Gertrude Walton Donahey

Gertrude Walton Donahey, 95, the former Treasurer of the State of Ohio (1971-1983), died peacefully Sunday, July 11, 2004, at Sunrise in Bexley, OH. Born August 4, 1908, in Goshen she was the daughter of the late George and Mary Thomas Walton. The first woman to be elected to a statewide executive office in the State of Ohio, Gertrude became active in politics in the 1920’s when she helped campaign for her father-in-law, Vic Donahey, who served as Governor from 1923-1929 and U.S. Senator from 1935-1941. She is survived by one son, John W. Donahey and his wife Jeanne of Columbus and Edgewater, Florida; grandchildren, John W. Donahey, III and his late wife Deborah Sphar of Columbus, Carol Donahey Holley of Bronxville, NY, and Albert Noble Donahey and his wife Debbie Hudak and their children Andrew and Alyssa all of Canal Winchester, OH; sisters-in-law Dorothy Donahey of Sarasota, FL and Mary Walton of Barberton, OH; nieces Betty Walton Lanzer of Sherrodsville, OH, Patty Walton of Summerville, SC, Bev Donahey of Logan, OH, Carol Donahey Smith of Columbus, Emily Ogden of Ground Marais, MI, Roxanne Donahey Jordkman, Linda Donahey, Dorothy Donahey, Peggy Huffman Graff all of the Washington, DC, Vickie Donahey Pendergast of Isle of Pines, MD, and Patty Donahey Morrison of Sturbridge, MA; nephews, Greg Walton of Barberton, OH, George Walton, Rich Walton, Richard Donahey, James Donahey, and Bill Donahey all of Columbus, James Huffman of Pickerington, OH, Jack Donahey of Hunting Valley, OH, William Donahey of Shaker Heights, OH, Rev. John Isham of Oklahoma City, OK, Edward Ogden of Venice, FL, Park Ogden, Jr. of Grand Marais, MI, and Tom Donahey of Austin, TX. She was preceded in death by her husband, John William Donahey, former Ohio Lieutenant Governor; sisters, Margaret Gordon and Lillian Schramm; brothers Willard Walton and Wilbert Walton. Visitation in Columbus will be at the Schoedinger State Street Chapel in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday, July 15, 2004. Local visitation will be at the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory, Saturday, July 17, 2004, from 12 noon to 1:00 pm. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday at 1:00 pm in the funeral home chapel with Monsignor James Ruef of Holy Name Church in Columbus presiding. A reception in the Geib Family Center will follow the service.A private family committal service is planned.Memorial contributions to honor Gertrude’s life may be made to the American Cancer Society, 201-A West Ohio Avenue, Dover, OH 44622.