Iva Thompson Walter - November 27, 1911 – September 7, 2007 Iva Thompson Walter passed away on September 7th 2007 at Ware Presbyterian Village. She was 95 years old and had been a resident at Ware for more than 10 years. She was the widow of T. Barnard Walter who died in 1966. Born in Clearfield County, PA, she was the daughter of Adelbert E. and S. Blanche Watson Thompson. She graduated from Clearfield High School, and then Loch Haven College in 1931. She taught in one-room schools in Clearfield County prior to her marriage in 1934. For the first 11 years of their marriage, she and Barney served as the manager/operators of a farm for Philadelphia Electric Company in Conowingo, MD. They then moved to Upper Oxford Township, near Homeville where they operated Ivanard Farm, a dairy farm with Registered Guernsey cattle. They also raised chickens for eggs, sheep, and Hampshire hogs. Active in Russellville Grange and Faggs Manor Presbyterian Church, they started 4-H clubs in Southern Chester County and were both very involved with Cooperative Extension activities. In addition to 4-H Clubs, Iva was instrumental in starting a Homemakers Club in the Upper Oxford Area. Iva returned to teaching 3rd and 5th grades in the Avon Grove School District until the mid 1970’s. She taught Sunday School and served as a trustee and as an elder at Faggs Manor, and in 1975 spent 6 months as a substitute teacher in Tanzania with African Inland Missions. Active in the Missionary Society, her support of missions continued the remainder of her life. Iva crafted and gave away nearly 100 Teddy Bears. She knitted, crocheted, sewed, hooked rugs, gardened, canned and froze the produce from her gardens, did crosswords, and read. A lifelong learner and teacher, Iva took graduate classes at West Chester, traveled to the Holy Land, and was active in the Business and Professional Women. During WWII, she volunteered as an airplane spotter, looking for and identifying enemy planes. While watching for planes, she knitted khaki colored socks for soldiers. She and Barney worked hard to get electricity into a one-room school in Conowingo before their eldest child began first grade. During the spring of 1942 the school was open several evenings – with lights on – so people could sign up for ration books. Iva’s immediate and extended family has always been important to her. Iva and Barney raised several foster children in addition to their own. Following and enjoying her family’s adventures continued through her final hours. She is survived by her children, Sally Moore and her husband Bill of Chatham, PA, Dave Walter and his wife Cindy of Wyandotte, OK; Judy Heald and her husband Bill of Spring Mills, PA; and Anne Smith Goffredo of Wilmington, DE. Eleven grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild will remember her with love. A sister, Gwendolyn W. T. Frye and a brother, Graydon L. Thompson predeceased her. Family and friends are welcomed to a Celebration of Life on September 29th at 10:00 a.m. at Ware Presbyterian Village Chapel. Memorial contributions in Iva Walter’s name may be made to The Chester County 4-H Center, Inc., P.O. Box 327 Honey Brook, PA  19344, or to her African Mission families through Charlotte Wrigley, 174 Fernwood Road, Cochranville, PA 19330. Online messages may be sent to www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com (Parents of Adelbert Ephriam Thompson are Prochorus Milo Thompson and Martha Jane Moore. Parents of Sara Blanche Watson were William Wesley Watson and Elizabeth Ogden). Iva is my Mom, so if you think we connect genealogically, she and I would both welcome your contact. Judith Walter Heald