Edythe Gretchen Nading Dean

DelphosEdythe Gretchen Nading Dean, 85, died March 2, 2012, at VanCrest Healthcare Center, Delphos, following a lengthy illness.She was born Dec. 6, 1926, in Norwood to Herbert W. and Ethel L. Nading, who preceded her in death. In 1946, she married Harold Dean, who survives. They were married for 65 years.Mrs. Dean attended Ravenna Township High School and graduated with honors from Kent State University. She spent several years as a substitute teacher and helped several youngsters as a tutor. She published a book titled “Over the Top and Back, They Answered Their Country's Call,” the story of a group of young men from Portage County who served in World War I. One of the men was her uncle, Arthur G. Brode. She and her husband, who was a veteran of World War II, spent most of their early years in Ravenna, where all of their children were born. They moved to Mantua, then to Streetsboro, before finally settling in Fort Jennings in 1989. She loved Fort Jennings and had many friends there. She especially loved helping in the local schools and tutoring children.Survivors also include five children, Catherine Dean-Michaels, of Arcata, Calif., Thomas Dean, of Aurora, Douglas Dean, of Fayetteville, Ark., Alan Dean, of Prospect, and Brian Dean, of South Korea; and nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.She was preceded in death by a daughter, Janet Dean, who died in 2007; and a brother, Harold Nading, who died in 1994.Services will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday at Harter & Schier Funeral Home, Delphos. Pastor Dave Howell will officiate.Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.