Madge Myer

Madge P. Barr Myer, of Salem, Virginia, passed away at home on July 16, 2021, at age 97.  She was born in White Cottage, Ohio, on May 24, 1924, and was the seventh child in her family, which eventually grew to 10 surviving children.  She lived a short while in Albuquerque, New Mexico,  where her father tried to recover from tuberculosis.  He passed away when Madge was 6 years old and the family worked hard to stay together, creating strong ties in the extended family.

Madge was preceded in death by her parents, Addie and Robert Barr; six siblings; her dear husband of 73 years, Don Myer; their son, Thomas Myer; grand-daughter, Mindy Myer Hendershot and son-in-law Norman Auldridge. She is survived by her daughter, Teresa Myer Auldridge; daughter-in-law, Pam Kinney Myer; grandchildren, Nicholas Myer, Nathan Auldridge, Megan (Lawrence/Cole) Coulston; and five great-grandchildren, three of whom she was able to see in the past few weeks.  She also has three surviving siblings, Mary Meyer, Robert Barr and Ruth Kennel.

Madge loved volunteering and worked in the Bethesda Hospital gift shop for over 40 years, taught Sunday School, and was a counselor at church camp for First Christian Church for many years.  She always wanted to be a teacher and after raising her two children she became a Teacher’s Aide for Adult Basic Education, a true calling for her compassion and dedication to others.

Madge was known in the Barr family as the Energizer Bunny. She was famous for her home-made noodles, potato salad and cookies. Her noodles were a requirement for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, and her peanut butter cookies were always requested for family reunions.  She started playing golf in her 40s and was on the front page of the Zanesville Times Register at age 90 and quoted saying, “I don’t know what I’d do without golf.  It’s part of my life.  I know I can’t do it forever, but I’m certainly going to as long as I can.”  She continued to play until she was 92 and regularly had the lowest score in her group.  She and Don traveled through many states with dear friends to play golf for as many months of the year as they could manage.  They also played in several bridge clubs for many years.

Madge lived most of her first 94 years in her hometown, Zanesville, Ohio. Madge and Don built and lived in the same house in a wonderful neighborhood for 59 years, where the family met life-long friends. They moved to Roanoke/Salem, Virginia, in 2018 to be near family there.  After her husband, Don, passed away in mid-May, 2020, she moved in with her daughter and was able to see close family members regularly, even during the pandemic.  She especially loved weekly visits from the youngest great-grandchild, Lawrence, and occasional time with great-grandchildren Kaitlyn and Joseph from Ohio. 

 Arrangements are being made by Lotz Funeral Home in Salem, Virginia (www.lotzfuneralhome.com).  When Don Myer passed away early in the pandemic, the family decided to wait for a Memorial Service until family and friends could gather in person.  As fate would have it and probably as they would have wanted it, the plan is now to have a joint service for this amazing couple.  A memorial service for both Madge and Don Myer will be held at First Christian Church Zanesville on Saturday, July 24, 11:00 a.m. and will be streamed live and recorded for viewing later (https://www.zvillefcc.com/).

 There will be a lunch reception after the service in the Fellowship Hall and all are welcome. The family suggests that donations in their honor be made to First Christian Church, 3000 Dresden Rd, Zanesville, Ohio 43701; or the American Heart Association (www.heart.org) in memory of several loved ones.

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