Gwendolyn Raybould Mack

Gwendolyn Raybould Mack, age 99, of Akron, OH died on June 25th, 2026 from an untreatable cancer, while under the care of hospice at Concordia. Even as her body betrayed her, she remained herself: smart, stubborn and spunky. She noted that this obituary would “guarantee her picture would appear in the paper.” Her parents, George and Margaret Kuhlke Raybould, both deceased, would be delighted with her long and satisfying life.

A proud graduate of Buchtel High School, she went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1948 and a Master’s Degree in Education in 1953 from Kent State University. She taught Latin at Coventry High School until retirement. She had an amazing memory and told stories about her students, while naming them, even 30+ years into retirement.

She married Monte Mack shortly after graduation from Kent State and followed him to his United States Army postings. When he was stationed in Japan, she returned to Akron. They enjoyed travelling together, and her boxes of photographs reveal destinations around the country, to Canada, and trips with many, many friends. At 99, she could tell you about each one.

Gwen and Monte were a team and competed in bridge tournaments on some of their travels. They enjoyed going to casinos, where she frequently won on the slots while he played poker. At home, they were “cat people” hosting at times, five cats. Their partnership meant that Gwen helped in his successful campaigns for Judge in the Akron Municipal Court and cared for him at home until he died in November 2016. She still spoke to him every day and anticipated reuniting with him at her death.

In 1962, they built a house on Artman after their first house was seized through eminent domain to make way for the construction of Harvey Firestone High School, an action she never quite forgave. But the Macks became fixtures for over 60 years in their neighborhood and were friends with many of their neighbors. The bonds of friendship were so strong that eventually, the Macks were looked after and care for by their neighbors.

As an educator, she understood the value of access to learning. She endowed the John H. Parks/Gwendolyn Raybould Mack graduate scholarship at Kent State University and the Monte E. Mack Trial Advocacy Fund at the University of Akron School of Law. She made significant contributions to the Akron Bar Association Foundation for scholarships and grants, and supported many other local charitable organizations. Her choice of charities was personal to her and reflected her value in honoring the friends involved with those charities.

As she aged, Gwen maintained contact with a friend group which included people both here locally, as well as around the country. She never adapted to the internet, and this obituary will be her first entrance to a digital world. She wrote letters and cards, and cherished that style of correspondence. In addition to her neighbors and other close friends, her extra special teacher group (aka MESS) remained with her until the end.

Gwen wrote humorous and sometimes lengthy poems for friends’ birthdays and anniversaries. She wrote her last poem about 8 weeks before she died. It is a poignant awareness of her aging:

I need to be the me I used to be
To do the chores and scrub the floors
To wash the clothes and iron them too
The way that only I can do. 
To do the dishes while making wishes
Maybe a big sigh and repeat, the me I used to be.

A sweet lady with a vibrant mind has left us. Per her wishes, she has been laid to rest next to her husband, Monte, in a private interment ceremony at Rose Hill Burial Park. There will not be any public services. If you wish to honor her in some way, please consider a donation to the scholarship funds mentioned above or to the Summit County Humane Society.

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory, 85 N. Miller Road, Akron, OH 44333 (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel).