6/21/02
Patricia J. Pursel
Mrs. Patricia J. Pursel of 197 Pine St., Antes Fort, died Thursday, June 20, 2002 in the Jersey Shore Hospital.
Born Feb. 7, 1931 in Salamanca, N.Y., she was the daughter of Harry and Carrie Stiles Armstrong. She is survived by her husband Harold L. Pursel. They were united in marriage Feb. 8, 1952.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday, June 24, in the Frederick B. Welker Funeral Home, 125 N. Main St., Jersey Shore. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. Burial will be in the Jersey Shore Cemetery. Her pastor Rev. David McCoy will officiate.
Niles Keesler
Niles Keesler, 79, of State College, died Thursday, June 20, 2002 at his residence after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born Nov. 30, 1922 in Mt. Jewett, he was the son of the late William and Nan Keesler. His wife of 54 years, Frances Kissell, survives at home.
Visitation will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 22, 2002 at the Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College. The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Joseph Faulkner officiating. Burial will be in Swissdale Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Shoe Bank, 109 McAllister St., State College, Pa. 16801.
Harry B. Wheeler
Harry B. Wheeler, 86, of Silver Spring, Md., died Tuesday, June 18, 2002 at Montgomery General Hospital, Olney, Md.
Born Feb. 29, 1916 in Pittsburgh, he was the son of Samuel A. and Ida Geib Wheeler. He and his wife, Gloria H. Haggerty Wheeler, a former area resident, were married May 31,1958, she survives.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, June 24, at Cedar Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Robert D. Kitchen officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of the Helt Funeral Chapel, 232 Hogan Blvd., Mill Hall.
Lester E. Shreckengast
Lester E. Shreckengast, 81, of Palm Tree Drive, Kissimmee, Fla., died Wednesday, June 19, 2002.
He was born Nov. 15, 1920 in Logan Mills. He went to the central Florida area from Avis in 1957.
He was an aircraft mechanic with Piper Aircraft and was retired from Lockheed-Martin in Orlando. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the Army Air Corp. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Kissimmee.
Survivors include his wife, Gladys G. of Kissimmee; two daughters, Mary Jo Kurtz of Sebring, Fla. and Donna Miller of St. Cloud, Fla.; a sister, Regina Waterman of Huntingdon; 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 22, in Grissom Chapel. Grissom Funeral Home, Crematory and Cemetery, Kissimmee, is in charge of arrangements.
Martha Larimer
Martha E. Larimer, 90, formerly of 226 South Main St., Jersey Shore, died Wednesday, June 19, 2002 at the home of her daughter Clara Lee Mitstifer, Liberty.
In addition to survivors listed in Thursday’s Express, she is survived by five grandchildren,10 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, in the Frederick B. Welker Funeral Home, 125 N. Main St., Jersey Shore. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to time of service, with burial in Jersey Shore Cemetery.
6/20/02
Martha E. Larimer
Mrs. Martha E. Larimer, 90, formerly of 226 S. Main St., Jersey Shore, died Wednesday, June 19, 2002 at the home of her daughter, Clare Lee Mitstifer, in Liberty.
Born April 4, 1912 in South Williamsport, she was the daughter of Herman Plankenhorn and the former Clare Kreitz.
She was united in marriage March 17, 1936 to McCullough Larimer. He preceded her in death March 11, 1961.
Funeral services will be Saturday, June 22, 2002 at 10 a.m. in the Frederick B. Welker Funeral Home, 125 N. Main St., Jersey Shore. Friends may call from 9 a.m. Saturday until the time of services in the funeral home. Burial will be in Jersey Shore Cemetery. The Rev. Kenneth Gunter will officiate.
6/19/02
Patricia Jane Friese
Patricia “Patty” Jane (Kinney) Friese, 48, of Cross Fork, died Monday, June 17, 2002 in Williamsport Hospital.
She was born July 26, 1953 in Renovo, a daughter of the late Harry L. Kinney and Betty Rauch Kinney of Susque-View Home.
She married Daryl G. Friese, Dec. 23, 1972 in Tamarack; they would have celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary this year, he survives along with her mother.
