The Derrick, January 17, 2009: Paul E. Beck, Shippenville Mary R. Gross, Knox RD W. Scott Kriner, Dawn Drive, Meadville, formerly of Titusville George L. Patterson, Allegheny Township, Parker Thusnelda "Nellie" Christine Roeper, Tidioute Carl Roelfs service set Sunday Dr. Paul E. Beck, 72, the former chairman of the Clarion University chemistry department, died Monday, Jan. 12, 2009, at his residence in Shippenville. Born in Lancaster, he was the son of Edward J. and Mary Beck. Dr. Beck graduated from Lancaster Catholic High School in 1954 and from Franklin & Marshall College in 1958. In 1963, he received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh . He worked for DuPont in Wilmington for several years as a research chemist. In 1966, he accepted a position at Clarion University where he taught organic chemistry until his retirement in 2002. During his tenure at Clarion, he chaired the chemistry department for 10 years, served on various committees and was active in the American Chemical Society. Dr. Beck held membership in a number of other associations including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute of Chemists, the Association of State College and University Professors and the Pennsylvania Academy of Science. He was also a member of Phi Delta Kappa. Dr. Beck was a parishioner at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Clarion. Dr. Beck is survived by a brother, Thomas Beck and his wife, Betty J., of Lititz; and a niece, Allison Gordon of East Windsor, N.J. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Interment will be at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Lancaster. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the American Heart Association. The Spacht Funeral Home of Lititz is handling arrangements. Mary R. Gross, 57, of Knox RD died at 11:58 a.m. Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, at Clarion Hospital. Born May 28, 1951, in Oil City, she was the daughter of the late Rober t P. and Margaret E. Pascorell Walker. Mary worked for Chartwell Inc. at Clarion University. She enjoyed camping, reading and spending time with her grandchildren. Mary is survived by three children, Gary Gross and his wife, Karen, of Ripley, N.Y., Debby Rhoads of Knox and Rusty Gross and his wife, Ronda, of Knox; one nephew, Michael Walker, whom she raised; and eight grandchildren, Ashley Rhoads, Tyler Rhoads, Mackenzie Bish, Sabrina Gross, Aron Gross, Justin Gross, Dylan Gross and Autumn Gross. Additional survivors include four sisters, Betty Allmendinger, Sara McGinnis, Anna Zilka and Pauline Rager; nine brothers, Dennis Grant, John Stevens and Bob, Bill, Sam, Lee, Harold, Ted and Carl Walker; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mary was preceded in death by her parents. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the David C. McEntire Funeral Home Inc., 504 E. Penn St., Knox. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home with the Rev. Dan Myers, pastor of Mt. Joy United Methodist Church at Knox RD, officiating. Interment will follow in Clarion Cemetery. W. Scott Kriner, 55, of Dawn Drive, Meadville, died Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, at his home, surrounded by his family and following a two-year battle with cancer. He was born April 6, 1953, in Titusville, a son of William and Betty May Loebelenz Kriner. He was a 1971 graduate of Titusville High School and a 1976 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, receiving a bachelor of arts degree in urban management with a minor in geography. He started his career as an insurance agent in Pittsburgh with Nationwide Insurance before moving to Meadville in 1987 and joining Erie Insurance with Stainbrook Insurance Agencies. The Stainbrook Kriner Insurance Agencies continues today, operated by Scott's son, Trevor. Scott was a devoted father, dearly loved his daughter, Katie, and son, Trevor, and cherished the time spent with them. He was an avid sports fan, especially the University of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh professional teams. He was active with the Community Athletic Project to renovate the high school football complex and the Friendship Through Football exchange with Russia. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Meadville, the Iroquois Club, the Masonic Lodge, the Zem Zem Shrine Temple of Erie, the Crawford County Shrine Club and numerous professional organizations. He served on the board of Community Health Services and the Meadville Medical Center Board of Incorporators. Scott also loved fire trucks, and he was a member and supported several of the area volunteer fire departments. He was named honorary chief of Vernon Central Hose Company, and in 2008 he was named Vernon Township Citizen of the Year. Survivors include a son, Trevor Miles Kriner of Meadville; a daughter, Katie May Kriner of Oil City; his parents, William and Betty May Kriner of Titusville; two sisters, Lisa Whitehill and her husband, Dan, of Clinton, Ohio, and Susan Wakefield and her husband, Alan, of Norco, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, William D. (Billy) Kriner Jr. Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home Inc., 581 Chestnut St., Meadville. Calling hours will also be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home, 303 N. Washington St., Titusville. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at New Beginnings Church of God, 13226 Leslie Road, Meadville, with the Rev. Mark Condo, Scott's nephew and the pastor of West Park Evangelical Friends Church in Cleveland, officiating. The family suggests memorials be made to the Scott Kriner Scholarship Fund of Meadville Kiwanis Club, P.O. Box 399, Meadville, Pa., 16335. George L. Patterson, 87, of Allegheny Township, Parker, passed away at 6 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009, at Parker Personal Care Home, following a brief illness. Born Feb. 22, 1921, in West Winfield, he was the son of Harold J. and Florence Fink Patterson. He was a longtime member of the former St. Mary Catholic Church in Parker. Mr. Patterson was employed by the former Ultra-Penn Refinery at Bruin and the former Glass Containers Corp. of Parker, and he retired from the David J. Joseph Metal Works Co. at Butler. Mr. Patterson is survived by a brother, Regis J. Patterson of Port Orange, Fla.; a sister, Shirley Patterson O'Brien of Emlenton; and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Mr. Patterson was preceded in death by a sister, Frances Patterson Pennington; and a brother, William James Patterson. Private visitation is being held this morning at the H. Jack Buzard Funeral Home in Parker. A blessing service conducted by the Rev. Joseph Bonafed of St. Patrick Catholic Church at Bradys Bend will follow. Interment will be in the Patterson family plot at Perryville Cemetery. Thusnelda "Nellie" Christine Roeper, 97, of Tidioute, formerly of Kassel, Germany, died in her sleep on the evening of Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009, in her home in Tionesta Manor. Born Sept. 16, 1911, in Kassel, she was a daughter of the Ludwig and Maria Rohrbach. She was married April 17, 1937, to Paul August Karl Roeper, who preceded her in death. Mrs. Roeper was first employed as a secretary at Mercedes Benz Corp. of Kassel. Her husband was an auto mechanic, and they later owned a full service BP gas station including an auto repair shop, car wash and car storage units in Kassel. . In 1956, Mrs. Roeper and her husband came to America and lived in Detroit. They moved to Titusville in 1973 and later moved to Tionesta in 1993. Mrs. Roeper's love and joys in life were her family and helping others. She enjoyed serving lunches to all her friends at Tionesta Manor. Mrs. Roeper also enjoyed arranging flowers with her daughter at A Touch of Nature Florist. She worked there almost daily until the age of 93. Her life was a wonderful example for everyone as she always put the needs of others before her own. Mrs. Roeper is survived by her daughter, Brigitte Johnson and her husband, Ted, of Tionesta; two grandsons, Shawn Johnson and his wife, Heidi, and Toby Johnson and his wife, Norma; and two great-grandchildren, Julia and Madeline Johnson. Mrs. Roeper was the last of seven children. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Joseph Rohrbach, and five sisters, Maria Rohrbach, Luise Cramer, Anna Nutburga Stahl, Elisabeth Wolf and Hildegard Rohrbach. It was Mrs. Roeper's wish to be cremated and her ashes returned to her hometown in Germany. The family plans to travel to Germany to carry out her wish. A memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Tionesta Manor, 101 Bridge St., Tionesta, with pastor Shawn Johnson and Randy Evans, the Clarion-Forest VNA Hospice pastor, officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Clarion Forest VNA and Hospice, P.O. Box 668, Knox, Pa., 16232; or toward the family's trip to Germany, via P.O. Box 447, Tionesta, 16353. The James M. Higgins Funeral Home, 3 Elm St., Tidioute, handled arrangements. Carl Roelfs service set Sunday A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at New Rehoboth-Greenville Presbyterian Church in Clarion for Carl Ray Roelfs, 47, of Rehoboth Church Road, Clarion. Mr. Roelfs died Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009, at his residence. The Rev. James Dietrich from New Rehoboth-Greenville Presbyterain Church will officiate at Sunday's service.