Obituary of Helen Cruse Dohl

Helen Ehman Cruse Dohl Olean, NY-- Helen Ehman Cruse Dohl of 715 King St. passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord Thursday (June 12, 2014) after a long and fulfilling life. Born April 14, 1912 in Raymond Hill, NY she was the daughter of Rev. Albert G. and Ella Spaeth Ehman. In 1940 she married Ernest Cruse who predeceased her in 1956. In 1967 she married J. Paul Dohl who predeceased her in 1996. Mrs. Dohl was a graduate of Olean High School and attended Buffalo State Teachers College, the University of Buffalo, McGill University and St. Bonaventure University. She had a career teaching Latin, French and English in Allegany Central School for 5 years and later in Olean High School for 20 years, retiring in 1968. She was a member of Christ United Methodist Church and the Butterfly Circle, the United Methodist Women, Women's Ecumenical of Greater Olean and along with her husband Paul she served for the United Methodist Committee on Relief in S. Korea from 1968 to 1971. She also belonged to the AARP and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program through which she was a longtime volunteer for Interfaith Caregivers until 2008 and Meals on Wheels until 2000. She also volunteered for the Olean General Hospital Auxiliary. Professionally she was a member of the NYS Retired Teachers Association and a charter member of the Alpha Sigma Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. She traveled extensively through Europe and the USA and also on mission tours in Israel and Mexico. She accompanied her husband Paul as they were selected to be the companions to and travel through the South Pacific with Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken for his promotional tour. They maintained a relationship with the Colonel and his wife until each of their deaths. Surviving are 1 son James W. Cruse of Phoenix, AZ; 2 stepsons Bert R. Dohl of Olean and Paul R. Dohl of Naples, FL; 3 grandsons Jason Cruse, SFC Christopher Cruse and Matthew Cruse; 1 great granddaughter Braily Cruse; 10 step grandchildren; many step great grandchildren and step great great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and a sister-in-law Catherine Ehman Wilck of Lyons. In addition to both her husbands she was predeceased by an infant daughter Anne Frances Cruse in 1942; 2 step grandchildren; 1 step great granddaughter; 3 sisters Laura Mae Ehman, Burnice Brown and Elvera Ehman and 1 brother Albert Ehman. Friends will be received at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home 3128 W. State Rd. Olean on Monday from 2-4 & 7-9pm. Funeral services will be held Tuesday (June 17, 2014) at 10:00am at Christ United Methodist Church. Rev. Suzanne Block, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Olean. Memorials may be made to Christ United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.