Felia Ford LeBoutillier

LE BOUTILLIER Felia Ford "Fe" Felia Ford LeBoutillier, known as "Fe" to her friends, died peacefully at her home in Perrysburg, Ohio on March 1, 2009. She was born to George Ross Ford and Grace Miller Ford on April 11, 1920 in Toledo's Old West End. Fe was the grand-daughter of Edward Ford, founder of the Edward Ford Plate Glass Company, which became Libbey Owens Ford Glass Company (LOF), later merging with Pilkington Glass. After moving to Perrysburg, Fe went to Perrysburg public school, graduated from Miss Hall's School in Pittsfield, MA, and attended Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY. In 1940, she married Philip LeBoutillier, Jr. at her family home in Perrysburg. Following Phil's Naval career during World War II, they settled in Perrysburg to raise their family. Their fifty-five years of marriage were filled with travel and adventures whether with business, family or friends. Through the Young President's Organization and Chief Executive Forum, Fe and Phil traveled the world. Family vacations were spent skiing at Otsego in Gaylord, Michigan, fishing the Au Sable in summer, and enjoying their home in Hope Town, Abaco in the Bahamas. Fe had great patience with Phil's passion for boats. She once complained that none of his boats had a bathtub. Finally she got her wish on their boat, Dragoon. "Maudie", as she was known to family, had her greatest pleasure being with her family. She was the essence of a loving and caring mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was always ready with a loving hug, sometimes accompanied by a story from a Richard Scary book, while one sat comfortably on her lap. Birthdays, anniversaries and holidays, especially Christmas, were always remembered with wonderful gifts, beautifully wrapped! Her dedication and generosity to family and friends was genuine and eternal. As a gracious hostess, she entertained with subtle and beautiful grace, sophistication and creativity. Her attention to detail, whether serving colorful meals or decorating her home, is memorable to this day. Fe supported her community through her various roles in the Junior League of Toledo, Toledo Day Nursery, Children's Theater Workshop, Toledo Rowing Foundation and Club, Toledo Zoo, Toledo Museum of Art, Perrysburg Way Public Library, as a Cub Scouts Den Mother, and Every Child Counts, a school for Abaconian (Bahamas) children with special needs. She will be remembered for her gentle wit, mischievous sense of humor, determination, generosity, organization and dedication to family. Always graceful, Fe was known for being beautifully and appropriately dressed. Her concern was for the comfort and wishes of others, not herself. Her family and friends will miss her. She is survived by her sons, Philip G. LeBoutillier (Kent) of Hope Town, Bahamas, George F. LeBoutillier (Stepper) of Perrysburg, Ohio and her daughter, Ford LeBoutillier of Leland, Michigan. Fe is also survived by her loving grandchildren, Philip G. LeBoutillier, Jr. (Paige Biagi), Jean-Baptist LeBoutillier (Nicole), Gretchen LeBoutillier, Stephen LeBoutillier (Jennifer), Megan Learing (Jeff), Winston Ford, Charley Ford (Katherine), Grace Aldridge (Doug) and twelve great- grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Phil, her parents, her brother, George Ross Ford, Jr. and her sister, Grace Ford Orser. Special appreciation was expressed by Fe's family for her compassionate care and wonderful companionship for the last four years by Paul's Peers Respite Care at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Maumee, Ohio. Thanks and love go to Tina, Tabitha, Jessica, Angie and Carolyn, Fe's in-home care givers who have been so loving, caring, dutiful, and professional in their exceptional care for her. A service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Maumee on Saturday, March 7th at 11 a.m. Private burial will be in the Historic Woodlawn Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted in Witzler-Shank Funeral Home, Perrysburg (419-874-3133). The family suggests that those wishing to make a tribute in Fe's name consider Hospice of Northwest Ohio and Paul's Peers at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Maumee, Ohio. Condolences may be made online to www. witzlershank.com