Onalee June Waldo

Onalee June Waldo, 96, of Celina, Ohio, passed away on December 7, 2022, in the presence of her loving family. She was born on June 14, 1926, in Celina, Ohio, to her late parents, Samuel and Opal (Now) Rhodes. She grew up there on a farm alongside her four siblings, where she later attended Celina High School and graduated in 1944.

Onalee went on to marry her husband, Richard “Dick” Waldo, in 1944 while he was serving in the U.S. Navy. They raised four daughters together and she loved them dearly, always prioritizing being a mother and wife. She was most notably a homemaker who enjoyed spending her time baking, cooking, and quilting, and was truly a gifted quilter who will be dearly remembered by her grandkids for receiving a handmade quilt as their wedding gift. Onalee kick started the development of a handicapped program in Lucas County, where she was very active throughout her adult life. Alongside her homemaking, she found a passion in working as a part-time bus driver for the developmentally disabled people in her community. This meant a lot to her, and she enjoyed doing this for approximately 10 years. She was also a faithful churchgoer and very kindhearted, always reaching out to and being there for those in need. She was sweet and generous with her time, making her memorable to many people whom she encountered.

Her sense of style nicely accompanied her classy personality as she was very particular about what she wore. She loved to dress nice and to accessorize her outfits with jewelry that was either gifted to her by her husband, or with costume jewelry that she frequently purchased from QVC. It didn’t matter where she was going, she was going to be dressed well and her jewelry was going to match. However, above all things, her family will remember her most for all the time they spent together. Whether it was going shopping, taking her a treat from Starbucks, or simply having family get-togethers, her spirit and presence will be dearly missed by all her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. She was loved deeply and will always leave an impact on those who knew and loved her.

Onalee is survived by her daughters, Chris Simon, Robin (Rob) Pennell, Dawn Waldo; siblings, Sonie Chukes, Sam “Bud” (Marge) Rhodes; 6 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 6 great-great grandchildren; and many other nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard “Dick” Waldo; daughter, Kathy (Chuck) Ondo; grandson, Jeff Klorer; son in law, Alan Simon; and 2 sisters.

Onalee’s services are being handled privately amongst the family. Flowers and condolences can be sent to them directly at walkerfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, a monetary donation can be made out to one of Onalee’s favorite handicapped organizations, the Fulton County Board of Developmental Disability, in her honor.