The Derrick, Thursday, January 27, 2005: Isla M. Bower, 169 Sunville Road, Franklin James M. Eakin, Columbia, Mo., formerly of Grove City Curry G. Harrah, Cooperstown Edward G. Haylett, 935 Buffalo St., Franklin Milton L. Kern Sr., 3472 County Line Road, Cochranton, formerly of Sandy Lake Emerick Thomas Lubonovich, Youngstown, Ohio Lois J. Nunemaker, 1265 Petersburg Road, Hadley, formerly of Van H. Ray Hepner, funeeral set today Isla M. Bower Isla M. Bower, 98, of 169 Sunville Road, Franklin, died at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005, in UPMC Northwest, Seneca. Born Dec. 24, 1906, in Sunville, she was the daughter of Orie Travilla and Mary Edith Thompson Bower. She was a graduate of Sunville High School and Edinboro University. Miss Bower retired in 1972 as a teacher in the Valley Grove School District and taught the last 35 years of her career at Valley Grove Elementary School. In her early years of teaching, she rode a horse to school. She was a life member of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees and the Pennsylvania State Education Association, retired (PSEAR). Miss Bower also was a member of the Oakland United Methodist Church. She also belonged to the Venango County Historical Society, Franklin Women's Club, AARP and Bethel Homemakers. Miss Bower served as a volunteer for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Venango County. She enjoyed quilting, gardening, cooking and knitting as well as many other crafts. She also enjoyed watching the birds while sitting on her front porch during the summer. Miss Bower was known for her love of children and babysat many children in the area. A highlight for her each year was attending the annual 4-H Fair. Surviving are two nieces, Karen Deets Perry of Houtzdale and Julie Bower Cappiello of Herndon, Va.; a nephew, Jim Reed of Arlington, Va.; seven great-nieces and great-nephews; and many friends and neighbors. In addition to her parents, Miss Bower was preceded in death by a brother, William Bower; two sisters, Gertha Deets and Mary Reed; a niece, Elaine Deets; and a nephew, William Bower Jr. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the Robert W. Gardinier Funeral Home, Franklin. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Oakland United Methodist Church with the Rev. Richard Roberts officiating. Interment will be in Sunville Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Edinboro University Development Fund, 210 Meadville Drive, Edinboro, 16444. James Merle Eakin James Merle Eakin, 89, of Columbia, Mo., formerly of Irwin Township, Venango County, died Monday, Jan. 24, 2005, in Boon Hospital Center in Columbia. Born April 26, 1915, in Grove City, he was the son of Grace and Floyd Eakin. He worked on the family farm and attended Amity Church. He graduated from Grove City College during the depression. During World War II, Mr. Eakin served as an intelligence officer with the Army Air Corps. Mr. Eakin worked for Good Year Tire & Rubber Co., Union Carbide and Fostoria Machine & Tool Co. In 1952, he joined the McGraw Edison Co. as a comptroller and moved with his family in 1954 to Boonville, Mo., to work for the company. He retired in 1979 as vice president of McGraw Edison. Mr. Eakin then enjoyed golf and fellowship at the Columbia Country Club. He was a life member of the Scottish Rite Ararat Shrine and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Eakin was married in 1941 to Lucille Pugh, who died March 31, 1973. Surviving are one son, John Eakin of Columbia, Mo.; two nieces; and two nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Eakin was preceded in death by two sisters, Lois and Elizabeth. Funeral services were held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the William Wood Funeral Home, Boonville, Mo. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Mount Irwin Cemetery, Irwin Township, Venango County, with the Rev. Randy Stringer, pastor of the Amity Presbyterian Church, officiating. Interment will be in Mount Irwin Cemetery. Local arrangements are in charge of the Cunningham Funeral Home, 306 Bessemer Ave., Grove City. In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to one's favorite charity. Curry G. Harrah Curry G. Harrah, 68, of Cooperstown, died at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2005, in his residence. The Robert W. Gardinier Funeral Home, Franklin, is in charge of arrangements. A complete obituary will be published Friday in The Derrick. Edward G. Haylett Edward G. Haylett, 79, of 935 Buffalo St., Franklin, died at 6:05 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005, in Sugar Creek Station, Franklin. Born March 2, 1925, in Cleveland, Ohio, he was the son of Hugh G. and Mabel Pratt Haylett. He was an Army veteran of World War II. Mr. Haylett worked as an electrician for Pennzoil for 37 years. He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church, Franklin. Mr. Haylett enjoyed hunting, fishing and the outdoors. Surviving are two brothers, David Haylett and Phillip Allen Haylett, both of Franklin; a sister, Phyllis Shaffer of Rockland Township; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Mr. Haylett was preceded in death by a sister, Nancy Rex. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday in the Robert W. Gardinier Funeral Home, Franklin. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in the funeral home with the Rev. Kenneth Peters, pastor of Christ United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will be in Franklin Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice. Milton L. Kern Sr. Milton L. Kern Sr., 89, of 3472 County Line Road, Cochranton, formerly of Sandy Lake, died at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2005, in United Community Hospital, Grove City, after a period of failing health. Born Oct. 29, 1915, in Coraopolis, he was the son of George S. and Cora B. Clark Kern. He attended school in Coraopolis. Mr. Kern loved farming and farmed for more than 25 years in Sandy Lake Township. He also had been a substitute mail carrier from Sandy Lake Post Office. He retired in 1975 after 27 years of service with National Fuel Gas Co., Henderson Station, Hendersonville. He was a member of the Sandy Lake Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder, taught Sunday school and sang in the choir. Mr. Kern loved animals, especially horses. He enjoyed feeding the birds. He was married June 4, 1937, to Margaret B. Thompson, who died Sept. 21, 1996. Surviving are two sons, M. Lee Kern Jr. and wife, Bonnie, and Ralph J. Kern and wife, Karen, all of Sandy Lake; five grandchildren, Mrs. Gerald (Michele) Redfoot of Sandy Lake, Mrs. Mark (Mindy) Sarver of Friedens, Mrs. Mark (Marci) Custer of Sandy Lake, Gary Kern and wife, Zoe, of Mount Lebanon and Timothy Kern of Sharon; and six great-grandchildren. He also is survived by one sister, Norma Fischer of Stoneboro. In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Kern was preceded in death by two sons, Ralph's infant twin brother and George E. Kern; and one brother, Kenneth W. Kern. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the Scott A. Black Funeral Home, 99 Franklin St., Stoneboro, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday in the Sandy Lake Presbyterian Church, 3461 Sandy Lake-New Lebanon Road, Sandy Lake. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the church with the Rev. Galen Joe MacDonald, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Sandy Lake Township. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sandy Lake Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 185, Sandy Lake, 16145, or to the Peaceful Rest Home, 3472 County Line Road, Cochranton, 16314. Emerick Thomas Lubonovich Emerick Thomas Lubonovich, 81, of 1329 West Montrose, Youngstown, Ohio, died at 10:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, 2005, in the Cleveland Clinic after an extended illness. Born Jan. 25, 1923, in McDonald, Ohio, he was the son of Michael and Amelia Toth Lubonovich. Mr. Lubonovich was a graduate of McDonald, Ohio, High School. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in the European Theatre of Operations during World War II with the 164th Infantry Division. He received the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars. Mr. Lubonovich played trumpet while in the U.S. Army and also with local military bands. He retired as a crane operator from the McDonald Works of U.S. Steel Corp. Mr. Lubonovich was active in the Youngstown American Hungarian Club and was a member of the Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge 598, Youngstown, Ohio. Surviving are his wife, Doris Louise Vetter Lubonovich, whom he married in 1944; four sons, Ted of Phoenix, Ariz., Tom of Cincinnati, Ohio, Steven of Youngstown, Ohio, and David of Midland; two daughters, Debby Lubonovich of Franklin and Janine Christo of Pierpont, Ohio; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Mr. Lubonovich was preceded in death by two brothers. A memorial service will be held at noon Sunday in the Youngstown American Hungarian Club, 2219 Donald Ave., Youngstown, Ohio, with Pastor Bill Anzevino of Christian Assembly Church in Industry, officiating. The Sample-O'Donnell Funeral Home, 555 E. State St., Sharon, is in charge of arrangements. Lois J. Nunemaker Lois J. Nunemaker, 83, of 1265 Petersburg Road, Hadley, Sandy Creek Township, formerly of Van, died at 5:23 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005, in UPMC Horizon Hospital, Greenville. Born Jan. 3, 1922, in Santa Fe, Okla., she was the daughter of Percy and Gertrude Wassum Whitling. She attended Clarion County schools. Mrs. Nunemaker previously attended the Van Methodist Church, Venango County. She was a homemaker and enjoyed bowling, hunting and fishing. Mrs. Nunemaker was married Sept. 9, 1939, to George F. Nunemaker, who died in 1989. Surviving are two sons, Herbert Nunemaker and wife, Linda, and David Nunemaker, all of Hadley; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. She also is survived by two brothers, Don Whitling of Emlenton and Jack Whitling and wife, Bonnie, of Commanche, Texas; and two sisters, Peg Domer and husband, Esty, of Oil City and Shirley Stokes and husband, WC, of Odessa, Texas. In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Nunemaker was preceded in death by three brothers, Buss, Harold and Alan Whitling; and two sisters, Georgia Montgomery and Maxine Hamilton. Friends will be received from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday in the Andrew J. Vana Funeral Home, 102 Church St., Hadley. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in the funeral home with the Rev. Jay Sterling, pastor of the Clarks Mills United Methodist Church, Clarks Mills, officiating. Interment will be in Rockland Cemetery, Rockland Township. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 59 N. Crescent Drive, Hermitage, 16148. H. Ray Hepner funeral set today Funeral services for H. Ray Hepner, 81, of Butler, formerly of the Eau Claire-Parker area, will be held at 11 a.m. today in the East Unity Presbyterian Church, Cherry Valley Borough, Butler County. The Rev. Paul Schaefer, pastor of the church, will officiate. Interment will be in East Unity Church Cemetery. Mr. Hepner died at 7:15 a.m. Monday, Jan. 24, 2005, in VAMC-Butler following an extended illness.