Frieda Wamboldt

WAMBOLDT, Frieda, age 102 of Riverside, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 8, 2015, in the arms and hearts of her family who loved her fiercely, miss her deeply, and will forever bear the impression her life made on our own. Born in the German settlement of Frank, Russia, Frieda and her parents emigrated when she was two weeks old. She grew up on a farm in Loveland, CO and graduated from Johnstown High School in 1931, marrying Henry Wamboldt in 1935, whose call to the Civil Service at WPAFB during WWII brought them to Mad River Township, where Frieda became a naturalized citizen of the U.S. in 1945. Here they raised their family and became active members of the spiritual, civic, educational and social community. The family joined Community (United) Methodist Church, where Frieda shared her faith in the children's Sunday School. As a Girl Scout leader, she also imparted her life-long love of nature and enthusiasm for handicrafts. In their neighborhood, Frieda canvassed door to door with her husband, supporting his spearhead effort to fight the City of Dayton's proposed annexation and promoting the school bond levies which built Stebbins High School. First recruited to head the kitchen at Mad River's new Page Manor School in the mid-1950's, she was then selected to run the newly-built central kitchen, responsible for cooking and distributing hot lunches to all the schools in the district, often developing her own recipes to take advantage of free government-surplus foods and saving the school district money. With accolades from the school board and Boosters, she retired in 1972 to devote time to her family, friends and hobbies: cooking, knitting, quilting, gardening and genealogy. Since then she has freely shared her talents, knowledge and wisdom with anyone who had the good sense to pay attention. Always a good neighbor, at 90 she was still driving three widowed friends to the grocery every Friday. After moving to 10 Wilmington Place in her last decade, she kept her mind sharp with books, puzzles, word games and trivia. Herself a life-long learner, she admonished others to “Learn something new every day. When you stop learning, you might as well stop living,” punctuating the air with a wag of her perfectly-manicured index finger. Still whip-smart and wise at 100, her quick wit and feisty sense of humor, well known to family and friends, entertained and endeared her to fellow residents and staff alike. Frieda was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years Henry Wamboldt; daughter Barbara Ratchford; sisters Paulina Schmidt and Esther Burbank, brothers Harold Schmidt, Roy Schmidt and Kenneth Schmidt. She is survived by her daughter Kathleen LaBeau and son Richard Wamboldt; grandchildren Debra Loreaux, Steven LaBeau, Nicole LaBeau, Courtney (Julian) Catanzaro, Megan (Doug) Matt, Mark LaBeau, Paul LaBeau, Marie Wamboldt and Carl Wamboldt; great-grandchildren Jireh (Katie) Loreaux, Hosanna Loreaux, Xavier Catanzaro, Remy Catanzaro, Kate Matt, Nathan Matt, Henry LaBeau, Thorin Matlock and Landon Matlock; and great-great-grandchild Dara Loreaux. Funeral services will be held at 1 pm on Friday, July 24, 2015 at the TOBIAS FUNERAL HOME – BEAVERCREEK CHAPEL, 3970 Dayton-Xenia Rd. at Grange Hall Rd. with interment to follow in Glen Haven Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11 am until the time of services on Friday, July 24. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to THE HENRY AND FRIEDA WAMBOLDT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND, Chase Bank Donation Account #3020579305, to benefit Mad River Schools students. Condolences can be expressed at www.tobiasfuneralhome.com. “Invest in an education, because it's something no one can ever take away from you.” --Frieda Wamboldt