Margaret June Tobin-Leonard-Dixon

Margaret June Tobin-Leonard-Dixon, age 93, died calmly on Monday, December 3rd, 2018, at Friendship Village of Columbus. One son held her hand, while the others awaited attentively. From her birth in Bucyrus, Ohio on June 17, 1925 to her death she served others with love and enjoyed life with enthusiasm. Born in rural Crawford County of Ohio near New Washington, she was the third of four children of Otis and Emma (Walter) Tobin. She was closest to her oldest sibling, Doris. From an early age Margaret delighted in being known by the nickname “Toby”. Studious and ambitious, Margaret became a first generation college student when she set out for the big city of Columbus to attend The Ohio State University to study accounting. On the way toward her degree she got sidetracked partway through, when she met a man, fell in love, got married and very soon started a family. That man was James David (Dave) Leonard. They discovered each other through their involvement in the Lutheran student center at OSU. They married on September 19, 1946 and attended an OSU football game immediately following the ceremony. Midway toward rearing 6 boys, Margaret, in 1960, was able at last to complete her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at OSU. Margaret and Dave moved to the Los Angeles area in 1974 with the two youngest sons. She, especially, enjoyed the adventure of meeting new people and seeing new places. The delightful weather of sunny southern California did not hurt. In 1978 they returned to Ohio to live in Beavercreek, near Dayton. They retired to Friendship Village of Columbus in 1993. There they enjoyed their remaining years together among its stimulating and zestful community. Margaret and Dave raised, with great energy and passion, 6 sons while living on Cooke Road in northeast Columbus: Jim (Melody), John (Leigh Anne), Larry (Gay), Don (Jane), Rick (Ruth), Scott (Sangita). Also generated from their marital union are 14 grandchildren: Jim, Dave, Connie, Jennifer, Johanna, Maralee, Lisa, Jared, Maggie, Stephen, Neil, Thomas, Rekha, Navek. The grandchildren also found partners, and the following list celebrates yet another generation of 19 great grandchildren: Brian, Spencer, Caleb, Jack, Courtney, Anna, Wyatt, Ava, Jace, Amzie, Maggie, Sofia, Amedeo, Olivia, Jacob, Myles, Joanie, Evie, Merida. New arrivals continue to be reported frequently. Margaret loved all of her descendants and followed their lives with curious excitement and great pride. After 53 years with Dave, who died in 1999, Margaret, who knew everyone at Friendship Village, befriended a particular resident, Edge Dixon. Edge, similarly, had survived his spouse. The two of them wed in 2001 and were married for 14 years until he died in 2015. Margaret was, as she had been with Dave, a caring and devoted wife to Edge. They each warmly embraced each other’s families. Margaret loved Edge’s children and grandchildren and followed their lives closely, for she regarded them, indeed, as her own. Margaret is remembered for being a friend and friendly. She was interested in what everyone was doing. She studied her Bible exhaustively. She attended church actively and tithed resolutely. She served on just about every committee and in every organization that one might find a dutiful and energetic woman. She managed the home and gardens neatly and efficiently. She coaxed all of her boys to play the piano and other instruments. She disciplined sternly but fairly. She filled the bellies of her sons with pizza on Friday, roasts on Sunday and homemade ice cream. She dressed elegantly but modestly. She wore her scarves vibrantly. She engaged daily in word and number puzzles. She was always up for table games and competed ferociously. She bowled and played ping pong gracefully and strategically. She planned family vacation travels methodically and recorded the experiences assiduously. She wrote letters and numbers carefully but stylishly. She was a faithful OSU alumna. She teased and laughed with the characteristic Tobin humor, which she passed on to her sons. She was a wonderful mother, who is loved greatly. A Celebration of Life for Margaret will be held at 11:00 a.m., December 22, 2018. This is to be held at Friendship Village of Columbus and officiated by The Reverend Cyndy Garn. She will be buried in Saint Paris, Ohio. Contributions in Margaret’s memory could be made to Worthington United Methodist Church or Friendship Village of Columbus.

Margaret June Tobin-Leonard-Dixon

June 17, 1925 - December 3, 2018