Helen Mae Keller
UTICA, Pa. - Helen Mae Keller, 79, of Utica, R.D. 1, died Saturday, Jan. 24, 1998, at Sugar Creek Station.
She was born in Mayport, July 24, 1918, a daughter of the late Paul and Pearl Nolf Hilliard.
During World War II, she was employed at Sylvania. Later she was a part-time school bus driver.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Daniel C. Keller in 1983; an infant son; a brother, Arlington Hilliard; and a sister, Mrs. William (June) Darr.
She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Robert J. (Beverly Jean) Rodgers of Cranberry and Joyce A. Keller of Meadville; a son, Harold T. Keller of Utica R.D. 1; six grandchildren, Robert J. Rodgers Jr. of Carlton, Brian Scott Rodgers of Kossuth, Brenda Sue Rodgers of Bellevue, Thomas H. and Todd Keller, both of Sandy Lake, and Mrs. Daniel (Tracey) Scott of Utica; eight great-grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Gene (Eunice) Nicewonger of Fairmount City; and two brothers, Robert Hilliard of Fairmount City and Glenn Hilliard of Erie.
Friends may call at the Huff Chapel, 312 Park St., Franklin, Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and may attend a service there Tuesday at 11 a.m.
Burial will be in Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be made to Visiting Nurse Association of Venango County, 308 Seneca St, Oil City, PA, 16301.
Helen Skrzypczak Kurczewski
Owned Phillipsville Store and Tavern
Helen Skrzypczak Kurczewski, 89, of 304 Olivia St., McKees Rocks, Allegheny County, formerly of Erie, died Friday, Jan. 23, 1998, at Mariner Health of West Hills in Coraopolis.
She was born on June 26, 1908, in Lubin, Wis., daughter of the late Michael and Josephine Skoropinski Skrzypczak.
Mrs. Kurczewski worked for General Electric Co. in Erie as a moldmaker for 15 years. She was a housekeeper at James Parker Middle School for eight years and owned the Phillipsville Store and Tavern.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Kurczewski, in 1982; a son, Richard Kurczewski, on June 23, 1997; two brothers, Joe and Edward Skrzypczak; and two sisters, Mary Pawlowski and Sophie Nunewski.
She is survived by one sister, Elizabeth Podsiadly of McKees Rocks; five grandchildren, Laurie Koch, Barbara Babo, Richard Kurczewski II, John and Robert Kurczewski; and six great-grandchildren.
Friends may call at Harry D. Glunt Funeral Home, 210 Erie St., Edinboro, today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A service will be held there Monday at 1 p.m.
Burial will be at Edinboro Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2115 W. 38th St., Erie, PA 16508.
Inez M. Farver
Was leader of Pioneer Girls
GREENVILLE - Inez M. Farver, 84, of 73 N. Maysville Road, Greenville, and formerly of East Springfield, died Saturday, Jan. 24, 1998, at Horizon Hospital System in Greenville.
She was born in Fairview, Dec. 13, 1913, a daughter of the late William and Nina Gilbert Porter.
Mrs. Farver had been a member of the former Maysville Community Church in Greenville and was a Sunday School teacher and a leader of the Pioneer Girls. She was a member of the Christian Women's Association of Mercer County and had spent the winters in Florida for the past 10 years.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Lynn and Reid Porter, and two sisters, Lillian B. Holland and Helen Steiner.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Pastor Clemens Farver; three sons, Gary D. Farmer of Conneaut, Ohio, Dr. Thomas B. Farver of Davis, Calif., and Clemens B. Farver of Columbus, Ohio; three daughters, Mrs. Frank (Sylvia Jean) Hallenbeck of Rochester, N.Y., and Bonnie Lou Shuster and Louise Lillian Huntley, both of Denver, Colo.; and a sister, Mrs. Jerry (Marian) Moore of Wildwood, Fla.
Friends may call at the Andrew H. Osborne III Funeral Home Inc., 73-75 Columbia Ave., Greenville, Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and may attend a service Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church. The Rev. Vincent J. Bellanca will officiate.
Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church, 805 Vernon Road, Greenville, PA, 16125.
James D. Rupert
Teacher and real estate broker
James D. Rupert, 86, of Erie, died Saturday, Jan. 10, 1998, at Hamot Medical Center.
Mr. Rupert was born in Grove City, Nov. 2, 1911, a son of the late Victor B. and Laura Davison Rupert.
