Donna Maye (Specht) Roughton
OAKWOOD – Donna Maye (Specht) Roughton entered this world on a cold, snowy January 7th, 1928, to George H. and Ethel (Carnahan) Specht. She loved that she shared a birthday with her dad. She passed away on Saturday, January 18, 2025, 11 days after her 97th birthday.
She grew up on a farm North of Oakwood helping with the chores and playing with her cousins. As a young child she was entered into a prettiest baby contest and was selected as the winner. As the winner she received a cake and had her picture on a local bread wrapper for several years.
Donna attended the Oakwood School. She graduated with the Class of 1946, with many good memories and numerous boyfriends. After graduation she worked at a variety of jobs, including the school office, the Oakwood Bank and Mead’s Variety Store. One of her favorite jobs was at the Van Wert Overall Factory sewing pockets on FFA jackets. Her last job was with the Veterans Service Office in Paulding.
On September 2, 1948, Donna eloped with Raymond E. “Todd” Roughton. The were married in Newport, Kentucky with a brief honeymoon at the Ohio Caverns. During their early marriage the couple lived in Georgia while Todd completed training for the US Army Signal Corp.
They eventually moved back to Oakwood and found a house next to the EUB Church. They
lived there until they built their forever home South of Oakwood.
Donna and Todd were married for 29 years, until passed away in 1978.
Throughout her life Donna enjoyed traveling. She took many trips with the Van Wert YWCA, eventually visiting all 50 States and many places in Canada. She also traveled with her sister and brother-in-law throughout Ohio taking pictures of the bicentennial barns, and any other barn that caught her eye.
Donna was immensely creative and talented. Show her a project and she would figure it out and become a master of it. During her later years she enjoyed making needlepoint pencil cases and crocheting scrubbies. She loved giving her pencil cases to friendly waitresses, cashiers, bank tellers and health care workers.
She was a member for many years of the Everwilling Homemakers Club. She also enjoyed playing cards with the ladies of the Jolly Once a Month Bunnies Club.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond E. “Todd” Roughton; her parents, George and Ethel Specht; her in-laws, Raymond and Nancy Roughton; brothers-in-law, Edward Etter and Vernon Schwartz; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jess and Rose Roughton; great-nephew, Wyatt Snyder; great-great nephew, Roland Etter and great-great niece, Sarah Burnett.
She is survived by her sister, Apache Etter; sister-in-law, Linda Schwartz; nieces and nephews, Jill (Jeff) Erford, Kelly (Mel) Snyder, Len “Chip” Etter, Gary (Tina) Roughton, Shelia Coil, Mike Schwartz and many great and great-great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by special cousins, Jerrolyn Parrett, Pat Spitnale, Lynn and Sandy Bradford and their families.
The family would like to thank Brooke, Liz, Jennifer and the wonderful staff and CHP for their care and compassion during Donna’s final journey.
Visitation for Donna will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday, January 24, 2025 and again on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the HEITMEYER FUNERAL HOME, Oakwood. A celebration of Donna’s life will be 11 a.m. Saturday, January 25, 2025 at the funeral home with pastor Steve Haddix officiating. Burial will be in Sherman Cemetery, Oakwood.
Memorial contributions may be made to Paulding County Senior Center-Meals on Wheels or CHP Paulding, Ohio. Online condolences may be expressed at www.heitmeyerfuneralhome.com.
