Teacher Margaret L Oechsner
1911-12-16 2011-02-05
Margaret L. Oechsner
Obituary Condolences
Margaret L. Oechsner of Ravenna, Ohio died peacefully in her sleep on February 5, 2011.
Born December 16, 1911 in Akron, Ohio, she was the daughter of John M. Oechsner and Blanche L. (Kyser) Oechsner.
Margaret was a proud graduate of West High School in Akron where she developed friendships to last a lifetime, and Bethany College in West Virginia where she learned and honed her teaching skills and acumen. She taught briefly in Sistersville, West Virginia and then at Buchtel High School in Akron, Ohio more than forty (40) years. Her knowledge and passion for English (literature and grammar), Latin and Greek were unparalleled, and made an indelible impression on untold numbers of young people in her classroom. She instructed thousands of students over the years, students who moved on to become teachers themselves, professors, doctors, lawyers, authors, engineers, scientists, stay-at-home moms and other productive workers. She never gave up on any student, no matter what grades the student received in her class. Margaret relished the fact that great numbers of former students remained in touch with her and made time to visit her in Ravenna long after she retired.
One of the real highlights in Margaret's lengthy career at Buchtel was the opportunity to mentor a young talented writer by the name of Rita Dove, who would become a Poet Laureate of the United States. Rita's tenure in this position came through an appointment by former President Bill Clinton. She is currently a college professor in Virginia and has authored innumerable books.
"Peg" as she was fondly known by close friends, was a world traveler for decades, having friends in England, Germany and other countries most of her life. She took local Ravenna friends on her self-guided tours of England and she took herself to Italy, the mid-East, China and New Zealand for personal discovery of other cultures which she thoroughly enjoyed. She was an avid reader her whole life. One of her friends said she knew as much English history as the English themselves. Her English-style gardens were always spectacular, having some perennial flowers still blooming after 100 years.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Robert and Richard Oechsner; and by her friends, Clara Goss and Marie Starks.
Among Margaret's survivors are her cousin, Amy Dwyer; lifelong friends whom she treated as her own daughters, Ann Poole and Martha Poole, along with Lois Worrell, Karl Starks, Jack and Beth Young, Martha Yeager, Martha Benton, Pamela Wojcik and Steve Wilson.
A special thanks also goes to her caregivers Jeannine, Wilda, Denesha, Gloria, and Gloriosa.
As her last great act of teaching, Margaret donated her body to NEOUCOM, the medical school in Rootstown, Ohio to teach the young medical students about the human body. Because of her donation to NEOUCOM, there were no calling hours. A private memorial service will be held this spring.
To be her friend was both an honor and a privilege.
Published in Akron Beacon Journal on Mar. 10, 2011
Obituary Condolences
Margaret L. Oechsner of Ravenna, Ohio died peacefully in her sleep on February 5, 2011.
Born December 16, 1911 in Akron, Ohio, she was the daughter of John M. Oechsner and Blanche L. (Kyser) Oechsner.
Margaret was a proud graduate of West High School in Akron where she developed friendships to last a lifetime, and Bethany College in West Virginia where she learned and honed her teaching skills and acumen. She taught briefly in Sistersville, West Virginia and then at Buchtel High School in Akron, Ohio more than forty (40) years. Her knowledge and passion for English (literature and grammar), Latin and Greek were unparalleled, and made an indelible impression on untold numbers of young people in her classroom. She instructed thousands of students over the years, students who moved on to become teachers themselves, professors, doctors, lawyers, authors, engineers, scientists, stay-at-home moms and other productive workers. She never gave up on any student, no matter what grades the student received in her class. Margaret relished the fact that great numbers of former students remained in touch with her and made time to visit her in Ravenna long after she retired.
One of the real highlights in Margaret's lengthy career at Buchtel was the opportunity to mentor a young talented writer by the name of Rita Dove, who would become a Poet Laureate of the United States. Rita's tenure in this position came through an appointment by former President Bill Clinton. She is currently a college professor in Virginia and has authored innumerable books.
"Peg" as she was fondly known by close friends, was a world traveler for decades, having friends in England, Germany and other countries most of her life. She took local Ravenna friends on her self-guided tours of England and she took herself to Italy, the mid-East, China and New Zealand for personal discovery of other cultures which she thoroughly enjoyed. She was an avid reader her whole life. One of her friends said she knew as much English history as the English themselves. Her English-style gardens were always spectacular, having some perennial flowers still blooming after 100 years.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Robert and Richard Oechsner; and by her friends, Clara Goss and Marie Starks.
Among Margaret's survivors are her cousin, Amy Dwyer; lifelong friends whom she treated as her own daughters, Ann Poole and Martha Poole, along with Lois Worrell, Karl Starks, Jack and Beth Young, Martha Yeager, Martha Benton, Pamela Wojcik and Steve Wilson.
A special thanks also goes to her caregivers Jeannine, Wilda, Denesha, Gloria, and Gloriosa.
As her last great act of teaching, Margaret donated her body to NEOUCOM, the medical school in Rootstown, Ohio to teach the young medical students about the human body. Because of her donation to NEOUCOM, there were no calling hours. A private memorial service will be held this spring.
To be her friend was both an honor and a privilege.
Published in Akron Beacon Journal on Mar. 10, 2011