Dorothy Almstead, 78, Was Singer and Educator

Dorothy Ayers Buck Almstead, age 78, of Delaware, Ohio, died Monday afternoon, May 20, at Grady Memorial Hospital.

She was born May 7, 1924, in Springfield to the late Percy Reed and Margaret E. (Ayers) Buck. She was a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and Curtis Institute of Music. She was a Delaware-area resident since 1951. A retired elementary schoolteacher with the Delaware city schools, she taught at the Woodward, Conger, Smith and Carlisle elementary schools. She also taught piano lessons and volunteered for Helpline in Delaware. She worked with the Von Trapp family in Vermont and was a well-known alto soloist around the central Ohio area after several years singing on the radio in Buffalo, N.Y.

She is survived by sons Robert Bruce Almstead of Marengo and David (Wendy) Almstead of Orlando, Fla.; daughters Laurie Almstead Campos of Martha's Vineyard and Wendy Bell of Carmi, Ill.; 10 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by a brother, Robert R. Buck, and a sister, Elinor M. Bush.

Memorial services are planned for the weekend of Oct. 11 to 13 in Delaware and will be announced at that time.

Arrangements are in care of DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, Delaware, Ohio. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice. Condolences may be expressed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.