Dorothy M. Gleckler

Dorothy M. Gleckler, 78, formerly of Convoy, expired at 6:25 p.m. Sunday, May 6, 2012, at the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

She was born March 2, 1934, in Scott, the daughter of the late Renzie and Blanche (Pugh) Funk. On December 31, 1955, she married Maurice Dean Gleckler, who preceded her in death on October 21, 1987.

Dorothy worked in a variety of positions over the years. She was a secretary at Blue Creek School; a clerk at Economy Savings and Loan Company; a medical assistant to A.C. Diller, M.D., in Convoy; a scale clerk for S.E. Johnson Company at its Scott plant; and an enforcement officer for the Van Wert County Childre Support Agency. She also served as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with the Convoy Fire Department for 10 years, as well as a squad leader.

Dorothy was a “people lover” who spent lots of her free time in helping others. Also, she was an “organizer” who helped create The Convoy Homemakers Club, the Convoy Fire Departments’ Pancake Day, the Van Wert Area Visiting Nurses Auxiliary, the Van Wert County Medical Assistants Organization, Convoy Community Days, the Convoy Branch of Brumback Library, the Northwest Ohio Friends of HD Support Group and the local chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI).

She was also a member and served as an officer of numerous community organizations, such as the Convoy Research Club, Van Wert County Republican Women, and Convoy United Methodist Church and its women’s organization. For over 10 years she wrote a monthly newsletter and newspaper articles for NAMI in an attempt to eradicate the stigma of mental illness by helping educate the public. Dorothy coined the phrase “Convoy — the little town that does big things.” She was an avid traveler with the YWCA travel program.

The Convoy Fire Department recently presented her with an honorary membership and an award for 10 years of community service. In 1986, she was named “Citizen of the Year” by the Convoy community. In 1996, NAMI Ohio presented her with the “Stigma Buster of the Year” award.

Survivors include two children, Vicki Jo (Dan) Troyer of Van Wert and Randal L. Gleckler of Lima; a sister, Evelyn Funk of Newark; 10 nieces and nephews and a number of great-nieces and nephews.

A brother, Chester Funk; and one sister, Florence Sanderson, also preceded her in death.

A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 8, at Convoy United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Greg Leigh officiating. Burial was in IOOF Cemetery in Convoy.

Calling hours are an hour prior to the service at the church. There will be no viewing.

Preferred memorials: Huntington’s Disease Society of America, 505 Eighth Ave., Suite 902, New York, NY 10018; the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22201; or the local NAMI affiliate, P.O. Box 465, Van Wert, OH 45891.

Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory was in charge of arrangements.

Messages of condolence may be sent to www.alspachgearhart.com.