Etta Ruth Weigl's Obituary
Etta Weigl Obituary
Etta Ruth Weigl, 92, passed away peacefully August 12, 2014 where she lived at Kendal at Oberlin.She was born March 3, 1922 in Weston, WV, the daughter of Karl L. and Kathryn Barnes Hoskins, and the sister of composer William Hoskins, who died in 1997. Etta Ruth attended West Virginia Wesleyan College, and graduated from Oberlin College with an English Literature degree. Her graduate work at Columbia University gave her an M.S. in Journalism.She was editor of the employee magazine of American Cyanamid Co. for three years. After marrying John W. Weigl, they lived in Berkeley CA where John earned a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry and Etta Ruth continued her editorial work, first for the alumni magazine of the University of California, and then for that school's Agriculture Department.Over the next eight years, three children were born, and as the family moved from Berkeley to Minneapolis to Columbus to Binghamton NY, and then to Webster NY, Etta Ruth worked as a part-time music critic for several papers, edited a weekly poetry column, and volunteered in many local organizations, including the League of Women Voters and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Board. A patron of the arts, she was also an active participant in modern dance. A passionate reader and writer of poetry, Etta Ruths poetry was published in several small press journals and anthologies, and in the book Meltwater. She taught courses in modern poetry at Elderhostels and also at Kendal at Oberlin (OH), where she lived since 1993 as one of the Founding residents. Etta Ruth was always ready for a competitive Scrabble game, bringing her literary mind and extensive vocabulary to bear on her opponents.Born a Presbyterian, she embraced the Quaker faith and beliefs, and was an active member of the Oberlin Friends Meeting. She was a member of several Kendal committees, the Kendal book and writing groups, the Listening Post in Oberlin Public Schools, and the board and curriculum committee of the Living & Learning Institute.Etta Ruths husband of 35 years, John, died in 1982. Three children survive Etta Ruth Weigl: daughter Kathryn and husband John Potter of Nashville TN; son Karl Weigl and partner Julie Brand of San Rafael CA; son Andy and wife Bonnie Weigl, of Southborough MA. Etta Ruth was blessed with five grandchildren: Valerie (Potter) Friedlander, Megan Potter, Christopher (died 12/2012) and Dustin Weigl (by Andy), Nicole Weigl (by Karl), and two great-grandchildren Morgan and Tristan Friedlander. She is also survived by two nephews and two nieces, one of whom, Karyl Lee, is an Oberlin resident and frequent visitor to0 Kendal.In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Kendal at Oberlins Residents Assistance Fund, 600 Kendal Dr., Oberlin, OH 44074, or to the American Friends Service Committee, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102.A memorial service will be held at Kendal; date to be determined. Dicken Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Elyria was in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, visit www.dickenfuneralhome.com
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Etta Ruth Weigl, please visit our floral store.
Read More
What’s your fondest memory of Etta?
What’s a lesson you learned from Etta?
Share a story where Etta's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Etta you’ll never forget.
How did Etta make you smile?