1914
Madge
2010
Madge Murbach Wells
February 18, 1914 — July 23, 2010
MADGE MURBACH WELLS
2/18/1914 - 7/23/2010 Madge was born in Elyria, Ohio, to Ralph and Ellen Elizabeth Whitehouse Murbach. She was married on 4/2/1938 in Evanston, IL to Lyman Robert Wells in Howes Memorial Chapel at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, adjacent to Northwestern University where both had been students. She earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in speech and theatre from Northwestern University. She and Lyman lived in Evanston for many years, moving in 1971 to Wooster, Ohio to be closer to their families. Madge participated in Wooster College Theatre productions both as an actor and as an assistant with lighting and set design. She and her husband greatly enjoyed the Ohio Light Opera productions sponsored by Wooster College. One of her notable volunteer activities, begun through her professional speech sorority, Zeta Phi Eta, was recording books for the blind, working with the Cleveland Sight Center. Her husband later joined in this activity, and together they recorded over 500 books. Madge also volunteered at hospitals and church organizations. She enjoyed gardening, painting, and classical music. She was known for her outspoken wit and cheerful demeanor. In 1986, she and Lyman moved from Ohio to Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1994. In 2007, she was honored with an official visit by two representatives of her college social sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, who presented her with a 75 year membership pin. She is survived by two sisters, Mary Ellen Molly Chapman of Sylvania, Ohio and Ann Schmittgen of Elyria, Ohio and one brother, John Murbach of Elyria; two daughters and sons-in-law, Molly and Roger Williams of Kalamazoo, and Ellen and Guillermo Bernal of Perrysburg, OH; four grandchildren, Michael G Williams of Grand Rapids, Rebecca E Kaegi of Chicago, Emily Bernal Garza of Iowa City, and Alex G Bernal of Bowling Green, Ohio; and two great grandchildren, William Frederick Kaegi, and Rose Elizabeth Kaegi. In accordance with her wishes, her body has been donated for medical education to the Department of Anatomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park St., Kalamazoo, MI, 49007; the Cleveland Sight Center, 1909 East 101st Street, PO Box 1988, Cleveland, OH 44106-8696; or the Friendship Village Health Center Activities Fund, 1400 N. Drake Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49006. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 31st, at 1:00 pm, in the chapel of First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007, Rev. John Boley officiating.
2/18/1914 - 7/23/2010 Madge was born in Elyria, Ohio, to Ralph and Ellen Elizabeth Whitehouse Murbach. She was married on 4/2/1938 in Evanston, IL to Lyman Robert Wells in Howes Memorial Chapel at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, adjacent to Northwestern University where both had been students. She earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in speech and theatre from Northwestern University. She and Lyman lived in Evanston for many years, moving in 1971 to Wooster, Ohio to be closer to their families. Madge participated in Wooster College Theatre productions both as an actor and as an assistant with lighting and set design. She and her husband greatly enjoyed the Ohio Light Opera productions sponsored by Wooster College. One of her notable volunteer activities, begun through her professional speech sorority, Zeta Phi Eta, was recording books for the blind, working with the Cleveland Sight Center. Her husband later joined in this activity, and together they recorded over 500 books. Madge also volunteered at hospitals and church organizations. She enjoyed gardening, painting, and classical music. She was known for her outspoken wit and cheerful demeanor. In 1986, she and Lyman moved from Ohio to Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1994. In 2007, she was honored with an official visit by two representatives of her college social sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, who presented her with a 75 year membership pin. She is survived by two sisters, Mary Ellen Molly Chapman of Sylvania, Ohio and Ann Schmittgen of Elyria, Ohio and one brother, John Murbach of Elyria; two daughters and sons-in-law, Molly and Roger Williams of Kalamazoo, and Ellen and Guillermo Bernal of Perrysburg, OH; four grandchildren, Michael G Williams of Grand Rapids, Rebecca E Kaegi of Chicago, Emily Bernal Garza of Iowa City, and Alex G Bernal of Bowling Green, Ohio; and two great grandchildren, William Frederick Kaegi, and Rose Elizabeth Kaegi. In accordance with her wishes, her body has been donated for medical education to the Department of Anatomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park St., Kalamazoo, MI, 49007; the Cleveland Sight Center, 1909 East 101st Street, PO Box 1988, Cleveland, OH 44106-8696; or the Friendship Village Health Center Activities Fund, 1400 N. Drake Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49006. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 31st, at 1:00 pm, in the chapel of First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007, Rev. John Boley officiating.
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