Obituary of Fay Elsie Heter Angel (1918–2011)

The published obituary of Fay Elsie Heter Angel — Chuck Eesley’s godmother — following her death Thursday morning, 10 November 2011, at Marietta Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, age 93. This obituary settles a long list of biographical questions about Faye that the Eesley-family memory could only partly fill in: her birth name and place, her parents, her early schooling, her Marietta arrival, her work at Marietta College, her years operating the framing shop with Ted, and her death within a year of the c. 1992 Davis-Angel family portrait in this archive.

What the obituary reveals

Birth: “born to Frederich W. Heter and Elsie Wilson Heter Feb. 19, 1918, in Old Town Valley, Tuscarawas County, Ohio.” Faye’s full birth name was Fay Elsie Heter — the middle name carried from her mother Elsie Wilson Heter. Old Town Valley is in Tuscarawas County, an hour and a half north of Marietta.

Childhood: “Raised on a farm where she was born, she attended ‘Fribley’s School’ a one-room school house in the valley and later New Philadelphia High School.” A rural one-room-schoolhouse upbringing, then the small-city high school in New Philadelphia, Ohio.

Husband: “preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Theodore E. Angel.” Confirms Ted’s full given name Theodore E. Angel, the 53-year marriage, and his death before hers. Since the marriage was 53 years, and Faye outlived Ted (who died before 2011), if they married c. 1939 when she moved to Marietta, Ted died c. 1991–1992. The c. 1992 Davis-Angel family portrait in this archive may well be one of the last photographs taken of Ted.

Marietta arrival: “She moved to Marietta in 1939 with her husband” — Faye and Ted came to Marietta as a young married couple in 1939, age 21.

Marietta College Book Store Manager — nineteen years. This is the central paid-work fact of her life: two decades at the Marietta College Book Store as its manager. It explains how Faye knew so many Marietta College families — Charlie Eesley’s class of 1969, Terrie Lee’s 1971 class, every faculty family who needed textbooks for their kids. The Marietta-College-student-as-extended-family role Faye played for Terrie during her college visits to Charlie makes much more concrete sense now: Faye was the College Book Store Manager. She knew the entire campus by name.

Angel’s Mat and Frame Shop — twelve years. “12 years operating Angel’s Mat and Frame Shop with her husband at the home address.” The name Angel’s Mat and Frame Shop — not just “picture framing” but the formal small-business name — and the duration: twelve years out of their home. This is the thousands-of-frames-in-the-basement business of Chuck’s memory.

Religious and civic life: “A devoted member of Christ United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School for 20 years.” A second twenty-year role: two decades teaching Sunday School at Christ United Methodist Church. Plus the Marietta Woman’s Home, Girls Council of the Betsey Mills Club, the Beta Chapter of the Child Conservation League, Franciscan Meals, and occasional tours at the Campus Martius Museum.

Children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren: “She is survived by two children: David L. Angel of North Lake Tahoe, Calif. and Rebecca Davis of Fishers, Ind.; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.” Faye and Ted had two children:

• David L. Angel of North Lake Tahoe, California
• Rebecca “Becky” Lynne (Angel) Davis of Fishers, Indiana

David is a previously-undocumented Angel child in this archive. Becky’s location Fishers, Indiana (an Indianapolis suburb) is new.

Preceded by grandson Dr. David Angel Jr. M.D. — Faye’s grandson (presumably David L.’s son) was a medical doctor who died before her. This is a small genealogical detail with notable emotional weight: Faye outlived a grandson who became a physician.

Brother: “her brother, Elmer Heter” — predeceased her. Faye had at least one sibling.

What the obituary closes

This obituary confirms and extends:

• The Marietta College / Marietta family-network depth of Faye’s relationship with the Eesley family (twenty years as Book Store Manager).
• The Angel’s Mat and Frame Shop business name and twelve-year duration of Chuck’s memory.
• Becky Angel’s married name and her Indiana residence at the time of her mother’s death.
• Ted Angel’s full name (Theodore E. Angel) and the 53-year marriage.
• The depth of Faye’s church and civic life across the same decades the Eesley-family memory frames as friendship-deep.

Source: Marietta-area obituary, dated 11 November 2011, transcribed and transmitted by Chuck Eesley 2026.