Dorothy J. Watts

Dorothy J. Watts, 90, passed away on Friday, July 23, 2021. She’d been in failing health for several weeks. Dorothy was born on August 25, 1930 to V. J. & Florence Watts of Bucyrus. She spent her entire life here and was a 1948 graduate of Bucyrus High School. On August 29, 1948, she married Harry M Wells and they had four children. She was led by faith and was dedicated to her family and friends. She was a lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Bucyrus and, in recent years, the First Presbyterian Church of Upper Sandusky.



She was the ultimate volunteer, serving in just about any capacity, whether in church, schools, or the community. She loved taking care of others and could often be found serving meals at the Salvation Army, delivering Meals on Wheels, and being the first to bring homemade soups to those who were sick or shut-in. She was affectionately known by many as “the soup lady”.



Retired from the AAA in the early 1990s as a travel guide, Dorothy loved having gatherings of family and friends. Whether it was planning Sunday dinners with various themes, playing indoor parlor games or outdoor activities, she could make a game out of anything and the laughter of her family was her favorite reward. She never missed an opportunity to write a letter or send a card with jokes and “a chuckle for the day” for any occasion. Her sunny disposition and positive outlook was magnetic and she was loved by all who had the pleasure of her company. She was an avid reader and passed that love of books on to her family and others. An Ohio Reads Volunteer, she also loved book clubs or gathering grandchildren and great grandchildren on her lap for a read-aloud, complete with voices and portrayals. She never met a stranger that she didn’t greet with smiles and hugs. A selfless advocate for the local YMCA, she led the arthritic swim class for nearly fifteen years.



She loved visits with her family, lovingly referred to as her blessings, as well as visits from friends. She also loved 1940s Swing music, the WOSU channel, old movies, reading books, playing cards and winning. She loved Christmas, her annual Girls’ Trips with Deb and Diane, Lake Erie and Lakeside, OSU Buckeye football, pan-fried perch, fried green tomatoes, and anything to do with angels.



She will be sadly missed by her two loving daughters, Debra (Stephen) Hoover and Diane (Tim) Kaple, a surrogate son, Ed (Cheryl) Monk, her beloved eight grandchildren, Dawn (Casey) Pollock, Amy (Tim) Plumley, Matthew (Anne) Hoover, Joshua Kaple, Jamie (Scott) Bishop, Amber (Dustin) Wirebaugh, Jeremy Wells, Chad (Rushanne) Wells; sixteen great grandchildren, one sister-in-law, Donna Watts, along with many extended family members. She was preceded in death by her two sons, Dennis M. Wells and David A. Wells, one son-in-law, Stephen A. Hoover and four brothers, Douglas, Gerald, Robert, and Daniel Watts.



Her family will receive friends on Tuesday, July 27 from 11:00 AM to 12:55 PM at Wise Funeral Home, where the funeral service will follow at 1:00 PM. The Reverend Kenneth Wessler, of the First Presbyterian Church of Upper Sandusky, will officiate.



In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be payable to Bucyrus City Schools libraries for the purchase of books, or to the Deacons of the Bucyrus First Presbyterian Church and given through the funeral home. Memories and photos can be shared on Dorothy’s Tribute Wall.