The Derrick, May 26, 2009: Ruby H. Reddinger Allen, New Bethlehem Thomas John Beichner, Old Fryburg Road, Lucinda Barbara E. Kaness, 178 Fairview Road, Titusville, formerly of Rouseville Florence M. McCool, 523 Cooperstown Road, Cooperstown Roy H. Schreffler, Knox Charles "Willy" Swarm, Country Springs in Sligo, formerly of Van Elva M. Willison, New Bethlehem Sandra (Silves) Birtcil Young, Cleveland, Ga., and Adair, Okla., an Oil City native Ellington memorial set June 2 Ruby H. Reddinger Allen, 96, of New Bethlehem, passed away peacefully with her family by her side, on Sunday morning, May 24, 2009, at the Armstrong County Memorial Hospital in Kittanning. Born Feb. 24, 191, in Proptown (Lawsonham), she was a daughter of the late Charles F. and Bessie P. Shreckengost Reddinger. She was married April 20, 1943, to Edgar Allen, who preceded her in death July 29, 1993. Mrs. Allen was a housewife and a loving mother. As a young woman, she worked at the Kempner Company in New Bethlehem. She was a lifelong member of the Oakland Church of God in Distant where, in her earlier years, she taught Sunday school. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting and was well known for her cookies and pies. She loved God, her family and her only grandchild. Survivors include a son, Steve Allen and his wife, Cheryl, of Distant; a grandson, Brandon Allen of State College; and a sister, Rosetta Griffin of New Bethlehem. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Warren, on November 8, 1970; three brothers, Perce Reddinger, Terry Reddinger and Ken Reddinger; and five sisters, Celia Schaeffer, Florence Goheen, Lois Shick, Jenny Kerr and Ruth Giordani. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Rupert Funeral Home in New Bethlehem. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home with the Rev. James Swogger, pastor of the Oakland Church of God, officiating. Interment will follow at the Oakland Cemetery in Distant. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Oakland Church of God at P.O. Box 40, Distant, 16223, or Edgewood Heights at 612 Keck Avenue, New Bethlehem, 16242. Online condolences may be sent to Ruby's family at www.rupertfuneralhomes.com Ruby H. Reddinger Allen, 96, of New Bethlehem, passed away peacefully with her family by her side, on Sunday morning, May 24, 2009, at the Armstrong County Memorial Hospital in Kittanning. Born Feb. 24, 191, in Proptown (Lawsonham), she was a daughter of the late Charles F. and Bessie P. Shreckengost Reddinger. She was married April 20, 1943, to Edgar Allen, who preceded her in death July 29, 1993. Mrs. Allen was a housewife and a loving mother. As a young woman, she worked at the Kempner Company in New Bethlehem. She was a lifelong member of the Oakland Church of God in Distant where, in her earlier years, she taught Sunday school. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting and was well known for her cookies and pies. She loved God, her family and her only grandchild. Survivors include a son, Steve Allen and his wife, Cheryl, of Distant; a grandson, Brandon Allen of State College; and a sister, Rosetta Griffin of New Bethlehem. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Warren, on November 8, 1970; three brothers, Perce Reddinger, Terry Reddinger and Ken Reddinger; and five sisters, Celia Schaeffer, Florence Goheen, Lois Shick, Jenny Kerr and Ruth Giordani. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Rupert Funeral Home in New Bethlehem. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home with the Rev. James Swogger, pastor of the Oakland Church of God, officiating. Interment will follow at the Oakland Cemetery in Distant. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Oakland Church of God at P.O. Box 40, Distant, 16223, or Edgewood Heights at 612 Keck Avenue, New Bethlehem, 16242. Online condolences may be sent to Ruby's family at www.rupertfuneralhomes.com Thomas John Beichner, 83, of Old Fryburg Road, Lucinda, died May 24, 2009, at the Clarion Hospital. Born Nov. 5, 1925, in Shippenville, he was the son of the late John and Anna Meehan Beichner. A veteran of World War II, Mr. Beichner served in the U.S. Army from December 1944 to October 1946 in the Pacific Theatre. He was employed at PA Niederriter Mill in Marble from the time he returned from the service in 1946 until his retirement in January 1988. Mr. Beichner enjoyed camping and fishing in Lake Erie as well as playing cards. He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Clarion and the American Legion in Knox for over 50 years. He was married on July 22, 1947, at St. Michael Church in Fryburg, to the former Dorothy Bell of Strobleton, who survives. Survivors also include three children, Gary Beichner, Ethel Beichner and Connie Beichner, all of Lucinda; three granddaughters; one grandson; a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. Also surviving are three sisters, Anna Marie Broschart of New Castle, Helen George and her husband, Issac, of Pulaski, and Emma Jane Raybuck of Knox; one brother, Dana Beichner and his wife, Louella, of Edinburg, Pa.; and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Thomas E. Beichner; and three brothers, Paul, John and George Beichner. