Carolyn Marcia Bougher

Memorial Services - Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Canaan Lutheran Church.

Carolyn Marcia Bougher, age 96, of West Salem, Ohio, passed away peacefully of natural causes in her home, surrounded by family, on August 15, 2019. Carolyn and her twin brother, Calvin were born to Albert Kratzer and Laura Elizabeth Fulton on July 24, 1923, in the new Wadsworth Hospital in Wadsworth, Ohio. They were the first set of twins to be born in Wadsworth Hospital. Raised on a farm 2 miles east of Leroy (now Westfield Center), Carolyn was the 11th child of 14 children. She graduated in 1941 from Westfield School in Leroy with a class of 19 students. In the fall of 1940 Carolyn began dating Donald F. Bougher, having met him in Sunday School at the Acme Lutheran Church in Seville, Ohio. 

Carolyn was married to Donald Bougher on August 27th, 1943, at Acme Lutheran Church during Donald’s leave from the army. After World War II came to an end, and Donald’s duty to the army was fulfilled, Donald and Carolyn decided their future lay in dairy farming, which they did successfully for nearly 40 years, buying their own beloved Cedar Run Farm located in West Salem, Ohio, in 1968. Donald preceded Carolyn in death on August 22, 2015. They would have been married 76 years this month. 

Throughout her life, Carolyn had a talent for music, sewing, and baking and was heavily involved with church activities, first at Acme Lutheran, then at Canaan Lutheran Church in Canaan, Ohio. She was the church organist at Canaan for almost 25 years, taught Sunday School, and was an active member of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Carolyn was a caring person, always ready to help anyone, anywhere. She spent untold hours quilting by hand and making blankets for Lutheran World Relief. After retiring from dairy farming in 1984, Don and Carolyn developed and pursued their passion for genealogy, making sure their familial legacy was thoroughly researched and preserved for their children and grandchildren. 

Carolyn is preceded in death by her parents, Albert Kratzer and Laura Kratzer; half brothers and sisters Beatrice, Violet, Charles, Merle, Lucile, Evelyn, Everett, Adeline, Carl and Celia; twin brother Calvin, sister Lois and brother, Dale

Carolyn is survived by and greatly missed by her four children: Son Gary (Peggy) Bougher, daughter Christine Bougher, son Kenneth (Barbara) Bougher, daughter Beth (Dan) Tegtmeier; 6 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. 

A memorial service will be held at a later date.  The family wishes to extend their incredible gratitude for all who cared for Carolyn, but especially her Hospice of Wayne County care team and volunteers.  Memorial donations would be appreciated in Carolyn’s memory to Canaan Lutheran Church or to Ohio’s LifeCare Hospice.

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