Myrtle Gobbell

Myrtle Marie Gobbell (Smith) passed away on March 14, 2026, joining her husband of 66 years, Dexter Gobbell, in heaven.

Born on June 9, 1940, in Waynesboro, Tennessee, to Louis Allen and Robbie (Morris) Smith, Myrtle grew up in the community where she attended Wayne County High School. It was there she met Dexter Gobbell, and the two later made their home in Rossford, Ohio, where they raised their two daughters.

Though she devoted herself first to being a stay-at-home mother, Myrtle also cleaned houses in her spare time. She found joy in sewing and various crafts, yet nothing mattered more to her than her family. She remained deeply committed to the care and well-being of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren throughout her life.

A devoted Christian, Myrtle began as a member of Western Avenue Church of Christ before becoming part of Echo Meadows Church of Christ. In 1988, she and Dexter helped establish Hope in Christ Church in Perrysburg, where she remained a faithful member until its closing in 2019. She and Dexter then returned to Echo Meadows Church of Christ.

Myrtle is survived by her daughters, Bernadine Irelan (Ted Irelan) and Lee Ann Retar (Robert A. Boykin), four grandchildren—Brandon Gobbell, Tiffany Cluckey, Chris Retar, and Cody Retar—nine great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and four surviving younger brothers.