Obituary of Adella L. Wotherspoon

WEB OBIT WEB OBIT WEB OBIT A Watchung, NJ resident for over 93 years, Adella Tibby Wotherspoon, the widow of James Wotherspoon, passed away at the Berkeley Heights Convalescent Center on Monday, January 26, 2004. Tiby Wotherspoon celebrated the achievement of her 100th birthday on November 28, 2003. Born in New York City and named Adella Martha Liebenow. Tiby has an important place in New York Citys history, being the youngest survivor of the General Slocumsteamboat disaster of June 15, 1904 and at her death was also the oldest survivor. Tiby and her mother moved to Watchung in July 1910. She attended Watchung Grammar School (in the building that is now the Watchung Arts Center) and then Plainfield High School where she graduated in 1921. She graduated in business education from Trenton Normal School (now Trenton State College) in 1924. She taught at Cleveland High School in Cranford, NJ from 1924-25. She then joined the Business Education Department of Plainfield High School in 1925 and taught there until her retirement in 1961. She joined Wilson Memorial Church, Watchung as a charter member in 1913 and was a member of the congregation until her death. Tiby took a very active part in community affairs and activities. Her primary interest was in Garden Club activities. She was a member of the Garden Club of Watchung from 1961 until her death. She was club president twice, from 1966-1968 and from 1973-1974. She was a member of the Board of the Garden Club of New Jersey from 1969 to 1999 and a member of the Central Atlantic Regional Board of National Garden Clubs, Inc. from 1975 to 1995. She served on the Traffic Beautification Committee of the Borough of Watchung and was also a member of the New Jersey Governors Blue Star Memorial Council. She had many other interests including the following, she was a long time member of the Plainfield Symphony Auxiliary and the Benevolent Circle Kings Daughters and was also a driver for the Plainfield Red Cross Motor Corps from 1942-1945. A memorial service celebrating Tiby Wotherspoons life will be held at Wilson Memorial Church, Watchung on Saturday, February 28th at 11:00 a.m. . Donations, in lieu of flowers should be made to The Seeing Eye, PO Box 375, Morristown, NJ 07963-0375 or to the Wilson Memorial Church.