Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
James C. Bloom
DOVER, N.H. — James C. Bloom, 86, of 60 Middle Road, Dover, formerly of Old Stage Road, died Wednesday December 29, 2004 at Langdon Place.
Born Dec. 17, 1918 in Madera, Pa., he was the son of the late James C. and Christina (Obdenhoff) Bloom. His wife of 61 years, Valerie J. (Lynch) Bloom, survives.
Also surviving are: children, Michael J. Bloom and wife Patricia of Pepperell, Mass., Dr. John D. Bloom and wife Jody Anderson of Dover, and Barbara A. Turner and husband Harry of North Berwick, Maine; sisters , Nadine Glen of Clearwater, Fla. and Christina Watts of Lewistown; grandchildren, Melissa Bloom Marchand of Milford, N.H., Joshua Bloom of Manhattan, N.Y., Amanda Bloom Staples of Haymarket, Va., Jaime Bloom of Durham, N.H. and Ryan Turner of Norton, Mass., great-grandchildren, Jacob Staples and Sydney Staples, both of Haymarket; and nieces and nephews.
He resided in Dover for more than 47 years. He was a basketball player in school and attended Slippery Rock College in Pennsylvania on a basketball scholarship.
He served with the United States Air Force for more than 20 years and served at many duty stations. While in Australia he met his wife. He retired in 1963 as a Chief Master Sergeant. He was an aircraft maintenance supervisor and was a veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Later he worked for the Dover School Department at both Woodman Park School and the Garrison School and also at the Dover Children’s Home.
He was a member of the Air Force Sergeants Association and a communicant of St. Joseph Church.
Winifred I. Newkirk
LEWISTOWN — Winifred I. Newkirk, 78, of 14 A Street, Milroy died at 7:10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004, at the William Penn Nursing Home, Lewistown.
Born Jan. 26, 1926, in Johnstown, she was a daughter of the late George Wilford and Blanche (Evans) Smith.
Surviving are three sisters ; two brothers ; children Janet E. Lipartia, Everett R. Newkirk, Jr., Bruce W. Newkirk, Beverly E. Ditzler and Lori J. Coates; and a granddaughter, Jennifer L. Kraynak.
She worked for Reeds Gap State Park where she was the First Certified Clerk Typist 3 in the state of PA.
She was a member of the Mountain View Mennonite Chapel, Reedsville.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Mountain View Mennonite Chapel, Reedsville with the Rev. Lester Diller officiating. Interment will be held in the Church Hill Cemetery, Reedsville.
Friends may call from 7-9 p.m. Sunday at the Bohn Funeral Home, Reedsville.
Mary Anna Stringfellow
LEWISTOWN — Mary Anna Stringfellow, 87, of 55 Carriage House Lane, Reedsville died at 9:18 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004 at the Lewistown Hospital Emergency Room.
Born Sept. 27, 1916 in Lewistown, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Huffnagle) Bennett. Her husband, Joseph A. Stringfellow preceded her in death in 1986.
Surviving are sons Donald E. Stringfellow, Woolrich and Steven L. Stringfellow, Milroy; a sister, Hazel Knepp, Lewistown; children Donald E. Stringfellow, Woolrich and Steven L. Stringfellow, Milroy; 3 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by 2 sisters .
She was a homemaker and worked for the Coning Dept. of the American Viscose Corporation for 10 years.
She was a member of the Reedsville United Methodist Church and enjoyed gardening and crafts.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Heller-Hoenstine Woodlawn Funeral Home, 200 N. Main St., Lewistown with the Rev. Richard Bender officiating. Interment will be held in the Juniata Memorial Park.
Friends may call from 1 p.m. until the time of the service Sunday at the funeral home.
Troy Shawn Snook
BURNHAM — Troy Shawn Snook, 39, of 225 Freedom Ave., Burnham, caught a flight home at 1:10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004, at Lewistown Hospital.
Born Feb. 6, 1964 in Lewistown, he was a son of Jack A. Snook, 620 Highland Ave., Burnham and Donna (Mateer) Snook, 557 Ertley Rd., McClure. He is survived by his wife Marnie (Bailey) Snook, whom he married in 1994.
Also surviving are children Aaron P. Snook and Sydney Grace Snook, both at home; brothers Trent A. and wife Shaunna R. Snook, 225 Freedom Ave., Burnham, Tyde M. and wife Brandi H. Snook, 68 Ruth St., Milroy and a brother at heart, Barry D. Howe, Milroy; nieces Laken R. Fetterolf and Daphne R. Snook; nephew Hayden T. Snook; and his canine partner, Ingo. In addition to his family, he is survived by a large circle of friends.
He was preceded in death by maternal grandmother Grace Mateer and paternal grandparents John and Josephine Snook.
He was a graduate of Chief Logan High School class of 1982 and a 1984 graduate of HACC with a degree in Criminal Justice. He was also a 1984 graduate of the Pennsylvania Police Academy, after which he was hired by the Armagh Township Police Department. He rose to the rank of Chief of Police and worked in that capacity until his departure. He served on the Drug and DUI Task Forces and was instrumental in recruiting and training officers for various police departments.
