Mary RODABAUGH

RODABAUGH Mary Jane Gorman, long time Oxford resident and former senior instructor at Miami University, died Monday, December 23, 2002 at Hospice of Blue Ash at the age of 85. Mary Jane was born in Napoleon, Ohio on August 2, 1917. Her loving husband, Dr. James Rodabaugh, her parents, Dan and Sophia Gorman, dear cousins, Carl and Eleanor Taraschke and a brother, Jim Gorman, preceded her in death. Mrs. Rodabaugh, an honor graduate of Capital University, held the M.A. degree in history from the Ohio State University and began her distinguished career as a teacher of English Literature. She was then employed by the Ohio Historical Society where she met Dr. James Rodabaugh. They were married on November 9, 1946, and enjoyed 38 years of marriage until Dr. Rodabaugh's death in 1985. Together they co-authored two works, Nursing in Ohio, a history, 1951, and Schoenbrunn and the Moravian Missions in Ohio, 1945. She served as assistant to the director of the Ohio War History Commissin and was the managing editor of the Ohio Nurses Review, a publication of the Ohio State Nurses' Association. She developed many wonderful and enduring friendships with students at the Columbus School for Girls where she taught in the early 60's. The couple lived and worked in Columbus and Kent, Ohio, until 1967, when they came to Oxford and were employed by Miami University. Mrs. Rodabaugh, a senior instructor of social studies in the Education Department, was involved in training many area teachers and was very active in professional associations. Upon her retirement she was awarded Professor Emeritus status. Mrs. Rodabaugh, always active, was a volunteer at the Miami Art Museum and with the McCullough Hyde Hospital Auxiliary. Until last spring she wintered in Frot Myers, Florida and most recently lived at Evergreen Retirement Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mrs. Rodabaugh enjoyed world travel and was known for her intellectual wit and energy. Always interested in learning, she began tennis lssons at the age of seventy (70) and was an avid sports fan. She also enjoyed reading, wildlife, gardening and cooking. Survivors include long time and loving friends, Sandy Smith and Barbara Hammel of Cincinnati, Steve and Colleen Anders and Family of Richmond, Virginia, Mike and Jeanine Fuller and Family, and William and Joyce Rouse and Family of Oxford, many loyal and loving students, friends and colleagues. Services will be held at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Oxford, Ohio on Tuesday, December 31, 2002 at 11 A.M. with burial in the Darrtown Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Miami Art Museum, the McCullough Hyde Hospital or the Ohioana Library. The Smith & Ogle Funeral Home in Oxford, Ohio are handling arrangements.