January 24, 2008

OBITUARIES

Josephine Lubing

Josephine Lubing, a former long-time resident of Yellow Springs, was killed instantly in a head-on collision with a drunk driver on the afternoon of Jan. 5, while driving with her sister, Mary Cooper, near Reading, Pa. Her sister is still in critical condition with numerous broken bones and internal injuries, but is expected to survive.

Jo (or Jody, as she was called by friends and family) was born May 18, 1914, in Warrington, Pa., and grew up there with four sisters and one brother. She had numerous nieces and nephews with whom she established close relationships in later life. She eventually moved to Yellow Springs and was married to Irving Lubing, divorcing him after more than 35 years, and moved then to King of Prussia, Pa., to live with her two sisters, Mary, who worked in the pharmaceutical field, and Althea, a pediatrician.

While Jo moved away 28 years ago, she will be remembered by friends here for her social work and then her teaching of mentally challenged children in Cedarville. She and her husband traveled extensively in their camper and enjoyed photography and gardening. For a number of years after she moved east, Jo was heavily involved in teaching in a literacy program at Graterford Prison, a maximum security facility north of Philadelphia. When one of her nieces asked if she wasn’t frightened to be among so many violent criminals, she replied that she felt safer inside the prison than she did on the city streets. She continued to go there twice a week until the last year or two when her eyes weakened and she could no longer drive herself there.

She came back to our village briefly for two years to serve as a nanny and housekeeper for Vicki and Lee Morgan’s two children, Asha and Matthew, but returned to King of Prussia to live out her 93 years participating in a book club, swimming three times a week in a local pool, gardening, elderhosteling with her sisters, and being active in the area Senior Citizens’ Center. She and Mary had recently moved from their large home to an apartment in the same town, downsizing but still planning more elderhostel trips.

There was no memorial service, at Jo’s prior request, and her ashes will eventually be scattered in Yellow Springs — the place she considered her real home. Her family has suggested that contributions be made in her memory to the Glen Helen Association.

Brian Bartelt

Brian Edward Bartelt, until recently an employee of Downing’s Do It Best Hardware in Yellow Springs, died Friday, Jan. 18, at the Veteran’s Medical Center, Dayton. He was 59.

He was born Feb. 28, 1948, in Grinnell, Iowa, the son of Edward and Ida Mae (Maack) Bartelt. He was the brother to Brent and Bonnie, uncle to Kelly, Lori, Holley, and Brittany, and brother-in-law to Marty.

Brian was a proud Navy veteran, serving in the Vietnam War. He was a Brown Water Sailor, who received citations for his performance in combat.

He also taught English to the Vietnamese. Brian retired from YSI after 31 years, having worked mostly in the maintenance department. After his retirement, he worked at the local hardware store, where he will be missed by many.

A graveside service will be held at the Veteran’s National Cemetery, Dayton, at 10 a.m., Monday, Jan. 28. The burial will be followed by a salute to a brother, uncle, friend and hardware advisor to many at Nick’s Restaurant.

Please send stories about Brian and condolences to NeeldFuneralHome@aol.com. Donations may be made in Brian’s name to the VA Hospice, 4100 W. Third St., Dayton, OH 45428-9907.