Ada Margaret Hutchison, 94, of West Finley, passed away in her home Wednesday, January 31, 2018.
She was born April 22, 1923, in American Mission Hospital in Tanta, Egypt, to Dr. Harry S. Hutchison and Susannah McKeown Hutchison, who served under the United Presbyterian Church.
She attended boarding school at Schutz American School in Alexandria, Egypt. Before World War II began in Europe, the family returned to Claysville, where she graduated from Claysville High School in 1941. She was a graduate of Muskingum College, Ohio, in 1945, with a bachelor of arts in biology. She obtained a master of arts from the University of Pittsburgh in 1953.
Her teaching career began in Egypt, where she taught at Schutz American School. From 1949 to 1988, she taught science and biology, first in Mellon Junior High and then at the high school. She was instrumental in establishing a Science Research course for high school students. One of the joys of her retirement years was hearing from former students and colleagues and knowing she had an impact on their lives.
Chatham College honored her as Outstanding Woman Science Teacher in 1983. She received the Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1984 from Muskingum University.
She was a member of National Biology Teachers Association, as well as both Pennsylvania and Mt. Lebanon Retired School Employees Associations.
A member and elder at Claysville United Presbyterian Church, she was active as a Sunday school teacher and member of the bell choir.
She was a special presence in the lives of her nieces and nephews, who cherish memories of creek-wading adventures, collecting butterflies, lemon bars, Christmas date pudding and the annual family calendar featuring the photographs she had taken throughout the year.
Deceased, in addition to her parents, are her brother James and sister Rosella Nolin.
Surviving are her nieces, Susan (Mark) Shopland, Sharon (Larrabee Strow) Nolin and Rachel Gillespie, and nephew Douglas (Marlene) Nolin; great-nieces Bethany (Colin) Hurley, Erin Gillespie and Kelsey Nolin and great-nephews Ben Shopland (Eric Banaszewski), Daniel Bald, Scott and Ryan Gillespie and Eric Nolin; and great-great-nephew Nolin Hurley and great-great-niece Anna Rose Hurley.
A memorial service will be held at noon Saturday, February 17, in Claysville United Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Dr. Jerome Creach officiating. Family and friends will be received for visitation at the church from 10 a.m. to noon. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Claysville United Presbyterian Church.
Arrangements are being handled by Young Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc., 219 Main Street, Claysvillle, PA 15323, 724-663-7373, www.youngfhinc.com.
Providing contact information of nieces and nephew
Susan Nolin (Mark Shopland) Schutz Class ’73
[email protected] 688 Plum St. Indiana, PA 15701
Sharon Nolin (Larrabee Strow) Schutz ‘75
[email protected] 188 Dogwood Hill Rd., Claysville PA 15323
Douglas Nolin (Marlene) Schutz Class of ’77
[email protected] 88 Hickory Rd., Claysville PA 15323
Rachel Nolin (Gilllespie)
[email protected] 145 Coffee Bluff Lane Holly Springs, N.C. 27540