Obituary for Sondra Bixby

Sondra Bixby, 81 of Findlay passed away on Saturday, December 12, 2020. She was born on October 3,1939, the only child of Ruth (Hanawalt) and Dwight Brown in Kenton, Ohio. She grew up in Hardin County. Sondra graduated from Kenton High School and received her BA from the University of Toledo. She married Lee A. Bixby in 1962 and they later divorced. Her greatest achievement, though, was becoming the mother to four daughters; Lori Bixby of Troy, Ohio, Kerry (David) Brinkman of Batavia, Ohio, Kelly (Michael) McCormick of Cincinnati, Ohio and Erin Bixby of Savannah, Ga. She was blessed with five grandchildren; Megan (Justin) Rash, Matthew Perry, Austin Perry and twins, Finn and Isla Bixby. Two great granddaughters, Alexis and Olivia Rash, made her life complete. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Alexander Perry.

Sondra’s professional career began at the Ohio Oil Company, now Marathon Oil. She also spent many years at Continental Cablevision, later becoming MediaOne. Other part-time positions included the Hancock County Common Pleas Court as a transcriptionist for the Court Reporter, substitute teacher for Findlay City Schools and in Consumer Relations at Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. Reading was always a favorite pastime so volunteering at the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library in the Book Cellar was a perfect retirement project. She was also a member of Friends of the Library, Hancock County Right to Life, Blanchard Valley Save-A-Pet, Hancock Constitutionalists, the John Birch Society and the NRA. Sondra was also a member of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church.  If animals are allowed in Heaven, there should be a sizeable welcoming group. They were a lifelong passion and included both tame and wild critters. Dogs, cats, ponies and horses were childhood companions. More recently, her back yard was a feeding station for deer, ducks, birds, rabbits and squirrels, one in particular who snatched peanuts from her hand.  A Memorial Service will begin at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 19, 2020 at COLDREN-CRATES FUNERAL HOME with Fr. Marty Nasser officiating. Friends are welcome to view the service via livestream by visiting www.coldrencrates.com. A private family burial will take place in Grove Cemetery, Kenton.  In her memory, Sondra would have been pleased with donations to local animal shelters or Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, UT 84741. Even better, adopting a rescued pet, particularly an older one with little chance of a permanent home, would be an appropriate complement since she opened her home to many rescued pets. Online condolences can be expressed to the family by visiting coldrencrates.com.