Wilma Marlene (Mounts) Finch
Wilma Marlene (Mounts) Finch, 89, passed away peacefully Dec. 30, 2024, at her Seneca Lake home in Senecaville, Ohio, with her devoted husband of 71 years, Robert “Bob” Lee Finch, at her side.
Marlene, as she was known, was born Oct. 9, 1935, in the Nokomis Park area of Washington, Pa. She graduated from Trinity High School in Washington, Pa., earned a Certificate in Commercial Art, and raised five children at their home in Lagonda (Washington County), Pa.
When she was in her 50s, Marlene followed her passion for flight and attained her Private Pilot Certificate, Instrument Rating, Multi-Engine Rating, and Commercial Pilot Certificate from Washington County Flight School. She scored 100 percent on each of her FAA exams – a remarkable accomplishment. As a commercial pilot, she flew donor organs for Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa., and was a member of the Civil Air Patrol in Cambridge, Ohio.
In later years, she became an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) serving in the Senecaville area, and also an EMA (Emergency Management Agency) responder. She was a trained volunteer for the American Red Cross National Disaster Team and served at Ground Zero in New York City along with her husband following the 9/11 tragedy.
She and her husband Bob were co-owners of Finch’s Exxon Service Center and Finch’s Amoco Service Center in Washington, Pa. Marlene was a member of the Daughters of American Revolution, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Washington County Flyers Club, Washington County Archery Club, McGuffey School District PTA, Bethel Presbyterian Church, and the Washington Hospital Auxiliary. She served as chairman of the Washington Hospital Charity Ball, directed and performed in variety show fundraisers, taught ballroom dancing, was a 4-H leader, and the runner-up Washington County Bicentennial Queen.
Marlene and Bob enjoyed camping at Seneca Lake from the time they began dating in the 1940s and moved there permanently in 1988. Marlene enjoyed flying, boating, reading, jigsaw and crossword puzzles, gardening, campfires, watching wildlife, and her beloved cat Pogo. She especially enjoyed uncountable miles of road trips with Bob, taking the backroads to places they’d never been.
Marlene had a brilliant and creative mind, an adventurous and peaceful spirit, and a heart full of service for community with love for family and friends.
She is survived by her husband, Robert Lee Finch and their five children: Jody Lynn Finch, Cynthia Lea Beattie (Andy), Jeffrey Scott Finch (Marty), Toni Jill Kellar (Steve), and Robert Lee Finch II (Jennifer). Marlene and Bob had 8 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Her parents were Clifford Melvin and Wilma Lillian (Morris) Mounts, and she had a brother, Melvin Clifford Mounts.
At Marlene’s wishes, there will be no funeral or memorial service. Black-Epperson Funeral Home, Senecaville, is handling arrangements.
Donations in her memory may be made to Hospice of Guernsey, American Red Cross, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, American Cancer Society, or a charity of your choice.
