Unabelle Rebecca Boggs, Ph.D., 88, of Akron, Ohio passed away January 22, 2018 at the
Cleveland Clinic/Akron General Justin T. Rogers Hospice Care Center.
She was born August 5, 1929 in Looneyville, WV, the daughter of Ralph C. and Rebecca
L. Boggs. She grew up on a farm in the beautiful foothills of WV and attended Spencer
High School.
After graduation, Unabelle went on to further her education and contribute to science
research. She received a B.A. from Berea College, Berea, Ky in Biology and Chemistry,
1952; M.A. from Columbia University, NY in Human Anatomy, 1956; a Ph.D. from the
University of Maryland, College Park in nutrition, 1958.
She was a teacher, lecturer and tutored as well as a researcher in course development for
Remedial Chemistry at the University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, Conn. She did research
and was assistant professor at The Ohio State University, The University of Maryland,
and Columbia University. She was a U.S. Public Health Predoctorate Research Fellow at
the University of Maryland, 1955-57. In 1973 Unabelle began a private orthomolecular
nutritional consulting business involving various nutritional deficiencies pertaining to
health and disease with a focus on mental disorders and learning disabilities.
Unabelle received numerous grants for research and was a member of several
professional societies and was listed in Who's Who in American Women among other
national recognitions. She was published in a number of professional journals, including
the Miller Pharm. Symposium for Physicians and the U.S. Senate, Subcommittee on
Health, 1974.
Even though Unabelle left her home in WV to pursue a career in science, her love for the
farm she grew up on remained strong. After years of struggling with Alzheimer's and her
failing memory, whenever taken back to visit the farm she would look around for several
moments and then reply, "I'm home!"
After retirement, Unabelle enjoyed the outdoors, especially gardening but her greatest
enjoyment came from spending time with her grandchildren.
Unabelle was preceded in death by her parents, brother Harry Boggs and sister Effie
Creamer. She is survived by her two children, Ralph Clay Blackwood of Akron, Ohio and
Susie Cahlik (Jim) of Wadsworth, Ohio and grandchildren, Rachel Hopp (David), Vince
Reddish, James and Alyssia Blackwood.
She is also survived by two sisters, Marion
Mace and Gail Popp.
Visiting hours with the family will be at Taylor-Vandale Funeral Home in Spencer, WV,
on Friday January 26, 2018 at 11:00-11:45 a.m. and memorial service immediately
following with Rev. Robert Holland officiating. Burial will be in Clover Cemetery.
A
reception will follow at St. John's Methodist Church in Spencer.
In lieu of flowers a memorial gift may be given to The Cleveland Clinic/Akron General
Justin T. Rogers Hospice Care Center or to Alzheimer's Research of your choice. |
