Janet D. Lobdell

Janet Darlene Lobdell - Obituary Longtime Lima, OH resident Janet Darlene Strunk Lobdell, 79, died peacefully on Monday, October 21, 2013 at her home in Willow Brook, Delaware Crossing. She was born March 6, 1934 in Portsmouth, Ohio; the only child of a school teacher, the late Darlene Cadot Strunk. Janet excelled academically at Portsmouth HS, where she played the flute, and was awarded a college scholarship to The Ohio State University in the College of Education - in pursuit of becoming a dedicated teacher like her mother. It was there that she met, and later married Harry Lobdell, two years her senior, from Belpre, Ohio. They wed December 19, 1954 in a snowstorm in her hometown of Portsmouth, Ohio and started their married life in Columbus, OH where Harry commenced his career with Westinghouse Corporation. They soon moved and settled in Lima, Ohio where they lived for the next 55 years until 2010. It was there that Janet began her career as a first grade teacher, and subsequently had three children. Janet, like her mother, taught children in all grades during her career. Her focus was always on the child and what she could do to ensure their educational needs were met. Janet even taught herself braille at one point so she could teach a blind student in her classroom. Later in her career, she spend a great deal of time teaching remedial reading to children in high risk communities. She always felt it is all about the student. Janet & Harry were longtime members of the Encore Theatre and United Methodist Church. Also, she remained active in AAUW, gourmet cooking, garden & herb clubs. Interestingly, Janet was "a pioneer" and the only woman in “Commodore 64” - one of the first computer clubs of the early 1980s, and progressed with her keen interest in advancing technology. She later used those skills to do extensive genealogy of her Cadot family history from France. After retirement in 1996, Janet was actively involved in continuing education classes at the Institute for Learning in Retirement, at Bluffton University, where she was both a student and instructor. Quilting was a passionate hobby that she added to her extensive list of interests in her later years. Never one to let life pass her by, she also enjoyed travelling whenever she could – including Caribbean cruises, trips to Nova Scotia, Ireland, Italy and especially her trip to France with her daughter, Lynne, and granddaughter, Susan in 1999. Summer weekends were enjoyed with family and friends at Indian Lake for the past 25 years, where Janet could put her gardening skills to work, as well as cruising the lake on the pontoon boat and jet skis. Janet and Harry moved from Lima to their new home in Delaware, OH at 115 Delaware Crossing West at Willow Brook in October 2010 where they currently reside. Surviving, in addition to her husband, Harry, of 58 years, are their children and their spouses, Lynne and Dale Smallwood of Dublin, OH; Kevin and Karen (Constan) Lobdell of Chicago, IL; Drew Lobdell of Hilliard, OH; and grandchildren Scott and Susan Smallwood. Janet’s family would like to thank everyone for their support and generosity during this difficult time. A special thanks also to the caregivers at Willow Brook Memory Care Unit for their caring and loving support of Janet. Visitation will be held at RUTHERFORD FUNERAL HOME AT POWELL 450 W. Olentangy Street (Powell Road/St. Rt. 750/ ¼ mile east of Sawmill Parkway on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 from 6 – 8 p.m. A Memorial service will be held at a later date. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a donation in Janet’s memory to the Alzheimer charity of your choice. One option is the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.