To all the Wolters family

We were your next door neighbors from Rugby Road.  We have lots of memories of all your family from the many years we enjoyed living next to you.  Your mother was a special person who we keep in touch with until just recent years.  We were able to visit her in Dayton a few years ago.   Our sympathy and prayers to all 3 of you and your family.
Betty and Bill Mauck

Scott, we are so sorry we will not be able to be with you on the 19th in Dayton; will be out of town. your mother was a very special, bright caring person, whom we all loved we very much. she will always be a part of our fond memories of the hill and Dottie; what a special group of ladies and educators the were.
Love to you both,
Mike and Steve

Message for Mary Jo Wolters memorial service
Rev. Gene Folden –Linworth United Methodist Church. December 6, 2015

In June of this year, President Barack Obama gave a moving eulogy in which he praised the life and work of Clementa Pinckney, Senator of South Carolina and United Methodist pastor. The president said of Mr. Pinckney that he was man of God who lived by faith, a man who believed in things not seen, a man of service, a man of empathy, kindness and Christian charity – in a word, a good man.”  And then he said this:  “Sometimes I think the best thing to hope for when you eulogize someone, after all the words and recitations and resumes are read, is to just say somebody was a good person.”
 We are here today to a remember a “good person,”  a manifestly good person, who lived by faith, who lived her values, who carried herself with unusual humility, who loved her family and friends unconditionally, and who possessed a moral compass that was never warped by power or ambition.  And her name is Mary Jo Wolters.  
We gather in grief today at Mary Jo’s death, but Paul, writing to the Romans reminds us of an important truth “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” So yes we gather in grief today at Mary Jo’s dying but we do not gather without hope because Mary Jo died prepared.  Mary Jo firmly believed that the shepherd of her life was with her always, and she with the shepherd.  And she left us with an excellent example of a Christ-like life. Not from some idealized saint who is hard to imagine, but in the life of a regular, hardworking, loving person who did right by her family and friends and all she could help. 
Here’s how I know that:
Mary Jo was truly connected to the things that mattered: the people she loved, the simply joys of nature, and her faith. I never heard her speak ill of anyone. There was a tranquility about her that could be seen in the way she smiled, in the way she interacted with others, in her loyalty to her family and friends, in her willingness to help out someone in need.  
Mary Jo was truly kind to others.  Mary Jo understood that simple human kindness, divorced from creeds or freed from ideology or religious doctrine, kindness that does not ask if the recipient deserves this kindness, is what is most truly human in a human being. And this kindness, as Rousseau wrote, is the single quality that makes possible all other “social virtues.” Mary Jo lived by this. And because of that, her life was full.
Mary Jo was truly happy.  Mary Jo was content inside of herself.  She had nothing to prove; she had no ego needs that had to be met; she had no agenda that she expected others to attend to.  She was content, and that contentment made her happy.  
I want to speak especially to you, her beloved children, John and Carol (and Scott and Martha), who were the alpha and omega of her existence, of whom she was so proud and whom she loved so deeply, to tell you this: The heartfelt pain you feel will transform into something beautiful. Your mother, for the rest of your life, will be your inner witness. Her life will illuminate and guide your own. When you stand up for the poor in spirit, when you carry out simple acts of kindness, when empathy makes you demand justice, you will feel your mother’s spirit.  She will be with you. I know this for a fact. I carry my own grandmother’s presence within me.  She too was good and kind.  Every word I utter, every act I make, is done in fealty to my grandmother. It is my voice you hear, but these are her words. And so it will be with you. 
The light of goodness that Mary Jo passed to all of us has a name. It is love. It never dies. The capacity to love this deeply, the capacity to know that love calls us to take upon the suffering of others, is what made your mother a good person. It is why I believe in God

Greg & John have been more than investment advisors.  They have been good friends of Mary Jo.

7 files added to the album Life of Mary Jo Wolters

Rev. Dr. Bryan Palmer-Smith 1711 Harris Hawk Court
Brownsburg, IN 46112

December 3, 2015

Dear John,

Please find below a comment about your Mom.

The death of Mary Jo Wolters means different things to different people. To me it means the end of a saga that begun 20 years ago when I came to Grace United Methodist Church to be the senior pastor. Within weeks of arriving I visited Mary Jo in her home. I thought I would be getting to know her as her pastor. What I found was that she was getting to know me as a friend. For nine years that friendship developed face to face. Following my retirement I discovered that it would continue with long telephone conversations. They would inevitably begin with her asking about my family. She named them. She wanted to know about their lives. Where were they? What were they doing? How was their health? After she was satisfied that she had all the information she wanted she’d let me ask about her life and that of her family members.

That concern and interest in my family and me resulted in a great act of kindness when at my retirement she hosted two dear friends from England. That kindness, generosity and interest was displayed in many other ways. It extended to her church family. How proud she was to be a member of Grace United Methodist Church. She just loved the place and its present pastor, Sherry Gale. A similar caring was extended to her Dayton Philharmonic family. She wasn’t always by the door through which I entered the concert hall so I’d make a detour just to be greeted by her.

If I were God I’d give Mary Jo the job that we think St. Peter occupies. She’d be the greeter at the Pearly Gates. What a welcome she would give everyone.

I will sadly miss my conversations with Mary Jo but I am confident that she has received the just reward for a life faithfully lived and peacefully brought to an end.

Mary Jo joined the AARP Stillwater Valley Chapter no. 4838 about 1993. She faithfully called each member to remind them of up coming meetings, until she moved to Columbus in 2012. Even though her work with the membership was appreciated, her friendship was appreciated even more. Everyone liked Mary Jo.. We send our sympathy to Mary Jo's family. From her friends in the AARP Stillwater Valley Chapter in Dayton, Ohio.

25 files added to the album Life of Mary Jo Wolters

Greg & John Schmidt, Schmidt Investment Strategies Group purchased the Angel Arrangement for the family of Mary Jo Wolters.

Jay & Marilyn Morrison purchased the Blooming Basket for the family of Mary Jo Wolters.

Mary Jo was a good neighbor to me on Rugby Rd. in Dayton 1972-1977.  She provided a great babysitter for my 4 little kids in Martha.  I always enjoyed her stories about her grandkids  as each one came along.  She was a great lady.  My sympathy to the family.

Pat Burnside,  Englewood

1 file added to the album Life of Mary Jo Wolters

Mary Jo and I had many fun times together. We both taught at Cornell Heights.  She made the best apple pie I ever tasted. We had  many parties and so much fun in those days.  I will miss our phone calls about tennis.  We were both big fans and always spoke about what stations were carrying the matches.  To all of Mary Jo's family my deepest sympathy at your loss.  May all your wonderful memories help you through this difficult time.  
Sincerely,
Dixie Lee Warner

I met Mary Jo 2 years ago at Claremont and we enjoyed sharing memories of Dayton, where I had friends and visited there may times as a child and young woman.  Mary Jo enjoyed trips to Franklin Park Conservatory and other places.   She was involved in the Book Talk here at Claremont and will be missed by all.  My thoughts and prayers go out to her family but she is in a better pain-free place.  
Winkie Bukey

OBITUARY

Mary Jo Wolters

April 20, 1925 – November 20, 2015

Schoedinger Midtown

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