Mary Jane Dautrich

Mary Jane (Ward) Dautrich, 89, of Topton, formerly of Reading, died Saturday, October 23, 2010 at the Lutheran Home at Topton. She was the widow of Paul H. Dautrich who died June 26, 1998.

Born in Reading, she was a daughter of the late Oscar C. and Madeline M. (Hilzinger) Ward. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Topton, where she was a former secretary of the Church Council. She was an honor graduate of Reading High School Class of 1938. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree, cum laude, from Albright College in 1942 and a Master’s Degree in Library Science with honors from Drexel University in 1954. Additional post graduate work was completed at Middlebury Graduate Spanish Language School, Vermont, and Kutztown University. In 1942 she became a member of Phi-Delta Sigma, Albright College’s Honorary Alumnae Sorority. Before retiring in 1981, after 23 years as the librarian at the former Southern Junior High School, Reading, she taught English and Spanish at the former Wernersville Borough High School from 1942-1946. From 1946-1952, she held the position of instructor in Spanish and Latin at Albright College. She served as Head of the Albright College Library Circulation Department from 1952-1953.

From 1953-1958, she was employed as Assistant Circulation Librarian at the main Reading Public Library and as Head Librarian at the former Northeast Branch Library, Reading, until she accepted the Southern Junior High School Library position in 1958. She was listed in WHO’S WHO in Library Science, the International Scholars Directory and WHO’S WHO of American Women. In 1991 she was elected to the Southern Middle School Hall of Fame, Reading. She is a Life member and former Treasurer of the Auxiliary of the Lutheran Home at Topton, and also a Life Member of Berks County Senior Citizens Council.

She is survived by her close friend, Gloria Kompa, Reading, and several cousins.

Funeral Services are Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 10:30 AM in Grace Lutheran Church, located on the campus of the Lutheran Home at Topton. Interment in Laureldale Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday from 9:30 to 10:30 AM in the church. Arrangements are by the Ludwick Funeral Home, Topton, PA.