Mary Bachman
May 21, 1931 — October 20, 2011
Mary E. Bachman, 80, died at 1:40 a.m. Oct. 20, 2011, at the Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center.
She was born May 21, 1931, in Yorkshire, Ohio, to Joseph J. and Ursula E. (Meyer) Schlater, who preceded her in death. On July 4, 1953, she married Donald E. Bachman, who died Dec. 1, 2005.
Mrs. Bachman was a 1949 graduate of Minster High School, Minster, Ohio, and a 1951 graduate of Karns & Western Beauty School in Dayton, Ohio. She worked for Van Wert City Schools for 25 years, retiring in 1996.
She was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, Van Wert, and its Altar Rosary Society and the Catholic Ladies of Columbia. She was a member of the Women of the Moose, YWCA, and Cougar Booster Club. She was an election poll worker for 45 years. She was a TWIG I volunteer for the Van Wert County Hospital. For many years she helped prepare funeral lunches at her church. She loved helping the elderly whenever she could. Her hobbies and interests included gardening, bird watching, crocheting, the Cincinnati Reds and her beloved dog Jacey. She made dozens of afghans and lap robes for both of the Van Wert nursing homes.
She bowled for over 56 years, including serving as a volunteer teacher in the school bowling program for the past four years. She was inducted into the Van Wert US Women's Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 2008.
Survivors include four sons, Rick (Laura) Bachman of Vandalia, Randy (Karen Tomlinson) Bachman of Napoleon, Ron (Pam Stamper) Bachman of Powell and Rob (Tracy) Bachman of Gahanna; siblings include Lucille Berning of Minster and Joe Schlater of Wapakoneta; seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren, and two step-great grandchildren.
Three brothers preceded her in death, Bill Schlater, Ben Schlater and David Schlater.
Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, Van Wert. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Friends may call from 4 - 7 p.m. with a rosary service starting at 6:45 p.m. Sunday at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory, Van Wert.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center, 1155 Westwood Dr., Van Wert, OH 45891 or Van Wert Youth Baseball, PO Box 794, Van Wert, OH 45891.