The Derrick, March 5, 2009: Kevin Allen, Mayport Leland Melvin Culbertson, Shippenville Robert R. Kennemuth, Mayport Leon W. "Lee" Silzle, Marietta, Ga., formerly of Lacock Street, Sandy Lake Bertha Irene Snively, formerly of Ninevah Marilyn A. "Lynn" Wheeling, formerly of 301 Innis St., Oil City Kevin R. Allen, 57, of Mayport, died Tuesday afternoon, March 3, 2009, at Select Specialty Hospital in Pittsburgh following an illness. Born June 17, 1951, in Distant, he was a son of the late Wade and Eula Nulph Allen. He was married Aug. 17, 1968, to the former Martha "Martie" Walters, who survives. Mr. Allen was a retired barber and was an equipment operator for various jobs. He attended the Oakland Church of God in Distant and enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing and spending time with his family. He will be sadly missed by his family and friends. In addition to his wife, Mr. Allen is survived by two sons, Donnie Allen of Wasilla, Alaska, and Toby Allen of Mayport; four grandchildren, Melia, Kevin, Cooper and Abigail; two brothers, Roger Allen and his wife, Vera, of Belpre, Ohio, and John Allen and his wife, Anita, of Emlenton; and a sister, Janice Weeter of New Bethlehem. In addition to his parents, Mr. Allen was preceded in death by a sister, Kitty Reddinger; and two brothers-in-law, Dwight Weeter and Ken Reddinger. Friends will be received from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Rupert Funeral Home in New Bethlehem. Friends will also be received from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Friday at the Oakland Church of God on Kohlersburg Road, Distant. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in the church with the Rev. Jimmy Swogger, pastor at Oakland Church of God, officiating. Interment will follow at the Oakland Cemetery in Distant, Armstrong County. Memorial contributions may be given in Kevin's name to the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance at P.O. Box 791155, Baltimore, Md., 21298-8458. Online condolences may be sent to Kevin's family at www.rupertfuneralhomes.com. Leland Melvin Culbertson, 94, of Shippenville, died early Wednesday morning, March 4, 2009, at Clarion Hospital. The William N. Rupert Mortuary Inc. of Knox is in charge of arrangements. A complete obituary will be published Friday in The Derrick. Robert R. Kennemuth, 70, of Mayport, passed away Tuesday afternoon, March 3, 2009, at his residence. Born May 13, 1938, in Hawthorn, he was the son of Ralph L. and Olive P. McAninch Kennemuth, who preceded him in death. On Sept. 17, 1960, he married Carol L. Silvis, and she survives. Bob was a caring, hard-working man who loved his family. He was employed as a truck driver for Tionesta Sand and Gravel for 21 years. He was also an equipment operator and mechanic for Kennemuth Hydro-Seeding and Byrd Yeany Seeding and Mulching for the last 23 years. In addition to his work, he loved to travel the trails and back roads on his four-wheeler and pickup truck, visiting family and friends. Bob 's favorite hobbies were spending time at his camp, hunting, watching wildlife and having cookouts around the fire. In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son, Dale Kennemuth of Mayport; one sister, Judy Gray and her husband, Cal, of Brookville; and one brother, John "Bud" Kennemuth and his wife, Dolly, of Brookville. In addition to his parents, Mr. Kennemuth was preceded in death by two sisters, Patricia Drayer and Gloria Shick; and two brothers, Darl Kennemuth and Ralph "Sonny" Kennemuth. There will be no visitation or viewing. The family will announce plans at a later date for a gathering to remember Bob at his home. Memorials may be made to Clarion-Forest VNA Hospice, P.O. Box 668, Knox, 16232; or In-Home Solutions Plus, 18 Western Ave., Brookville, 15825. The Alcorn Funeral Home in Hawthorn is handling arrangements. Leon W. "Lee" Silzle, 104, of Marietta, Ga., formerly of Lacock Street, Sandy Lake, and Pittsburgh, died at 6:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009, in A.G. Rhodes Home of Marietta after a short illness. Born Aug. 14, 1904, in Venus, Venango County, he was the son of the late George W. and Martha E. Brocklehurst Silzle. At age 14, Mr. Silzle went to Clarion Normal School, now Clarion University, where he earned a teaching certificate in 1922. He began his teaching career at age 18 in Kellettville. After two years of teaching, he went to Penn State University and graduated in 1928 with a degree in electrical engineering. Mr. Silzle then went to work at Westinghouse Electric in Pittsburgh. He later completed graduate work at the University of Pittsburgh for a master's degree in education. During the Depression he went back to a teaching career that lasted 38 years. He taught at Cranberry junior and senior high schools in Venango County for six years and then was an industrial arts and vocational teacher at various Pittsburgh public schools before retiring in 1968 from Taylor-Allderdice High School. During the war years he helped organize curriculums of home mechanics for women and for women to go to work in the factories to help with the war effort. Mr. Silzle was a former member of Point Breeze Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, where he served as a ruling elder for many years. He was a member of Sandy Lake Presbyterian