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Submitted: 11/2/13 • Approved: 11/6/13 • Last Updated: 8/13/15 • R166140-G166139-S3
OBITUARY
Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio, March 11, 2008
Neil Oatney
Dec 8, 1924 - March 9, 2008
Neil Edward Oatney, 83, of Lancaster, passed away at 5:18 p.m. Sunday, March 9, 2008, at the Fairfield Medical Center in the presence of family. Neil was born Dec. 8, 1924, on a farm near Lancaster and attended St. Mary School elementary and continued his education at Lancaster High School. On February 26, 1943, he married Ilene Reed, also of Lancaster.
In March 1943, Neil received his greetings from Uncle Sam to serve the war effort. During World War II, he flew 35 missions as a tail gunner and Armament man on a B-24 Bomber in the European Theater of Operations as part of the 8th Air Force, 446th Bomb Wing stationed in Flixton, England.
Although most bombing missions ended without incident, there were two missions that Neil always remembered. On one mission, anti-aircraft flak shattered the glass on his gun turret and severed his oxygen supply and cutting his throat, which forced other crew members to pull him out of the turret and strap a portable oxygen bottle on him until they returned to base.
On another mission, he became a member of the Caterpillar Club for having saved his life by parachute after enemy fire destroyed his B-24 on a mission on Dec. 19, 1944. The entire crew parachuted over Belgium and returned safely to England. For his service during his missions, Neil earned the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters and the ETO ribbon with three Battle Stars.
On returning from the war, Neil worked at Alten Foundry Plant 1 in Lancaster, where he retired as a pattern maker after 34 years of service.
Neil was a charter member of St. Marks Catholic parish, a member of St. Vincent DePaul Society, a member of the 446th Bomb Group Association, a member of Olivedale Senior Citizens, a former volunteer for Community Meals and a former member of the AMVETS post 1985.
Neil is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ilene Reed Oatney; one daughter and son-in-law, Nanette F. and Clifford Rowe of Lancaster; two sons and daughters-in-law, Timothy Edward and Laura Oatney of Lancaster and Thomas Neil and Mary Ann Oatney of Centerville; six grandchildren, Andrew F. Rowe (Molly) Rowe of Mt. Vernon, Ind., Serena D. Rowe, Gretchen S. Oatney (Shannon) Wright, all of Lancaster, Levi T. (Melissa) Oatney of Columbus, Leigh Ann Oatney of Portland, Ore., and Cynthia L. Oatney Gause of Virginia; three great-grandsons, Christopher M. Gause and Nicholas P. Gause of Virginia and Brendon Neil Rowe of Mt. Vernon, Ind.; one great-granddaughter, Rachael Ilene Oatney of Columbus; three brothers, Robert "Bob" (Betty) Oatney of Lancaster, William "Bill" (Betty) Oatney of Amanda and James Oatney of Miamisburg; and sister-in-law, Viola Oatney of Columbus.
Neil was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Sharon Ilene Oatney; parents, John Albert "Doc" and Elva Neff Oatney; brother, Richard Albert Oatney; and sister, JoAnne Oatney Alvis.
Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Mark Church with Father Peter M. Gideon as celebrant. Burial to follow at St. Mary Cemetery where a military graveside service will be conducted by the Lancaster Ohio Veterans Detail.
Family and friends may call on from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Sheridan Funeral Home, where a vigil service will take place at 7:30 p.m. and 1 hour prior to service on Friday at church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society, 424 Locust St. Lancaster, OH 43130. To send an online condolence and sign guest book, please visit www.webfh.com/sheridanfuneralhomeand click obituaries.
OBITUARY
Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio, 26 May 2013
Frances Ilene Oatney, 87, of Lancaster, Ohio, passed away Friday evening, May 24, 2013, at the FairHoPe Hospice & Palliative Care.
Ilene was born August 14, 1925, in Lancaster, Ohio, the oldest daughter of Emma Frances Craiglow and Ernest Leroy Reed. On February 26, 1943, she married Neil Oatney, also of Lancaster, Ohio.
