Real estate broker was tennis champ in the 1940s

2/17/2005

Lucille Dehnhardt-Race, 90, a real estate broker who later handled appraisals and mortgages for a local bank, died Monday in Kingston of Sylvania from complications of dementia.

She retired in the 1980s from the former United Home Federal of Toledo. She was hired by the institution in the 1950s to work in appraisals and mortgages because of her experience in real estate, her daughter, Peg Prichard, said.

Mrs. Dehnhardt-Race, formerly of West Toledo, became licensed to sell real estate, then received a broker's license in the mid 1940s. She operated Dehnhardt Realty from her home.

"She just had a way with people," her daughter said. "She said she always was a salesman. She did very well and made very good money at that time."

Mrs. Dehnhardt-Race was born in Hume, Ill., and graduated from high school in Indianapolis. After the family moved to Toledo, she won a beauty contest sponsored by the former News-Bee and took part in a talent hunt at the Valentine Theatre by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

She met William Dehnhardt, a naturalized citizen from Germany, and they married in 1932. She learned to speak and read German so she could communicate with her mother-in-law.

She became active in the American Turners, an organization that promoted physical education, and won singles and doubles tennis competitions in the 1940s. She was treasurer of the German-American Festival, from the first event at Raceway Park in 1966 through the eventual move to Oak Shade Grove in Oregon in the 1980s.

She made time to take part in her children's activities. She was a leader in the Order of Rainbow Girls and the Girl Scouts.

She played and taught bridge and ran in Senior Olympics events.

Mr. Dehnhardt died in August, 1987. His widow married Gail Race in October, 1993. He died in November, 1998.

She is survived by her daughter, Peg Prichard; son, Marvin Dehnhardt; five grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Foth-Dorfmeyer Mortuary, where the body will be after 3 p.m. tomorrow. Eastern Star services will be held at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the mortuary.

The family suggests tributes to Hampton Park Christian Church, where she was a deacon.