Obituaries by LocationShirley Taylor
November 18, 2001
Miss Shirley A. Taylor of Wyalusing, PA passed away on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2001 after a lengthy illness. She was 79.
Shirley was born in Wyalusing on Oct. 18, 1922, the daughter of the late Bascom and Katherine Tompkins Taylor. She graduated from Wyalusing High School, a member of the Class of 1941.
Shirley was a lifelong member of the Wyalusing Presbyterian Church. She was also an active member of the former Wyalusing Chapter #523, Order of Eastern Star and currently the Meshoppen Chapter #70 OES, from which she recently received a 50-year honor and pin to commemorate her years of service. Shirley was also a 50-year member of the Wyalusing Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, having served as Constitution Chairman, Flag Chairman and Chaplain. In her early years, she served as a volunteer Girl Scout leader. She was known throughout the community for her generous spirit and her love of people.
Survivors include her first cousins, Roy Jones of Wyalusing, Lucy Case of Canandaigua, NY, Charlotte Scott of Elmira, NY, Jean Mancus of Alameda, CA, Marion Holzman of Vernon, CT and Robert Taylor of Towanda, as well as by numerous other cousins. She leaves behind many dear and long-time friends.
Funeral services will be held at the Wyalusing Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 23 with the Rev. Barry Ballard, her pastor, officiating. Friends may call at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Members of the Meshoppen Chapter #70 Order of the Eastern Star will conduct a funeral service at 9:45 a.m. on Friday morning at the church. Interment
will be in the Lakeview Cemetery , Ithaca, NY at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wyalusing Presbyterian Church, PO Box 25, Wyalusing, PA 18853.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 1 Grovedale Lane, Wyalusing.
Maurie Taylor
November 12, 2001
Maurice D. Taylor, age 95, of Montrose, PA died Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2001 at his residence. Born April 13, 1906 in Dixon, he was the son of the late George and Ora (Thomas) Taylor. In June of 1985, he was married to Charlotte (Stilson) who survives. His first wife, Margaret (Beach) predeceased him.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Montrose.
While he graduated from Montrose High School in 1924, his career in music education began before that at the age of 14. He and his brother offered music lessons and rented musical instruments. He also organized the first Montrose Community Band. After high school, the business continued to expand. He was asked to teach music at Montrose High School in 1927. By 1928, the combined band from the high school and the community won first prize in the Pennsylvania State Finals for small school bands. He also organized massed band concerts which included bands from surrounding communities. One of the larger gatherings included over 600 participants. In 1938, he was asked to print material he was using in organizing bands. This led to the establishment of Montrose Music House and Taylor’s Publishing Company. The first series of books was called "Easy Steps to the Band." He put together over 158 music books.
In 1945, he sold the business to Mills Music, Inc. in New York City to devote more time to teaching. In 1955, he retired the first time from Montrose High School, but stayed active in music by writing and traveling to college campuses as a guest speaker. In 1967, he returned to Montrose High School to teach music and retired again in 1972. He was called the dean of Pennsylvania school band directors by his fellow members of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association in which he was a lifetime member. In 1980, he was granted an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Susquehanna University and 1993, received a Citation of Excellence from the National Band Masters Association.
In addition to his wife, survivors include a daughter, Janet M. Taylor of Westchester, IL; a daughter-in-law, Edith W. Taylor, Charlotte, NC; a son-in-law, William Green of York; six grandchildren, Marcia Rhyne, Suzanne Kinne, William Green, Jr., Deborah Geer, Pamela Barbuto, Susan Duran; nine great-grandchildren; two brothers, Louis and Leon Taylor; two sons, Dr. Donald J. Taylor and Gordon D. Taylor and a daughter, Margaret Green.
Services were held on Monday, Nov. 19 at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, Montrose. The family provided all the flowers and suggests that if desired, memorial contributions be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Montrose, 71 Church St., Montrose, PA 18801.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Bartron Funeral Home, Inc., 74 Church St., Montrose.
Lewis Sterling
November 15, 2001
Mr. Lewis M. Sterling, age 85, of RR1, Box 207, Sterling Hill Rd., Wyalusing, PA (Browntown) passed away on Thursday evening, Nov. 15, 2001 at the Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre.
Born in Wyalusing on Dec. 19, 1915, he was the son of the late Martin and Ethel Rutan Sterling. Mr. Sterling married the former Dorothy Lindstrom in 1935 at the family home in Merryall.
