Ohio’s First Lady Fran DeWine issued a statement on the death of Dolly Parton on Tuesday, saying because of her Imagination Library, over a million Ohio children up to age 5 have received free books.
DeWine recalls meeting Dolly Parton as the state prepared to embrace her Imagination Library program.
DeWine says the meeting was at Ohio State University, and she was nervous.
But with the extended family on hand, “Dolly” broke the ice by singing happy birthday to one of the DeWine’s granddaughters.
Fran says there was nothing like meeting and knowing Dolly Parton.
She shared this statement on the passing of her friend:
“Mike and I are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dolly Parton. She touched countless lives in profound and meaningful ways.
“Her devotion to children and literacy is unparalleled. Because of Dolly, millions of children around the country and the world are getting free books and learning how to read, which will, in many cases, change the trajectory of their lives. Because of Dolly’s vision and generosity, over one million Ohio children have received free books in the mail, totaling nearly 28 million books.
“Her generosity and selfless spirit leave a legacy that will live on for generations to come. We remain incredibly grateful for her compassion and commitment to others.”
For his part, the governor asked that flags across the state be flown at half-staff until the evening of September 1.
