Elisa Smith Dull

Elisa Smith Dull, age 71, was born on December 27,1953 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and passed away on March 9, 2025, at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, with her family by her side following a two-week battle with several health issues. Elisa was preceded in death by her parents, Calvin G. Smith and Helen Seemeyer Smith, and brother, Stanley R. Smith. She is survived by her husband, Randy Dull; sons, Carson and Eric Dull; sisters, Karen Smith (Mathew Lawry) and Joy Lautzenheiser (Larry); brother, Ted Smith (Gee-Gee); several nieces and nephews; and cat, Sprockit. She graduated from Grandview Heights High School where she played clarinet in the marching band. She graduated with a BS in Biology from Marrietta College. She later took coursework in engineering at OSU. After deciding that she wanted to do more technical writing, she earned an MA in Journalism from Ohio State University. Elisa worked as a Laboratory Technician in the Department of Medical Microbiology at OSU after graduating from Marietta College. She left OSU to work at Battelle Memorial Institute as a Research Technician in the microbiology and mechanics groups. Following Battelle, she joined Science Applications (SAIC) as a Staff Scientist. Elisa then worked as a Researcher at Edison Welding Institute (EWI), as a Senior Technical Writer at HUBLink, as a Technical Content Analyst at MindLeaders, a freelance writer, and finally as a Technical Editor for Forte, Inc. Elisa became an avid touring bicyclist after her undergraduate college days. As a member of Columbus Council American Youth Hostels (CCAYH, now known as Outdoor Pursuits), she led weekly evening rides from OSU Stadium, served as a Houseparent for the Malabar Farm Youth Hostel, and helped in other volunteer capacities. She completed many years of Tour of the Scioto River Valley (TOSRV). She rode several years of Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA) with Randy and their sons. She also rode with Battelle Bicycle Club and competed as part of Battelle’s winning team in a Corporate Challenge triathlon. In recent years, she has been riding primarily with Westerville Bicycle Club. She raced bicycles for several years with Franklin Bicycle Club, Inc. (FBCI). She served as monthly Newsletter Editor of the club for three years, and as an Officer. While racing for the club with a United States Cycling Federation (USCF) license, she won several Ohio/West Virginia District Cycling Championships (including her first race) and placed as high as third in USCF age-graded National Cycling Championships. After becoming a mother and no longer racing bicycles, Elisa focused on distance running. She completed 15 road and trail marathons including Flying Pig, Boston, Marine Corps, and Disney, and at least 15 half-marathons, as well as many races at other distances ranging from 3 to 20 miles. She typically finished in the top 10 percent of her age group. After she was done with running, she and Randy did long walks together and completed an annual 26.2 mile walk on a route of their choosing every fall for the past 10 years. Elisa also enjoyed cross-country skiing. Elisa’s creative and artistic interests included making stained glass windows and other pieces, enameling copper to make jewelry such as earrings and pendants, and gardening. Elisa had been a Master Gardener and volunteered at both OSU Chadwick Arboretum and Franklin Park Conservatory. In her spare time when her sons were younger, she was a soccer mom, swimming mom, hockey mom, baseball mom, cross-country mom, track mom, Science Olympiad mom, First Lego League mom, book swap organizer, marching band uniform manager, and whatever else was needed based on their interests at the time. Things she loved included old houses, antique furniture, Ted’s photos, pumpkin spice, Brandi’s brisket, fresh sweet corn, Costco, visiting with her family, Yellowstone National Park, and anything to keep her warm. Things she intensely disliked included OSU football, seafood, mushrooms, Kohl’s cash, cold weather, and clutter (a significant challenge for her packrat husband). Arrangements are being handled by Day Funeral Service, www.dayfuneralservice.com. A Celebration of Life will be held at Clintonville Woman’s Club, 3951 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43214, on Sunday, April 6, 2025, starting at 4:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in her memory to Columbus Outdoor Pursuits, 1193 S. Front St., Columbus, Ohio 43206, https://outdoor-pursuits.org Day Funeral Service is honored to serve the family of Elisa Dull.

Elisa Smith Dull

December 27, 1953 - March 9, 2025