Leota R Scarberry

Leota Rose Scarberry Leota Rose Scarberry, 90, of Walbridge, the most loving mother ever, departed this life peacefully and painlessly while holding hands with the two luckiest daughters in the world on Monday, April 8, 2013, at Otterbein Portage Valley. She was born October 27, 1922, in Logan, Ohio to William and Nelle Spence. She was their oldest daughter, the second of eleven children. She married the love of her life, Forrest Scarberry August 25, 1944, and moved to Toledo, OH. They later moved to Walbridge where they raised their family. Leota was a generous caring woman who worried about others. She was actively involved with Neighbors Serving Neighbors, an organization of local churches who provided food each month to those people in the community who needed help. During the time her husband was mayor, Leota was instrumental in bringing the federal food distribution program to Walbridge. In addition to providing food baskets for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, Leota could always be counted on to gather boxes of food and clothing for people who needed it on an emergency basis. Often times, she would be contacted by the county with the name of families who needed help. She was a tireless worker at Grace United Methodist Church in Walbridge where she served in many positions throughout her life. For decades she organized funeral dinners not only for our church families, but also for grieving families without ties to any church. Leota enjoyed working as a presiding judge during elections. Voters in her precinct looked forward to sharing the fudge she had made when they came in to vote. She was active in Mothers Club when her children were in school. She was a working member of Friends of the Walbridge Library. She was an excellent cook who loved to make soups, stews, and candy to share with people who lived alone. She was an avid reader her entire adult life, and had a knack for writing poetry. She was asked by many people to write poems for special occasions. She won a contest for a poem she wrote about what her church meant to her. Several of her poems were published. She was preceded in life by her husband, Forrest who died in 1997; their two sons, Joseph and Daniel; both parents; siblings, William, Russell, Joseph, Larry, Jerry, Ed, Robert, Jane, and Majorie. She is survived by her daughters, Marcia Scarberry and Cathey (Richard) Vail ; grandchildren, Joshua (Nicole)Vail , Zachary (Emily)Vail , and Desiree’ Scarberry; great-grandson, Quinn Vail; sister, Jeanine Gast, and scores of nieces and nephews. Friends will be received from 10:00 AM. – 2:00 PM on Friday, April 12, 2013 in the Witzler-Shank Funeral Home 701 N. Main St. Walbridge (419-666-3121) where funeral services will be conducted at 2:00PM. with Pastor Harold Black, officiating. Interment will follow in Lake Township Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Otterbein Portage Valley Retirement Center 20311 Pemberville Rd. Pemberville, Ohio 43450. She would be honored to be remembered by your acts of mercy to each other. The family wishes to thank the entire staff of Otterbein Portage Valley for the gracious loving care they took of Leota (and us) during her stay with them. Thoughts and prayers to Leota’s family may be made at www.witzlershank.com.