ELDER, EMERY, GIFFORD, KANESS, LAHR, MILLER
Florence Alma Elder, 66, of Clarion, died at 4:30 p.m. Monday, March 18, 2002, in Clarion Hospital. Born Aug. 21, 1935, in Clarion, she was the daughter of Ray and Margaret J. Wiant Reid. Before her health declined, Mrs. Elder worked many years at Owens-Illinois Glass Plant in Clarion. She also worked as a cook at various restaurants in Clarion and Brookville. She also was a health provider in the Clarion area. Mrs. Elder was a volunteer for 10 years with the former Central County Ambulance Service. She was a former member of the Rebekahs in Clarion. Mrs. Elder was a member of the Church of Christ in Clarion. She enjoyed gardening, giving gifts, traveling, cooking, tracing family roots, writing letters and gambling. Surviving are four sons, Donald Elder Jr. and his wife, Lisa, of Fisher, Jerry Elder of Bradenton, Fla., David Elder and his wife, Kathy, of Strattanville, and Tom Elder and his wife, Jeanne, of Fisher; and six daughters, Bambi Elder of Denver, Colo., Ruth Elder of Clarion, Beverly Kay Rossey and her husband, Mark, of Strattanville, Lucinda "Cindy" Westre and her husband, Darrel, of Rozet, Wyo., Vicky Elder and Jim Conner of Strattanville, and Dorothy Rita McFall and her husband, Pat, of Corsica. Also surviving are grandchildren Cody, Stevie and Sarah Vahlberg, Tony Wolbert Jr., Cassandra Rossey, Ken Rossey, Dean Westre, T.J. Elder, Samantha Elder, Tyler, Emily and Travis Elder, Austin and Devin McFall, Jessica Campbell, Shane Coon and Andrew Elder. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Elder was preceded in death by four children, Kevin Elder, Kimberly Elder, Joey Elder and Joyce Elder. Friends may call from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. today in the Robert V. Burns Funeral Home, Clarion. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home with Evangelist Dan Smith, pastor of the Church of Christ in Clarion, officiating. Interment will be in Clarion Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Diabetes Foundation.
Russell Edward Emery, 78, of Leland, N.C., formerly of Oil City, died Sunday, March 17, 2002, in Mariner Health Care, Wilmington, N.C. Born Feb. 8, 1924, in Oil City, he was a son of William and Hazel Wilson Emery, Mr. Emery was a 1943 graduate of Oil City High School. Following graduation, he worked at Oilwell Supply and Sears & Roebuck. He served with the U.S. Army in both World War II and the Korean War, with duty from 1943 to 1953. Mr. Emery was wounded in 1945 in Belgium and received the Purple Heart. He also was the recipient of the Good Conduct Medal and the Bronze Star Medal. Mr. Emery had been a resident of Oil City for 58 years. While living in Oil City, he also worked for Burns Detective Agency and Cross Creek Resort. He moved from Oil City to West Palm Beach, Fla., where he was a private security guard for 18 years. He retired from his security job in West Palm Beach and moved to Leland, N.C. Mr. Emery enjoyed traveling, computers, movies and restaurants. Surviving are a brother and his wife, Robert S. and Patsy Emery of Oil City; two nephews, James Emery and his wife, Jennifer, and William "Moose" Emery and his wife, Terry, all of Oil City; two great-nieces, Jamie Fairbanks and her husband, Brian, of Leland, N.C., and Tiffany Dempsey of Oil City; three great-nephews, Robert L. Emery of Leland, N.C., and Todd Emery and James Emery Jr., both of Oil City; and one great-great-nephew, Robert Fairbanks of Leland, N.C. Also surviving are his adopted family, Jerry and Darlyne Delp, Jerry Delp Jr., and Brandon Kay of Leland, N.C., with whom he made his home; and Bobbie Jean Will and her husband, Steve, of Tennessee.
William P. Gifford, 64, of 538 Dutch Road, Venus, died at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 18, 2002, at his residence. Born Dec. 15, 1937, in Oil City, he was the son of William E. and Edith I. Fox Gifford. He attended the Cranberry area schools. Mr. Gifford served in the U.S. Navy from January 1955 to December 1958. He was stationed in Cuba for two years. He was a carpenter who worked for various contractors in the area. He was a member of Local Union 682, retiring in 1999. Mr. Gifford was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy in Fertigs. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, spending time with his grandchildren and his faithful companion, Sugar. Mr. Gifford was married May 31, 1963, to the former Marjorie J. Glass, who survives. Also surviving are two sons and their wives, Larry P. and Rhonda Gifford of Boyers and Philip L. and Crystal Gifford of Butler; a daughter and her husband, Tambra L. and Mike Harris of Terra Alta, W.Va.; and three grandchildren, Noelle Harris, Jordan Harris and Justin Gifford. He also is survived by one brother and his wife, Edward and Pat Gifford of Pleasantville; six sisters, Sandra Fox of Midlothian, Va., Bonnie Kreisher and her husband, George, of Van, Charlotte Summers and her husband, Ray, of Independence, Kan., Betty Sheats and her husband, Ron, of Oil City, Edith Show and her husband, Art, of Seneca, and Holly Huff and her husband, Jerry, of Oil City; two aunts and their husbands, Nancy and Walt Ritchey and Dottie Lou and Pete Rodgers, all of Oil City; and several nieces and nephews In addition to his parents, Mr. Gifford was preceded in death by a son, William E. Gifford, and a daughter, Lisa M. Gifford. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today in the Morrison Funeral Home and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday in the Church of God of Prophecy in Fertigs. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday in the church with the Rev. Robert Burdett and the Rev. George Rockwell officiating. Interment will be in the Heckathorn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Visiting Nurses Association of Venango County Hospice or to the Church of God of Prophecy, 111 Windwood Lane, Venus, 16364.
