Mary Margaret Lusk Barlage

Mary Margaret Lusk Barlage, Music Educator, left her earthly journey and entered into the glorious Kingdom of God on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Born March 17, 1936, in Athens County, Ohio, the daughter of Raymond Edward and Clara Grace Johnston Sanborn. Married to the Rev. Harold W. Mowery January 3, 1953. Two children were born to this marriage and they are Margaret Maria Mowery Barnhill (Wesley) and Harold Waldo “Hal” Mowery, II. Married to Ned Eugene Lusk on June 22, 1961. Three daughters were born to this marriage. Bonita Bonnie Jean (Mike) Raypholtz, Amy Beth (Chip) Noykos, and Melissa Kae (Eric) Pfenning. Ned died October 25, 2003. Married Alvin L. Barlage December 30, 2006. He passed away July 24, 2015. Six step-children survive. Anthony (Kris) Barlage, Theodore (Linda) Barlage, Brenda Barlage, Brian (Traci) Barlage, Tresa (Joseph) Zianno, and Steven (Tricia) Barlage. 33 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren survive. A lifelong student of music, Mary studied vocal with professors from Ashland Junior College in Ashland, KY. She was an honorary member of the class of 1954 Nelsonville High School, Nelsonville, Ohio. She was a graduate of Windsor High School, Aid, Ohio in Lawrence County, Ohio. Two brothers have preceded Mary Margaret in death. Robert Ray (Joan) Sanborn and Charles W. Sanborn. A sister in law, Jo Carol Sanborn also survives as well as several nieces and nephews. Teaching as a private instructor of music from 1951 with retirement in the year of 2011. Apprentice instructor at the age of 15 when her private teacher set her up with her beginner students. Church pianist at the age of nine years in Nelsonville Church of the Nazarene Traveling pianist for the Princeton Seminary Summer Mission Tours 1949-1952. Church and Music instructor at youth camps 1953-1960. Adjudicator for Teen Talent contests Central and N.W. Ohio 1968-1972. Organist Patrick Heinl Funeral Home 1976-1988 and Bayliff and Eley Funeral Home, 1988-2018. Columnist for Wapakoneta Daily News, “Looking Backward” 1987-1990. Author of numerous pieces of poetry and creator of “Snippets of Joy Mary Margaret” 2017 - Member of Ohio Alliance for Arts Ed., director and leader of “The Singing Lusk Family''. Minister of Music Wapakoneta Church of the Nazarene 1968-1976, Cridersville Church of the Nazarene, 1976-1983, Organist First Presbyterian Church, St. Marys, OH, Minister of Music Botkins United Methodist Church 1986-88, Minister of Music Salem United Methodist Church 1988-2000, Organist The Byron Church, Fairborn, Ohio 2000-06, Co-organists Botkins United Methodist and Uniopolis United Methodist 2006-2009, Organist Uniopolis United Methodist Church until retirement in June, 2017. She had been a member of the Ladies Auxiliary Knights of Columbus, Women’s Civic League, Wapakoneta. The choral Music Society and the Auglaize County Historical Society. She was a member of the PERS of Ohio, Northwestern Ohio Music Teachers Association, Ohio Music Teachers Association and the National Music Teachers Association. Services will be held Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at 11:00 am with her son-in-law, Rev. H Wesley Barnhill, officiating. Friends may call on Tuesday, April 11, from 3:00 to 7:00 pm and also an hour prior to the service on Wednesday. Interment will follow the service at Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations may be made to: The Wapakoneta Women’s Civic League Scholarship Fund, Ohio Living Dorothy Love and Ohio’s Hospice of Miami County.

Mary Margaret Lusk Barlage

March 17, 1936 - April 5, 2023