Evelyn Grace Wagner Bauer

Evelyn Grace Wagner Bauer was born March 6, 1932, in Orrville, Ohio to Elmer and Esther Wagner. She was very close with her mother especially helping her manage the household and care for her younger brother Earl. Evelyn was continuously wrapped in love throughout her childhood from adoring aunts, uncles and cousins, and because of her mother developed a deep love of music and reading that would carry her through a long and beautiful life.
Upon her graduation from Rittman High School in 1950, Evelyn attended the University of Akron, earning her teaching certificate for elementary education. She taught Kindergarten for the Rittman Exempted Village Schools and Sharon Elementary School and often shared stories of having over 50 kids in one class. She noticed a cute guy while taking an American History class at Kent State University in 1955, and later found out he was Ralph Bauer and recently hired to teach science at Rittman High School. Evelyn wanted to leave him a note in his school mailbox but was too shy. They finally met face to face in the coatroom of the school cafeteria one day and began dating that November. Ralph was the love of her life and so the young couple married on November 18, 1956.
After discovering she was pregnant with their first child, Evelyn left her teaching job as was the custom. Sadly, Evelyn and Ralph's baby boy, James Ralph, died during his birth, a tragedy that was honored and remembered throughout their lifetimes. In 1960, the couple were able to welcome their son William Irvin Bauer into the world and in 1964, their little family was complete with the birth of their daughter, Regenia Eloise.
Evelyn chose to stay home with her young children for 17 years. Although she did not formerly return to her teaching career, she was always the quintessential teacher. She made regular practice of taking her children to the library, buying fun books for them to practice writing or drawing, and planning educational adventures disguised as family trips. She directed the Melody choir at Trinity United Church of Christ in Wadsworth and taught Sunday school there for many, many years.
Evelyn often volunteered in the Wadsworth community, and along with Ralph, was an active member of the Wadsworth Chapter of The Eastern Stars and served as the Mother Advisor for the Wadsworth Rainbow Girls chapter. She was an alumnus of Zeta Tau Alpha and would often get together with old sorority sisters to catch up on their lives and reminisce. Ralph and Evelyn often practiced duets together around the family piano and then went on tour to area churches in the summer months, sharing their gift of song. One of her favorite hymn duets to sing with Ralph was "How Great Thou Art".
As her children approached young adulthood, Evelyn went back to school to earn her real estate license and become one of the top sellers for Century 21 Realty in the late 1970's. She hired her daughter to write ads for her and take proper phone messages while allowing her son to drive the family car with a huge Century 21 magnet on the door, every teenage boy's dream. She taught her children that family was everything, but hard work was worth pursuing.
She finished her real estate career after a collapse in the market in the early 1980's and became the Office Manager of Grace Lutheran Church for eleven years. She helped Pastor Joe Ertl serve his congregation by keeping the office organized, printing the weekly church bulletin, and answering questions and concerns of church members daily. She loved her job at Grace Lutheran but retired in 1993, so she could spend more time traveling to elder hostels with her husband Ralph and to have more time with her grandchildren.
Ralph was diagnosed with myelodysplasia syndrome in the mid 1990's requiring frequent doctor visits and blood transfusions at the local hospital. Evelyn never left his side spending the hours in the hospital reading or creating needlecraft with embroidery. She embroidered heirloom bibs, towels, blankets, and tablecloths for each of her 9 grandchildren, daughter and daughter-in-law. In addition to embroidery, Evelyn loved to finish ceramic objects and give them away. She made an entire Christmas village for her son-in-law, pumpkins, Easter baskets and all sorts of Christmas ornaments for family and friends. She painted and fired all the vases for her daughter's wedding reception and wedding ceremony.
Evelyn was widowed in 2001 and never remarried. She spent the next 23 years fiercely proud of her grandchildren and children. She attended band concerts, dance recitals, awards presentations, graduations, weddings, parties and family reunions. She embraced technology without fear and purchased a Macintosh Computer, iPhone, and iPad as soon as they hit the market. She stated she "had to learn to use modern technology and to keep learning" so she could keep pace with a changing world. She was an avid email communicator and would later join all the social media platforms to share life daily with friends, children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was always the first person to "like" a post or make a comment on LinkedIn about a job promotion and would often engage in political debates with strangers on Facebook. She used every opportunity she could to stay active and involved in her community, country and world. Whether she was organizing high school reunions for her Rittman High School graduating class, keeping up a strong streak playing "words with friends' online, or sharing the political commentary of Rachel Maddow or Heather Cox Richardson, Evelyn embraced the technology that kept her actively involved until just a day before her death. She always remembered birthdays and anniversaries; prioritizing staying connected with everyone throughout the years.
Evelyn was committed to making greeting cards for every holiday, not only for her family and loved ones, but also for the Christian Children's Home of Ohio. She believed every child should have a birthday card on their birthday and would request a list from the CCHO in Wooster every month, sometimes making up to 20 cards, one for each child on the list, before mailing them back to be distributed. In addition, she shared her love of card-making with her grandchildren, making them personal cards for every holiday and including a little "something" in the card when it was given.
Evelyn touched many people's lives and loved to engage all sorts of people in conversation. She embraced life fully, never wanting to slow down even after her diagnosis of congestive heart failure. She was an avid reader and would often recommend books or anxiously await about getting off the waiting list for the latest best seller at the library. On occasion, she would splurge and buy a book, read it, then pass it on to one of her grandchildren to read next so they could discuss it and stay current. Her final wish was never to have to leave the home on Baker Drive in Wadsworth that she and Ralph had built together right after their marriage. Her wish was granted as she passed away Friday, January 31 surrounded by family.
Evelyn is survived by her son Bill (Patty), her daughter Regenia Spoerndle (John) and her Grandchildren, Betsy Bauer (Eric Houtman), Courtney Spoerndle, Katie Bauer, Samantha Ezzo (Anthony), Michael Bauer, Jonah Spoerndle (Ashley Ritter) Micah Spoerndle, Sierra Spoerndle, and Aidan Spoerndle. Evelyn's great-grandchildren, Isabella and Antonio Ezzo, and Ellorie Piper Houtman have lost their Gigi, the grandma name she chose because she thought it sounded so much better than Great- Grandma, which made her sound "so old".
Evelyn's family is planning a small traditional burial with the help of Hilliard-Rospert Funeral Home and Hillcrest Cemetery this Saturday, February 8, 2025. Visiting hours will take place from noon to one followed by a short service at the Hilliard-Rospert Funeral Home in Wadsworth. In an effort to properly honor our beloved mother, grandmother and Gigi, a separate Celebration of Life will be held this summer. The family is planning to fill this celebration with music, family and friends as Evelyn would have wanted.
Evelyn's family has asked that in lieu of flowers, those wishing to share a memorial gift please donate in her name to Marian's Closet of Wadsworth, Wadsworth FISH, or the Wadsworth Public Library Foundation.