In cooperation with Ada schools, the Ada Icon will post each of the Ada High School class of 2020 seniors in the spotlight. Kelly Preston is today's senior in the spotlight.
After an unofficial escort around the village by Ada and ONU fire and police vehicles on Saturday, 50 members of the Ada High School class of 2020 toss their mortar boards high in the air at the War Memorial Park, celebrating the completion of their education in the Ada schools.
Social distancing was closely observed – in a manner of speaking. No teachers or administration of the school were involved in the celebration.
The entire event was planned and carried out by members of the senior class, and we might add, under the rules of the day, the class members were solely responsible, despite the fact that this was one of the most unkept secrets in Ada this year.
Shirley L. Wilcox, 83, died on Monday, May 25, 2020, at 7:44 p.m. at Lima Memorial Health System.
She was born on Jan.25, 1937, in McGuffey to the late Charles and Margaret (Dysert) Carmean. On April 13, 1957, Shirley married Vernon Wilcox and he preceded her in death on June 6, 2002.
Shirley was employed by the Ohio-Kentucky Manufacturing Company, now Wilson Sporting Goods in Ada. She was also a homemaker. Shirley was an avid reader and enjoyed playing board and card games with her grandchildren, especially UNO where she was ruthless.
Here's a colorized post card of Ada from the first decade of 1900. The post card identifies its location as South Main Street by moonlight.
It is possible that the two buildings on the right are part of the Ohio Northern University campus?
Tom Lehman of Ada responds: The old photo of Ada this week is the corner of South Main and University. That is the Brown Building on the corner. In the background behind it you can see the front of the Duke Building which is still standing. They tore down the Brown Building in the 1970s, I believe.
