The Derrick, Thursday, February 17, 2005: Benjamin E. Blum, Erie Thomas Lee Strain, Oil City M. Virginia Kendrick, getting it right Benjamin E. Blum Benjamin E. Blum, 80, a resident of the Pennsylvania Soldiers & Sailors Home in Erie, died there Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2005. Born in Green Bank, W.Va., May 18, 1924, he was the son of Frank and Margie Wadell Blum. Mr. Blum was a United States Army and Marine Corps veteran of World War II and was the recipient of two Purple Hearts. He was a retired heavy equipment operator and was a member of Operating Engineers Local 66. Mr. Blum was a Protestant by faith. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and once received the Pennsylvania Game Commission Triple Trophy. Mr. Blum was married to Eleanor Feit, who preceded him in death. Surviving are one son, Tim Blum and his wife, Cathy, of Tionesta; two grandchildren Melissa Custer and husband, Clifford, and Cara Oliver and husband, Christopher; and one great-grandson, Braden Allen Custer. He also is survived by one sister, Birdie Walter of Tionesta. In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Blum was preceded in death by two sisters, Mildred Welch and Pauline Bisker; and two brothers, Frank E. Blum and Harold Blum. A private service will be held at the convenience of the family. Interment will be in Mount Collins Cemetery, Tionesta. Memorials may be made to the Tionesta United Methodist Church, Elm Street, Tionesta, 16353. The Carl A. Slomski & Son Funeral Home Inc., 2101 Ash St., Erie, is handling arrangements. Thomas Lee Strain Thomas Lee Strain, 63, of Oil City, died Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2005, in UPMC Northwest, Seneca. Born March 24, 1941, in Franklin, he is the son of Louis F. and Nellie E. Fern Strain. He attended Cranberry High School. Mr. Strain served in the U.S. Marine Corps from May 27, 1958, to May 26, 1961, as a lance corporal. He then transferred to the U.S. Marine Reserves until May 26, 1964. He held many jobs throughout his life, working the longest as a millwright for Franklin Steel. He also worked for Trinity Steel and Warner Ladder, both in Greenville. He retired in 2004. Mr. Strain enjoyed hunting, bowling, carpentry, remodeling, baseball games, listening to music, concerts, dance recitals and spending time with his family and friends, especially his grandchildren and the neighborhood crew. He was married in Oil City Oct. 7, 1961, to Bonnie L. Shaw, who survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Tina L. Boyd and husband, Randy, of Franklin and Lisa L. McClain and husband, R. Terry, of Howard; three grandchildren, Ryan C. Boyd and Lydia R. Boyd, both of Franklin, and Travis I. McClain of Howard; and one great-grandson, Ian M. McClain of Milesburg. He was looking forward to his second great-grandson's birth in May. He also is survived by a brother, Fred F. Strain and wife, Cathy, of Cheektowaga, N.Y.; three sisters, Gloria Puleo of Oil City and Carol Griffen and Marilyn DeLong and husband, Sparky, all of Franklin; several special nieces and nephews, especially niece, Tawnya, a chip off the old block. Mr. Strain was preceded in death by his parents. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. today in the Osenider Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the funeral home with Dennis P. Strain, cousin of the deceased, officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens, Cranberry Township. The family requests memorial donations be made to the Sugar Valley Lodge, 323 Causeway Drive, Franklin, 16323. Getting it right - M. Virginia Kendrick M. Virginia Kendrick - Mary Virginia Kendrick, 91, formerly of Sugar Valley Lodge, died Monday, Feb. 14, 2005, in The Caring Place where she was a resident at the time of her death. She was the daughter of Carl S. and Lelia Wenner Kendrick. Among her survivors is a great-great-niece, Jessica Bowman of Amherst, Ohio.