Memorial services will be at Maxwell Funeral Home, 205 Fifth St., Renovo, at 8 p.m. Thursday, June 20, 2002 with the Rev. John Godissart officiating. A time of fellowship will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Kettle Creek Hose Co. Friends may call at the funeral home Thursday, 6 to 8 p.m. The family will provide the flowers.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kettle Creek Ambulance Co., Kettle Creek Hose Co. or Clinton County Hospice.
Lily Tilitha Robbins Petrow
Lily Tilitha Robbins Petrow, Lock Haven, formerly of Scranton, died Monday evening in the Susque-View Home in Lock Haven after an illness.
She was the wife of Nicholas Petrow of Olyphant, who survives. Her first husband, William R. Robbins, died April 17, 1966.
Born Feb. 12, 1907 in Lopez, she was the daughter of the late George and Cora Johnson Searfoss.
The funeral and interment
will be private at the convenience of the family. Interment
will be in Forest Hills Cemetery, Dunmore.
Arrangements are by the Vanston and James Funeral Home Inc., corner of Ash Street and North Irving Avenue, Scranton.
Mary M. Butler
Mary M. Butler, 88, of State College, formerly of Howard, died Tuesday, June 18, 2002 in Centre Community Hospital.
Born June 22, 1913 in Booneville, she was the daughter of the late Isaac Homer and Edna May Hartman Karstetter.
She was married to Fortney E. Butler, who preceded her in death on Oct. 6, 1993. She also was married to Leland C. Lagenor, who died in October 1959.
The funeral service will be 3 p.m. Thursday, June 20, 2002 in the W. Robert Neff Funeral Home, 837 Main St., Howard, with Rev. Wes McElravy officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Burial will be in Schencks Cemetery, Howard Township. Memorial contributions may be made to the Walnut Street Church of Christ, 1 Walnut St., Howard, Pa., 16841, or the Mill Hall Assembly of God, 320 Hogan Blvd., Mill Hall, Pa. 17751.
William M. Norman
William M. Norman, 73, of West Park St., Avis, died Monday evening, June 17, 2002 in the Jersey Shore Hospital, exactly one year to the day that his son, Steven Michael Norman, died.
Mr. Norman was born in Middleburg, July 6, 1928, a son of Maxwell and Dessie Zechman Norman. He was a Jersey Shore High School graduate and married the former Dorothy M. Winter on Feb. 28, 1948. She survives.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 21, 2002 in the Rearick-Carpenter Funeral Home, 1002 Allegheny St., Jersey Shore, with his pastor, Rev. Mark Woodring, officiating. Burial will be in Rest Haven Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Friday beginning at 10 a.m. Contributions may be made to the Avis Veterans Park Fund, c/o the secretary at Avis Borough Building, Avis, Pa. 17721, or the Avis United Methodist Church, P.O. Box B, Avis, Pa. 17721.
6/18/02
Geraldine C. Turner
Geraldine C. "Jere" Turner, 80, of DuBoistown, died Saturday, June 15, 2002 in the Muncy Valley Hospital Skilled Nursing Unit following a short illness.
Born at Flemington on Dec. 4, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Ortan and Helen Dunkle Chapman.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 19, 2002 in the Noll Funeral Home, 1 E. Central Ave., South Williamsport. The Rev. J. Marco Hunsburger will officiate. Interment
will be in Green Lawn Memorial Park, Montgomery. Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday from 10 a.m. until time of the service.
The family will provide the flowers and requests that memorial contributions be made to the Michael L. Kurtz Memorial Award to benefit graduates of South Williamsport High School.
Rev. Melvin L. Lyons
Rev. Melvin L. Lyons, 54, of Graceville, Fla., died Saturday, June 15, 2002 in his residence, following a brief illness.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 18, 2002 in the First Baptist Church of Graceville, with Dr. “Bud” Ware and Dr. Bob Johnson officiating. Cremation followed, with James & Lipford Funeral Home, Graceville, directing. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Graceville, P.O. Box 565, Graceville, Fla. 32440.
Rev. Lyons was born in Lock Haven on Feb. 1, 1948.