Mr. Sterling attended the Camptown High School, after which he made his living as a dairy farmer on his farm on Sterling Hill Rd. in Browntown. He was also employed by Sylvania in Towanda for 21 years, retiring in 1982 after which he continued to operate his farm until his death.
He was a member of the Camptown Community Church, a 50 year member of the Wyalusing Grange #1965, a member of the Wysox Odd Fellows Lodge. While he was farming, he was a member of the Wyalusing Dairymen’s League and later the Wyalusing Dairylea. He was also a Wyalusing Township Supervisor for 18 years and a past Bradford County Deputy Game Warden. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting on his farm and also enjoyed watching and caring for his many animals.
Surviving are his wife of 66 years, Dorothy Lindstrom Sterling, at home; a daughter and son-in-law, Alita and Rod Millard of Wyalusing; a son and daughter-in-law, Mason and Andrea Sterling of Laceyville; a son, Dr. Scott Sterling, D.O. of Wyalusing; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Jennie Lindstrom Comstock of South Montrose and a brother-in-law and niece, Wayne Campbell and Denise Campbell, both of Lawton; eight grandchildren, Valerie Millard of Wyalusing, Mrs. Michael (Beth) Shaw of Sayre, Christa Millard of Wyalusing, Stephanie Millard of Honesdale, Mrs. Randy (Rhaegan) Hugo of Wyalusing, Shey Sterling of Laceyville and Brandon and Zachary Sterling of Parkesburg; five great-grandchildren, Adrielle and Colin Blemle of Wyalusing, John and Michael Shaw of Sayre and Jhaeden Hugo of Wyalusing. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Ruth Sterling Allis and her husband, Vernon Allis; a sister, Lucille Sterling Campbell; a grandson, Mitchell Jay Millard and a stepfather-in-law, Mr. Paul Coleman.
Funeral services were held on Monday, Nov. 19 at 11 a.m. from the Camptown Community Church with Rev. Helen Learn and Rev. Joyce Warner of the Camptown Community Church and a close family friend, Rev. James Valentine of the Newark Valley United Methodist Church officiating. Interment
was in the Camptown Cemetery .
Family and friends called at the Sheldon Funeral Home, Main St., Laceyville on Sunday, Nov. 18 from 3 to 6 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may make memorial donations to the Camptown Community Church, c/o Mrs. Beverly Skillings, RR3, Wyalusing, PA 18853.
Robert O. Parr
November 19. 2001
Robert O. Parr of Hill Top Drive, Tunkhannock, PA, passed away on Monday, Nov. 19, 2001 at Tyler Memorial Hospital in Tunkhannock. He was born on Feb. 24, 1928 in Mount Bethel, NJ, a son of the late William P. and Cletus Hill Parr.
He attended Newton High School in Newton, NJ. Prior to his retirement he worked for Sire Power for 30 years and Select Sires in Tunkhannock for 10 years, retiring as general manager in 1990. He was a member of the Tunkhannock United Methodist Church and served as co-chairman for the Dairy Committee of the Kiwanis Wyoming County Fair. For 40 years he served as a square dance caller at many dances and for the Melody Four and Bulls Eye Bands.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Adelaide M. Westbrook Parr; sons, Robert E. of Tunkhannock, Richard E. of Mehoopany; daughters, Darlene Hoff of Easton, Donna Pecellak of Meshoppen, Debra Benson of Mehoopany; a brother, Lesley Parr of Monroe, NC; sisters, Elizabeth McPeek of Rock Hill, SC, Ula Vealey, Newton, NJ and Jocelyn Decker of Matthew, NC; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 11 a.m. from the Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home, 73 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock, with the Rev. Roger Richards, pastor of the Tunkhannock United Methodist Church. Interment
will be in Sunnyside Cemetery , Tunkhannock. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Wyoming County Dairy Club, c/o Charlotte Severcool, 273 SR 1001, Tunkhannock, PA 18657.
Francis Lockburner
November 19,2001
Mr. Francis A. Lockburner, age 79, of 111 John St., Pittston, PA, passed away at his home on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2001. Born Oct. 30, 1922 in Sparta, NJ, he was the son of Belma Ross Lockburner, Sparta, NJ and the late Frank Lockburner.
