Wanda Leath

Wanda Jean (Reed) Leath was born on December 22, 1934 in Seminole, Oklahoma and raised in Eloy, Arizona. She is the seventh of eight children born to Lonnie and Rosa Reed.Jean met her husband, Frank Leath, while earning her B.A. in Education at Arizona State University. Jean and Frank were college sweetheart and married on October 1, 1955 and moved to Kansas City where Frank was stationed with the United States Air Force. The couple settled in Lorain, Ohio in 1959 and raised their three daughters.

Jean was an elementary school teacher in the Lorain Public School System for thirty years. She was a Title I instructor and her focus was to improve the academic achievement of disadvantaged or low-achieving students through enhancing their reading and writing skills. Jean continued her studies and earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Ashland College. She retired from teaching in 1988 and turned her attention to supporting her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In addition, she traveled with family and friends around North America and overseas. Jean loved the Lord and was a long-time member of Wesley United Methodist Church. She served on several committees through the years and was a communion steward for many years.

Jean also loved reading and had a library worth of books and magazines in her home. However, her greatest love was for her family—especially the children.

Jean departed this life on Monday, September 14, 2020 while residing at Mercy Health – New Life Hospice, after a brief illness.

She was preceded in death by her husband Frank Leath; her parents Reverend Lonnie and Rosa Reed; her brothers Lonnie Reed, Jr., Jesse Reed, and Martin Reed; her sisters Annie Porter, J. Effie Russell, Jo Jones, and Dorothy Jones-Holland.

Her memory will be cherished by her children Victoria Leath, Melva Tolbert(husband Jerry), and Frances Leath of Indianapolis, IN; grandchildren MarlonLeath, Michael Dupakoski, Jessica Tolbert (fiancé Justin Lamb) of New Orleans,LA, Angela Leath of Panama City, FL, and Jasmine Leath of Indianapolis, IN;great grandchildren Hannah Leath, Jacob Leath, and Olivia Leath; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and dear friends.

A private funeral will be held at Carter Funeral Homes, Inc., 3001 Elyria Avenue, Lorain, Ohio 44055. Phone: (440) 244-5200. Interment will be at Ridge Hill Memorial Park in Amherst, OH. Memorial donations can be made to Mercy Health – New Life Hospice, Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund at Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation, 7115 – Foundation, P.O. Box 632660, Cincinnati, OH 45263-2660

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