Clarabel S. McDonald, 98, died August 15th at Stow-Glen Retirement Village, Stow, Ohio. She was born February 18, 1914 in the family farmhouse in Suffield and lived most of her life in Kent and Twin Lakes.
She was the daughter of Paul and Verna Spacht. Though single and living with her parents as a young woman, she had a rich family life with her nieces and nephew. After marriage in 1959 to John E. McDonald, her family expanded to include his three children and, later, grandchildren and great-grandchilden.
Clarabel graduated from Kent State University in 1934. She taught English, French and Home Economics in Plymouth and Suffield from 1934 to 1941. In 1942, she began a twenty-seven-year career working in the pension department at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Akron.
Clarabel was active in the Kent United Church of Christ. Having joined there in 1939, she was late in her life, the member of longest duration. Throughout her life she enjoyed travel with friends and family. She visited all fifty states, Canada, and Great Britain. At Goodyear she joined a bridge group that met for more than fifty Years. Additional hobbies included cooking, reading, and needlecraft. She was active in AAUW at Kent State University and volunteered with Meals on Wheels.
Her family extends great appreciation to caregivers at Stow-Glen Assisted Living and Crossroads Hospice for their attention to Clarabel. The family also gives thanks for the blessing of Clarabel's love, patience and kindness.
She is preceded in death by her husband, John E. McDonald, parents Paul and Verna Spacht, brother, Ronald Spacht and his wife, Anna, and nephew, Ron Spacht. Surviving are children, John G. (Margaret) McDonald of Aurora, OH, Helen M. (Jon) Patton of Toledo, OH, Laura Jane (James) Scheffler of Hamilton, OH; nieces, Mary (Dave) Jecmen of Parma, OH, Kathy Spacht of Adrian, MI, Annabel Hayden of Saline, MI, niece-in-law Kathleen Spacht of Hudson, OH; five grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Kent United Church of Christ on September 1, 2012 at 3:00PM. Private burial will be at Standing Rock Cemetery, Kent, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to a local or international Habitat for Humanity, or to Crossroads Hospice, 3743 Boettler Drive Suite E, Green, Ohio 44685.
Bissler and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory are handling the arrangements.