His wife, Brenda Sargent Lyons of Graceville, survives, along with his mother and stepfather, Mary Howe and husband Paul of Lock Haven.
Clifford E. Rine
Clifford E. Rine, 87, of 10 Danis St., Mill Hall, died Sunday, June 16, 2002 in the Lock Haven Hospital Extended Care Unit.
Born Sept, 8, 1914 in Mill Hall, he was a son of the late Harry and Annie Minnick Rine.
Services will be June 19, 2002 at 11 a.m. in the Dean K. Wetzler Jr. Funeral Home, Mill Hall, with Rev. Viola C. Tyson officiating. Interment
will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Mill Hall. Visitation will be June 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 35 Bellefonte Ave., Lock Haven.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Dean K. Wetzler Jr. Funeral Home.
Maria F. “Gram” Matich
Maria F. “Gram” Matich, 80, of 62 E. Haven Pine Road, Mill Hall, who died June 11, 2002 in the Lock Haven Hospital Extended Care Unit, raised two grandsons, James E. and Steve M. Doyle, and was preceded in death by a daughter, Maria Elena Matich, who died July 4, 1958.
6/17/02
John C. Myers
John C. Myers, 80, of 169 Summers Point Drive, Mill Hall, died Sunday, June 16, 2002 in Lock Haven Hospital after an extended illness. He had entered the hospital on Wednesday.
Myers was born Aug. 29, 1921 in Johnsonburg, the son of the late Norman and Bertha Davies Myers.
He was united in marriage in the Great Island Presbyterian Church in Lock Haven on July 20, 1957, to Louise Clark Myers, who survives.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 19 at 10:30 a.m. in the Great Island Presbyterian Church, 12 W. Water St., Lock Haven, with Rev. Dr. Chris Looker, interim pastor at Rockville Presbyterian Church in Rockville, Md., officiating. Interment
will be in the Highland Cemetery, Lock Haven. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in the Yost-Gedon Funeral Home, 121 W. Main St., Lock Haven.
The family suggests in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be sent to the Great Island Presbyterian Church through the funeral home.
Albert R. Hauke
Albert R. Hauke, 96, formerly of Rose Street and the Pine Haven Apartments, 25 Cree Drive, Lock Haven, died Saturday, June 15, 2002 in the Lock Haven Hospital Extended Care Unit, having entered the hospital one week ago.
Born in South Williamsport, Jan. 25, 1906, he was the son of the late William and Caroline Shultz Hauke. Mr. Hauke was united in marriage June 8, 1928 to Dorothy Yearick Hauke, who preceded him in death May 31, 1996.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 18, at 10:30 a.m. in the First Church of Christ, corner of Water and Vesper streets, Lock Haven. Elder John F. Harvey will officiate. Interment
will be in the Blanchard Church of Christ Cemetery, Blanchard. Friends will be received in the Yost-Gedon Funeral Home, 121 W. Main St., Lock Haven, Monday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. and one half hour prior to services at the church Tuesday.
The family suggests in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions will be accepted to the Lock Haven or Mill Hall Church of Christ through the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Yost-Gedon Funeral Home.
Mabel F. Pruey
Mabel F. Pruey, 61, of 565 McElhattan Drive, Lock Haven, died Friday, June 14, 2002 at home.
Born Nov. 14, 1940 in Tire Hill, she was the daughter of the late Harry Anderson and Vera Rager Anderson.
She was married to Andrew Pruey, who preceded her in death in 1988.
Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, June 17, in the Donald G. Walker Funeral Home, 231 High St., Flemington. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Susquehanna Hospice.
Theodore H. Smith
Theodore H. Smith, 88, of Masonic Homes, Elizabethtown, formerly of Lock Haven and Yuma, Ariz., died Thursday, June 13, 2002 at Masonic Health Care Center, Elizabethtown.
Born in North Bend, Mr. Smith was the son of the late William J. and Anna Bell Jewel Smith.
His wife, Twila Gillen Smith, died in 1995.
Graveside services will be held at the convenience of the family at Rest Haven Memorial Park in McElhattan. There will be no visitation.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Frank S. Miller Funeral Home, Elizabethtown.
