of 72 climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. Her active life necessarily slowed down following a series of strokes in recent years.

Mary Leuba enjoyed a large circle of friends, and over the years, delighted in co-hosting many happy parties. She made a significant moral/social impact on the community. Her interactions with so many others were positive, lasting and widespread.

She is survived by Richard Leuba, her husband of 56 years; her brother, James Bernard of Captain Cook, Hawaii; her sons, James F. Leuba of Fort Langley, B.C., and Sanford H. Leuba of Pittsburgh; and her daughters, Suzanne L. Mealy of Knightdale, N.C., and Valerie L. Quade of Los Angeles, Calif; 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Private services were held.