He graduated from Newton High School, Newton, NJ in 1941 and attended Penn State University. He was a former Democratic Freeholder of Sussex County, NJ for nine years. Francis was self-employed in various ventures including, farming, the cattle feed business, auto parts and farm machinery business. He was proprietor of Discount Groceries in Sussex, NJ, Laceyville, West Pittston, Tunkhannock, Hallstead and Archbald, PA. He was also part owner of Table Rock Hotel, Inc. in Skinners Eddy.
A member of the Masons and Tall Cedars, he was a charter member of Hare Ridge Sportsmen’s Club and Doolittle Hill Sportsmen’s Association. He also was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in1960, a past member of the Wyoming County Welfare Board, the Democratic party and was an active member of the Laceyville Rotary Club.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family and friends.
Besides his mother, he is survived by his four children, Lorraine Hill of Newton, NJ, Linda Ayers of Meshoppen, Sherre Boyanowski of Laceyville; a son, Dwayne, of Ham Lake, MN; eleven grandchildren; brothers, Vivian (Tucker) Lockburner, Effort, Frank Lockburner, Newton, NJ, Thomas Lockburner, Florham Park, NJ; sisters, Florence Lauer, Blairstown, NJ, Elizabeth (Betty) Slack, Mesa, AZ, Joyce Steffy, Hamburg, NJ, Agnes Haley, Lakeland, FL, Jean Northrup, Ashland, VA, Marjoree Mistretta, Lakeland, FL, Elaine Blanchard, Cedar Knolls, NJ, Molly Harrje, Vernon, NJ and Diane Smith, Los Angeles, CA. He is also survived by his estranged wife, the former Claire Serice.
The viewing was held on Wednesday, Nov. 21 at Kizis-Lokuta Funeral Home, 134 Church St., Pittston, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral service was held at the funeral home on Wednesday evening.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Diabetes Association.
Local memorial services are being planned with date and time to be announced.
Jeanne H. Culver
November 13, 2001
Jeanne H. Culver, wife of Robert O. Culver of 9636 Versailles Plank Road, Angola, NY went to be with her precious Lord and Savior on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2001.
Jeanne was born in 1937, one of four daughters of Eugene and Ruth Walters of Lackawanna, NY. Jeanne was married at Kennedy Free Methodist Church in 1962 to Robert O. Culver of Lackawanna and formerly of Silvara. They made their first home at Ridgewood Village, Lackawanna, NY and later moved to Angola where Jeanne spent several years as a Tupperware consultant. Jeanne was a devoted wife and mother and cherished every moment spent with her children and grandchildren.
Jeanne will best be remembered for her devotion to the youth in her church and community. She currently retired her position of over 40 years of service as CYC (Kid’s Club) Director at the Angola Wesleyan Church. She was a loving and consistent Christian her entire life. Her passing is greatly lamented by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her husband and three children, Lynn Smith of Derby, NY, Colleen Culver of Eden, NY and Robert E. Culver of Derby, NY; her mother, Ruth Smith, Gowanda Nursing Home; her mother-in-law, Dorothy L. Culver of Silvara; grandchildren, Daniel Culver of Eden, NY, Caitlon and Paige Smith of Derby, NY; step-grandchildren, Bill and Mike Smith; three sisters, several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father, Eugene Walters of Lackawanna, NY; her father-in-law, Orwyn K. Culver of Silvara; her stepfather, Fletcher Smith; a sister-in-law, Mary Culver of Vernon and a brother-in-law, Eddie Kerr.
Viewings were held at the Heimburg-Addison Funeral Home in Angola, with a largely attended funeral on Friday, Nov. 16 at the Angola Wesleyan Church.
Anyone wishing to make a contribution in memory of Jeanne, may send it to the American Diabetes Association, 315 Alberta Drive, Suite 102, Amherst, NY 14226.
Charles Buckingham
November 8, 2001
Charles A. Buckingham of Floral City, FL passed away at home on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001, following an illness.
Born in Jenningsville on Sept. 2, 1925, he was a son of the late Ambrose and Anna Dotter Buckingham. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a retired welder and a lifetime member of Floral City VFW.
