Doris Ayling

Doris passed away on Tuesday, September 8, 2009. She was born on July 7, 1930 to Mary L. Sauser Ayling and Wellesley A. Ayling as their 2nd daughter. Her sister, Jean Thomas Nesper of California survives her. Doris attended Kleis Elementary, Point Place Jr. High, and Waite High Schools graduating in 1948. In high school she was a clarinetist, a majorette in the band, and was active in Spanish Club, Phils, National Honor Society, Senior Class Committee, and Future Teachers of America. She studied at Ohio State University graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1951. Her major was Fine Arts Education and she minored in English. She had been a member of the Delta Phi Delta National Art Honorary, Womens Rifle Team, and Activities Band. Doris began teaching at Deveaux School in 1955. In 1956 she moved to Jones Jr. High teach art and was there for six years. She instructed Saturday classes at Toledo Art Museum four years. In fall 1958, after teaching Human Growth & Development as a Graduate Assistant to the Dean, she began graduate studies at the University of Toledo and in June of 1960 she received her Masters of Education in Guidance and Counseling. Doris was invited to become a Teaching Fellow and left Toledo Schools in 1961 to study full time in the doctoral program. During that year she was elected to Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and Pi Lambda Theta. She became acting Dean of the College of Education during summer 1962 in the absence of the Dean. Her dissertation, A Proposal for a Student Personnel Program for Adult Part-time Students at the University of Toledo earned her a doctoral degree. In June of 1966 she became the first Waite graduate and only fourth woman ever to earn a doctorate at the University of Toledo. In 1962, while studying for her doctorate, she began her career in Guidance & Counseling at Maumee High School, and in 1978 she became the Director of Guidance. She was responsible for innovative use of tests, profiles, in-house publications, and increased articulation between schools. She was recognized by the Maumee Chamber of Commerce, Ohio House of Representatives, and Ohio Career Development Program for outstanding achievement and the handbooks she created. During 1989-90 she taught a graduate school course at Heidelberg University. In 1990 she retired from Maumee Schools, but soon resumed her career as Supervisor of Counselors at Springfield Schools and was there for three years. On Saturday, April 7 2001 she was inducted into the Distinguished Waite Alumni. Dr. Ayling served on many boards and committees including the Advisory Boards of the Maumee Valley Hospital School of Nursing, University of Toledo Counselors, Owens Technical College Counselors, and the ACT committee. She held Permanent Teaching Certificates in School Counseling, English, Fine Arts, and had been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 1986. Professional memberships included the American Assoc. for Counseling & Development, American School Counselor Assoc., Ohio Assoc. of College Admissions Counselors, and both the Ohio and Maumee Education Associations. She had been Chairman of the Selection Committee of the WAITE, Inc. Scholarship Program and remained a trustee through her passing. Doris was an avid reader to the end. Having been a longtime member of Toledo Camera Club, her photography reflects a lifelong admiration of nature and travel that took her to all 50 states and thirty-seven countries. Doris was exceedingly proud of her sons Philip Sharon Cummings, Mechanical Engineer and Dr. James Anne Cummings D.O., Sports Medicine Specialist, her grandsons Jonathan Lauren Cummings and Daniel Cummings, and her nephews Mark, Matt, Tim, & Ted Nesper. She was formerly married to Richard P. Cummings deceased and Robert E. Siegel divorced. Family & Friends may visit Monday, September 14, 2009 from 10:00 am through the Memorial Service at 12:00 Noon in Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, 501 Conant Street, Maumee and may attend a subsequent brief gathering at Doriss parents grave site in Woodlawn Cemetery where her cremains will be buried with her mothers as she had requested. The family requests memorial contributions to Waite High, Inc. Scholarship Fund at the funeral home or by mail to: Waite High, Inc., 3003 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, Ohio 43614 www.walkerfuneralhomes.com