Obituaries

• Donna L. Luce, 76, of Main Street, Eldred, PA

• Fred Hemingway, 89, of 153 Constitution Ave. Bradford, PA

• Myra B. Harrington Bledsoe, 84, of Austin, formerly of Hudson and Wellsville, NY

• Thelma G. Den, 88, of 23 Glenwood Ave., Bradford, PA

• John William Walchli Sr., 88, of Wellsville, and Phoenix, Arizona

• Mary Elizabeth Davenport, 69, of Scio, NY

Click below for full obituaries

Donna L. Luce, 76, of Main Street, Eldred, PA

ELDRED — Donna L. Luce, 76, of Main Street, Eldred, died Saturday (June 5, 2010) at her residence, following a long illness. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Frame Funeral Home, Eldred.

Fred Hemingway, 89, of 153 Constitution Ave. Bradford, PA

Fred Hemingway, 89, of 153 Constitution Ave. Bradford, passed away Friday, June 4th, 2010 at Hamot Medical Center in Erie.

Born April 30, 1921, in Philadelphia he was a son of the late Paul and Stella (Muscleman) Hemingway.

On January 23, 1945 in Philadelphia he married Ruth (Rickert) Hemingway who died July 9, 2000. On November 5, 2006, he married Elizabeth (Sears) McCutcheon Hemingway who survives.

He was a graduate of Philadelphia High School and received a degree in Architecture from Drexel University.

On February 16, 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Marines Corp. and was honorably discharged a Master Tech Sgt. on March 16, 1946.

He was an architect and a partner at Abbey-Hemingway & Coatsworth Architects here in Bradford.

He was a member of the Eulalia F&AM in Coudersport, Coudersport Consistory, Orak Grotto, Zem Zem Shrine, McKean County Shrine Club and Joey Clowns. He was a former member of Bradford Lions Club, Araba Shrine, American Institute of Architects. He was member and past president of Naples Shrine Club, North Fort Myers Shrine Club, Naples Land Yacht Harbor Corp.

Surviving in addition to his wife are three daughters: Chris (Ron) Fehlman of Youngsville, Kim (Bill) Graham of Bradford, and Shirley (Jeffrey) Pecora of Lewistown, one son Fred William Hemingway of Pittsburgh, one son-in-law, Paul Barnstorf of Orchard Park, NY, four step daughters: Martha Smega of Cleveland, OH, Sarah Kendrick of Wellington FL, Aletha Hicks of Lake Bluff, Ill and Sophronia ‘Fronie’ Dodd of Kansas City, MO, one brother, William Hemingway of Philadelphia, 11 grandchildren: Michael Hemingway, Bethany Hemingway, Jeffrey Barnstorf, Christopher (Lisa) Barnstorf, Abby Skinner, Samantha Skinner, Benjamin (Christy Yohe) Graham, Fred Graham, Pete Pecora, Emily Pecora and Hannah Pecora, two step grandchildren:, Karen Hechuatal and Richard Stanley, three great grandchildren: Giselle Barnstorf, Jocelyn Barnstorf and Alex Graham, several nieces and nephews and a special family friend, Ruth Campbell.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, one daughter Roberta Barnstorf who died April 22, 2006 , and two brothers: Frank and Paul Hemingway.

Family will receive friends on Saturday June 12th, from 10am to 11am in the First Presbyterian Church at 11:00am a memorial service will be held with Rev. W. LeRoy Beckes, pastor officiating. Burial will be in Willow Dale Cemetery. A Masonic service will be held prior to the memorial service in the church. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc. Memorial if desired my be made to McKean County Care for Children, or a charity of the donors choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.hollenbeckcahill.com

Myra B. Harrington Bledsoe, 84, of Austin, formerly of Hudson, NY and Wellsville, NY

Myra B. Harrington Bledsoe, “beloved wife, mother, and grandmother”

Austin, PA—Myra B. Harrington Bledsoe, 84, of Austin, formerly of Hudson, NY and Wellsville, NY, passed away unexpectedly at home on Sunday, June 6, 2010.

Born January 12, 1926 in Kings Run, McKean County, PA, she was a daughter of Floyd and Therressie Ford Harrington. On July 2, 1954 in Hudson, NY, she married Harold F. Bledsoe, who survives.

She attended the Upper Bells Run one room school riding in a homemade wooden bus pulled by horses. She later moved to Shinglehouse where she graduated as president of her class. She received her B.S. in early childhood education at Mansfield University, her master’s degree from Syracuse University and took post-graduate courses at several universities.

