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Mary Belle Whitcomb of Wauseon passed away Friday February 27, 2015 at the age of 88. Mary was born on October 6, 1926 in Columbus Grove, Ohio to the late Henry (nickname Hugh) Onweller and Myrtle (Falor) Onweller. The family then moved back to Fulton County when she was two years old to be close to other family. Mary attended Howard School which was a one room school house, Pike Twp. School for 7th and 8th grade and Wauseon High School. After high school she worked at the wire factory for a short period of time where she met a young man, Otha Whitcomb. They married on June 15, 1947. Otha preceded her in death in 2006. Mary was also a graduate of Bliss Business College and worked for a financial institution before she and Otha decided to adopt two children, Orrin and Marcia.
In 1972 the Whitcomb’s opened a ceramic business known as the “Old Barn Studio”. Students from the surrounding area came for classes from 1972-1990. 140 students were attending each week prior to their retirement.
It was also during this period that they were contacted to start making ceramic Indian statues to be awarded to every Wauseon High School senior athlete to thank them for their years of dedication to their sport(s). Since around 1988 Mary and Otha had donated their time and material towards making around 70 of these trophies every year until each could do it no more. Their family has taken over with this project for the last few years. So if you received one of these trophies in years past, now you know the story about where they come from.
Mary’s family consist of son, Orrin (Paula) Whitcomb of Wauseon and their four sons, Jeremy Whitcomb, Jason (Taylor Kendall) Whitcomb, Jacob Whitcomb, and Joshua Whitcomb, daughter, Marcia (Whitcomb) Thierry (deceased) and her son Tyler Thierry. Mary has four brothers, two of which preceded her in death, Corwin and Ivan Onweller. Loren (Arlene) Onweller and Elton (Phyllis) Onweller both survive.
Visitation will be held from 3:00-7:00pm Wednesday March 4, 2015 at the Edgar-Grisier Funeral Home in Wauseon with the funeral service immediately following at 7:00pm. There will be a private family interment on Thursday morning. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to either the Fulton County Board of DD or the Beulah United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.GrisierFH.com. The Edgar-Grisier Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.