6/15/02
M. Marie Brownson
M. Marie Brownson, 76, of Howard, died Friday at home.
Born Aug. 10, 1925 in Howard, she was the daughter of the late Samuel Clayton and Mary Arvada Weaver Boob.
On Oct. 29, 1942 in Bellefonte, she was married to John Brownson Jr., who survives at home.
Funeral services will be Monday, June 17, 2002 at 10:30 a.m. in the N. Robert Neff Funeral Home, 837 Main St., Howard, with the Rev. Doug Lichty officiating. Burial will be in Schenck’s Cemetery, Howard Township. Friends will be received at the funeral home from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, June 16. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Marsh Creek Brethren In Christ Church, 489 Summit Hill Road, Howard or the charity of the donor’s choice.
6/14/02
Mary M. Jerles
Mary M. Jerles, 87, of Youngdale Road, Lock Haven, died Wednesday, June 12, 2002 in the Lock Haven Hospital Extended Care Unit.
She was born in Avis, Jan. 12, 1915, a daughter of Raymond and Millie V. Stabley Guisewite.
Her husband, Roy S. Jerles, died in April 1970.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 15, 2002 from the Rearick-Carpenter Funeral Home, “A Life Celebration Home,” 1002 Allegheny St., Jersey Shore. Burial will be in Rest Haven Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home Saturday beginning at 12:30 p.m. Contributions may be made to the Ross Library, 232 W. Main St., Lock Haven, Pa. 17745, or the American Cancer Society, 35 Bellefonte Ave., Lock Haven, Pa. 17745.
6/13/02
Mary N. Rooney
Mary N. (Rossi) Rooney, 84, of Susquehanna Avenue, South Renovo, died Wednesday, June 12, 2002 in Bucktail Medical Center.
She was born June 5, 1918 in Renovo, a daughter of the late James and Josephine Teti Rossi.
She married William Robert Rooney, who preceded her in death in 1994.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, June 14 in St. Joseph Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m. with Father Neil Dadey officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends will be received Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m in Maxwell Funeral Home, 205 Fifth St., Renovo. (Please use the Huron Avenue entrance.) A wake service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Church, 925 Huron Ave., Renovo, Pa. 17764, or Bucktail Medical Center, 1000 Pine St., Renovo, Pa. 17764.
Guy J. Walker Sr.
Guy J. Walker Sr., 64, of North Hanna Street, Lock Haven, died Wednesday June 12, 2002 at his home.
Born Dec. 27, 1937 in Lock Haven, he was a son of the late Willard and Esther Walker.
He and his wife, the former Clara “Katie” K. Bilbay, were married Sept. 4, 1965. They would have celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary this year, she survives.
Funeral services will be Friday, June 14 at 2 p.m. in Helt Funeral Chapel, 232 Hogan Blvd., Mill Hall, with Rev. Stephen Gorton officiating. Burial will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery. Friends will be received Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m and Friday from 1 to 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Maria F. Matich
Maria F. “Gram” Matich, 80, of 62 E. Haven Pine Road, Mill Hall, died June 11, 2002 in the Lock Haven Hospital Extended Care Unit.
Born April 19, 1922 in Trumbell County, Warren, Ohio, she was a daughter of the late John and Mabel Knox Pustoi.
She and Joseph Matich were married Oct. 26, 1947 in Asheville, N.C. He preceded her in death Dec. 22, 1999.
Services will be Saturday, June 15, 2002 at 11 a.m. in Cedar Heights Brethren in Christ Church, Mill Hall, with Rev. R. Mark Thornton, her pastor, officiating. Interment
will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Rosecrans. Visitation will be Friday, June 14, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Dean K. Wetzler Jr. Funeral Home, Mill Hall. Memorial contributions may be made to “Circle of Friends” at the Cedar Heights Brethren in Christ Church, through the funeral home, and Cedar Heights Brethren in Christ Church Missionary Assistance through the funeral home.
Arrangements are being handled by the Dean K. Wetzler Jr. Funeral Home, Mill Hall.
