The Derrick, Tuesday, October 26, 2004: John J. Blum, 216 Hoffman Ave., Oil City Orphil T. Bodamer Jr., 408 W. Spruce St., Titusville Gertrude "Gertie" Stoudt Dechant, formerly of 9 Wabash Ave., Oil City Stanley Arthur Dilley, Meadville, formerly of Cochranton Christina Marshall Hudak, 307 Bissell Ave., Oil City Helen E. Mook, Stoneboro Lillian I. Plants, Grove Manor, Grove City, formerly of Sandy Lake Darlene Kathryn Wilson, Wysox, formerly of Oil City John J. Blum John J. Blum, 77, of 216 Hoffman Ave., Oil City, died at 9:10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 25, 2004, in the Transitional Care Unit of UPMC Northwest, Oil City, following an extended illness. Born Dec. 29, 1926, in Rochester, N.Y., he was the son of Julius and May Shanfelter Blum. Mr. Blum attended St. Joseph schools. He was honorably discharged in 1946 from the U.S. Navy. Mr. Blum had been employed by the Pennzol Refining Co. in Rouseville for 38 years, retiring in 1985 as packaging foreman. He wintered in Florida for many years. Mr. Blum was a life member of the Oil City VFW, holding four offices including the rank of commander in 1960-61. He enjoyed fishing and hunting and belonged to many golf leagues. Surviving are a brother and his wife, David J. and Rose Marie Blum of Erie; a special friend and caregiver, Helen Ragon of Oil City; several nieces and nephews; and the following friends and caregivers, Jack Fink, David Ragon, Bill McNerney, Joseph Aaron Reinsel and Sam Spence. In addition to his parents, Mr. Blum was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Louise Blum. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Reinsel Funeral Home. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the rosary will be prayer at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Joseph Church with Msgr. John W. Swoger, pastor, presiding. Committal with full military honors will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Church Development Fund. Orphil T. Bodamer Jr. Orphil T. Bodamer Jr., 86, of 408 W. Spruce St., Titusville, died at 12:26 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, 2004, in Southwoods Assisted Living Community, Titusville, where he had resided for the past seven months. Born Nov. 27, 1917, in Titusville, he was the son of Orphil T. and Roseanna Bodamer. Mr. Bodamer was a graduate of Titusville High School. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army. Mr. Bodamer was the owner and operator for many years of the former Queen City Garage in Titusville. He was a member of St. Titus Church, Titusville. Mr. Bodamer was married in St. Titus Rectory Nov. 15, 1941, to Virginia I. Faunce, who died March 26, 2004. Surviving are three children and their spouses, John and Joan Bodamer of Oil City, Alan and Barbara Bodamer of Titusville and Christine and Don McKeehan of Elizabethton, Tenn.; eight grandchildren, Mark Bodamer, Patrick Bodamer, Michael Bodamer, Lisa Bodamer, Julie Fee, Ashley Hoschar, Cameron Bodamer and Courtney Leech; and eight great-grandchildren, Samantha Bodamer, Ryan Bodamer, Matthew Bodamer, Trinity Bodamer, Nicholas Fee, Allison Fee, Anna Bodamer and Andrew Hoschar. In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Bodamer was preceded in death by a twin brother at birth. No calling hours will be observed. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon Friday in St. Titus Church with the Rev. David Foradori presiding. Interment will be in St. Catharine Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Crawford County, 310 N. Monroe St., Titusville, 16354. The Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home, 303 N. Washington St., Titusville, is in charge of arrangements. Gertrude "Gertie" Stoudt Dechant Gertrude "Gertie" Stoudt Dechant, 94, formerly of 9 Wabash Ave., Siverly, died at 8:36 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, 2004, in the Oil City Presbyterian Home where she had resided for the past eight years. Born July 12, 1909, in Oil City, she was the daughter of Clarence H. and Cosie Small Stoudt. Mrs. Dechant worked as a cook and waitress at many of the older restaurants in Oil City as well as a cook at St. Joseph and Our Lady Help of Christians churches in Oil City. She enjoyed making dolls for her grandchildren as well as crocheting and knitting afghans and lap robes. Mrs. Dechant was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Oil City. She first was married to Harry J. McCartney, who died in 1938 and then to Francis W. Dechant, who died in 1976. Surviving are three daughters, Phyllis King of Oil City, Joycelynn Bower of Rocky Grove and Frances Lamey of Oil City; and four sons, David S. McCartney of Shippenville, Harry J. McCartney and wife, Betty, of Kanapolis, N.C., George C. McCartney and wife, Betty, of Chesapeake, Va., and John Dechant of Cooperstown; 24 grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husbands, Mrs. Dechant was preceded in death by two sons, Robert F. McCartney and Clarence Dechant; an infant daughter, Vesta McCartney; five brothers; and one sister. