Madlyn Alice (Leibensperger) Haines, 92, died Dec. 11, 2018. She was the wife of Paul K. Haines, with whom she enjoyed 67 years of marriage until his death in 2015. She was the eldest child of the late Esther (Bortz) and Allen Leibensperger, of East Texas.

She attended Allentown High School and was able to skip a grade and graduate with honors in 1943 at age 17. She began her academic career at Cedar Crest College until family friend, Prof. Paul Knedler, of Kutztown State Teachers College, recognized her academic prowess and convinced her to transfer to Kutztown in 1944. She became president of the student activities board, vice president of her senior class and a member of both Sigma Tau, Kappa Tau sororities. Her beauty led to her winning the title of May Queen in her senior year and a listing in “Who’s Who in American Colleges” before graduating at the top of her class in 1946.

She taught at Spring City High School and later moved to Cetronia. She taught students K-12 in a one-room schoolhouse, with no running water and a wood stove for heat, back in her hometown of East Texas while her husband began building his propane gas business that later became Trexler-Haines Gas, Inc.

She yearned for employment with central heat and indoor plumbing and was soon awarded the opportunity to teach English and biology at Emmaus High School - a position she proudly held for many years. In 1957 she and her husband purchased a brand-new home on Riverbend Road, Allentown, where they resided for the rest of their years.

She is survived by two sons, Allen and his wife Bonnie, of Jewett, N.Y. and John and his wife Denise, of Millstone Township, N.J.; six grandchildren Ella (17), Jennifer (18), Paul (22), Katharine (23), Darcy (24) and Jessica (25); goddaughter Lynne Roth (Leibensperger), of Wescosville.

Contributions may be made to Madlyn’s Caregivers Fund, with checks payable to Lynne Roth, c/o Trexler Funeral Home, 18102.

Arrangements were made by the Trexler Funeral Home, 1625 W. Highland St., Allentown.