Janice Searle

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Janice Lorraine (George) Searle, 88, of Perrysburg, died peacefully on April 6, 2014 at Hospice of
Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg. She passed into eternity the morning after her four sons sang her to sleep
for the final time.
A woman of deep religious conviction, she lived her life as an example of Christian love and service.
She was born on a farm in rural Wood County on November 22, 1925 to Merritt and Bernice George.
While still in grade school she learned from her mother how to play the piano, a talent she later
developed to a high degree of proficiency.
She graduated with honors from Jackson High School in Hoytville, Ohio in 1943, then graduated magna cum
laude in 1947 from Bowling Green State University with the highest GPA in the College of Education. Even
though she majored in Elementary Education, she was selected over piano majors to be piano accompanist
for the top choirs at BGSU.
While in college, Janice began dating a young man recently returned to the States from the war, and in
June 1947 she married John C. Searle.
For the next three years she taught school in Grand Rapids, Ohio, while John earned his degree from BGSU.
Upon moving to Sidney, Ohio she taught in the Sidney school system to help put her husband through
graduate school.
John entered the ministry and together they served five churches in 42 years: four years at Webster
E.U.B. (Wood County), four years at Memorial E.U.B. in Sidney, 11 years at First E.U.B. in Marion, eight
years at Trinity United Methodist in Bowling Green, nine years at First United Methodist in Sylvania, as
well as six years as United Methodist District Superintendent in Defiance.
During their years in Sidney and Marion, the couple had four sons: Steven, Scott, Michael, and Martin.
Once the boys all reached school age, Janice returned to teaching, serving as a substitute elementary
teacher in Bowling Green and an elementary music teacher in Defiance. She was piano accompanist for the
Sylvania Northview High School choir for many years, touring with them in Belgium. In each of her
churches, Janice sang as a fine alto in the choir and served as substitute organist.
In addition to her musical talents, Janice was also a gifted athlete, an avid reader, and a seamstress
who made all her own clothes.
After her husband’s retirement in 1988, the couple moved to Perrysburg, and for the next 25 years Janice
again shared her gift of music with countless organizations. She would regularly accompany senior
recitals for vocal music majors at BGSU, played for countless junior and senior high students at Solo
& Ensemble contests, and was piano accompanist for numerous musicals at Defiance High School,
Central Catholic High School, Springfield High School, Cardinal Stritch High School, and the Black Swamp
Players in Bowling Green. For 20 years she played piano for a local entertainment troupe, The Common
Company.
She composed many songs over the years, including an original operetta. She provided music programs for
dozens of church and community group meetings, usually on her own but sometimes with one or more sons.
Having failed to come up with even one tenor out of the four, she wrote, arranged or transposed quartet
music for her sons into bass-baritone range.
Janice was preceded in death by her sister Betty and grandson Wyatt.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 67 years, John; sons, Steve (Alicia) Searle, Scott (Ann-Marie)
Searle, Michael (Margaret) Searle, and Marty (Brenda) Searle; grandchildren, Christopher, Marisa,
Morgan, and Kenton Searle; siblings, Kermit George, Kenneth (Lauretta) George, and Vivian (Don) Hills;
and many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at DUNN FUNERAL HOME, located in the Historical District of Bowling Green at 408 West
Wooster St., from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 11.
A Celebration of Life for Janice will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 12 at First United Methodist
Church, 1526 East Wooster Street in Bowling Green.
Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Hospice of Northwest Ohio.
Online condolences can be made by visiting: www.dunnfuneralhome.com.
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