Sara A. Galeese

Sara Lawler Galeese, age 96, passed away on January 21, 2015. Born on September 4, 1918 in Middletown, Ohio to Norbert (Bert) Lawler and Anna McDonald Lawler, Sara was a lifelong resident of Middletown. A graduate of the 1936 class of Middletown High, she earned her B.S. degree in English, Latin, and Home Economics from Miami University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Sara pledged Chi Omega and remained active with her sorority for many years after graduation as an advisor. When the Miami chapter of Chi Omega celebrated its 100th anniversary in April of 2013, Sara was proud to be the oldest member in attendance. Sara taught school in Clinton County at Clarksvillle High School and at Roosevelt Jr. High and Fenwick High School in Middletown. A longtime member of St. Mary's Church, she was both a teacher and Assistant Principal at the parish school. In addition, she was president of the Women's Society and vice-president of the Parish Council. Sara also served as president of the Middletown chapter of the American Association of University Women and president of the Middletown Women's Panhellenic. For many years she volunteered at the Children's Home in Hamilton. Sara had the honor of naming the first hamburger drive-in restaurant in Middletown. Her father, Bert Lawler, who was editor-publisher of the Middletown Journal for many years, and Sara's stepmother Alice Lloyd Lawler established the iconic restaurant in 1932. Middletonians still know the restaurant as "The Jug."

Believing it was important to reward academic achievement, Sara annually funded the Latin award at Fenwick High School and established the Lawler-Galeese Scholarship for Excellence in Journalism at Miami University. Sara was devoted to her husband Paul, her high school sweetheart, whom she married at Holy Trinity Church on June 14, 1941. They celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary this past summer. Sara enjoyed attending home and away Miami football games and Miami Alumni weekends where she reconnected with college friends from 1940 and the friends of her daughters who followed her path to Miami. She also enjoyed playing golf and bridge at Wildwood Golf Club and at Turtle Creek Golf Club in Tequesta, FL where she and Paul resided in the winters for 30 years. Sara loved being a mother to her daughters Sharon, Betsy and Janet. She sewed for them, led their Girl Scout Troops, and served as their role model to be good citizens who give back to the community.

Sara is survived by her husband Paul, her daughters Sharon Touchton (Bob) of Maineville, OH, Betsy Dougherty of Naperville, IL, and Janet Leveridge (Carl) of Stuart FL. She loved her grandchildren Bruce, Sara and Kate and her great-grandchildren Eleanor, Alice, and Beau

A private memorial service will be held with burial at Woodside Cemetery in Middletown.

Funeral Home:
Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding
3805 Roosevelt Blvd.
Middletown, OH
US 45044