August 2, 2007

OBITUARIES

Jo Steinhilber

Joanne “Jo” (Hinkle) Steinhilber died after a battle with lung cancer on July 29, 2007.

Born in Hamilton, Ohio, in Sept. 1924, she was the only child of Flora (Flo) Hussey and Charlie Hinkle.

Jo spent her early life in Lima, Ohio, attended Miami University in Oxford for a short while, and then moved to Yellow Springs in 1946 after World War II. Here, she met and married Budd Steinhilber in 1949 and raised her two children.

For many years, she was a part of the “Antioch Experience.” She worked for several years as a secretary at Vernay Labs, and was employed by Antioch College off and on between 1946 and 1996 — a total of 25 years, working in the sociology/anthropology dept., then at Fels Research, and €nally in Antioch’s development of€ce.

Her mother exposed her to music and the arts at an early age. She was a member of the Community Chorus, at its very beginning, and after her retirement in 1997, she did volunteer work for Chamber Music Yellow Springs, the Library Association, the YS Tree Committee, and, €nally, at the YS Senior Center.

A special highlight was her active participation in local theatre: the opera house in the late 1940s, and Antioch Area Theater’s Shakespeare Under the Stars during the 1950s, (which involved costuming design, and many late night cast parties). She was also active behind the scenes at Center Stage during its heyday, working closely with her dear friend, the late Jean Hooper.

Her life was €lled with many creative outlets, including gardening, jewelry making, leatherwork, knitting, sewing, music, choral singing, theatre, homemaking and enjoying life. A staunch liberal and a socialist by nature, she believed in equality for all humankind. Her generosity, love of the arts, and sense of humor will be sorely missed.

She was preceded in death by her mother, her father, her dear cousin, Carolyn (Cosley) Willhelm, and her son, John Willhelm.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Julie Steinhilber and Tony Mazzola of Malden, Mass., and her son and long-time caregiver, Donn, of Yellow Springs; dear cousins, Dennis Cosley of Kirkland, Wash.; Jerry Cosley, of Excelsior Springs, Mo.; Carolyn Willhelm’s former husband, Louis Willhelm, of Charlotte, N.C.; and their children, Tom, Jeff, Stephanie, Eric.

Her body was cremated under the auspices of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Central Ohio. There will be no religious service. A memorial service will be planned in Yellow Springs at a future date.

In lieu of �owers, memorial contributions would be welcome in her name at her favorite charities/volunteer groups: Chamber Music Yellow Springs, the Yellow Springs Tree Committee, Glen Helen Association, and/or the Senior Center.

The family members would like to thank Hospice of Dayton, Amy Crawford, and all of their good friends and family that helped them through this tough time.

R. Thomas Ost

R. Thomas Ost of Cincinnati, formerly of Akron and Yellow Springs and Jackson, Miss., died Sunday, July 8.

Tom graduated from the University of Akron and spent most of his career in higher education. He was an administrator at the University of Akron, Antioch College, the Mississippi State University system, and most recently the Union Institute of Cincinnati.

Tom is survived by his wife, Betty; children and their partners, Margaret Ballenger and Jeffrey Bothwell, Michael Hall and Joanne Thomas, Mark and Becky Hall, Patty and Dave Yates, Sheila Howell, Peggy and Dan Sanchez, Michael and Paula Ost, Julie and Tony Hornsby, and Elizabeth and Rick Berger; siblings and their spouses, Fred and Kathy Ost, and Ellen and Ron McAvoy; 14 grandchildren; many cousins, nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren.

Tom was known for his sense of humor, and had a story for every occasion. He was an invaluable member of his church and his community. Everyone who knew Tom loved him and he will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Aug. 12, in Cincinnati. Memorials may be made to All Saints Episcopal Church, Cincinnati, Ohio.