RALPH C. `PAUL' KIFER
HYNDMAN, Pa. - Ralph C. "Paul" Kifer, 66, of Hyndman, formerly of Eastlake and Mentor, Ohio, died Saturday, Dec. 20, 1997, at Lakewest Hospital, Willoughby, Ohio.
He was born June 24, 1931, at Berlin, Md., a foster son of the late Leoda G. (Divelbiss) and Christopher O. Shaffer.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Nancy L. (Garrett) Kifer; a son, Ralph C. Kifer Jr. and wife, Glenda, Oldtown; a daughter, Connie S. Kifer, Mantua, Ohio; a granddaughter, Alexsis F. Kifer; three brothers, Charles Kifer and Willard Kifer, Mount Storm, W.Va., and Alvie Kifer, Columbiana, Ohio; two sisters, Eleanor Carlisle, Wiley Ford, W.Va., and Elizabeth Humbertson, Cumberland; a foster brother, Carl D. Shaffer, Fairhope, Pa.
Mr. Kifer retired in 1981 from the G M Fisher Body Plant in Euclid, Ohio, and was the former owner of the Dinner Bell Restaurant in Hyndman.
He served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Korea during the Korean Conflict.
He was a member of the Schellsburg V.F.W. Post #4440 and the Hyndman Rod and Gun Club.
Friends will be received at the Harvey H. Zeigler Funeral Home, Hyndman, on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the funeral home on Wednesday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Harry T. Ryan officiating. Interment will be in Hyndman cemetery.
Graveside military honors will be accorded by the Fort Bedford Honor Guard.
BERNARD F. KNECHT
SALISBURY, Pa. - Bernard F. Knecht, 63, of Rockhill, S.C., formerly of Salisbury, died Oct. 10, 1997 at Piedmont Hospital Systems, Rockhill.
He was born Aug. 9, 1934 in Meyersdale, Pa., a son of Margaret Gleaves Knecht, LaPlata, and the late J. Francis Knecht. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Laura Ann Reich Knecht.
Mr. Knecht was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church of Rockhill. He was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus, a veteran of the Korean conflict, and was a retired truck driver of Celanese Corporation.
He is survived by his widow, Joan Brocht Knecht, four children, Joseph C., Jeffrey, and Susan Saboley, all of Rockhill, and Elizabeth Anne Parks, Waynesville, N.C.; six grandchildren. He was a brother of Michael Knecht of LaPlata; and Barbara Segert and Mary Barkosky, both of Harrisburg, Pa.
The family will receive friends at Leckemby Funeral Home, Meyersdale on Monday from 7 to 9 p.m., Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. The funeral mass will be on Wednesday at 11 a.m. in SS Philip and James Catholic Church with Msgr. Timothy J. Swope officiating. Interment will be in SS Philip and James cemetery. Vigil Service will be Tuesday at 2 p.m., and Rosary at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
VIOLET A. KNIGHT
CONFLUENCE, Pa. - Violet A. Knight, 72, of Confluence, died Dec. 21, 1997, at her home.
She was born June 27, 1925, in Scullton, Pa., a daughter of the late Grant and Hazel (King) Ohler. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas R. Knight, Jr.; three brothers, Fay Ohler, Lee Ray Ohler, and Dwight L. Ohler; and a sister, Dortha Sands.
Surviving are two daughters, Linda Lytle, Friendsville, and Ruth Ann Hyatt, Confluence; a son, Doug, Confluence; four grandchildren, Greg, Ed and Jenny Lytle, all of Friendsville, and Stefanie Hyatt, Confluence; three great-grandchildren, Kelsey, Eddie and Caleb Lytle; two sisters, Martha Knight, Somerset, Pa., and Mildred Hobernicht, Ursina, Pa.; two brothers, Leon Ohler and Wilbur Ohler, both of Scullton.
She was a member of the Confluence Christian Church, the Ursina American Legion Auxiliary, and Woodmen of the World Lodge #45.
Friends will be received at Humbert Funeral Home, Confluence, today from 2 to 9 p.m., and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the hour of service. The Rev. Evert Millard and the Rev. Weldon Peary officiating.
Interment will be in Addison cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be given to the American Cancer Society or to the Confluence Christian Church.
