Maxine Walker Seibel

Maxine Walker Seibel passed away peacefully on Monday, February 29, 2016 following an extended illness.

Maxine was born January 4, 1933 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a teenager she played violin in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and was a majorette. She wrote for the high school newspaper which was the beginning of her lifelong love of writing.

After graduating from Roxborough High School in 1950, Maxine attended Ursinus College where she met her future husband, Phil Seibel, the love of her life. While at Ursinus, she was head majorette and was a member of the Drama Club. She graduated cum laude in 1954 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

One month after graduating from Ursinus, Maxine married Phil. They moved to Millis, Massachusetts, outside Boston, where they started their family. While in Millis, she wrote for the town newspaper.

Maxine, Phil and their three children moved to Westlake, Ohio in 1965. Maxine taught English at Bay Village High School and coached the school majorettes. The family then lived briefly in Naperville, Illinois where she wrote for the Sun newspaper.

In 1973, the family moved to Bolivar where Maxine and Phil settled for many years. She began teaching English at Tuscarawas Valley High School in 1974 and became involved with coaching the Tusky Valley speech team. She went on to earn her Masters degree in school counseling at Kent State University and eventually became Guidance Director at Tusky Valley. She loved learning and continued graduate coursework at Kent State University ultimately obtaining her Educational Specialist degree.

Maxine and Phil enjoyed antiques and started their own business, Green Pond Antiques in their retirement years.

Those who knew and loved Maxine will never forget her warmth, her compassion for learning and for helping others, her quick witand of course those twinkling Irish eyes.

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, Maxwell and Mildred, her son, Mark, her husband, Phil, and her sister, Mildred. She is survived by her daughter Cindy (Bob), son Phil (Gerardo), grandchildren Jacob and Jackie, nephew Scott (Sue), niece Lynn (Rob) and special great-nephew Alex.

Calling hours will be held at Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory in Dover, Ohio on Friday, March 4th from 5 to 9 pm. The funeral will be held on Saturday, March 5th at 11:00am at the St. John United Church of Christ in Bolivar with Rev. David E. Houdeschell officiating. She will be laid to rest beside her husband, Phil in the Dover Burial Park. Friends may call Saturday from 10-11am in the church. Those unable to attend or who may wish to express a fond memory of her may sign the online guestbook by visiting the "obituaries and flowers" link on the funeral home website at www.tolandherzig.com

The family would like to express gratitude to the staff of the Rockynol Retirement Center and Senior Independence Hospice and Home Health, for their outstanding care of Maxine and their support to her family. Should friends desire, contributions may be made to Rockynol Life Care Fund, 1150 W. Market St., Akron, Ohio 44313.