Wendy Straub

COLUMBIANA - Wendy L. Straub, 55, of 44713 Columbiana-Waterford Rd., passed away 9:25 a.m. Thursday, August 6, 2009 following a two year battle with cancer.

Wendy was born May 26, 1954 in Salem, a daughter of Warren Wilkinson, Sr. and the late Ruth Rupert Wilkinson. She was a life-long resident of the area and a 1972 graduate of East Palestine High School. She graduated from Youngstown State with a degree in special education and taught in the Edison Local School District for thirty years, retiring in January 2007.

She was a member of the New Waterford United Presbyterian Church where she served as an Elder; and also held memberships in the State Teachers Retirement System, the Ohio Welsh Pony Assoc., Mahoning Valley Pony Breeders Assoc., Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America, American Driving Society, and the Western Reserve Carriage Assoc.

Along with her husband, Russ, they bred and raised registered Welsh ponies on their farm, Straub-Airy Acres. They were active in showing ponies nationally and also locally including the Canfield Fair, where Wendy had shown for fifty years.

Wendy was preceded in death by her mother; a sister, Sandy Mackall, and her step-mother, Sandy Kay Wilkinson.

Besides her father of Columbiana, Wendy is survived by her husband, Russell Straub, whom she married August 14, 1976; a daughter, Rachel Straub, at home; a brother, Warren Wilkinson, Jr. and his wife, Lori, of Hartville; a half-sister, Patricia Lassiter of Texas; and nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 12th, at her home, 44713 Columbiana-Waterford Road, Columbiana, Ohio; with fellowship to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of The Valley, 1120 Village Plaza, Columbiana, OH 44408 or the American Cancer Society, 525 North Broad Street, Canfield, OH 44406.

Arrangements were with the Oliver-Linsley Funeral Home, East Palestine.

www.oliver-linsley.com

8/9/09