Ethel Bauer

MESA, Ariz. — Ethel Smith Bauer died at 101 years of age in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 26, 2017.

Born in Pomeroy, Ohio, the fourth child of David Eugene (Gene) Smith and Florence Russell Smith, on Sept. 25, 1915, she lived her early life in Pomeroy.

She met and married Kenneth R. Willoughby soon after graduating from Pomeroy High School in 1933. They had three sons, Kenneth E. (Gene), Roger G. R., and Thomas M. (Tom).

Times were difficult, and work was hard to find. Kenneth was unable to support his family, and Ethel became a single parent. Although work was scarce, Ethel worked at several jobs, including the Works Progress Association (WPA) as a playground supervisor, and the local Kroger grocery store.

During World War II, she obtained a position at the Office of Price Administration (OPA) and the Ration Board. After the war ended in 1945, she graduated from the Bustin Academy in Columbus, Ohio, and became a licensed beautician. She owned and operated the Ethelene Beauty Salon for several years. She next was employed in the office of the Meigs County Probate and Juvenile Court by Judge Harmon O"Brien.

She then became the superintendent of the Meigs County Children's Home, as was a positive influence on many young lives in that capacity. Upon leaving the Children's Home, she married Oscar Bauer, a widower, who had two sons, William (Bill) and Robert (Bob), with his late wife.

Oscar, Ethel, Bob, Gene, and Tom lived in Oscar's home, located between Pomeroy and Chester, for several years, during which time Oscar and Ethel's first daughter, Margaret Eleanor, was born. Oscar was highly respected as a marksman, hunter and fly fisherman, and Ethel soon became quite adept at fly fishing herself.

Oscar and Ethel then moved to Michigan when Oscar retired. Their life in Michigan was tragically short when Oscar died suddenly, and Ethel, now pregnant with their second child, one again became a single mother. Following Oscar's interment in Beech Grove Cemetery in Pomeroy, Ethel gave birth to their second daughter, Mary Loiuse, at Holzer Hospital in Gallipolis, Ohio.

Ethel then made the courageous decision, as she started the next and longest chapter in her life, to relocate to Phoenix, Arizona. There, she reared her two daughters and, as she once said, blossomed. She became quite accomplished, learned to drive an automobile, became a Born Again Christian, and retired as the head administrative assistant of the mathematics department at Arizona State University. Her second son, Roger, lived with her for many years. Her crowning achievement was undoubtedly how, to the very end, she dedicated her life to her children.

Ethel is survived by her children, Kenneth, Roger, Margaret and Mary; grandchildren, Keith Young, David Willoughby, Lisa Downy, Thomas Willoughby II and Beth Clark. She has many great and several great great grandchildren.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents; her youngest son, Thomas; two stepsons, William and Robert; and her five siblings, Eleanor R., Mildred R., Florence L., Eugene R. and Dinah C.

May she rest in peace.

A grave side service and burial will be in Beech Grove Cemetery, Pomeroy, Ohio, at the convenience of the family.

Messages of condolence may be sent to Eugene Willoughby, 5747 E. Clinton Street, Albany, Ohio, 45710 or via email to stonebuhr1@gmail.com.