Evelyn Rose Buss

Obituary for Evelyn Rose Buss Evelyn Rose Buss passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at Sunset House, Indian Road, where she lived for the last five years. Evelyn was born in Auburn, Indiana on October 13, 1913 to Myra Rose Preece Lumm and Albert Harold Lumm, Sr. She moved to Toledo when she was two-years-old and lived there the rest of her life. She grew up in a large and loving family, the oldest of six children. Evelyn graduated from Scott High School in 1931 where she took German and Latin at the same time and was a member of the National Honor Society. She also graduated from the University of Toledo, one of only two women receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1935 the first class to attend all four years at the newly built campus on West Bancroft Street. While there, she enjoyed her classes, friends, sorority life, being an attendant to the May Queen, and running for class office. Since it was the days of the Great Depression, she stayed in Toledo to attend college and help with her fathers business, the A. H. Lumm Heating and Sheet Metal Co. How proud they were to create the first central air-conditioning system in the Midwest for the home of R. A. Stranahan which is now the Manor House at Wildwood Metropark. On January 23, 1937, she married Karl W. Buss. They enjoyed fifty-three years of marriage until his death in 1990. During this time, Evelyn once again used her college degree as she became the Chief Financial Officer of his business, Karl Buss Painting Contractors. She maintained his business alone for nineteen months while he served in the Navy in World War II and following his death until she was eighty-five years old. Evelyn was the consummate caregiver throughout her life, serving others in one way or another. She always put others needs before her own, especially her familys. She was a devoted, loving, generous and giving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Anyone who knew her loved her kind, thoughtful nature. She was a lady in the truest sense of the word. In the past, she was an active member of Monroe Street United Methodist Church where she belonged for more than fifty-five years, the American Red Cross, the United Way, and AAUW. She belonged to the Toledo Museum of Art, the University of Toledo Alumni Association, and the Toledo Zoological Society. She loved to play bridge and did so with one of her groups for over sixty years. Evelyn treasured her two favorite trips. The first was a gift from her grandfather to his daughters and their families when they went in a private train car to California for three months. She also loved her European trip to thirteen countries for six weeks with her husband and daughter. The oldest of six children an infant sister died shortly after birth, she was often like a mother to her siblings, offering love and support throughout their lives. They so enjoyed being together with many special memories of summers growing up at the family cottage at Round Lake in Michigan. While there, she played tennis and golf and went horseback riding. Later, though she did not win, she was quite proud of playing in the City of Toledo tennis championships. During the summer that she was fifteen years old, her thirteen-year-old brother taught her to drive her fathers Pierce Arrow which she nearly crashed while waving to friends because she was so proud. Her drivers license was last renewed at age 89! Everyone who knew her loved this beautiful, kind, generous and loving person. She will forever be missed. Left to cherish her precious memory are her adoring daughter, Nancy Byron Quandt, grandson Karl Matthew Straub Grand Lake, Colorado, granddaughter Stephanie Elizabeth Kennedy Avon Lake, Ohio, great-grandchildren J. Matthew Blake Straub, Madison Elizabeth Kennedy, Thomas Grey Kennedy, III, and William Hunter Kennedy, sister Ruth Richard Miller, and dear sister-in-law Marjorie Ann Lumm, plus many much loved nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. She was preceded in death by her wonderful parents, brothers Frederick, Albert Jr., William and Robert Lumm, and sister Nancy Ann. A private family service will be held for Evelyn at Toledo Memorial Park. The family would like to express sincere appreciation to the staff at Sunset House and the team of Hospice of Northwest Ohio for their compassionate and dedicated care. Those wishing to extend an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Sunset House, 4020 Indian Rd., Toledo, Ohio, 43606, Hospice of Northwest Ohio, 30000 West River Rd., Perrysburg, Ohio, 43551, or Monroe Street United Methodist Church, 3613 Monroe St., Toledo, Ohio, 43606. Those wishing to share an online condolence may do so at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.