He was a member of the F.O.P., the Burnham Borough Council and the Republican Committee. He was active in the Armagh Township community and a member of the Milroy Fire Company. He was an avid antique collector and dealer and was a partner in H&S Antiques. He also enjoyed scuba diving and was a certified instructor.
A celebration of Troy’s life will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Kish Valley Grace Brethren Church, 99 Taylor Dr., Reedsville with Pastor Douglas D. Sabin officiating. Interment will be in Juniata Memorial Park Cemetery.
There will be no viewing, however family will receive friends from 2 p.m. Sunday until the time of service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Team Troy Relay for Life, P.O. Box 12, Reedsville, PA 17084 or to Kish Valley Grace Brethren Church.
Arrangements are under the direction of Heller-Hoenstine Funeral Home Inc., 108 First Ave., Burnham.
Lois V. Loudenslager
LEWISTOWN — Lois V. Loudenslager, 90, of 78 N. Pine St., Lewistown, died at 8:10 p.m. Monday, Jan. 3, 2005 at Beverly Healthcare-William Penn.
Born Sept. 30, 1914 in South Fork, Pa., she was a daughter of the late Frank M. and Maryann (Flynn) Ball. Her husband, Harold E. Loudenslager, preceded her in death on Oct. 23, 1998.
She is survived by: children, Ardith A. Winter of Warriors Mark, Pa., David E. Loudenslager and wife Ellen of Marietta, Ga., Elsie P. Loudenslager, Mrs. Robert (Mary Sue) Beatty, Lois Jane Loudenslager, Harold F. Loudenslager and wife Rosemary, all of Lewistown, Stephan B. Loudenslager and wife Connie of Mifflin, Mrs. Gilbert (Lavonne) Lawler of Baltimore, Md.; sisters , Betty Gruver of Gaithersburg, Md., and Lavonne Ball of Lewistown; 20 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by brothers , Robert, Clifford and Frank Ball.
She was a homemaker and a member of the Lewistown Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Her funeral service will be at 8 p.m. Friday, at the Heller-Hoenstine Woodlawn Funeral Home, 200 N. Main St., Lewistown, with Mr. Jeff Barton officiating. Interment will be private at Juniata Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until time of service of Friday, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lewistown Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, c/o Robert Cook, 151 Wilt Road, McClure, PA 17841 or to the charity of one’s choice.
Martha K. Raffensberger
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Martha “Martie” Raffensberger, 76, of Port St. Lucie, Fla. died Dec. 17, 2004.
Born May 12, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Miles J. and Thelma Heckendorn of Port Royal. Her husband of 57 years, Donald, survives.
Also surviving are: children, Diane Steele, Kathy Harrell, Don and David Raffensberger; brother Miles J. Heckendorn; and eight grandchildren, all of Florida.
Services were held Monday, Dec. 20, at First United Methodist Church, Fort Pierce, Fla. Interment was in White City Cemetery, Fort Pierce.
Alma Shirk
CARLISLE — Alma G. Shirk, 90, formerly of McAlisterville, died at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005. Funeral services will be held at noon Saturday, Jan. 8, from the McAlisterville Chapel of Brown Funeral Homes, Inc. Viewing will be held from 11 a.m. until the time of service. Interment will follow in the Lost Creek Mennonite Cemetery, Oakland Mills.
Norman O. Parsons
MOUNT UNION — Norman O. Parsons, 79, of 24 Walnut Ave., Mount Union, died unexpectedly at 11:25 p.m., on Monday, Jan. 3, 2005, at the Lewistown Hospital, following a brief illness.
He was born Aug. 20, 1925, in Shade Valley, Huntingdon County, to the late Russell O. and Lolita (Parson) Parsons.
His wife, Geraldine (McKim) Parsons, whom he married on April 30, 1946, in Hagerstown, Md., preceded him in death on May 30, 2003.
He is survived by the following children: Norman Wayne Parsons and wife Carol of RD 1, Mapleton, Donna K. Harshbarger of Ryde, Rose Marie Waite and husband Chris of RD 1, McVeytown, Clyde G. Parsons and wife Eilleen of Newton Hamilton, and Karen Elaine Wertz and husband Dan of Huntingdon; 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; a brother and sister: Charles E. Parsons of RD 1, Mount Union and Lena Abrashoff of Lewistown.
He was preceded in death by a grandson, Kip Douglas Kyper and three brothers and two sisters .
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mount Union and the Herman Smith Sunday School Class.
Norman attended school in the Mount Union school district. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force during WW II, in the Asian-Pacific Theatre of Operations.
After 34 years working in the bridge construction trade, the last 17 of which were spent at New Enterprise, he retired. Prior to that he had worked at the North American and General Refractories, Mount Union plants. During his working life he also built several homes in Mount Union and surrounding areas.
His masonic affiliations included Masonic Lodge 376, McVeytown, Tall Cedars 88, Harrisburg, and Jaffa Temple Shrine Club. Also a life-member of the Newton-Wayne Sportsmans Club, life-member of the NRA, life-member of American Legion Post 107, Mount Union, life member VFW Post 5754, Mount Union, and a member of the Bricktown Seniors, the Unified Sportsmans Club, and a 45-year member of the Newton-Wayne Lions Club.
