Dolores J. Lease

After graduation from Kenton High School, Dolores received her Bachelor’s degree with honors in Education from The Ohio State University. While at Ohio State, Dolores was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and played French horn in OSU’s Pep Band at basketball games. She was a lifelong OSU fan and season ticketholder at OSU football games. After Dick’s military service in the USMC in Korea, Dolores married her sweetheart Richard E. Lease on May 15, 1954. After their wedding, Dolores and Dick moved to Oxford, Ohio, so she could begin teaching elementary school and he could finish his undergraduate degree at Miami University.

Dolores and Dick were married 66 years until he passed away on July 19, 2020. They were parents to 3 children: Court (Robin) Lease, Catherine (Bill) Wilkin and Tom (Rhonda) Lease. They have 7 grandchildren: Taylor Lease (Cliff) McGowen, Brian (Sara) Lease, Elizabeth Wilkin (Troy) Rorapaugh, Tom (Hayley) Wilkin, Caroline Wilkin (Jeff) Cannon, Emily Lease (Nathan) Jackson and Matt Lease. Dolores has 12 great grandchildren. They are Piper, Paige, Presley & Ford McGowen, Emery, Eleanor & Maren Lease, Olivia & Eloise Rorapaugh, William & Lucy Jackson and Price Cannon. Two more great grandchildren will be born later this year.

After a 20+ year teaching career in Ohio and Illinois, Mom continued teaching her grandchildren reading and piano and volunteered as a docent at the Columbus Museum of Art, taught English as a Second Language (ESL) and PEO where she shared lasting friendships with PEO sisters. Earlier in life, she was a dedicated volunteer for United Cerebral Palsy, where she instilled a spirit of charity and volunteerism in her children and grandchildren. In her spare time, Mom was an avid reader of novels. For career reasons, Mom and Dad moved frequently in their first 20 years of marriage before settling down in Worthington in 1975. Since that time, they have been members of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Worthington, Ohio.

There are too many people to thank for Mom’s healthcare over the last year of her life, but we are forever indebted especially to the tireless and compassionate healthcare professionals and Chaplains at Riverside Methodist Hospital(ER, ICU), First Community and Worthington Christian Villages. It was a blessing when a member of the staff told us how much they enjoyed caring for Mom. Also, we’re so grateful for the visitations and spiritual care she received from St. John’s Episcopal Church of Worthington.

We’ll miss Mom’s grace, acute mind, patience, conviction, kindness, modesty, warmth, generosity, and charm. Mom was the best wife and mother and an amazing Grandmother and Great Grandmother. “GranGran” will be forever missed.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the charity of your choice in honor of Dolores.