DILLON — Mrs. Geraldine Frances Steigleder, widow of Royal Leonard Andrew “ Roy” Steigleder, Jr., died June 14, 2006, in Dillon, South Carolina. She was born April 13, 1916, in Chickasha, Oklahoma, to Mr. and Mrs. Roland Kelbert Arnold. Her family moved to Duncan, Oklahoma, and, at 16, she began teaching Children’s Church at the First Christian Church. At the age of 18, she married Roy Steigleder and joined the First Presbyterian Church. They taught Sunday school classes, chaired committees, and enjoyed a wonderful marriage for 53 years. Jerri wrote and coordinated church programs, and served as Bible study leader for the women’s organization for 20 years. Because of her dedication to the women of the church, she was presented with a lifetime membership. In 1988, she became an Elder in the Church, one of the first females to be chosen for this position. Mrs. Steigleder was extremely creative, manifested by her oil paintings, custom-made ladies’ hats and jewelry and flower arrangements. She was president and charter member of the Forsythia Garden Club and the Owl Literary Club of Duncan. For years she was the “official literature reader” for weekly gatherings of her friends. Jerri was active in the Duncan Book Review Club and was an accomplished “after-dinner speaker” herself. She particularly enjoyed presenting comedies, because she believed “nobody wanted to hear a long, boring speaker” after dinner. She was also known as the “Christmas Story Lady” because, for 30 years, she presented a Christmas story to every civic club and church in Duncan. Her varied interests ranged from classes in French conversation to becoming scorekeeper for her son Roy’s high school and American Legion baseball teams. Prior to publishing each game’s results in the next day’s newspaper, the Duncan Banner sportswriter always called Jerri to verify the statistics. Jerri was not a trained musician, but she thoroughly enjoyed listening to the piano and organ music played by her daughter. They spent many enjoyable hours selecting music that her daughter would play for various church services. At the age of 83, after her husband’s death, Mrs. Steigleder moved to Dillon, South Carolina, where she joined Main Street United Methodist Church. From 1999 to 2004, she taught two Sunday school classes and participated in Lay Speaker School and several United Methodist Women’s groups. Jerri loved to share flowers from her garden and, much to her neighbor’s delight, she always had something beautiful blooming. After suffering a stroke, Jerri lived at Elmcroft of Florence in Florence, South Carolina. Later she was a resident of both Sunny Acres Nursing Home in Fork, SC, and The Pines Nursing Home of Dillon, SC. Mrs. Steigleder was truly a loving and caring person. Her good deeds and the love she shared will continue to live on in those of us who had the pleasure of knowing her. Jerri is survived by two children, Major Roy R. (Claire) Steigleder, U.S.A.F. (Ret.), of Spokane, Washington, and Jon Ann (Dan) Bozard of Dillon, South Carolina; five grandchildren: Colin S. Steigleder, Robin H. (David) Martin and Stephen T. Steigleder of Spokane, Washington, Major Jeffrey C. (Devon) Bozard, D.C.A.N.G. of Alexandria, Virginia, and Jennifer L. Bozard of Charleston, South Carolina. She had two great-grandsons, Cain and Jack Martin of Spokane, Washington, and two great-granddaughters, Anna Katharine Kireina and Avalon Neff Bozard of Alexandria, Virginia. Mrs. Steigleder was preceded in death by her sister, Mercedese C. Arnold, and her brother, R. K. Arnold, Jr. A “Celebration of Life” service will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 16, at Main Street United Methodist Church in Dillon, South Carolina, after which friends will be greeted in Asbury Hall. A private interment and second “ Celebration of Life” service will be held next week at the First Presbyterian Church in Duncan, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to either the Capital Fund of Main Street United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 229, Dillon, SC 29536 or to the Capital Fund of First Presbyterian Church, 704 West Ash-Duncan, OK 73533.