Surviving are his wife, Beverly (Crispell) Buckingham; four sons, Larry, Lyle, David and Kirby; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Robert of Port Allegany and Donald of Ridge, NY; four sisters, Mrs. Nellie Haight, Waverly, NY, Mrs. Ella Wells, Whitewater, WI, Mrs. Amy Jayne, Meshoppen and Mrs. Marion Line, Lovelton.
He was preceded in death by brothers, George, Albert and Clarence and sisters, Helen Buckingham, Edith Hulbirt, Grace Eveland, Marjorie Goble and Lucy Wells.
Services were held on Nov. 14 at the Charles E. Davis Funeral Home of Inverness, FL.
Josephine Barry
November 15, 2001
Josephine (JoJo) McKernan Barry, age 78, Mildred, PA, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2001 at Memorial Hospital in Towanda.
Josephine was born Aug. 15, 1923 in Albany Township, Bradford County, a daughter of the late James M. and Mary Ann Ryan McKernan.
Josephine retired from the former Endicott-Johnson Shoe Manufacturing Plant in Mildred after many years of service.
She was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Mildred. She also enjoyed growing flowers and was an avid Dale Earnhardt NASCAR fan.
Surviving are two sons and daughters-in-law, Patrick and Joann Barry, Towanda, William (Breezy) Barry and Ella Marks, Dushore; a stepson and spouse, John and Sally White, Mildred; twin brother and sister-in-law, John D. and Betty McKernan, New Albany; two grandsons, Aaron and Brian; five granddaughters, Lisa, Kathy, Gary, Donna and Sarah; six great-grandchildren, Natasia, Breannan, Neven, Taylor, Delania and Kendrick; several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, James McKernan and sisters, Betty Cain, Mary AnnMcKernan, Helen (Nellie) Pompeii and Julia Grady.
Funeral services were held on Monday, Nov. 19 at 9:30 a.m. from the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, and was followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Basil’s Church in Dushore with the Rev. Michael B. Harris, her pastor, presiding. Interment
was in St. Francis of Assisi Cemetery , Cummiskey.
Friends called on Sunday, Nov. 18 at the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Florence Abrey,
Nov 8, 2001
Mrs. Florence M. Abrey, age 85, of Penfield, NY, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001 at the Rochester General Hospital Medical Center following an automobile accident.
Florence was born in Rochester, NY on May 22, 1916, a daughter of the late August and Florence Dildine Krauter. She married George Abrey of Rochester. They recently celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary.
Florence was a homemaker and active gardener. She was very interested in her community and her church. She served as an active member of the Ridge-Culver Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary for more than 40 years. She and George lived in East Irondequoit, a suburb of Rochester. They retired to Penfield in 1968. Much of her time in recent years was devoted to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and the care of her husband.
Florence was a communicant of St. Cecilia’s in Irondequoit and Holy Spirit in Penfield.
Surviving are her husband, George, at home; two sons and daughters-in-law, Donald and Joan Abrey, Wyalusing, Thomas and Deborah Abrey, Webster, NY; a daughter, Carol Abrey, Alder Creek, CA; a brother and sister-in-law, Edward and Sheila Krauter, Irondequoit, NY; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Nov. 14 at Holy Spirit Church in Penfield with the Rev. P. Frederick Helfrich presiding. Interment
was in the Irondequoit Cemetery .
Memorials may be directed to Camp Good Days and Special Times, Pittsford-Mendon Road, Mendon, NY 14506. The camp on Keuka Lake provides camping opportunities and support groups for children and adults with terminal cancer, AIDS and sickle cell anemia.
Genevieve (Margaret) Hitchcock
Nov. 26, 2001
Genevieve (Margaret) Hitchcock, age 80, a resident at Bradford County Manor, passed away on Monday, Nov. 26, 2001 at the Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre.
She was born on Nov. 6, 1921 in Wyalusing, a daughter of the late Hubert and Ethel Walker.
Genevieve was preceded in death by her husband, the late George Hitchcock.
She had spent her entire lifetime in Bradford County and enjoyed time spent doing word search puzzles, playing games and shopping.
Survivors include William Kissell and Brenda Ellison of Elmira, NY; a brother, Donald Walker of Towanda; three grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by daughters, Jessica Lattimer and Pauline Lattimer.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. in the McHenry Funeral Home, 106 Church St., Wyalusing.
Friends and family are invited to call on Thursday from 1 p.m. until the time of the service.
Interment will be in Camptown Cemetery .