He was a graduate of Mercer High School and Grove City College, where he was editor of the school newspaper. He earned a master's degree from Cornell University. He was a teacher in the Elmira, N.Y., school district and then came to Erie and taught at Strong Vincent High School. He was a real estate broker and began his realty career in the 1940s with Lloyd White, forming White and Rupert Realty. He retired in the 1970s.
He was a member of Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Erie, and Zem Zem Temple Shrine. He played eight musical instruments and was a member of the Shriners Marching Band. He was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant and the Erie Yacht Club. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.
He was preceded in death by three sisters, Alice Kelso, Isabel Ruff and Martha Arkwright.
He is survived by his wife, Gladys "Hap" Wilson Rupert; two daughters, Judy R. Heywood of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Nancy Filippo and her husband Gary of Dothan, Ala.; a son, Gary V. Rupert of Auburn, N.Y.,; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
The funeral service was private.
The Burton Funeral Home, 502 W. 10th St., handled arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Shriners' Hospitals for Children, Erie Unit, 1645 W. Eighth St., Erie, PA, 16505.
January 24, 1998
Florence Lillian McKee
RALEIGH, N.C. - Florence Lillian McKee, 89, of Raleigh, and formerly of Erie, died Friday, Jan. 23, 1998, at Mayview.
She was a long-time member of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Erie. She graduated from the Hamot Hospital School of Nursing and was a registered nurse.
She is survived by a daughter Madge and her husband Earle Dhus of Raleigh; three grandchildren, Linda Hooks of Virginia Beach, Va., Andrew Dhus of Lafayette, Colo., and Aimee Dhus of Raleigh; and two great-grandchildren.
A private burial will be held in Pennsylvania.
Arrangements are by the Brown-Wynne Funeral Home of Raleigh.
January 24, 1998
Dorothy Sperry
Dorothy Sperry, 74, 2818 Florence Ave., died Thursday, Jan. 22, 1998, at Millcreek Community Hospital, following an extended illness.
She was born in Corry, March 9, 1923, a daughter of the late Velma Sperry.
A client of Lakeshore Community Services, she enjoyed singing, parties, shopping, holidays, and taking care of children while a resident of the Polk Center. She also enjoyed crafts and painting.
She is survived by her family of friends at Lakeshore Community Services.
Friends may call at the Russell C. Schmidt and Son Funeral Home, 2926 Pine Ave., Monday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. and may attend a service there Tuesday at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church at 10.
Burial will be in Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Lakeshore Community Services, 1352 W. 26th St., Erie, PA, 16508.
January 24, 1998
Paul Alford Alcorn
McKEAN - Paul Alford Alcorn, 70, of 17 Meadow Court, McKean, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 1998, at Western Reserve Health and Rehabilitation Center.
He was born in Titusville, a son of the late Andrew and Burnice Beightol Alcorn.
He had been employed in the maintenance department at Erie Malleable Iron Co., He had served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a member of the Sheriff's Association.
He was preceded in death by a son, Steven R. Alcorn; two brothers, Lloyd and Andrew Alcorn; and a sister, Olive June Alcorn.
He is survived by his wife, Thelma L. Alcorn; two sons, DeWayne P. Alcorn and his wife Barbara of Prattville, Ala. and Brian E. Alcorn of Glen Burnie, Md.; a brother, Clarence Alcorn and his wife Lorraine of Ripley, N.Y.; a sister, Twila Anthony and her husband George of Erie; and three grandsons, Nicholas, Steven and Timothy Alcorn.
Friends may call at the Burton Funeral Home, 4740 Peach St., Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and may attend a service there Tuesday at 1 p.m.
Burial will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery.
January 24, 1998
Mary Margaret Cunningham
GLEN BURNIE, Md. - Mary Margaret Cunningham, 86, of Glen Burnie, Md., formerly of Erie, died Friday, Jan. 23, 1998, at Harbor Hospital Center, Baltimore, Md.
She was born in Erie March 11, 1911.
A nursing school graduate, she was a flight attendant for TWA. She worked on TWA's first flight.
She enjoyed ceramics and travel.
Mrs. Cunningham was preceded in death by her husband, Meade L. "Bill" Cunningham, and a grandchild.
Survivors include a daughter, JoAnne Fisher of Glen Burnie; a son, Gerald Lee "Jerry" Brennan of Irving, Texas; a brother, Joseph J. Brennan of Erie; six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Friends may call at the Kirkley-Ruddick Funeral Home, Glen Burnie, from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Glen Burnie, with the Rev. Sam Young officiating.
Burial will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Arlington National Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude's Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
January 24, 1998
