Mary Nelle Stahl

Mary Nelle Stahl, November 6, 1932 to October 17, 2016, Mary Nelle Stahl, daughter of Walter Joseph (Jake) and Nellie Irene Gilbert Stahl (deceased), preceded in death by sister Lois Ann (Stahl) Sims, brother-in-law William Henry Sims, and nephew John Andrew Sims. Mary maintained long friendships with an informal Soup Group in Athens, Ohio, that continued when she left Athens for Columbus and lasted until her death. Some of her Athens friends travelled to Columbus to hear the Symphony, and they made trips up to Wooster for performances of the Ohio Light Opera Company. She practiced tai chi with the Taoist Tai Chi Society that met at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church, where she was also a parishioner and had been a volunteer in the Bookworm. She volunteered with the Athens Historical Society and helped perform genealogical research for members of the Ohio chapter of the ‘Palatines to America National German Genealogy Society’. She enjoyed road trips with the Canal Society of Ohio. In addition, she traveled abroad and in the States with her sister, Lois, and other family. She continued to update her passport, always ready for an adventure. She had been a member of the North High Women’s Alumnae Association. She graduated with a degree in Social Work from the Ohio State University (1954) and a Master’s in Library Science from Carnegie Mellon University in 1957. She served as Children’s Librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library, the Tremont Branch of the Upper Arlington Public Library, in the library system of the Ohio University, and for the Athens County Public Libraries. Not surprisingly for a librarian, she loved reading. She read histories, biographies, and mysteries: she had a fairly extensive collection of Martha Grimes. She encouraged her nieces and nephews in their educations by purchasing their textbooks throughout their college careers. Because Mary had requested that her family have a picnic in a beautiful location, we will have a picnic in her honor at Dawes Arboretum, Sunday, July 23, from 10am-2pm at the Main Shelter. We would love to have Mary’s friends join us. We will provide baked goods, fruit and some beverages. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch. Mary is survived by nieces and nephews Matthew Sims and spouse Sherry, Laura Sims and spouse Nancy Stemmer, David Sims and spouse Melanie Miller, and Martha Sims and spouse Brian Lovely, several grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.

Mary Nelle Stahl

November 6, 1932 - October 17, 2016