She taught at Woodhull, NY and Whitesville, NY before going to Hudson, NY where she taught at the New York State Training School for Girls for three years. She married her husband in the chapel with all 385 girls attending, after getting permission from then Governor Thomas Dewey. Mrs. Bledsoe spent the next 25 years teaching in the Hudson City Public Schools where she started the first Modified Education program for the Mentally Handicapped. She was elected by the Eastern Zone to be honored and written up as an outstanding educator and had also been listed in several “Who’s Who” publications through the years. After retiring from teaching, she trained in New York City to teach the blind and worked for the NYS Commission for the Blind in Albany, NY for 11 years.

She moved to Wellsville in 1998 and to Austin in 2006.

Mrs. Bledsoe was a former member of the Wellsville (NY) Seventh-Day Adventist Church where she served in several offices and was a member of the Coudersport Seventh-Day Adventist Church. She served as president of several teachers associations and was a member of the Allegany Retired Teachers Association. After retiring she served as president and County director of Columbia Retired Teachers.

While residing in Hudson, she volunteered for many charitable organizations, including driving for the Meals on Wheels program along with her husband. After moving to Wellsville she volunteered in the Gift Shop of Jones Memorial Hospital where she also served as chairman of one of the Twigs. She was nominated as Volunteer of the Year.

She was a 50 year member, past Worthy Matron and Right Worthy of Duncan Chapter #195 Order of the Eastern Star in Friendship, NY. She also was a member of Mt. Merino Chapter #366 Order of the Eastern Star in Hudson where she served as matron several times. She was a member of Olean Court #19 Order of the Amaranth and also served as Grand Royal Matron of New York in 1995. Mrs. Bledsoe was also a 60 year member of Olean Daughters of the Revolution and was past Regent. She played in the Rhythm Band at the Wellsville Senior Center.

Surviving besides her husband are a son, Robert T. (Jayne) Bledsoe of Woodville, Wisconsin; a daughter, Rosemary L. (Kenneth) Glover of Newburg, NY; two grandchildren, Lauressa Glover and Scott Logan Glover, both of Newburg; a sister, Juanita M. Perry of Austin; several nieces and nephews, including Henrietta Harrington of Wellsville and Paul (Pat) Perry of Austin.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Bledsoe was predeceased by a sister, Myrtle Weatherille; a brother, Henry Harrington; and twin grandsons, Drew and Drake Glover.

Friends may call on Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, 118 South Union Street, Shinglehouse, PA and on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 from 10 to 11 a.m. at which time funeral services will be held with Pastor Mike Bernard, of the Coudersport Seventh-Day Adventist Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Whitesville Rural Cemetery, Whitesville, NY.

Members of Olean Court #19 Order of the Amaranth will conduct a memorial service at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the funeral home. Members of Duncan Chapter #195 O.E.S. will then conduct a memorial service.

Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials may be made to Amaranth Diabetes Fund, c/o Janet E. Tarbox, PO Box 214, Westons Mills, NY 14788 or to a local chapter of the American Cancer Society.

Thelma G. Dent, 88, of 23 Glenwood Ave., Bradford, PA

Thelma G. Dent, 88, of 23 Glenwood Ave. passed away Friday, June 4th, 2010 at The Pavilion at BRMC.

Born April 28, 1922, in Altoona, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Sarah (Claycomb) Wertz.

On September 27, 1945 in Bradford she married Duane R. Dent who died on May 17, 1998.

Mrs. Dent was a 1942 graduate of Altoona High School. She received an Associates Degree in Religion from Liberty Baptist University in Virginia. She had worked at Sylvania on a defense contract during World War II. She then later worked at Anderson’s Supermarket, Campbell’s Market, Anderson’s Diner and retired as a cashier from the Market Basket grocery store.

She was a member of Sawyer Evangelical Church. She had been in charge of the prayer calendar at church. She and her husband traveled to do church mission work .

She had been a member of the Maud Rebekah Lodge # 175, Women’s Life Insurance Society, and Beta Sigma Phi. For many years, she volunteered at the Salvation Army, the Literacy Program at the public library and had delivered for Meals on Wheels.

Surviving are two daughters two daughters, Linda Dent of Bradford, and Diana Dent of Alexandria, VA, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in by her parents, husband, three sisters and one brother.

Family will be receiving friends on Monday, June 7, 2010 from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9PM in the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes, Inc. South Ave., and again on Tuesday, June 8th from 10:00 to 11:00am in the Sawyer Evangelical Church where funeral and committal services will be held at 11:00AM with Rev. Brad Preston, pastor officiating. Burial will be in McKean Memorial Park. Members of the Maud Rebekah Lodge #175 will conduct a memorial service on Monday at 7:00pm in the funeral home.

