"Babs" Phyllis Mary Teresa O'Connor Dahlman began the final mission of her life at Christ Hospital on the morning of Wednesday, October 5th, 2011 as a dense fog, reminiscent of London's thickest, encapsulated the Cincinnati skyline. With her family gathered around her, together we watched the morning fog fall and lift. At the start of this last mission she said, "It's a neat idea, isn't it?" Babs passed bravely and gently into the night at 10:00 PM at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was 93 years old. Born in London, England on June 25, 1918 to William and Edith O'Connor, she was the youngest and last surviving of five children: Leslie O'Connor, Stan O'Connor, Eileen (O'Connor) Shergold, and Doris (O'Connor) Smith. Recruited by her beloved England during World War II, Babs was a secret operative with Special Operations Executive. She worked as a secretary with the Ministry of Health as her cover, while taking orders from London's Baker Street under her codename "Virginia." She carried out many missions, some that included parachuting from airplanes into Occupied France and memorizing and decoding orders, which on one occasion provided her an opportunity to meet one of her idols and Allied sympathizer, Sylvia Beach of Shakespeare & Company. While Babs gave over her fate to her country during the war, her heart was captured by her soulmate Donald Dahlman, an American Soldier from Cincinnati, Ohio. Wed in the tumultuous times just before D-Day, Babs and Don's unparalleled partnership and love affair lasted for over 67 years. In the years following VE Day, Don and Babs moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where through hard work and tremendous innovation, Don became a leading Television executive which provided them both an exciting life of hard and exciting work, world travel, and a phenomenal family. Babs loved Don, England, Cincinnati, and her family, always maintaining her British citizenship while making her home in Cincinnati, Ohio and Vero Beach, Florida. An avid reader and writer, Babs was a founding member of the UnQuotes Book Club and The International Group which welcomed foreign residents to Cincinnati. She lectured and had several articles written about her World War II exploits. She was a wonderful and adored mother, grandmother (Nanny), and friend. Babs is survived by her husband and love of her life, Donald Dahlman of Cincinnati, Ohio; her three children: Teresa Ruch (Edward) of Cleveland, Ohio, Patricia Dahlman (Michael DalCerro) of Lyndhurst, New Jersey, Martin Dahlman (Jennifer Edwards) of Pataskala, Ohio; her four grandchildren: Christopher Ruch of Phoenix, Arizona, Leslie Ruch of Cleveland, Ohio, Leah Ruch (Adam Slutzker) of Denver Colorado, and Paul Ruch (Melissa) of Cleveland, Ohio; as well as nephews and nieces that live throughout England, France, and Florida. She leaves behind many friends and admirers. Arrangements have been made for visitations with the family on Friday, October 7th 2011 at Gilligan Funeral Home, 8225 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM. A memorial service will be held at the Ascension & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on Saturday October 8th 2011, 334 Burns Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45215 at 10:00 AM preceding a private internment, and an open house to follow from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. Babs' family would like to extend a special thanks to Christ Hospital's Medical Intensive Care Unit for their compassion and excellent care of our extraordinary loved one, and to Dr. Christopher Orabella for being the best and most compassionate doctor there could be. Together, Christ Hospital and Dr. Orabella made a little bit easier the exceptionally difficult time in both Babs' and her family's life. Memorials may be made to the Christ Hospital Foundation, 2139 Auburn Avenue, Cincinnati OH 45219.

Service

Friday, October 7, 2011 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Gilligan Funeral Home 3734 Eastern Avenue Cincinnati 45226, United States

Service

Saturday, October 8, 2011 10:00 AM Ascension & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Burns & Worthington Cincinnati 45215, United States