Good friends will always be remembered.
Featured Remembrance:
John Ruskin Howe, Jr.’57, died November 5, 2022. John was born in Dayton, Ohio to the late Elizabeth Brewbaker Howe ’24 and John Ruskin Howe, Sr. ’21 the 13th president of Otterbein University 1939 to 1945. John graduated from Otterbein University where he met his wife Judith Jenkins Howe ’58. While attending Otterbein, John played tennis, was in the “O’ Club, student government/senate, and Pi Kappa Phi (Country Club) fraternity. John went on to get is masters and doctoral from Yale University. He also received an honorary degree of LHD-Doctor of Humane Letters from Otterbein in 1974. Read more about Howe’s impact here.
Alumni Obituaries
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Wanita Gallogly Ross
Wanita Gallogly Ross ’66 died January 11, 2023. Wanita was born March 3, 1930, to the late John and Ruth Gallogly.Wanita graduated from Otterbein in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. Years later, she retired from teaching 3rd grade at Cherrington School in Westerville. Wanita’s hobbies included painting Christmas scenes on the large picture windows, teaching baton lessons, sewing, upholstery, and crafts. She enjoyed traveling and snow-birding in Florida with her husband. Wanita is preceded in death by…
Ann Bostater Hart
Ann Bostater Hart ’60 died December 28, 2022. Ann was born July 17, 1938, in Detroit, MI to the late Newton and Helen Bostater. Ann attended Otterbein College.Ann was a member of the Child Study Club and served as President of the Junior Women’s League. She was the Director of the Huron Dial-A-Drive. She loved to read and served on the Huron Library Board. Ann was a passionate quilter and knitter and made many blankets for cancer patients.Ann is survived…
George Wagner
George Wagner ’60 died December 19, 2019. George was born November 14, 1928, in Columbia to the late Cleon and Caroline Andrews. George earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Otterbein University. During his time there, he was a member of Zeta Phi (Zeta) fraternity. He was a U.S. Army veteran serving during the Korean era with the Fourth Infantry Eighth Regiment attaining the rank of Tech Sergeant. George retired as a social studies teacher from the Altoona…
Beth Ann Hassenpflug Mansperger
Beth Ann Hassenpflug Mansperger ‘79 died January 29th, 2023. She was born in Westerville, OH to Earl and Joy Hassenpflug. After graduating of Westerville South High School, Beth Ann attended Otterbein University. During her time at Otterbein, she received her BA majoring in French. She was also active in the community at Otterbein, where she was a part of Campus Crusade for Christ, Tau Delta, and Phi Sigma Iota.She went on to attended Ohio University and Ashland Theological Seminary. She…
Annette Smith Williams
Annette Smith Williams ’72, P’72 died August 15, 2022. She was born Nov. 1, 1928, in Waterville, Maine to the late Frederick and Alice (Rowe) Smith. Her father was a Methodist minister and the Superintendent of the Maine Christian Civic League. Ann attended Syracuse University where she met her husband, Elwyn Williams. He was a returning World War II veteran. She attended Syracuse for two years before they got married. Ann spent the next 20 years as the wife of…
Laurel “Gar” Garman
Laurel (Gar) Garman'63, died July 8, 2022. Gar was born September 19, 1942, in Orville, Ohio to the late Jacob and Irene (Brown) Garman. He was raised in the North Lawrence, Ohio area. He graduated from Smithville High School where he excelled in football and track, receiving a track scholarship to Otterbein College where he studied physical education and English. He was in track and field, the "O" Club and Zeta Phi (Zeta) fraternity. Later, Gar received his master’s degree…
Robert Wareham
Robert Wareham '52 died June 8, 2022. Bob was born September 15, 1930, in Swissvale, Pennsylvania to the late David Calvin and Maude Lavina (Bish) Wareham. He studied at Otterbein College where he was in the "O" Club, Pi Beta Sigma (Pi Sig) fraternity, and History club. He met his wife, the late Sarah “Sally” Hall '54 while attending Otterbein. After graduating, Bob served in the Air Force during the Korean War and married Sally in 1954. After serving Bob…