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Goble Funeral Home & Crematory, 330 Wood St., Clarion. A wake services will be conducted Wednesday at the funeral home. A funeral mass will be conducted at 11 a..m. Thursday at the Immaculate Conception Church in Clarion, with the Rev. Monty Sayers as celebrant, along with the Rev. John Wood of the Faith Lutheran Church in Venus. Interment will follow in the Dehner Cemetery. Full military honors will be provided by the American Legion Post 66 of Clarion. Online condolences may be sent to www.goblefh.net. Barbara E. Kaness, 77, of 178 Fairview Road, Titusville, formerly of Rouseville, died Friday, May 22, 2009, at Hamot Medical Center in Erie. Born on March 24, 1932, at West Hickory, she was a daughter of the late Reuben and Ila Kifer Anthony. Mrs. Kaness was a graduate of West Forest High School. She had been employed at American Greeting Card Company in Reno, GTE Sylvania in Pleasantville, and was retired from the former Oil City Glass Plant. She enjoyed playing bingo, cards, and spending time with her family. She was married on Aug. 29, 1951, in Shippenville to Wayne Kaness, who survives. Also surviving are four children, Deborah Cotton and husband, Wilbur, Kathy Aites, and Susan Kahnell and husband, John, all of Oil City, and DeWayne Kaness and wife, Violet, of Rouseville; and four grandchildren, Mandy Marsh and husband, Troy, of Oil City, Chad Kahnell, stationed with the U.S. Army in Iraq, and wife, Jennifer, of Kersey, Dawn Kaness and fiancé, Gabe Jennerette, of Shippenville, and Julie Cribbett , stationed with the U.S. Army at El Paso, Texas. Survivors also include five stepgrandchildren, Julie Smith and husband, Jim, of Oil City, Brenda Morrow and husband, Jim, of Edinboro, Jennifer Rice and husband, Tom, of Cranberry, Kim Boyles and husband, Rick, of Girard, and William Whitman and wife, Deana, of Rouseville; numerous great-grandchildren, including great-grandson Erin Whitman stationed with the US Army in Iraq; and numerous stepgreat-grandchildren. Also surviving are a brother, R.J. Anthony and wife, Ann, of Conneautville; five sisters, Jane Mealy and husband, William, of North East, Dorothy Woodcock of Arbuckle, Betty Frawley of Waterford, Cloe Confer and husband, Donald, of Pleasantville, and Luella Barnes of Titusville; two brother-in-laws, Richard Parker of Hydetown and Nelson Martin of Pleasantville; two sisters-in-law, Dorothy O'Neill of Brookville and Betty Kaness of Titusville; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Reuben and Robert Anthony; and three sisters, Mary Murch, Caroline Martin and Beulah "Boots" Parker. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home, 303 N. Washington St., Titusville. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home with the Rev. Christopher Barnes of St. James Parish in Erie, officiating. Interment will be in Union Cemetery in Titusville. The family suggests memorials be made to the Venango County Visiting Nurses Association or to the Rouseville Volunteer Fire Department. Florence M. McCool, 81, of 523 Cooperstown Road, Cooperstown, went to be with the Lord and her husband at 12:30 a.m. Sunday, May 24, 2009, at St. Vincent Health Center, Erie. Born June 9, 1927, in Ripley, N.Y., she was a daughter of Hary Stearns and Velma Robishaw (Brown) Stearns. Mrs. McCool worked as a nursing assistant at Oil City Hospital. She was a member of the Mount Carmel Tabernacle. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting, bingo and reading. She was married June 15, 1945, to Ivan L. McCool, who preceded her in death. Surviving are two children, Francis L. McCool of Franklin and Mrs. Jeanne A. Brown of Utica; six grandchildren, Richard E. Brown and his wife, Jennifer, of Oil City, Brian K. Brown of Utica, Tammy McCool of Franklin, Jamie McCool of Franklin, Johnny McCool of Oil City and Robert McCool of Franklin; many great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a brother and his wife, Harris L. and Shirley Stearns of Cooperstown. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Charles, James and Sammie Stearns; an infant brother, William Stearns; and a son-in-law, Eugene Brown. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Gardinier Funeral Home, 1315 Chestnut St. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home with the Rev. Robert Witmer, retired minister of the Mount Carmel Tabernacle, officiating. Interment will be in the Cooperstown Cemetery. The family suggests memorials be made to the Mount Carmel Tabernacle. Online condolences may be sent at www.gardinierfuneralhome.com. Roy H. Schreffler, D. Ed., 84, of Knox, died Friday evening, May 22, 2009, at his home following a brief illness. Born Feb. 5, 1925, in Philipsburg, he was the son of the late Roy H. and Virginia Zerbe Schreffler. Dr. Schreffler attended the public schools of Philipsburg through the eleventh grade and finished secondary school at Culver Military Academy in Indiana in June 1943. In July of that year he entered the U.S. Army, in which his major service was with the 94th Infantry Division, serving in France, Bastogne and Germany. Following his discharge in 1946 he attended Juniata College as a married student attaining his bachelor's of science degree in 1949. He then earned a master's degree from Penn State in 1951. He earned his doctorate at Penn State in 1968. He was a licensed psychologist in Delaware and Pennsylvania. He taught at Rockwood High School, Shippensburg Area schools, Sharon Area and the Alfred I. DuPont District in Delaware. Dr. Schreffler's public school positions included teaching sciences, providing speech therapy and serving as school psychologist and supervisor of special education. In 1966 he joined the faculty at Clarion University. At Clarion, he was in teacher education/special education and attained the rank of professor. In 1996, Dr. Schreffler was awarded the annual Baumgartner Honor Award for special education service. He retired from Clarion University in 1988. Along with his public school positions, he served as president of the Centre County Juniata College Alumni Association, president of the Clarion County Association for Retarded Citizens, and president of the Sharon Teachers Association. He was the charter president of the Midwestern PA Chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children, secretary of Clarion University Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa and served on the four-county Board of Mental Health/Mental Retardation committee. His memberships include more than 30 years in the PARC (Pennsylvania chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children), the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, the Delaware Psychological Association and was a life member of the National Education Association. He was a Mason and received his 50-year membership pin in 2006. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite in New Castle, the Clarion County Shrine Club and the American Legion. Dr. Schreffler participated in numerous musical organizations, including the Philipsburg Little Symphony Orchestra, the University of Florida Orchestra, the Shippensburg Town Band, Franklin's Silver Cornet Band, the Mostly Brass Band of Oil City, the Venango County Orchestra, Clarion County Chorus and the Knox Methodist Church Choir. In September s1946, he married Alice Williams of Port Matilda, who preceded him in death in 1991 and was buried in Philipsburg. Survivors include their six children, Virginia Wimberleg and her husband, John, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., Suzanne Shaw and her husband, Tom, of Phoenix, Ariz., Roy Schreffler and his wife, Donna, of Knox, John Schreffler and his wife, Kendra, of Shippenville, Marianne Schreffler of Lafayette, La., and Stefanie White and her husband, Terry, of Strattanville. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, Roy Schreffler Jr., Megan Wimberleg, Christopher and Alice Shaw, Amanda Laughlin, Jenna Lupone, and Rachel and Felicia White; and a brother, Robert Schreffler of Chester, Va. Dr. Schreffler then married the former Brenda Joyce Dobson in 1994 in Brookville, and she survives. They resided in Knox and together enjoyed retirement, travel and musical events. They regularly attended the reunion of the 94th Infantry Division Association, which meets at major cities across the U.S. In addition to his children, he is survived by his stepchildren, Karen Lupone and her husband, Joseph, of Brookville, and Linda Laughlin and her husband, Barry, of New Bethlehem. In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by a younger brother, Thomas Schreffler of Philipsburg. Dr. Schreffler has chosen to be cremated and buried in Philipsburg. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. The William N. Rupert Mortuary, Inc. of Knox is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to Dr. Schreffler's family at www.rupertfuneralhomes.com. Charles "Willy" Swarm, 90, of Country Springs in Sligo, formerly of Van, died Monday afternoon. William N. Rupert Mortuary in Knox is in charge of arrangements. A complete obituary will be published Wednesday in The Derrick. Elva M. Willison, 91, of New Bethlehem, died Sunday morning, May 24, 2009, at the Clarview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Sligo. A complete obituary will be published Wednesday in The Derrick. The Rupert Funeral of New Bethlehem is in charge of arrangements. Sandra (Silves) Birtcil Young, 71, of Cleveland, Ga., and Adair, Okla., went to be with the Lord on Friday, May 22, 2009, at the North East Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Ga. Born Feb. 4, 1938, in Oil City, she was a daughter of the late Clarence and Kathryn Brosius Silves. She was a 1956 graduate of Keystone High School in Knox. After raising her children in Riverdale, Ga., and retiring from the U.S. government, where she held numerous positions, she moved to Cleveland, Ga., with her late husband, Robert A. Birtcil in 1996. He preceded her in death Sept. 4, 2001. She moved to Adair, Okla., when she married Melvic C. Young in 2002 but maintained her home in Cleveland. She spent half her time in Adair, where she enjoyed weekly swimming at the Y and Friday night dances at the senior center. She spent half her time in Cleveland, where she enjoyed Sunday morning worships at Mountain Shadows Church, pot luck dinners, riding around in the golf cart and just hanging out with friends. She was also an avid reader and spent time communicating with family and friends on the Internet. She loved traveling with Melvin in their motor home to visit family members, and they always took their dog, Brandy, and Cathy the cat along for the ride. Sandy truly loved her family and deeply enjoyed bragging about each and every one of them every chance she could. She touched many lives with her heart-warming personality and will be deeply missed. She is survived by her husband, Melvin; a sister, Roberta (John) Gruber of Virginia; a brother, John (Kathy) Silves; sister-in-law, Kay Smith; and two brothers-in-law, Dennis Young and Stanley (Ginger) Young. Survivors also include three sons, Thomas (Kathy) Birtcil of Florence, Ky., Timothy (Shelli) Birtcil of Locust Grove, Ga., and Theodore (Pam) Birtcil of Bell Buckle, Tenn.; a daughter, Tammy (Jim) Sharpe of Loudon, Tenn. Also surviving are stepchildren, Robert (Terry) Birtcil Jr. of Indianapolis, Ind., Deborah Young of Indianapolis, Ind., John Birtcil of Buchanan, Ga., Lynne (Roger) Walters of Pryor, Okla., and Vickie (Gene) Koger of Adair, Okla. Surviving grandchildren include Gina Sharpe, Mike Birtcil, Jon (Samantha) Birtcil, Allen (Mandi) Birtcil, Kaylae Birtcil, Tiffany (Brian) Stanley, Trinty Birtcil, C.J. Sharpe, Cassie (Kevin) Stallcup, Jay Birtcil, and Joshua Birtcil. Surviving stepgrandchildren include Eddie Lewis, Angela (Terry) Cottrell, Christy (Stephen) Stephenson, Bobby Birtcil, Amber Hammons, Casey Bisi, Jayme (Justin) Agan, Nick (Heather) Koger, Cheryl (Robert) Waltrous, and Beth (Allen) Reichard. Survivors also include 19 great-grandchildren with three more expected. In addition to her parents and first husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Fred Silves; a granddaughter, Ashley Birtcil; and great-grandson, Joshua Stephenson. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the David C. McEntire Funeral Home, 504 E. Penn St., Knox. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home with the Rev. Pam Mansfield, pastor of St. Mark Chapel in Kossuth, officiating. Interment will follow at St. Mark Chapel cemetery. Ellington memorial set June 2 A memorial service for Barbara Brosius Ellington, 59, of Phoenix, Ariz., formerly of Oil City, who died Nov. 11, 2008, will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, at the Oil City Marina in the West End. The date marks her birthday. The service will be conducted by the Rev. Robert Wilson, pastor of Seneca United Methodist Church. It was Ms. Ellington's wish that she be cremated and her ashes spread on the Allegheny River. The family suggests memorials be made to the Venango County Humane Society or a charity of one's choice. Among her local survivors are two sisters, Katherine Andres of Seneca and Sarah Kulinski of Oil City, and a brother, Richard Brosius of Franklin.