Ilene always wanted to attend college but had to delay her dream to become a teacher until Ohio University opened a branch campus in Lancaster. She was one of the first students enrolled taking classes at night after Neil came home from work. She received the Ohio University Freshman Scholarship for the 1956-1957 school year to make attending full time possible.
She was featured in a front page article in the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette in April 1957 outlining her delay of 13 years since graduating Lancaster High School to be able to attend college. The headline of the article was "Mother, In College Here, Has 3.6 Credit Ratio". A quote from the article says, "Mrs. Oatney spends about 16 hours a week in classes. That does not count the time getting to and from school, nor the time spent on homework."
She graduated Ohio University in August 1963 Magna Cum Laude and was a Martha Holden Jennings scholar. Ilene taught in the Lancaster City Schools for nearly 30 years, mostly as a 4th grade teacher at North, East, South and Cedar Heights Elementary Schools. During her teaching career, she did post graduate work at Capital University and Ohio Dominican College. She was a member of the Fairfield County Retired Teachers Association, Life member of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association, and member of the National Retired Teachers Association.
Ilene was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International for 37 years. During those 37 years, she served in many capacities including President of Alpha Nu Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society from 1988 to 1990.
Ilene was also active in the Lancaster Business and Professional Women's (BPW)Club. Joining in 1971, she served on many committees and as president from 1975 to 1977.
In addition, Ilene was a volunteer for Community Meals and a 9 year volunteer at the Fairfield Medical Center.
Ilene is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Nanette Frances and Clifford Rowe of Lancaster, Ohio; two sons and daughters-in-law, Timothy Edward and Laura Oatney of Lancaster, Ohio and Thomas Neil and Mary Ann Oatney of Centerville, Ohio; six grandchildren, Andrew Forrest (Molly) Rowe of Middletown, Ohio, Serena Dawn Rowe of Texas, Gretchen Sue Oatney (Shannon) Wright all of Lancaster, Ohio; Levi Timothy (Melissa) Oatney of Lewis Center, OH; Leigh Ann Oatney (Paul) Mooring of Portland, Oregon; and Cynthia Lynnette Oatney (Chris) Speer of Grand Prairie, TX; 6 great-grandsons, Christopher Matthew Gause of Grand Prairie TX; Nicholas Patrick Gause of Sumter, SC; Brendon Neil Rowe and Aidan Joseph Rowe of Middletown, OH; Aiden Maxwell Oatney, Lewis Center, OH; Liam Henry Mooring of Portland, OR; 2 great-granddaughters, Rachael Ilene Oatney of Lewis Center, OH; Ella Rose Rowe of Middletown, OH; 2 sisters, Marjorie Bennett of Orient, OH; Eloise MacIntosh of Tampa, FL.
Ilene was preceded in death by husband, Neil on March 9, 2008; an infant daughter, Sharon Ilene Oatney in 1949; parents, Ernest in 1985 and Emma Reed in 1998; and brother, Ernest Eugene "Bud" Reed in 2006.
Family and friends may call from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, May 27, at Sheridan Funeral Home, Lancaster, Ohio, where BPW will conduct a memorial service for Ilene at 7:15. A vigil service will follow at 7:30 p.m. and also on Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to the time of the service at St. Mark Church.
A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 28, at St. Mark Church with Father Peter M. Gideon as celebrant. Burial will be at St. Mary Cemetery, Lancaster, following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the FairHoPe Hospice, 282 Sells Rd., Lancaster, OH 43130, Alpha Nu Ohio University Lancaster Scholarship Fund, Terri Garrett, Treasurer, 11651 Parkview Drive, Stoutsville, OH 43154, or BPW Scholarship Fund, Suzy Grubb, Scholarship Chair, 732 N. High St., Lancaster, OH 43130. To send an online condolence and sign the guest book, please visit www.sheridanfuneralhome.net and click obituaries.
Contributed on 11/2/13 by tom
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Record #: 166140