Orpha Goettge Lewis

Orpha Goettge Lewis, age 98, passed away peacefully at Ohio Living Westminster-Thurber. Orpha was born in Port Washington, Ohio on July 29, 1918. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Elda [Schreiner] Goettge, her brothers Leland and Harold Goettge, and her husband, Morgan R. Lewis, a teacher for Columbus Public Schools and Franklin University. Surviving are three daughters, Patricia Lewis (who sadly passed just 17 days later), Sherry Lewis Adelman [Larry] and Sandra Lewis - all of Columbus, Ohio. She is also survived by granddaughter, Lisa Taylor [Gordon], great-granddaughter Ava (4 years) and great-grandson Kent (2 months) as well as close cousins Larry Merkle [Debbie], Kay Lockhart, Joyce Schaub and Evelyn Barnes. When Orpha was two years old her family moved to Gnadenhutten, Ohio where she graduated from Gnadenhutten High School as the valedictorian. She moved to Columbus and attended Capital University and graduated from The Ohio State University. When enrolled at OSU she was recognized by The Lantern newspaper as having the hardest tongue-twister name and hometown-Orpha Luella Goettge from Gnadenhutten, Tuscarawas County. She taught elementary education for 34 years - mostly at First Avenue, Michigan Avenue and Fifth Avenue Elementary Schools. She loved her students and even into her late nineties was telling stories of her experiences teaching well over 1000 students. She was blessed with a beautiful singing voice. She sang in a quartet, conducted and sang in several choirs, and on the radio. She also enjoyed sports and coached basketball for several years even taking a team to the state championship. She was a huge fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes and never missed an OSU football game. She was an avid reader and also began writing short stories of her life experiences in her later years. Orpha was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church for over 60 years. She volunteered in various capacities until cancer struck at age 98. She became more involved in politics in her last few years- enjoying political discussions and still voting in the election a couple months before her passing. She enjoyed living at Westminster-Thurber where she was involved in numerous activities, made many friends and enjoyed the loving staff that cared for her. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family which she absolutely cherished. She continually bragged about her wonderful family to everyone. She had a positive attitude towards life and felt blessed even in the face of adversity and will be greatly missed by those who have known and loved her. A memorial service for family and friends will be held in the chapel of Westminster-Thurber located at 717 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43215, Tel. 614-228-8888 on Sunday, July 2 at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ohio Living Westminster-Thurber Activity Fund in memory of Orpha Lewis. Online comments and condolences may be made at www.deyodavis.com.

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