Harold L. "Hank" Kaness, 90, of 531 Bouquin Circle, died at 12:05 p.m. Monday, March 18, 2002, in UPMC Northwest, Franklin. Born Oct. 25, 1911, in Foxburg, he was the son of John H. and Grace L. Best Kaness. Mr. Kaness attended Foxburg and Parker High School and he graduated in 1935 from Penn State with a bachelor of science degree in education. He was employed at Montgomery Ward for several years and then worked for Knox Glass as a sales manager for more than 30 years. He also sold insurance for Metropolitan before retiring in 1976 from Glass Containers. Mr. Kaness and his wife, Betty, owned and operated The Gift Mart in Oil City from 1965 to 1976. He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church. Mr. Kaness also was a member of the Northwest Pennsylvania Purchasing Agents Association. He was a member for more than 25 years of the YMCA where he met many wonderful friends. He enjoyed golfing, lawn care and Penn State football. Mr. Kaness was married Oct. 29, 1936, to the former Helen Elizabeth "Betty" Bauer, who died Oct. 9, 1992. Surviving are a son and his wife, Roger and Lois Kaness of Lakewood, Colo.; two daughter, Pam Karns and her husband, Gary, of Seneca and Sue George of Oil City; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Kaness was preceded in death by a sister, Helen Kelly. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today in the Morrison Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home with the Rev. Byron K. Myers, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens. The family suggests memorials be made to the Oil City YMCA or to the Venango County Area Agency on Aging.
Andrew Valentine Lahr Sr., 83, of Boundary Street, Clarion, died at 4:45 p.m. Monday, March 18, 2002, at his residence. Born Oct. 11, 1918, in Lucinda, he was a son of Frank X. and Theresa B. Huefner Lahr. Mr. Lahr attended the Immaculate Conception School in Clarion. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army from May 16, 1941, to Oct. 24, 1945. He was a corporal in the motor pool with the 2nd General Hospitalm serving in France and England. He was the recipient of the Mechanics and Drivers Medal, Good Conduct Medal and three bronze Battle Stars for duty in Normandy, Northern France and the Rhineland. Mr. Lahr was an entrepreneur in many businesses and owned and operated his own moving and storage business for many years. He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church and church choir, Knights of St. George, the Clarion American Legion Post No. 66 and the Clarion VFW. Mr. Lahr loved to sing and go dancing. He was married May 11, 1949, to Marguerite Garbarino, who died Oct. 31, 2001. Surviving are twin sons, Andrew V. Lahr Jr. and his wife, Dorothy, of Mechanicsburg and Joseph F. Lahr and his wife, Barbara, of Gillette, Wyo.; two daughters, Theresa M. "Terry" Wickline and her husband, Dennis, of Pittsburgh and Marian L. Muryn and her husband, William, of Clarion; 11 grandchildren, 1st Lt. Jarrod Wickline of Budigen, Germany, Spec. Michael Wickline and Adam Wickline, both of Pittsburgh; Mrs. Tom (Jessica) Dealy of California, Pfc. Brian Lahr, U.S. Marine Corps, Fort Lee, Va., Diane Lahr of Mechanicsburg, Mackenzie Muryn and Marguerite "Maggie" Muryn, both of Clarion, and Krista, Jacquie and Andrew Lahr, all of Gillette, Wyo.; and one great-granddaughter, Rozlynne Dealy of California. He also is survived by three brothers, Ed Lahr and Jim Lahr, both of Clarion, and Chuck Lahr of New Castle; and four sisters, Sr. M. Genevieve, O.S.B., of Saint Marys, Helens Drayer of Reynoldsville, Dorothy Glasser of Youngstown, Ohio, and Agnes Wier of Montoursville. In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Lahr was preceded in death by three sisters, Mary Plyler, Philomena Berdge and Thecla Drayer. Friends may call from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Robert V. Burns Funeral Home, Clarion. A Christian wake service will be held at 8:30 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday in the Immaculate Conception Church, Clarion, with Msgr. Joseph Riccardo, pastor, presiding. A committal service will follow in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery with military honors accorded by the American Legion Post No. 66 of Clarion. The family suggests memorials be made to the VNA Hospice or to the Immaculate Conception School, Main Street, Clarion, 16214.
Gloria J. Miller, 78, formerly of Polk, died Tuesday, March 19, 2002, in Beacon Ridge Nursing Home, Indiana, Pa. For the past 10 years, she had been living with her nephew, Dennis Marshall and his wife, Susan, in Homer City. Born Jan. 1, 1924, in Polk, she was the daughter of Frank B. and Hanna Whitlatch Marshall. She was a graduate of Franklin High School and later, nursing school. Mrs. Miller was a licensed practical nurse at Polk Center for 31 years, retiring in 1978. She was a member of AARP, Pennsylvania Retired State Employees Association and the Polk United Methodist Church. Mrs. Miller was married Nov. 19, 1955, to Howard C. Miller, who died April 3, 1974. Surviving are an uncle, Jack Marshall of Greenville; several nieces and nephews; numerous cousins; and two of her best friends, her dogs, Kassie and Meagan. In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Miller was preceded in death by a brother, Richard L. Marshall. There will be no visitation. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 30, in the Huff Chapel with her nephew, Dennis Marshall, officiating. Interment will be in Sandy Cemetery. The family suggests donations be made to the Venango County Humane Society, Deep Hollow Road, RD 2, Franklin, 16323.