Mary Elizabeth (Lieber) Gwin, 94, of Bowling Green, OH, passed away peacefully with her family present February 12, 2025. Mary was born on November 20, 1930 in Bellevue, OH to the late Ralph and Eunice (Kuntz) Lieber.
After graduation from Bellevue High School Mary enrolled in the Robinwood School of Nursing in Toledo, OH where she completed her Registered Nursing certification. She married her late husband Bob on Feburary, 20 1952 at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Bellevue. Mary worked part-time at Bellevue Hospital and Wood County Hospital. After her four children were older she worked full-time at WCH until her retirement. She loved the nursing profession and all the people she worked with or trained over the years.
Mary and Bob, along with their four children, moved from Bellevue to Bowling Green in August of 1967 and purchased the house on the Northeast corner of West Wooster and North Maple. Over the past 57 years Mary hosted numerous family holiday and birthday gatherings in her home, including the Christmas Eve celebration this past December.
Over the years Mary was thankful for all the great neighbors, especially the Gillespie family who lived next door when the Gwins moved to town, and remained there for over 40 plus years.
Mary enjoyed a variety of hobbies over the years with her favorite one being gardening. Mary received several compliments from people walking down N. Maple Street on her perennial beds and annual pots. She inherited the gardening skills from her mother Eunice and passed it on to her daughter Judy. As a teenage girl Mary owned a horse named “Topper”that was stabled at her grandmother’s barn. This ignited a life long love for horses and riding. After raising her family Mary purchased a quarter horse named “Stormy” which she boarded in the Oak Openings area. She spent many days well into her early 80’s riding with barn friends in the Maumee State Forest until “Stormy” passed away. She was disappointed she outlived her horse. After joining the Bowling Green County Club in 1968 she started playing golf for the first time. She joined the Golferetts at the club and enjoyed her time on the course and the camaraderie the game provided. After her playing days concluded she enjoyed lunch followed by an afternoon of Bridge playing with her friends.
The family is grateful for Mary’s Friday afternoon Bridge crew who provided Mary with countless hours of entertainment and conversation after she moved to Brookdale Assisted Living in 2023.
Mary is survived by her son Stephen (Janet) Gwin of Sylvania OH: four grandchildren; Zachary Gwin of Los Angeles CA, Madeline Gwin of Columbus OH, Sarah (Caleb) Fennick of Columbus OH, Laura Gwin of Columbus OH: son -in-law Bill Balsizer of Greenville SC: four great grandchildren; Jaylin and Jaliyah Dawn, Charlotte and Eleanor Fennick.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, husband: Bob, brother: Paul, sister: Phylis, children: John, Tim, and Judy (Gwin) Balsizer. Mary was also mother to six dogs and three cranky cats in her lifetime.
Mary was a member of St. Marks Lutheran Church in Bowling Green OH.
Visitation for Mary will be held on April 11, 2025 from 11:30-1pm at the Bowling Green County Club, Fairview Ave. Lunch will be provided courtesy of Mary, Bob would be happy about that. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Dunn Funeral Home in Bowling Green.
A private funeral service for Mary’s family will be conducted the following day at St. Johns Lutheran Church, Bellevue OH. Mary will be laid to rest with other family members In Bowling Green OH.
A special thanks to staff at Brookdale Assisted Living, Woodhaven, Wood County Hospital, and Bridge Hospice for keeping her comfortable in preparation for her journey.
Memorial contributions in Mary’s name may be made to the Wood County Hospital, Wood County Humane Society or to Bridge Hospice.
