Polly Woolsey-Gaul

Polly Woolsey-Gaul, 96, of Columbus, passed away on Tuesday, July 28.  She was born November 11, 1923, in Cleveland, Ohio. A childhood polio survivor, she went on to graduate from Lakewood High School and Lindenwood College in Missouri.

Throughout the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s, Polly created fashion illustrations and designed advertisements for some of Cleveland’s iconic departments stores, including May Company and Higbee’s. She eventually relocated to Perrysburg, Ohio, where she continued illustrating for Lion and LaSalle’s department stores, as well as opened a freelance design agency. The final decade of her career was spent as Advertising Director for Commercial Aluminum Cookware, now known as Calphalon.

In her spare time Polly enjoyed experimenting with many artistic mediums, moving from pottery to clay sculpture, then to painting.  Although she played with acrylics, she eventually gravitated to watercolor, which became her life-long love. She continued to paint and sketch until her final years, when age-related blindness prevented her from continuing her work.

Polly is survived by children Will (Shelle), Jenny, and Ben; four grandchildren: Sarah (Larry), Nick (Hannah), Leona and Luke; and six great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Elma and Lee Woolsey, as well as her sister, Barbara Haggard.

The family wishes to express deep gratitude to the nurses and caretakers at Whetstone Gardens and OhioHealth Hospice who provided attentive care over the years.

Memorial contributions may be made to Post-Polio Health International or the American Macular Degeneration Foundation (AMDF).