Obituary for Martha Louise Ohaus (Rausch)
Martha Louise Rausch Ohaus, daughter of Karl William Rausch and Lois Mildred Gilger Rausch, passed away quietly on September 18, 2020 at her home on Lake Toxaway, NC.
Martha was born March 8, 1926 in Cleveland, Ohio where she spent her childhood. When she was a senior in high school, her family moved to Wilson, NC where she got “tar on her heels”. Both of her parents were college educated. Education and travel were highly valued by her family. Martha attended the Women’s College at Greensboro (now UNCG) for two years and when WW II ended transferred to Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. This was the beginning of a lifelong devotion to the Cornell. After graduating in 1947 with a B.S. in Home Economics, she worked in Poughkeepsie, NY for Central Hudson Gas and Electric teaching the public (including Eleanor Roosevelt’s housekeeper) how to use electric appliances. In 2008, Martha received the Frank H.T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Award from Cornell. Martha married William George Ohaus, whom she met at Cornell, on September 9, 1950 in Wilson, NC. The couple lived in Maplewood, Short Hills, and later New Vernon, NJ and had vacation homes in Delray Beach, FL and Lake Toxaway, NC. Bill was Vice President at Ohaus Scale Corporation and Martha supported him while volunteering for too many organizations to list and raising their children. They enjoyed traveling and passed that passion on to their four children who survive her, Marjorie Lillard (Peter) of Brevard, NC, Richard Ohaus (Melodie) of Charlotte, NC, Susan Flint (Henry) of Alford, MA and Karl Ohaus (Tracey) of Chester, CT and to their 14 grandchildren including Margot Drennen (Chris) of Pisgah Forest, NC and 13 great grandchildren. She also leaves many nieces and nephews, the children of her brothers who predeceased her, Paul G. Rausch (Jane) and Karl W. Rausch, Jr. (Patricia).
Bill passed away in November, 1995, but Martha continued to travel and be an active church and community member and volunteer. She eventually visited every continent except Antarctica. She moved to Chester, CT and then to the home that they built at Lake Toxaway where she enjoyed being able to host the family. She sewed Halloween costumes, planned elaborate children’s birthdays, made needlepoint pillows and knitted hundreds of prayer shawls for Transylvania Hospital. Her friends and family proudly wear her knitted socks and many people enjoyed the brownies that she provided for “Friday Nights at the Lake Toxaway Community Center”. The family wishes to thank Sharon and Deidre and the women of Shirley’s Angels, Crystal, Storm, Ann, Michelle, April and Andi who cared for her so lovingly and brightened her days. We are also grateful to Lake Toxaway Fire and Rescue and the Allied Barton Security Team.
A graveside service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of New Vernon, NJ on September 28, 2020.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Lake Toxaway Fire Rescue Inc., PO Box 35, Lake Toxaway, NC 28747 who were always there for Martha or to the Lake Toxaway Community Center, 81 Slick Fisher Road, Lake Toxaway, NC 28747.
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com
Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory are caring for the family.
Martha was born March 8, 1926 in Cleveland, Ohio where she spent her childhood. When she was a senior in high school, her family moved to Wilson, NC where she got “tar on her heels”. Both of her parents were college educated. Education and travel were highly valued by her family. Martha attended the Women’s College at Greensboro (now UNCG) for two years and when WW II ended transferred to Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. This was the beginning of a lifelong devotion to the Cornell. After graduating in 1947 with a B.S. in Home Economics, she worked in Poughkeepsie, NY for Central Hudson Gas and Electric teaching the public (including Eleanor Roosevelt’s housekeeper) how to use electric appliances. In 2008, Martha received the Frank H.T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Award from Cornell. Martha married William George Ohaus, whom she met at Cornell, on September 9, 1950 in Wilson, NC. The couple lived in Maplewood, Short Hills, and later New Vernon, NJ and had vacation homes in Delray Beach, FL and Lake Toxaway, NC. Bill was Vice President at Ohaus Scale Corporation and Martha supported him while volunteering for too many organizations to list and raising their children. They enjoyed traveling and passed that passion on to their four children who survive her, Marjorie Lillard (Peter) of Brevard, NC, Richard Ohaus (Melodie) of Charlotte, NC, Susan Flint (Henry) of Alford, MA and Karl Ohaus (Tracey) of Chester, CT and to their 14 grandchildren including Margot Drennen (Chris) of Pisgah Forest, NC and 13 great grandchildren. She also leaves many nieces and nephews, the children of her brothers who predeceased her, Paul G. Rausch (Jane) and Karl W. Rausch, Jr. (Patricia).
Bill passed away in November, 1995, but Martha continued to travel and be an active church and community member and volunteer. She eventually visited every continent except Antarctica. She moved to Chester, CT and then to the home that they built at Lake Toxaway where she enjoyed being able to host the family. She sewed Halloween costumes, planned elaborate children’s birthdays, made needlepoint pillows and knitted hundreds of prayer shawls for Transylvania Hospital. Her friends and family proudly wear her knitted socks and many people enjoyed the brownies that she provided for “Friday Nights at the Lake Toxaway Community Center”. The family wishes to thank Sharon and Deidre and the women of Shirley’s Angels, Crystal, Storm, Ann, Michelle, April and Andi who cared for her so lovingly and brightened her days. We are also grateful to Lake Toxaway Fire and Rescue and the Allied Barton Security Team.
A graveside service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of New Vernon, NJ on September 28, 2020.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Lake Toxaway Fire Rescue Inc., PO Box 35, Lake Toxaway, NC 28747 who were always there for Martha or to the Lake Toxaway Community Center, 81 Slick Fisher Road, Lake Toxaway, NC 28747.
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com
Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory are caring for the family.