A. CATHERINE KROLL
SOMERSET, Pa. - A. Catherine Kroll, 92, of 2050 North Centerville Road, Somerset, died Saturday, Sept. 13, 1997, at her daughter's residence, with whom she resided.
Born July 28, 1905, in Zihlman, she was the daughter of the late William H. and L. Jane (Poole) Geary. She also was preceded in death by her husband Earl E. Kroll in 1986; five brothers andthree sisters. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Mrs. Kroll was a homemaker. She was a member of the Allegany United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women.
Surviving are one son, Dr. Vernon Kroll, and wife Joan, Bedford, Pa.; one daughter, Sylvia Shinholt, and husband, Dr. James Shinholt, Somerset; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received at the Durst Funeral Home, Frostburg, on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the funeral home on Tuesday at 1 p.m. with the Rev. George M. Harpold officiating.
Interment will be in the United Methodist cemetery, Mount Savage.
WILLIAM M. LECKEMBY SR.
HYNDMAN, Pa. - William Merle Leckemby Sr., 73, of RD 1, Hyndman, went to be with the Lord on Friday, March 21, 1997, at Sacred Heart Hospital. He will be sadly missed by his family.
Born Nov. 20, 1923, in Hyndman, he was a son of the late Emma E. Tharp. He also was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Leckemby.
Surviving are his wife of 49 years, Fay (Emerick) Leckemby; a son, William Leckemby Jr. and wife Debbie, RD 1, Hyndman; a daughter, Marie Sisk and husband Kenneth, Ellerslie, Md.; two grandchildren, Brian and Michelle Sisk, Ellerslie; and a very special great-grandson whom he loved and adored, "His Buddy" Derrick Sisk. Also surviving are two sisters, Lois Printy, RD 1, Hyndman, and Betty Kipp, Tavares, Fla.
Mr. Leckemby retired with 17 years of employment as a millwright for the Celenese Corp. and previously had been employed with the B&O; Railroad as a brakeman and conductor.
He served three years and 8 months with the U.S. Army during World War II, receiving four campaign stars for his service in the European Theater. He received the Purple Heart for wounds he received on April 23, 1944, at Paris, France, and later fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans.
Mr. Leckemby attended the Central Assembly of God in Cumberland, and had served as an EMT for the Ellerslie Ambulance Service.
Friends will be received at the Harvey H. Zeigler Funeral Home, Hyndman, on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the funeral home on Monday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Gary Butler officiating. Interment will be in the Palo Alto Hilltop cemetery.
Graveside military honors will be accorded by the Fort Bedford Honor Guard.
HOWARD B. LEYDIG
BUFFALO MILLS, PA. - Howard B. "Hook" Leydig, 78, of RD 1, Buffalo Mills, died Thursday, April 3, 1997, at Sacred Heart Hospital, Cumberland, Md.
Born Aug. 13, 1918, in Londonderry Township, Bedford County, he was the son of the late Howard E. and Ida Ellen (Mull) Leydig. He also was preceded in death by two infant children; four brothers, John, Benjamin, Charles and George; six sisters, Mary Burkett, Annie Albright, Elsie Lepley, Bessie Clites, Agnes Miller and Mila Fleegle.
On Aug. 23, 1940, in Ellerslie, Md., he married
the former Betty A. Troutman, who survives along with three sons, James E. Leydig and wife Sandy, RD 1, Buffalo Mills, Robert L. Leydig and wife Gloria, RD 1, Everett, and H. Blair Leydig Jr. and wife Yvonne, RD 1, Buffalo Mills; two daughters, Dorothy M. Rasmussen and husband Garry, Alliance, Neb., and Betty Ann Jordan and husband Terry, RD 1, Buffalo Mills; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Before retirement, Mr. Leydig was a Londonderry Township Supervisor and a self-employed car dealer. He was a member of Gravel Pit United Methodist Church.
Friends will be received at the Harvey H. Zeigler Funeral Home, Hyndman, on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the Harvey H. Zeigler Funeral Home, Hyndman, on Sunday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Fay E. Leydig and Pastor David A. Klink officiating.
Memorials may be sent to Gravel Pit United Methodist Church, RD 1, Buffalo Mills, Pa. 15534.
Interment will be in Madley cemetery.
Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
