Dorothy Gleckler

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

She was born on March 2, 1934, in the village of Scott, to Renzie and Blanche (Pugh) Funk and they preceded her in death. On Dec. 31, 1955, she married Maurice Dean Gleckler of Convoy who expired on Oct. 21, 1987. Two children survive: Vickie Jo (Dan) Troyer of Van Wert and Randal L. Gleckler of Lima.

She is also survived by a sister, Evelyn Funk, of Newark, Ohio. A brother, Chester Funk, and a sister, Florence Sanderson, preceded her in death. Also, 10 nieces and nephews as well as a number of great nieces and nephews survive.

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

Mrs. Gleckler was a "people lover" who spent lots of her free time in helping others. Also, she was an "organizer" and helped organize The Convoy Homemakers Club, the Fire Department's Pancake Day, Van Wert Area Visiting Nurses Auxiliary, Van Wert County Medical Assistants Organization, Convoy Community Days, Convoy Branch of the Brumback Library, NW Ohio Friends of HD Support Group and the local chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

She was also a member and served as an officer in numerous community organizations such as Convoy Research Club, VW County Republican Women and the Convoy United Methodist Church and its women's organization. For over 10 years, she wrote a monthly newsletter and newspaper articles for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill 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.

The Convoy Fire Department 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.

Memorial service will be held at the Convoy United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, and family will receive friends one hour preceding the service. The Rev. Greg Leigh will officiate. There will be no viewing. Burial was at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery at Convoy.

Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory of Van Wert is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be given to Huntington's Disease Society of America, 505 Eighth Avenue, Suite 902, NY, NY 10018 or National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300, Arlington , VA 22201 or local NAMI Affiliate, P.O. Box 465, Van Wert, OH 45891.