Leonila G. Badger, 85, of Evansville, died Tuesday, June 12, 2007, at the Evansville Protestant Home.
Leonila was born June 20, 1921, in Greencastle, Ind., to Glenn and Gladys Badger.
She taught 41 years as a Spanish teacher, 35 of which were at Bosse High School.
Leonila graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Indiana University. She earned her master's degree in Spanish from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont.
She was a dedicated Spanish teacher, who often formed a lasting friendship with her students, and she took great pride in being on the faculty at Bosse High School, a school which she considered as one of the very best.
One of her former students, David James, WFIE-TV anchor, said, "I learned more about English grammar taking Spanish than I could have in an English class. Miss Badger was such a perfectionist; she would call WFIE to help me perfect my grammar. She was charming, classy and strict. Her students loved her."
Leonila was a charter member and the first president of the Beta Alpha Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. She was a member of the Evansville Retired Teachers Association and the Indiana Retired Teachers Association. Leonila was a strong supporter of the Christian Children's Fund and was a sponsor of several children.
She was a member of Bethel United Church of Christ.
Leonila was preceded in death by her brother, Joseph Badger.
She is survived by sister, Margaret Graham of S. Whitney, Ind.; sister-in-law, Kathryn Badger of Bloomington, Ind.; nephews, Joe Badger of Hilton Head, S.C., and David Graham of Los Olos, Calif.; nieces, Carol Goller of Omaha, Nebraska, and Ann Price of South Bend, Ind.; and nine great-nieces and nephews.
Services will be 10 a.m. Friday, June 15, 2007, at Alexander East Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Joseph Fraccaro, burial in Rose Hill Cemetery in Bloomington, Ind. Friends may visit Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m. at Alexander East Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Christian Children's Fund or a favorite charity.
June 13, 2007
Ms.Badger was one of my favorite teachers at Bosse.She made you work but you came out ahead because of it.I'll miss her as I know so many others will as well.
Very Sincerely,
Tina (Simms) Szymanowski
Class of 1978 (
June 13, 2007
I have such fond memories of taking Spanish with Ms Badger. She gave a lot of lessons on life and treated every one with respect. Stacy Sebree (
June 13, 2007
I owe my love of the Spanish language to Mrs. Badger, my favorite teacher at Bosse High. She was a dedicated and caring teacher who made a huge difference for many, many students.
Pamela Burch Matthews -Class of '60
June 13, 2007
Miss Badger was a fantastic teacher and a great person. I served my "apprenticeship" under her as a student teacher in the fall of 1961, and I will never forget her wit and wisdom.
Carole Felker McDonald (
June 13, 2007
Miss Badger was my homeroom teacher when I was at
Charlene Ellis (Diekmann) (
June 13, 2007
I learned so much about myself and my need to mature past adolescence in Miss Badger's Spanish class. She was an example of a person who had self respect - I shall never forget her. Thank you Miss Badger - thank you to her family for sharing her with us at Bosse Class of '69.
Peggy Berman Starks (Ft
June 13, 2007
It is with much sadness that I comment on the passing of our "Miss Badger." A very special person and a wonderful educator. She was my homeroom teacher and I was privileged to have been able to drive her East to NY City the summer of my 16th year (1955) always full of pithy comments and a delightful wit. She was of another generation, yet she was always interested and engaged in our lives as students and later as alums. She is missed as a wonderful woman from a half century ago!
Stefan Galazzi (St. Augustine, FL)
June 14, 2007
Ms Badger was a loving, wonderful teacher. I remember having lunch in her home with 2 of my friends. I still remember quite a bit of the Spanish I learned and use it at times. Sincerely, Tina Dare (
France
)
Tina Dare (Kenosha
,
WI
June 14, 2007
Miss Badger was a very charming little lady. I'm sorry to say I didn't keep up my Spanish skills but she always comes to mind when I'm thinking "I sure need to take a Spanish class"! Valerie Irving (
Atlanta
,
GA
)
June 14, 2007
I have very fond memories of Miss Badger during my High School years at Bosse. My sister, Donna Brown Deicken- also a former student, and I visited and had lunch with her one summer day when I was in college. I remember being impressed, but not at all shocked at how she kept her apartment so neat and tidy. She always came across as very orderly. Without a doubt she had the most positive influence on me during those somewhat awkward years. I'll never forget how she carried and conducted herself. She seemed to never get shaken with any situation. I thank God for such a wonderful teacher.
Kimberly Duncan (Brown) (
June 14, 2007
It's really sad to see "our" teachers dying off. I didn't take Spanish, Latin with Ms Poole who my dad also had, but I remember Ms Badger was always a sharp dresser. Many of those great teachers never married, except to their job. Perhaps, that's why they were so great!
Steve Fischer, Colonel, USAF (Ret). (
June 15, 2007
Miss Badger was the epitome of what teaching is about because she not only taught us Spanish she taught us life lessons every day. If you were one of her students or were touched by her you will never forget her.
Bill Palmer (Class of 1953) (
June 15, 2007
I recall being named "Esperanza" by Miss Badger (we all had to have Spanish names in her class). Years later as I was struggling to learn German, I was amazed at how my Spanish, learned in the early '50's, came out as though it were entirely natural. That certainly is tribute to a truly amazing teacher, and she was.
Mitzi Wagner (
June 17, 2007
Thanks to my sister-in-law, I had the privilege of sharing an adult to adult friendship with Leonila for the past 8 years.
Yes, Miss Badger insisted that I call her Leonila, not, "Miss Badger." Since I had always admired her so much, that was a difficult thing for me to do. I looked forward to our lunches together. Getting to know Leonila on a more personal level was an honor for me.
Leonila had a way of making me believe that I was someone "special." I'm sure that many of her students know exactly what I mean. When I received a letter from Leonila, it always brightened my day. I was usually very prompt with my replies. Afer all, I wanted to look good in the eyes of my favorite teacher, but more importantly, I wanted to share what was going on in my life with Leonila, my friend, just as she was sharing the events of her life with me.
In addition to learning Spanish from Leonila, I learned responsibility and respect for others. I have never known a more dedicated, effective teacher than Leonila Badger.
I will miss you, dear friend and teacher.
Joan (
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