Cleora Louise Skinner, 97, died at 5:35 p.m. March 14, 2013, at Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. She was born Nov. 14, 1915 on the family farm in Jackson Township, Allen County, Ohio to the late Peter P. and Louise (Fett) Badertscher. She was married to Forest Golden and later divorced.
She attended her first eight grades in a one-room school by the name of Peanut Center located on the corner of PeeVee and Sandusky roads. She graduated from Lafayette-Jackson High School in 1933 and Lima Business College in 1936.
During WWII she worked 13 years for Westinghouse Electric in Lima.
In 1953 when her mother became ill she went back to the farm to help care for her parents. After her mother’s death she was the sole caretaker of her father. They moved from the farm to Bluffton in 1966. Her father died in 1972.
She was a life member of Emmanuel United Church of Christ, Bluffton. She worked for the Triplett Corporation, Bluffton for 26 years retiring in 1981.
In 1980 she married Darrel J. Skinner, Jr., a widower and also a childhood friend. Mr. Skinner died on Feb. 4, 2011. They spent 23 winters in Wickenburg, Arizona, so they would be able to golf all winter long.
She is survived by a step son Harold (Jan) Skinner of Port Clinton, Ohio; three step daughters Jeanne (Clifford) Garland of Defiance, Mo., Patricia (Dean) Wittwer of Findlay, Ohio, Cheryl (Richard) Reese of Ada, Ohio; four step grandchildren Thomas and Katie Wittwer, Kristi (Nate) Hamm, Michael Reese; eight nieces and four nephews.
She was preceded in death by three brothers Harvey, Ralph and Willis Badertscher; two sisters Margaret Rettig Bowers and Katherine Urich; one niece and two nephews.
A Celebration of Life Service will take place 7p.m. Tuesday at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton. Rev. David Thompson officiating. Burial of the cremains will be at a later date at Pike Run Cemetery, Gomer. Friends and family may call one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Youth Group at Emmanuel United Church of Christ or to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com