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Hutchinson Funeral Home, 201 Bissell Ave., Oil City. Services will be held at 9 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home with the Rev. William Hopkins, pastor of the Oil City Church of the Nazarene, officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens. The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Presbyterian Home, 10 Vo-Tech Drive, Oil City, 16301, or to the Oil City Church of the Nazarene, 601 E. Second St., Oil City, 16301. Stanley Arthur Dilley Stanley Arthur Dilley, 99, formerly of Lake Creek Road. Cochranton, died Monday, Oct. 25, 2004, in Beverly Healthcare-Meadville, where he had resided. Born Nov. 13, 1904, in Sugar Lake, he was the son of William H. and Flora Reese Dilley. Mr. Dilley was a lifelong farmer and also worked for 25 years at the Cochranton Cooperative Association. He was a member of the Sugar Lake Grange. Mr. Dilley attended the Cochranton Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. He first was married Dec. 20, 1928, to Autumn Hazel Smith, who died Feb. 14, 1960. He then was married in 1961 to Nolene P. Kockler, who died Sept. 26, 1979. Surviving are a daughter and husband, Kathryn and Everett Hays of Cochranton; a son and wife, William H. and Beverly Dilley of Stoneboro; a stepson and wife, Ronald and Patricia Burkhardt of Polk; eight grandchildren, Ronald Hays, Pamela Moon, Kevin Dilley, William Dilley, Lucinda Gray, Debra Hays, Julie Bowser and Kraig Dilley; three stepgrandchildren, Tom Burkhardt, Debra Mook and Ronda Schengber; 14 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren. He also is survived by a sister, Myrtle Heffernan of Meadville. In addition to his parents and two wives, Mr. Dilley was preceded in death by a son, Earl "Bud" Dilley; an infant son, Merle; a stepson, Billy Burkhardt; a brother, John Dilley; and two sisters, Cecil Rough and Claudia Hollabaugh. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today in the Dickson Family Funeral Home, 123 S. Franklin St., Cochranton. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home with the Rev. John McGarvey, pastor of the Cochranton Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, officiating. Interment will be in Cochranton Cemetery. The family suggests memorials be made to the Cochranton Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, 107 S. Franklin St., Cochranton, 16314. Condolences can be e-mailed to dicksonfuneralhome@alltel.net. Christina Marshall Hudak Christina Marshall Hudak, 37, of 307 Bissell Ave., Oil City, died Saturday, Oct. 23, 2004,of injuries sustained in an auto accident in Hubbard Township, Ohio. The Hutchinson Funeral Home, 201 Bissell Ave., Oil City, is in charge of arrangements. A complete obituary will be published Wednesday in The Derrick. Helen E. Mook Helen E. Mook, 90, of 1122 Walnut St., Stoneboro, died at 1:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25, 2004, in St. Paul Homes, Greenville, after a period of failing health. Born July 13, 1914, in Stoneboro, she was the daughter of Gust and Jennie Hillman Proud. She attended the former Stoneboro High School. Mrs. Mook was a member of the Stoneboro Presbyterian Church and the Women's Association of the church. She also was a member of the Mount Vernon, Ohio, Order of Eastern Star, Stoneboro Women's Club, Stoneboro Volunteer Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary and the Stoneboro Golden Agers. Mrs. Mook was a homemaker, loved to play bingo and will be remembered as a wonderful cook. She was married Aug. 26, 1939, to Carl L. Mook, who died April 24, 1985. Surviving are three nieces, Mrs. LaVerne (Shirley) Hedglin and Mrs. Robert A. (Judy) Poole, both of Stoneboro, and Mrs. Arthur O. (Betty) Fischer of Sandy Lake. In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Mook was preceded in death by one brother, William H. Proud. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Scott A. Black Funeral Home, 99 Franklin St., Stoneboro. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in the funeral home with the Rev. Adam J. Rodgers, pastor of Stoneboro Presbyterian Church, officiating. Interment and committal services will be held in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Sandy Lake Township. Lillian I. Plants Lillian I. Plants, 88, of Grove Manor, Grove City, formerly of 14 Plants Road, Sandy Lake, died at 5:40 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, 2004, in United Community Hospital, Grove City, after a brief illness. Born April 9, 1916, in Washington County, she was the daughter of J. Ross and Hazel G. Marker Carter. She was a 1933 graduate of the former Sandy Lake High School. In her early years, Mrs. Plants worked at the former Sandy Lake Hotel. She retired in 1976 after 20 years of service in the dietary department at Polk State School and Hospital, now Polk Center. Mrs. Plants belonged to the New Lebanon Community Church for 71 years and was recognized last year as the oldest living member of the church. She also served on the Ladies Aid Society. She was a member of the former Princess Rebekah Lodge No. 442 of Sandy Lake. Since her retirement Mrs. Plants had been sewing quilts for all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed gardening and her many flowers, canning and watching the birds, and especially spending time with her great-grandchildren. Mrs. Plants was married March 19, 1938, to A. Seman Plants, who died April 27, 1997. Surviving are two sons, Louis S. Plants and wife, Sue, of Monument, Colo., and Robert E. "Bob" Plants and wife, Donna, of Mercer; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She also is survived by one sister, Mildred Klasen of Cochranton; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Plants was preceded in death by one sister, Mary Adamson; and an infant sister, Ruth Carter. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Scott A. Black Funeral Home, 99 Franklin St., Stoneboro. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home with the Rev. Dr. Richard C. Steinlechner, pastor of the New Lebanon Community Church, and the Rev. William C. Merritt, pastor emeritus, co-officiating. Interment and committal services will be held in the New Lebanon Cemetery, Mill Creek Township, Sandy Lake. Memorial contributions may be made to the New Lebanon Community Church, 4166 Mercer St., Sandy Lake, 16145. Darlene Kathryn Wilson Darlene Kathryn Wilson, 41, of Wysox, Bradford County, formerly of Oil City, died at 8:55 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, 2004, in the Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre, following a three-year illness. Born April 8, 1963, in Rimersburg, she was the daughter of Marion Carol Custer Guntrum Merryman of Oil City and Frank Dewayne Guntrum of Shippenville. She attended Cranberry High School and received a degree in accounting from the Clarion Vo-Tech School. She had been employed at WalMart in Cranberry, Venango County, and at Taylor Packing in Wyalusing. She enjoyed attending her billiards pool league, puzzles and dancing. Surviving are a son, David D. Ball and friend, Tanya Everly of Towanda; two daughters, Galixzina S. Baumcratz and friend, Jared Billotte, of Corsica and Mindy A.M. Wilson and friend, Josha Beichner, of Venus; and two grandchildren, Breanna Ball of Towanda and Izabelle Beichner of Venus. She also is survived by her mother, Marion Carol Merryman of Oil City; her father and wife, Frank Dewayne Guntrum and Connie of Shippenville; three brothers, Denny D. Guntrum and Dana L. Guntrum, both of Oil City, and Kevin Guntrum and wife, Roberta, of Monroe, N.C.; two sisters, Mary B. Orner and husband, Shawn, of Oil City and Lisa Michelle Dilly and husband, John S., of Strattanville; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her grandparents; one sister, Kathy Lynn Guntrum; and her stepfather, Howard Earl Merryman. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today in the Richard D. Hillis Funeral Home, Rimersburg. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home with the Rev. Mark G. Deeter, pastor of the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will follow in the Rimersburg Cemetery.