Mr. Parson also loved to hunt and fish.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., on Friday, Jan. 7, 2005, at the Robert D. Heath Funeral Home, Mount Union. Officiating will be Pastors Jeff Canankamp and Bob Davidson and interment will be made in Mount Union Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home, Thursday evening from 7-9 p.m. and after 9 a.m. on Friday, until the hour of the service. Preceding the viewing on Thursday, there will be a masonic memorial service to be held at the funeral home at 6:30 p.m.
Guy A. Bowlby
CAMP HILL — Guy A. Bowlby, 88, of Camp Hill, passed away Sunday, Jan. 2, 2005, at his home.
Born Aug. 5, 1916 in Garrett, Pa., he was the son of the late Albert and Judy (Bertha) Bowlby and the widower of Jeanna D. Bowlby.
He is survived by: sons , Albert G. Bowlby of Carlisle and William Bodley of Tennessee; and sisters , Carol Orme and Caroline Persing, both of Lewistown.
He was a member of Mount Olivet Methodist Church, Shiremanstown, the American Legion Post 90, Lewistown, V.F.W. at Large, the International Association of Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Iron Workers, the Local 404-Harrisburg, and a U.S. Army veteran serving in World War II as a sergeant major.
His funeral service will be at noon Thursday, at the Neill Funeral Home, 3401 Market St., Camp Hill. Entombment will be in the Rolling Green Memorial Park Mausoleum.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Visiting Nurses Association of Central Pennsylvania , 3315 Derry St., Harrisburg, PA 17111.
Donn A. Kepner
PORT ROYAL — Donn A. Kepner, 70, of RR 1, Box 240, Port Royal, died at 6:19 p.m., Monday, Jan. 3, 2005, in the emergency room of the Lewistown Hospital.
He was born Sept. 25, 1934, in Wilkes Barre, to the late Karl A. Kepner and Alice (Swartz) Kepner Ritzman.
His wife, Helen (Gingrich) Kepner, whom he married on June 21, 1953, survives.
Also surviving are one daughter and one son: Laurie G. Kepner of RR 1, Port Royal and Karl A. Kepner of Berwick; one sister: Mrs. Carl (Frances) Burd of RR 2, Port Royal; and seven grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his stepfather W. Book Ritzman.
He retired from U.P.S. of State College, later driving for H.E. Campbell and Son, RR1, Millerstown. He had also worked for Rex Funeral Home, Port Royal. He was a 1952 graduate of Tuscarora Valley High School.
He was member and elder of the Port Royal Presbyterian Church and a member of the Union Lodge 324, F. & A. M., Mifflintown.
His funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Jan.6, 2005, at Rex Funeral Home, Port Royal, with Rev. Carol E. Davis officiating. Interment will be in the New Church Hill Cemetery in Port Royal.
Viewing will be held from 7-9 today, at the Rex Funeral Home, Port Royal. Memorial donations may be made to the Port Royal Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 387, Port Royal, PA 17082-0387.
Joan A. Weiand
LEWISTOWN — Joan A. Weiand, 68, of 669 Guss Road, Lewistown, died at 1:10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2005 at the Lewistown Hospital.
Born Nov. 18, 1936 in Lewistown, she was a daughter of the late Walter F. Yoder and Kathryn E. (Grabbe) Yoder, who survives in Lewistown. Her husband, Charles W. Weiand Sr., whom she married Feb. 20, 1971, also survives.
In addition to her mother and husband, she is survived by: children, Gloria Shilling and husband Karl Jr., and Charles W. Weiand Jr. and wife Denise, both of Lewistown; siblings, Donald A. Yoder and wife Dora, Barbara Knepp and husband Calvin, both of Lewistown, Mrs. Ardeth Henry and husband Gerald, Walter G. Yoder and wife Judy, both of McClure, H. William Yoder and wife Linda of New Bloomfield, Deborah McCloskey and husband Larry of Crestwood, Ky., and Kathryn Fether and husband Eric of Williamsburg; and grandchildren, Joel, Karla and Micah Shilling.
She was preceded in death by sister Cheryl S. Yoder.
In early life, she was employed at: the Arrow Shirt Factory, Lewistown; Sports Style, Lewistown; and last employed by Sun Home Health Services, Inc. as a home health aid; and the Mifflin-Juniata Area Agency on Aging, retiring in 1998 with 18 years of service.
She was a member of Paintersville Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, where she was a current deaconess and Cradle Roll teacher. She was an active member of the Auxiliary to the Gideons.
Her funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, at the Paintersville Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, with the Rev. Jerry L. Wise officiating. The family will receive friends 7-9 p.m. Saturday, at the Heller-Hoenstine Woodlawn Funeral Home, 200 N. Main St., Lewistown and 1:30 p.m. Sunday until time of service, at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: the Great Commission Fund, c/o Paintersville Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, 3195 Back Maitland Road, Lewistown, PA 17044.
She was a member of the body of Christ, by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord,” Romans 6:23. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord,” 2 Corinthians 5:8.
