Obituary

Rachel Louise Wetherill, age 94, gracefully exited her final party on August 3, 2026, leaving behind her children: Lynn (Mark) Grubb; Scott (Betty) Wetherill and Marla (Mark) Jones; her grandchildren: Matthew Grubb, Marilyn Grubb, Ashley Wetherill, Julia Wetherill, and Laura Wetherill; her sister: Genie Chatas, and many other extended family members.

Louise was an eternal optimist who never knew a stranger and believed everyone should look and dress their best. She was considered a fashionista and wore high heels well into her 90’s. 

Louise was proud to be born in Wilmington, Delaware (the first state!) and raised in Elmira, NY. Her father, James Weldin, worked for the Fruitgrower’s Express on the railroad and was employed during the Depression, something that Louise spoke about often. Louise spent her childhood summers in Delmar, Delaware with her grandmother, who held a special place in her heart.

Louise graduated from Southside High School and was on the Dean’s List at Buffalo State Teacher’s College. Louise did some postgraduate work in Puerto Rico, later teaching fifth grade and spending her summers traveling the world.  In 1955, Louise became the Chemung County Community Ambassador to Finland where she took part in the Experiment of International Living, later giving lectures to groups around the community. In 1956, she played the violin for the Elmira Symphony Orchestra.

She met Max Wetherill at a party in 1963, and they married and moved to the Chicago area where they lived and worked and adopted two children from The Cradle of Evanston.  Louise made faithful donations to the Cradle over the years as she was thankful for the blessing of being able to raise a family.  

The family moved to Centerville, Ohio in 1968 where they were members of Southminster Presbyterian Church. Louise was a founder of the sitter service at the church where she would eventually meet her third child, Marla, whom she informally adopted. 

Louise could be compared to Martha Stewart in that she was crafty and creative, sewing her kids’ clothes, always cooking delicious homemade meals as well as painting and wallpapering her house.  She planted and maintained a full garden every summer and enjoyed spending her free time sitting poolside with a book. She truly loved the domestic life, and her children never once heard her complain about being home instead of having a career. 

Louise was a cat lover and there were always at least two cats in the household at all times. The cat she loved best was a stray she took in named She-He because we eventually learned the cat was male.  Louise was someone who was open to unconventional ideas like letting her three kids raise baby ducks or making chocolate-covered cicadas for her grandson who loved bugs. She had an open-door policy, always inviting extra kids in for snacks and sometimes to live. She took her grandkids to every Disney movie ever made.

After years of being a stay-at-home mom, Louise purchased and became director of Village Childcare, where she shepherded another generation of children. When she became a widow in 1989, she sold the family home and moved East to Delmar, Delaware where she managed a hospital nursery in Salisbury, Maryland. When she retired, she moved back to the Dayton area to be close to her grandchildren.

She was a member of the Republican Women, Dayton Philharmonic Volunteer Association, Fairhaven Church and worked the polls without fail every year (this year included!).  She volunteered as a docent at Carillon Park and acted as a volunteer librarian during the years she lived at St. Leonard’s. Louise made a mean pie and would purposefully bring her children and grandchildren their favorite pies on the regular. She made sure everyone knew that pies were superior to cakes. 

Louise was one-of-a-kind and will be deeply missed by friends, family and strangers she struck up long conversations with at the grocery store. 

We imagine that instead of eternally resting, she is dancing in her high heels and bright pink lipstick.  👠

We love you, Wheezie

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Batta Cats.  A private memorial service will be held at a later date.