Church at the time of his death. Mr. Silzle was active for many years with Gideon's International. He was a member of the Stoneboro Lions Club, and over the years he enjoyed traveling, gardening and bowling. He was married Aug. 26, 1931, to the former Lois R. Clingan, who preceded him in death in their 75th year of marriage on Sept. 23, 2005. Mr. Silzle and his wife loved to travel. They traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and worldwide, continuing well into their 90s. They especially enjoyed their winters in Florida. Mr. Silzle is survived by a son, L. William Silzle Jr. and his wife, Carolyn, of Marietta; two granddaughters, Elizabeth Silzle and Emily Silzle of Marietta; a niece, Betty Guadliana of Stonington, Conn.; and Bob Boyles and his wife, Kathy, and family, a cousin of Lois Silzle who she and Mr. Silzle helped rear. In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Silzle was preceded in death by three sisters and one brother. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at Sandy Lake Presbyterian Church, 3461 Sandy Lake-New Lebanon Road, Sandy Lake. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. that day at the church with the Rev. Galen Joe MacDonald officiating. Inurnment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Sandy Lake Township. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Gideon's International, P.O. Box 42, Grove City, 16127. Bertha Irene Snively, 86, of St. Cloud, Fla., passed away Monday March 3, 2009, at Plantation Bay in St. Cloud, where she has resided since April 2008. Born Feb. 13, 1923, in Cranberry Township, Venango County, she was a daughter of the late John and Eva Willings Snow. She was married Feb. 14, 1942, in Nickelville to Charles Snively Jr., who preceded her in death April 27, 2007. The Snivelys were married for 65 years. Mrs. Snively was a graduate of Cranberry High School and was a resident of Ninevah for more than 50 years before moving to Florida. She worked for Knox Glass Containers until retirement in 1978. After retiring, the Snivelys spent their winters in Florida and made it their year round home in 2001. Mrs. Snively enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She was a member of the St. Mark Church at Kossuth and the Eastern Star. Mrs. Snively is survived by a daughter, Penny Rigby and her husband, Gil, of St. Cloud, Fla.; a granddaughter, Shelly Myers and her companion, Monty Chapman Jr., of St. Cloud, Fla.; a grandson, Jerry Jack of St. Cloud, Fla.; a great-granddaughter, Ashley Musser and her companion, Chuck Depari, of Kissimmee, Fla.; two great-grandsons, Tyler Jack of Knox and Travis Myers of St. Cloud, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Snively was preceded in death by a daughter, Terrie Reott; five sisters and two brothers. At Bertha's request, there will be no visitation. Interment will take place at St. Mark Cemetery in Kossuth. The William N. Rupert Mortuary, Inc. of Knox is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to Penny Rigby at 3611 Tree Line Way, St. Cloud, Fla., 34769. Marilyn A. "Lynn" Wheeling, 72, formerly of 301 Innis St., Oil City, died at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 3, 2009, in Cranberry from Sjogren's Syndrome, an auto-immune disease. Born Aug. 8, 1936, in Titusville, she was the daughter of Clinton A. and Betty MacEachern Wheeling. She lived her entire childhood in Oil City. She graduated from Oil City High School in 1954 and from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1958. In 1960, Ms. Wheeling moved to New York City and lived there for 14 years. While in New York, she attended the Arts Students League and studied painting at Pratt Institute. During this time she also worked as a free-lance writer and cartoonist for, among others, Scripps-Howard Newspapers and American Airlines. For seven years she worked full-time as assistant art director for Town and Country magazine and illustrated a television commercial for Citibank. In 1967, she taught art education for a semester in a public school of Harlem, N.Y., grades one through eight. After returning to Oil City in the early 1970s, she accepted a teaching position with the Oil City Area School District in the art department. During that time she also wrote and illustrated articles for Pittsburgh Magazine of the former Pittsburgh Press, working for its art director, Nat Youngblood. She taught painting and drawing in the former junior high school on Spring Street and loved her work there. After teaching at Smedley and Seventh Street schools, she retired in 1993. Over the years, Ms. Wheeling wrote and illustrated 13 children's books that were published by Little Brown, G.P. Putnam Sons, Harper & Row and others. More than 900,000 of her books have been sold in the U.S. and Canada. She appreciated the natural beauty of the area, particularly the Allegheny River. She also enjoyed the company of her friends and neighbors in Oil City and had great fun years ago doing a cartoon strip, "Oil and Dumb," for The Derrick, while continuing her writing and drawing career. At the request of Ms. Wheeling, there will be no visitation or viewing. Memorial donations may be made to the Transit Fine Arts Gallery, 206 Center St., Oil City, 16301. The Hutchinson Funeral Home, 201 Bissell Ave., Oil City, is in charge of arrangements.