Edgar Dennis Morris
Edgar Dennis Morris of Glenwood Retirement Community died on April 27 at Harmar Place at the age of 106 years. He was born November 16, 1906 in Derwent, Ohio, the son of George H. And Lora Lafollette Morris. The family later moved to Constitution, Ohio where Dennis graduated from Marietta Senior High School in 1925.
Dennis attended the Washington County Normal School at Lowell, Ohio in September 1926. At the age of 19 he began his teaching career at Centennial School in Decatur Township, a one-room school, grades 1-8. After three years of teaching he attended Ohio University, received his BS Education and was employed as teacher-coach at Macksburg High School from 1931 to 1935.
In the fall of 1935, he accepted a position as mathematics teacher at the Maplewood Junior High School, South Orange, New Jersey. On August 22, 1936, he married Sarah Elizabeth (Betty) Rutherford, of New Concord, Ohio, whom he had met while teaching at Macksburg. Dennis completed his MA degree in mathematics from Columbia University in New York City. While chair of the mathematics department, he co-authored a series of junior high mathematics textbooks, published by Science Research Associates of Chicago. Dennis remained a teacher at Maplewood until his retirement in 1970.
Following his retirement, Dennis continued to teach as a volunteer at the Link School in Newark, N.J. In 1972 he and Betty moved to Marietta, Ohio. He was a volunteer teacher for 18 years at St. Mary’s middle school. Twice he received the Marietta High School Academic Excellence Award from former students at St. Mary’s: Lisa Tornes and Beth Bradley. He then volunteered at Adult Basic Learning Center at Wayne Street where he helped many students earn their GED.
While living in Marietta he was a member of the First Baptist Church where he served on various committees. He was a member of Kiwanis Club, Washington County Historical Society, Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District, Habitat for Humanity, and was a charter member of the Council on Aging. He also delivered Franciscan Meals, helped senior citizens with Income Tax returns through VITA and enjoyed playing bridge and golf, including shooting par at Pioneer Golf Center when he was 96. In 1998, he and his wife Betty were inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizen Hall of Fame.
Dennis is survived by his three daughters, Margaret Jane Kimbler of Cornelia, Georgia, Nancy Elizabeth Luthy (Jim) of Marietta, Carol Ann Burns (Tom) of Duluth, Minnesota, 8 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, his special caretaker, Waynett Montgomery, and many nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Lora, his wife Betty, his brother Richard Clayton and his sister Orea Mable Willliams. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Marietta Foundation, 100 Putnam St. or to the Marietta chapter of Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 4092, Marietta, Ohio 45750. McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home in Marietta is in charge of arrangements. Messages of sympathy may be sent at www.lankfordfh.com.
A memorial service will be conducted by Pastor Chad Mugrage at the First Baptist Church of Marietta, Saturday, May 4th 12:00 noon.