Matthew Russell
Matthew Russell '00 died January 17, 2023. He was born on September 21, 1977 to the late Dave and Diane Russell.Matt received his BS in biology & earth science from Otterbein University where he was involved in the Eta Phi Mu (Jonda) fraternity with honoraies in Alpha Epsilon Delta, Torch & Key and Phi Eta Sigma. He was also on the Otterbein soccer team.Matt went on to earn his Medical Doctor degree at the University of Toledo in 2005. Matt…
Pauline Hockett Scherrer
Pauline Hockett Scherrer '48 died January 18, 2022. Pauline was born in Elwood, Indiana on September 4, 1926, to the late T. Leonard and Maurine (Slick) Hockett. She graduated from Otterbein with a degree in sociology. While at college she was part of the band, choir, and the Tau Delta (Deltas) sorority. She went on the earn her BS in Elementary Education from Ohio Northern University.Pauline was a second-grade teacher and retired from Irving School in Lorain, Ohio. She was…
Virginia Cole Kraner
Virginia Cole Kraner '49 died July 22, 2022. Virginia known as Ginny was born March 29, 1927, in Corry, Pennsylvania to the late Emory Ray Cole '23 and Ohla Cave Cole '22.Ginny grew up in West Virginia and attended Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio where she met her husband, James Clem “Bud” Kraner '47. Ginny was the 1949 Otterbein Winter Queen, in student government/senate and the Tau Epsilon Mu (Talisman) sorority.Ginny taught kindergarten at Clinton Elementary School in Columbus, Ohio…
Thomas Kreimeier
Thomas Kreimeier '64 died July 20, 2021. Born to the late Harry and Julia Kreimeier, December 16, 1941, Tom grew up in Baldwin, NY and as a child liked to play with water, machines, engines, bicycles, and mud. He graduated from Baldwin High School and Otterbein College of Westerville, Ohio. Tom worked as a HVAC sales engineer for Honeywell and Lane Refrigeration; later he established a HVAC company with partners in Suffolk County, NY. He was a mechanical genius who…
Richard Harsh
Richard Harsh '70 died January 2, 2023. He was born October 13, 1948, in Greenville, Ohio, the son of the late Donald and Mary (Royer) Harsh. Rich earned a BSE in education, with a minor in health education from Otterbein College. Rich was an original member of Friends of Clarice Burton which helped to form the Clarice Burton Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund which annually awards financial assistance to deserving Otterbein juniors and seniors. Rich was a teacher for 25 years…
John Ellis
John Ellis ’87 died June 15, 2022. He was born October 22, 1964, to Carolyn and John Ellis, former Columbus City Schools Superintendent.He graduated from high school in Texas but had a B.A. in broadcast communications from Otterbein University. During his time at Otterbein, he was a part of the WOBN, Otterbein’s own college radio station.His summer college internship at K-98 in Austin led to a career in radio and communications.For more than 20 years, John worked for the Texas…
Gerould Maurer
Gerould Maurer ‘54 died November 2, 2022. He was born on August 31, 1932, in Dover, Ohio to the late Orlo and Lucile Maurer.Gerould attended Otterbein University where he earned his bachelor's in mathematics in 1954. He continued his education at Carnegie Technical Institute where he received a bachelor's in mechanical engineering in 1956, and a masters from The University of Pittsburgh for mechanical engineering in 1960.His professional life included working in research and development for the Bettis Atomic Power…
Glenda Guilliams
Glenda Guilliams ’60 died August 20, 2020. She was born September 2, 1938.Glenda attended Otterbein University, where she received her bachelor's in physical education in 1960. During her time at Otterbein University, she played many sports including basketball, softball, field hockey, and tennis.She later went on to attend the Ohio State University where she received both her masters and PhD.She had a distinguished career and always spoke fondly of her alma mater.