Madlyn Alice Haines, 92, born June 27, 1926, died Dec. 11, 2018.

She was the beloved wife of Paul K. Haines, with whom she enjoyed 67 years of marriage until his death in 2015.

Along with her brothers Ray Leibensperger of Allentown and Robert Leibensperger of Canton, Ohio, she was the eldest child of Esther (Bortz) and Allen Leibensperger of East Texas.

An avid learner, she attended Allentown High School where her intellect was so advanced she skipped a grade and graduated with honors in 1943, at age 17.

She began her higher academic career at Cedar Crest College until she was spotted by family friend, Paul Knedler, of Kutztown State Teachers College, now Kutztown University.

Recognizing her academic prowess and natural teaching ability, Professor Knedler convinced her to transfer to Kutztown in 1944.

She thrived in her new environment where 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 winning the title of May Queen in her senior year, and overall achievements garnered her a listing in the prestigious “Who’s Who in American Colleges” before graduating at the top of her class in 1946.

As World War II drew to a close, the love of her life returned home safe and sound.

She and her husband married in the pouring rain on June 14, 1947, at Cedar Church, Cetronia.

They set up housekeeping in Collegeville, where she flexed her teaching skills at Spring City High School while her husband finished his undergraduate degree at Ursinus College.

After college, they returned to Cetronia where they moved into an apartment on Dorney Park Road in a house owned by his brother, Wilbur.

She taught students kindergarten through grade 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, the happy couple purchased a new home on Riverbend Road, Allentown, where they lived together for the rest of their years.

Her survivors include 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; and goddaughter Lynne (Leibensperger) Roth of Wescosville.

Contributions may be made to Madlyn’s Caregivers Fund, with checks payable to Lynne Roth, c/o Trexler Funeral Home, 1625 W. Highland St., Allentown, PA 18102.

Arrangements were made by Trexler Funeral Home, Allentown.