Lucile Finzer Leathers, 92,  Akeley, PA passed away on July 18, 2013.

Lucile's life was nothing short of extraordinary.  She was born on February 22, 1921 in Sugarcreek, OH to William David Finzer and Eva Mae Neff Finzer.  Lucile grew up on a farm in Ohio and her family moved to the Akeley area in 1941 where they continued to farm.  She attended Oberlin College and graduated in 1943 with a BA degree in Physical Education.  She was the first married woman to ever attend and graduate from Oberlin.  Lucile married Thomas Arthur Leathers on March 26, 1943 at his mother's home in Apple Creek, OH.

Lucile taught Health and Phys Ed for over 30 years, 21 of those years at Eisenhower High School.  She pioneered for equal opportunity for girls' organized sports and was instrumental in the movement.  Title 9 was passed in 1972 stating that all public schools had to give girls as equal of an opportunity to participate in sports on an inter-school basis.  In 2003, she was inducted into the Warren County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame for all of her years of teaching, coaching, initiating and starting girls' sports.  Lucile also joined the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees-Warren/Forest Group in 1977.  In 1980, she took over as the Chairman of Social Services Committee.  She resigned from this position in 2006 and continued to be a consultant until the time of her death.

In 1964, Lucile and her husband Tom bought and operated the 'Bowladrome' in North Warren and the bowling alley stayed a family operated business until 1995.  Lucile and her husband also designed and built the Cable Hollow Golf Course, which opened in 1968.

Lucile was actively involved in the Hill and Dale Garden Club and the Pine Grove Beautification Committee.  She was also the Chairman of the Pine Grove Township Bicentennial committee as well as an author and historian for the 450-page book that was published in 1994.

Lucile was also very involved in her church.  She was a Deacon at Cable Hollow Church, taught the children Sunday school classes many years ago, served on the building committee for the building of the new parsonage in the 80's and was elected an Elder from 2003-2006.

She is survived by her daughter Suzanne DeFabio and her husband Anthony DeFabio Jr of Pleasant Twp, her son Thomas Leathers and his wife Donna Leathers of Pittsburgh, her son Robert Leathers of Russell, her grandchildren Doreen DeFabio Duska, Shari DeFabio, Phillip Weston, Leonard Weston, Daniel Leathers, Samantha Leathers, Kimmie Leathers-Montiel and Stephen Leathers and her great-grandchildren Halle Weston, Parker Weston, Grant Weston, Cade Weston and Ava Weston.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Thomas A Leathers, her daughter Martha Weston, her brother Vinton Finzer and her sister Mary Ellen Finzer.

Friends will be received on Sunday July 21, 2013, at Peterson-Blick Funeral Home, 1003 Pennsylvania Avenue, East, Warren, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.  A funeral service will be held at the Cable Hollow Church, 3157 Cable Hollow Rd Russell, PA 16345 on Monday, July 22, 2013 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Allan Jones, pastor, officiating.

Burial will be in the Pine Grove Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made out to Cable Hollow Church.