Rhea O. Weese

Rhea O. (Brown) Weese, born December 20, 1921, passed away October 3, 2009. She was a loving wife, a caring mother, and a dedicated Christian who attended the Reynoldsburg Community of Christ congregation. Rhea grew up in McArthur, Ohio where she graduated from McArthur High School in 1940. Following her graduation and during World War II, she worked both in her mother’s restaurant and in the Vinton County auditor’s office. She was married to Russell Wayne Weese July 5, 1942 in Creola, Ohio. For a short while after the war, they relocated to Jackson, Ohio before returning to McArthur. Together they shared 56 years of loving marriage and the birth of three children, Shela (Clarke) Ballinger, Patricia Weese, and John (Gloria) Weese.

In 1953, the Weese family moved to Toledo, Ohio and later in 1958 to Fostoria, Ohio. In 1965 they moved to Columbus, Ohio where they bought their home and finally settled. Rhea’s activities included Deputy Sheriff of Vinton County, church women’s department leader, and Sunday school teacher. In addition, she volunteered as a staff member at church camps in Maine, Pennsylvania, and Ohio for several decades, where she taught leatherworking, making candles, and tie dying, as well as being a cabin counselor and cooking in the kitchen. She enjoyed adult classes where she participated in various handicrafts, the results of which enhanced her home. She devotedly supported her husband in his years of church related ministry. She also enjoyed reading, sewing, embroidery, cooking, and family activities.

Rhea was preceded in death by her parents, William and Marcia Leora (Sinnott) Brown, husband, Russell Wayne Weese, and one great-grandchild. She is survived by her brothers, Ralph (Marie) Brown and William (Janet) Brown; children Shela (Clarke) Ballinger, Patricia Weese, John (Gloria) Weese; grandchildren Sameera (Suhiel) Hamdan, Tim (Stacey) Ballinger, Paula (Mark) Busch, and Sarah (Tim) Bowman; 12 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.