Arlene Higbie Obituary

Arlene L. Higbie

Arlene Louise (Kowal) Higbie, 90 of Rawson, passed away peacefully Saturday, February 28, 2026. She was born in Sycamore, September 5, 1935, to the late John and Rose (Gierke) Kowal. Arlene married Paul Smith Higbie, November 23, 1957, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Findlay, and he preceded her in death September 6, 1984. She is survived by three sons, Thomas (Julia) Higbie of Jenera, Steve Higbie of Columbus and Gary (Jeanna Lopez) Higbie of Rawson. Mrs. Higbie is also survived by three grandchildren, Brianna (Jeremy) Gerten of Leipsic, Nathan (Shelby) Higbie and Mitchell Higbie both of Jenera; eight great-grandchildren, Rylin, twins, Jaylee and Jacksyn and Oliver Gerten, Mabel and Lily Higbie and Chase and Logan Higbie; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her sisters, Augusta Showalter, Genevieve Pever and Katherine Arnold; great-grandchildren, Shane and Merl Higbie.

She was a 1953 graduate of Findlay High School. She worked at the Ohio Bell Telephone Company, RCA, Arlington Good Samaritan Center, Home Health and retired from Mennonite Memorial Home in Bluffton. Arlene enjoyed gardening and doing ceramics. She is a member of Rawson Chapter No. 550 Order of the Eastern Star in Mt. Cory, where she is a past Matron and a 60-plus-year member. She also served as district president for the Order of the Eastern Star in 1978 and a grand representative to Massachusetts in 1979-80. Arlene is a member of New Hope United Methodist Church in Rawson.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at COLDREN-CRATES FUNERAL HOME, where additional visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. prior to service. An Eastern Star Service will be at the beginning of visitation at 4 p.m. Funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 5, 2026, at COLDREN-CRATES FUNERAL HOME, with Pastor Gregg Fox officiating. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the staff of Mennonite Memorial Home in Bluffton for the care they have shown Arlene over the years.

Memorial contribu-tions can be made in memory of Arlene to New Hope United Methodist Church, Rawson.

Online condolences can be expressed to family by visiting coldrencrates.com