Memorials if desired may be made to Sawyer Evangelical Church or the Parkinson’s Foundation, of Western PA, 6507 Wilkins Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Online condolences may be made at www.hollenbeckcahill.com

John William Walchli Sr., 88, of Wellsville, and Phoenix, Arizona

John William Walchli Sr., 88, of Wellsville, and Phoenix, Ariz., passed away Saturday (May 29, 2010) in Phoenix after a brief illness. Born June 26, 1921, to Otto and Marion Judge Walchli, he graduated from Wellsville High School in 1939.

After serving in World War II in the 8th Air Force, 486 Bomb Group as intelligence specialist in Sudbury, Suffolk, England from 1943 to 1945, creating bombing mission maps and folders, he graduated from Syracuse University in 1946.

After working for several years in the radio broadcasting industry, he returned to Wellsville in 1948 to work for Richardson Petroleum Corp., from which he retired in 1986 as president.

Mr. Walchli was a member of the New York State Oil Producers Association for over 50 years and served as its president for two years. He also served on the Energy Resources, Research and Technology Committee for the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. In addition, he has served on the Tight Sands Committee of the IPAA Society of Petroleum Engineers.

He also served as chairman of the Eastern District Production Committee for the American Petroleum Institute including the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Illinois. In addition he served as chairman of the Secondary Recovery Study Group for the Bradford, Pa. District of the Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil Association.

Mr. Walchli served as the president of the Wellsville Chamber of Commerce and was a member for a number of years. In addition, he served on the town of Wellsville Planning Board for seven years and on the Allegany County Planning Board for 30 years. Mr. Walchli was a life member of the American Legion Post 702 of Wellsville.

Mr. Walchli served as a director of the First Trust Union Bank Board for 16 years, from 1968 to 1984. He was also a member of the CFA (Chartered Financial Analysts) Society of Rochester and the CFA Institute.

Mr. Walchli was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Wellsville, where he served as the chairman of the Usher Committee and chairman of the Pastoral Relations Committee. Mr. Walchli was also active in the Boy Scouts and served as scoutmaster for Troup 22 in Wellsville.

Mr. Walchli was a 50-year member, a past president and a Paul Harris Fellow of the Wellsville Rotary Club, which he joined in March 1955. He was also a perennial Rotarian with the Scottsdale Rotary Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Calling hours will be 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home, Inc. in Wellsville. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Wellsville.

He is survived by his wife, Anne; daughter, Barbara (Larry Seay); sons, John (Lisa Clark) and Jim; and grandsons, Kyle and John Richard. He was predeceased by his daughter, Elizabeth “Betsy,” and his brother, Edward.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Wellsville Rotary Education Fund, attention John Walchli Memorial Rotary Scholarship, P.O. Box 391, Wellsville, NY 14895.

Mary Elizabeth Davenport, 69, of Scio, NY

Mary was suddenly taken from us and crossed over into “the light” on Monday, May 24, 2010.  Mary’s family and friends grieve her loss but celebrate the life and love that she brought into this world. Mary was born on November 21, 1940 in Henderson Township, Pennsylvania to Benjamin R. and Mildred E. Rolls. Her parents, brother John (Jack) and sister Deborah pre-deceased her. Surviving siblings are: Joan Rolls (David Rhodes) of Virginia, Janet (Lyle) Forsyth, Karen (Blaine) Harvey, and Benjamin Rolls, all of Pennsylvania.

Mary married Volney A. Davenport on May 30, 1957 in Erie, Pennsylvania and together they had eight wonderful children, including Connie (Jeff) Bruhl of Scio; Volney (Keely) Davenport of Crystal Springs, Mississippi; Ron (Faith) Davenport of Scio; Lori (Jim) Howden of Scio; Ty (Kathy) Davenport of Scio; Tina Davenport Layman of Wellsville; Sam (Debbie) Davenport of Louisa, Virginia and Cindy Davenport of Wellsville.  There are also 24 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren, all of whom were treasured by this very special “Gramma”.

Mary and Volney built their dream house in a beautiful rural setting just outside of Scio and moved there in 1991.  Mary will be remembered as a mother to all who had unconditional love for everyone.  To many she was an angel on earth known for her giving and sharing ways.  She was “best friend” to many and accepted everyone for who they are.  Her house was home to all and she hosted many wonderful celebrations.  Mary was an exceptional cook and was well known for her “Gramma Goodies”. She was the “glue” that held the family together and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.  In accordance with her wishes, a private service and burial was held at the family home on Thursday, May 27, 2010.  Her final bed of rest was constructed by her children.

“It is only for a while that we must part, so bless the memories within your heart.  And then, when you must come this way alone, I’ll greet you with a smile, a hug, and a “Welcome Home.”
Donations in Mary Davenport’s memory may be sent to St. Jude’s Childrens’ Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.