DeLean Dotterer

MEDINA -- DeLean Glea Dotterer, 108 years old, of Medina and Wadsworth, passed away July 29, 2023, at The Hospice of Medina County. DeLean was born in Paulding County, Ohio, on July 14, 1915, to Otto and Martha Ludwig. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands: Charles Heyman in 1955, and Jethro Dotterer in 1985; daughter Karolyn and son-in-law James Kendall; brother, William Bernard Ludwig; sisters, Florence Unger, Helen Reinhart, Lois Young, Beulah Straley, and Lela Wilhelm.

She is survived by her daughter, Marilyn Hankins; granddaughters Kristin (Rob) Brawley, and Jennifer (Terry) Budd; great-granddaughters Kate Brawley, Sam Budd, and Alex DeLean Budd. She is also survived by the many members of her siblings' families who continue to cherish their time spent with "Auntie D."

DeLean enjoyed regularly corresponding with her students living in various states about their memories of her teaching them in elementary schools in Mark Center, Sherwood, Licking View, or Elida, Ohio. Her teaching career started in a one-room, eight-grade schoolhouse in Paulding County, before World War II.

Throughout her lifetime she personally experienced many historical events…just a few being – remembering neighbors who lost their children in the pandemic of 1918, attending Bowling Green College as it attained full university status in 1935, visiting Cuba in 1959 as Castro took control, personally being a part of the home-town parade to welcome John Glenn to New Concord after his flight in 1962, surviving World War I, World War II and the great depression, listening to several presidents speak at various ceremonies including President Reagan speaking at Louisiana State University as Kristi graduated in 1990, losing a home in Gulf Breeze, Florida during the ravages of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and a myriad of other historical happenings.

She was still traveling well into her 90s, and with friends and family visited all of the United States (including Hawaii and Alaska) and Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Panama Canal, Mexico, Costa Rico, Jamaica, Cuba, Vancouver Island, the Canadian Rockies, Nova Scotia, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. Her most treasured time was spent with family and friends traveling to a favorite spot…like Miss Molly's for tea or First Watch for cranberry pecan pancakes, or the mall for new fashions.

Because her many friends and family are in different locations, she wished to have small, intimate gatherings of loved ones enjoying each other in remembrance. These will be planned and shared in the near future by the family. They would like DeLean to be remembered for her long, interesting life; care for and interest in people; positive attitude and smile; sharp wit and curious mind; stylish, youthful appearance; a good and loving family, and too many blessings to count.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Hospice of Medina County who were such a comfort to us all in DeLean's final days. Carlson Funeral Home and Cremation Services are entrusted with the arrangements.