Beverle E Martindale's Obituary
Beverle lived a life of generosity and kindness to others, and touched so many lives in her 91 years. She had many activities and accomplishments, but we must remember that she did nothing alone. She took us all with her. She believed in us, and because she believed in us, we did extraordinary things. If you were lucky enough to know her, as you read the account below you may see yourself between the lines, and I hope you will add to the story from your own memories, restoring what her Alzheimer's took from her, and from all of us: our shared past.
Beverle was born in Hulmeville, Pennsylvania, to Frances and Robert Ellms. She is survived by her husband of 72 years, John Martindale, daughters Valerie E. Martindale (married to Jack Goble), Rachel E. Rippie (m Glenn Rippie), and Rebecca E. Roppelt (m Marty Roppelt), grandchildren Hunter E. Goble (m Lee Allen) and Rowan E. Goble, and great grandchild Leo W. Allen.
Beverle graduated from Lakewood High School, and earned her BA as an English major from Mather College https://case.edu/its/archives/Women/beginnings.htm in 1954 before Mather joined Western Reserve College. She taught English, Literature, and Journalism at the junior high school level in the Cleveland school system. She continued to teach through pregnancy, very unusual in those days, but was forced to give it up on the birth of her first child.
She started her own business in 1968, doing puppet shows for schools, libraries, churches, birthday parties, and breakfasts with Santa. Her shows ranged from well-loved fairy tales and fables to classic literature, including the Headless Horseman and A Christmas Carol, and a musical detective story in the style of Gilbert and Sullivan. The business grew to include performances at Higbee's department store in Cleveland, many of those years as the featured Christmas entertainer at Higbee's and Tower City, -and the Yankee Peddler Festival in Canal Fulton, expanding to include a live melodrama.
Beverle also played a part in the founding of Dover Playhouse, later Dover Players, http://www.doverplayers.com/about-us.html, North Olmsted's community theater, where she took on production and direction of plays, specializing in Shakespearian productions and original plays supporting local authors. She used her writing and directing skills and her remarkable ability to inspire others to add fundraisers for Dover in the form of Mystery Dinners and haunted houses. Her puppetry business continued to grow and became Acting Out Inc, and added live performances to the repertoire of puppet shows. She also delved into filming, creating a series of videos called Mice Told Tales, after Nathaniel Hawthorne's Twice-Told Tales.
Beverle was also an artist and crafter. There was nothing she wouldn't try, from metal engraving to mural painting, but her favorite activities were sewing, drawing, and decorating. And of course, she made hundreds of puppets. She was also an author, writing many original scripts, a novel, several children's books, as well as the plots and the parts for guests to play at the mystery dinners.
Beverle contributed to charity and community with time, energy, and creativity. She served on the Dean's Advisory Board of Cleveland State University in the '80s. She was instrumental in enabling Dover Players to give scholarship money to North Olmsted students in the performing arts. She taught cooking classes for the neighborhood teens, which was
surprising because she disliked cooking: the "classes" mainly consisted of learning to follow directions to produce favorites like macaroni and cheese or drop biscuits, and also served as a social activity.
Beverle was a legendary hostess, serving elegant meals in the beautiful historical house on Butternut Ridge that she and John bought in 1957, and which she delighted in decorating with period furniture, art, and textiles. She hosted mystery dinners and themed holiday parties for as many as 40 guests at a time, and used the venue to showcase young actors doing Shakespearian scenes and original sketches.
Beverle's daughters and granddaughters remember her love, wisdom, and nurturing. Valerie remembers learning to sew, and that first puppet show that started the business, at her seventh birthday party. She remembers learning to narrate and work the puppets, and writing a stage adaptation of Frankenstein that was performed at Dover. She remembers summer days on vacation in Canada learning to draw, and being supported in anything she ever wanted to try in the way of arts, crafts, or music. And she remembers many words of love and wisdom over the years.
What’s your fondest memory of Beverle?
What’s a lesson you learned from Beverle?
Share a story where Beverle's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Beverle you’ll never forget.
How did Beverle make you smile?