IN MEMORIAM: Leonora Lobdell, 86;
Entrepreneur, Realtor, Positive Thinker
ONEONTA – Leonora Lobdell, 86, wife and business partner of Burton Lobdell in Lobdell’s Trucking, real-estate entrepreneur, and an advocate of positive thinking, passed away Saturday, June 25, 2016.
Born in Brooklyn, Nov. 26, 1929, she grew up in Fleischmanns, the daughter of Helen Roberta Honeyman and Baptist minister Thomas Todd Edwards. Her parents met at the Montrose Bible Conference Center where Leonora’s grandfather, Rev. Robert M. Honeyman, was executive director.
In her teens, Leonora was the live-in nanny/housekeeper for the Jack Wrytzen family. Jack was a well-known Christian evangelist who treated her like a daughter. In later years, she was a member of the Otego, Oneonta Main Street, and West End Oneonta Baptist churches.
Leonora was known for her outgoing personality and commitment to positive thinking. As a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Course, she sometimes helped to facilitate the program.
She had a knack for turning challenges into opportunities. In the ’70s, she overcame her fear of heights by taking flying lessons and earning her pilot’s certificate.
As a real estate agent in the ’80s, one of her greatest delights was helping young couples find the perfect starter home. She owned and operated the Coldwell Banker Real Estate Agency on Main Street in Oneonta in the ’90s. She loved to own and remodel houses, and at one time owned eight homes on Main Street, Otego.
She was a member of The Gideons International, Otsego County Chamber of Commerce, and The Rotary Club.
Leonora had four children from a previous marriage who survive her: Greg Lapham (Roseanne) of Binghamton, Ellie Marrandette (David) of Wadsworth, Ohio, Bonnie Star (Paul) of Denver, Colo., and Peg Ballou (Sam) of Bucyrus, Ohio. Following her marriage to Burton Lobdell in June 1970, their combined families, with the addition of Faith Solomon, Linda Porter, Diane Erle, Gary “Butch” Lobdell and Michele Stoeger, comprised nine children, more than a dozen grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren.
When her grandchildren were young, she enjoyed hosting holiday gatherings at the Lobdell residence, 66 Main St., Otego.
At Leonora’s request, her body was donated to science. Gifts of remembrance may be made to The Gideons, Rotary or the “Adopt-a-Pet” rescue which helped her find a canine companion during her later years. The family thanks the Hampshire House and Chestnut Park for the caring service they provided.
A memorial service for Leonora will be at 2 p.m. Friday, July 8, at the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home. Interment will take place at a later date in Sand Hill Cemetery, Unadilla.
Condolences to the family may be made online by visiting our website: www.grummonsfuneralhome.com
Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home of Oneonta.
