ARLENE FAY WRIGHT FOLEY

OBITUARY FOR ARLENE FAY WRIGHT FOLEY FOLEY, Arlene Fay Wright, of Kettering died on Saturday January 31st 2015 at 3:15 pm from Kidney Failure & complications of Atrial Fibrillation. She was born March 2nd 1933 in Middletown, OH. She was 81. Arlene attended Middletown, Amanda, & Monroe Schools & graduated in 1951 from Middletown High School. When Amanda School was torn down she saved a brick from the school & put it in her backyard peony patch. She met Carl in church, and married him on May 10th 1952. They moved to Indiana & both attended Anderson University. In 1960, Arlene earned a B.A. in Biology from Anderson University, and earned a Masters in Zoology from Indiana University in 1963. Their children, Karla Marie & Eric Vernon, were both born in Anderson, IN. Arlene is survived by their children plus her cousin Bess (Wright) Kocsis. Surviving 2nd cousins, nieces & nephews include: Judy Kocsis, Ginger (Wright) Conlee, & Tommy Wright. Also surviving are several great-nieces, great-nephews, & 3rd cousins. Her husband Carl predeceased her by 2 weeks & 2 days. Her father, Willie (Bill) Wright, mother, Alice (McGlothen) Wright, sister, Flossie Irene (Wright) Griggs, brother, Vernon Edward Wright & nephew, Frank Wright, also predeceased her. She leaves a number of friends, colleagues, & students whom she touched warmly with her personal love & academic legacy. Arlene returned to the Miami Valley with her family in 1964 to teach at Wright State University. At that time, Wright State was one building surrounded by corn fields & grazing cows. She taught there for nearly 30 years. From 1970 – 1973, she was contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to perform an Environmental Impact Study of Caesar Creek and East Fork Little Miami River. She was one of the three primary investigators that performed two Impact Studies. On Campus, Arlene coordinated the Introductory Biology Program, & wrote the Laboratory Manual for Biology with John Hubschman. She was always concerned for the physically disabled students in the science laboratory, so she personally taught the lab class for the disabled. While her daughter attended Wright State, they team taught that lab together. In 1985, she served as the Acting Chair for the Department of Biological Sciences, and then was Appointed Assistant Dean for the College of Science & Math in 1987. She was Appointed Associate Dean for the College of Science & Mathematics in 1991. Arlene retired from Wright State as Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Emeritus in 1992, and then was asked to serve as Interim Director of Laboratory Animal Sciences for the School of Medicine from 1993 – 1994. Overly zealous members of PETA slashed her tires during that year. After leaving Wright State for the 2nd time she became a Breast Cancer Survivor. Arlene loved the family dogs – Trixie, the mutt, & Sabrina, the miniature poodle, plus the herd of dogs her daughter has had. After her husband Carl developed Dementia, he lived at Kingston of Miamisburg. In April 2014, a wooden headboard made by Arlene, fell onto her right calf, while she and her daughter were taking the frame out from under her bed. The resulting hematoma, surgery, extended hospital stays, and finally living at Kingston took a huge toll upon the family. Arlene’s family wants all the staff at Kingston to know how much we appreciated their hard work for the 8 months she lived there. We’re especially fond of and grateful for: Angie, Becky, Peggy, & Todd (nurses); Denise, Bebe, & Regina (aides); all the Activities staff; all the Kitchen/Dietary staff; Suzy, Mary-Beth, Tara, & Melissa at the Front Desk; Susan & Heather (social work); all the Physical/Occupational Therapy staff, especially Todd; & Tammy in Billing. Forgive me if I didn’t list your name, it doesn’t mean you weren’t appreciated, because almost everyone at Kingston was amazing! The family is also grateful for Kathy (social work), Angela (bereavement services) & Randy (chaplain) from Acclaim Hospice. Arlene Foley could be described from a number of different aspects – Family: including parents, siblings, husband & the pure enjoyment she felt for Karla & Eric; Academic: which includes a number of honors, recognition for her teaching, her pleasure in ‘doing her job’ & her mentors for whom she held deep respect; & Retirement Years: which allowed time for being homemaker, handy-woman, wood-worker, tool-woman, plus lawn & gardening. After her brother died, Arlene built a wooden deck onto the front of her home in Kettering. Then, using a pattern & video tape instructions from Frank Wright, she made four wooden Adirondack Chairs. She also made a wooden footstool by just thinking of how one should be made. A wooden flower box & wooden trellis for her yellow roses soon followed. Though Arlene’s different facets could be compartmentalized by many people, she chose to try to integrate each person she came to know – each thing she did – into the whole of what and who she was. She recognized education as her door to intellectual & emotional freedom to think and to be. (This life memorialized was written in part using Arlene’s obituary notes from 2004). Visitation will be Sunday, February 8, 2015 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Herr-Riggs Funeral Home, 210 S. Main St., Middletown, followed by services at 5:00 p.m. with Dr. Dan Flory officiating. Private interment will be at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to Indiana University, 107 S. Indiana Ave., Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000. Arrangements by Herr-Riggs Funeral Home, 210 S. Main St., Middletown. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.herr-riggs.com

ARLENE FAY WRIGHT FOLEY

March 2, 1933 - January 31, 2015