Rowena Margaret Lydy

Rowena M. Lillie Lydy, age 95, of Toledo, Ohio, passed away on May 13, 2016 at the Ebied Hospice Residence. Rowena was born on November 7, 1920, in Phoenix, Arizona to Byron and Rowena Lillie. Shortly after her birth Rowena and her mother returned to New Orleans to be with “Big Rowena’s” sister and cousins and nieces and nephews. Under Louisiana custom, moms with the same name as daughters were referred to a “Big” and daughters were referred to as “Little”. So Rowena’s aunt, “Big” Rowena’s sister, was called Big Maidie and her daughter was called Little Maidie. It was the roaring 20s and Rowena and her mom were very happy to again be with family in New Orleans. Then 1929 occurred and 10 year-old Rowena and her mom found life to be difficult for the two of them since there was little work for mother. In order to find work Big Rowena went north to Ohio to find work, leaving ten-year old Rowena back in New Orleans with aunts and uncles and cousins. Rowena’s mom would return often to be with her little girl but would have to again leave for work in the north. Rowena was very well taken care of by her New Orleans family. At age 14 Rowena’s mother felt secure enough in Toledo to bring her daughter to be with her on a permanent basis. Rowena enrolled in Scott High School where she graduated at age 16. Rowena then enrolled at Toledo University, as it was called at the time, in 1936, in the College of Engineering, graduating with a degree in engineering in 1941. She was one of only 2 young women who had ever up to that time enrolled in engineering at “TU”. To help pay for school Rowena went to work as a sales clerk at Lamsons in downtown Toledo. One day she caught the eye of a confident tall young man, Robert Lydy, while at work at Lamsons. Rowena and her fellow female classmate were the first two females to graduate from the College of Engineering. Rowena got a job working as an engineer on one of the first warehouse buildings in the industrial park next to Camp Perry in Port Clinton. On March 7, 1942 Rowena married Robert Charles (Tod) Lydy. The United States entered World War II nine months later. Tod, as he was called by his friends and family, enlisted in the Navy. Tod volunteered to serve on board a supply ship in the Pacific Theater. By this time Tod and Rowena had opened a flower shop on Huron Street in downtown Toledo. And once again it was Rowena and her mother making ends meet, operating the flower shop while Tod was serving in the Navy. Rowena’s engineering career was put on permanent hold. Along the way Rowena and Tod had a little girl whom they named Parris, in 1943. The war ended and Tod returned from the war and resumed the flower shop business which Rowena and her mother had kept intact during his absence. In 1946 son Jeff was born and in 1947 son Sheldon was born. In 1950 the flower shop was moved to 3554 Monroe Street, and in 1952 the family moved into a house they built in Old Orchard. Rowena became an active member of Covenant Presbyterian Church teaching Sunday school and organizing women circles. After Tod’s death in 2001, Rowena joined Christ Presbyterian Church. She was devoted Christian throughout her life. Rowena was a cub scout den mother and Brownie and Girl Scout leader. Rowena became active in Toastmistresses, attending the annual convention in Minneapolis. She loved swimming and was a long time member of St. James Club where she swam as often as work and family allowed. Rowena and Tod were boaters until Tod’s death. They were active members of Bay View Yacht Club where Rowena became a member of the Ladies Auxiliary. Rowena was an avid Lake Erie perch fisherwoman with Tod throughout their boating life together. Rowena was a designer at Lydy’s Florist. She always said that she applied her engineering education and training to her floral arrangements. Rowena and Tod took great pleasure in training their young employees. Many young employees worked their way through college as drivers. Dan Hafner, the owner of Hafner Florist with his wife Beth, learned the business being by the side of Rowena and Tod at the flower shop counter. Rowena was preceded in death by her husband, Robert (Tod) Lydy and grandchild, Rebecca Lydy, daughter of Sheldon and Cleo. She is survived by her children Parris (Carl) Richie, Jeffrey (Carol) Lydy, and Sheldon (Cleo) Lydy; grandchildren Carlton (Bunnie) Richie, III, Rowena Richie (Ed Frauenheim), Stephen (Abbie) Richie, Margy (Jason) Meeker, Robert Lydy and Amanda Lydy; and nine great-grandchildren. The family wishes to extend special thanks to Rowena’s care givers over the past three years, Julia Hager and Amanee Orra, and especially Sarah Asare who has been by her side for the last 2 ½ years. Friends may visit the family on Monday from 4-7 PM at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave. (west of Corey Rd) , A celebration of life service will take place at Walker Funeral Home on Tuesday at 1:30 PM followed by interment at Historic Woodlawn Cemetery.