Sunday's obituaries - Morey and Woodin families have three recent deaths in four months

Sympathy to the Morey and Woodin families. They have parted with three family members in less than four months.

Many times we remember the historical family members. Today, we remember and honor recent family members. They are physically not with us, but they will not be forgotten.

Patricia Johnson

Obituary

PATRICIA JOHNSON, 77 SIMPSONVILLE, SC - Patricia Mae Woodin Johnson, 77, formerly of Loves Park, IL, was called home to her Lord on Wednesday, November 26, 2014. She was born in Ottawa, IL, on December 7, 1936, to the late Walter and Mary Studebaker Woodin, Patricia graduated from Marseilles High School in 1954 and attended Rockford Business College. She was employed as a telephone operator at Illinois Bell and secretary and receptionist at the Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce. She was a loving and kind hearted woman who will be remembered for her compassion and listening ear. Never one to sit still and always one to want to help, she loved crocheting blankets for the babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She was a longtime member of First Evangelical Free Church of Rockford, a past Girl Scout Leader, and member of several prayer and service groups in Rockford and later in Simpsonville, SC. More than anything Patricia loved her savior and her family. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Thomson (Craig) of Simpsonville, SC; her son, Scott Johnson (Jody Heiden) of Lake Mills, WI; a brother, Dave Woodin (Carol) of Malta, IL; four grandchildren, Laura, Sarah, Amy and Ian Thomson, all of Simpsonville, SC; her cousin, Carol Powder (Larry) of Rockford; a brother-in-law, Gary Johnson (Phyllis) of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded by her husband, Kent Edward Johnson, her parents and two siblings. Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, December 6, 2014, in the sanctuary of Palmetto Hills Presbyterian Church, 2147 E Georgia Road, Simpsonville, SC 29681. Memorial services will be held at a later date in Rockford, IL. Memorials may be made to Joy To the World Foundation, memo for Good Ground Communications, 5550 Tech Center Dr., Suite 305, Colorado Springs, CO 80919 or toll free (844) 670-2875, or goodgroundcommunications .org. Arrangements by The Mackey Mortuary.- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/rrstar/obituary.aspx?pid=173362586#sthash.VERk8rws.dpuf

Published in Rockford Register Star from Dec. 4 to Dec. 5, 2014 accessed 23 February 2015

Posted: Tuesday, December 30, 2014 6:00 am

Ernest D. Woodin

COOPERSTOWN — Ernest D. Woodin passed away Thursday evening, Dec. 25, 2014, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. He was 81.

Born on Jan. 24, 1933, in Marseilles, Ill., Ernie was the third of five children of Eugene and Helen (née Morey) Woodin.

He graduated from Marseilles High School in 1951, where he served as class president. The first in his family to have the opportunity to attend college, he earned his associate degree in 1953 at LaSalle-Peru-Oglesby (LPO) Junior College, where he studied pre-veterinary science while working for a local veterinarian. He then went on to attend the University of Illinois but was forced to withdraw after suffering an injury to his foot, and was drafted into the United States Army. Stationed in Germany, he proudly served his country as a water supply specialist with the H & S Co. 5th Engineer Battalion and received his honorable discharge from the military in December 1955.

Following his military service, Ernest embarked on an 18-year career with the phone company starting out as a lineman for Illinois Bell. After successfully completing a test for programming aptitude, he rose from programmer to programming manager, which in turn led to him becoming a programming instructor. 

In 1964, Ernie came to Cooperstown and taught programming courses for the AT&T Company’s Data Communications Training Program held at the Otesaga Hotel. He and his family returned to Illinois in 1966, and later moved to Somerset, N.J., where he was “on loan” to Bell Labs. In March of 1972, the Woodins returned to Cooperstown, where Ernest became employed at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in the computer department. He served for many years as the director of Hospital Information Systems and retired from Bassett in the spring of 1990.

Ernest is survived by his wife of 57 years, Arlene (née Viviani). They were married in their hometown of Marseilles, Ill., on Dec. 21, 1957. He is further survived by their two children, Beth Torruella and her husband, Reese, of Garner, N.C., and Alan Woodin and his wife, Allison, of Cobleskill; three grandchildren, Connor and Logan Torruella and Erika Woodin; a sister, Helen Peek of Ottawa, Ill.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Martin and Richard, and a sister, Marlene.

Ernest had a lifelong love of country living and was skilled at making things with his hands. A master carpenter and woodworker, he built his family’s first home in Illinois, a garage in Cooperstown, and “Bennie the Burrow,” a rocking horse he crafted for his grandchildren. His family will also cherish many other pieces he carved throughout his life. In addition to working with wood, he enjoyed gardening, his Schnauzers and seeing draft horses at the fair. He was a proud “Pa Pa” and spoke often of the accomplishments of his grandchildren in the arts, sports and the classroom. Ernest will be remembered by those who loved him for his desire to take on new challenges. Overall he was truly a great man who lead a wonderful life.

Services will be later at the convenience of the family.

For those who wish to make a memorial gift in memory of Ernest, his family suggests that the following organizations be considered: Cooperstown Emergency Squad, P.O. Box 322, Cooperstown, NY 13326 or Friends of Bassett for the benefit of Bassett Medical Center, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut St., Cooperstown, www.cooperstownfuneralhome.com. 

The Daily Star.com

http://www.thedailystar.com/obituaries/ernest-d-woodin/article_f0fee667-1740-58aa-90b5-017c7373afd9.html?mode=story  accessed 23 February 2015

Genevra F. Blair

Genevra F. Blair, 79, of Kittanning, PA, passed away Sunday, February 22, 2015, at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital surrounded by her family.

She was born September 4, 1935, in Armstrong County, PA, the daughter of Harry "Dutch" and Gertrude (Morey) Walter.

Genevra was a lifetime resident of Armstrong County and graduated from Kittanning High School in 1953. She worked in the glass factory at PPG Industries in Ford City for 30 years, retiring in 1984. Genevra was a member of Whitesburg United Methodist Church and enjoyed being outdoors. Her favorite activities were gardening, camping and traveling, but above all she loved spending time with her family.

Genevra will be deeply missed by her son, Raymond "Larry" Blair, Jr., and wife, Lisa, of Kittanning; daughters, Cynthia Walker and husband, Brian, of Kittanning, Joanne Hagofsky and husband, Richard, of Kittanning, and Connie Cloak and husband, William, of Templeton; grandchildren, Krista Roessing and husband, Jason, Shauna Troup and husband, RJ, Laina Walker, Brittany McLaughlin and husband, Jonathan, Laura Blair, Megan Blair, Ryan Hagofsky, Brandon Hagofsky, Steven Cloak and Justin Cloak; and sister, Kathleen Emigh and husband, James, of Falls Creek.

She was preceded in death by her parents; loving husband, Raymond L. Blair, Sr., whom she married November 5, 1954 and who died August 2, 2008; sister, Charlene Mullins; and brother, Glenn Walter.

Relatives and friends may visit from 2-4 and 7-9 PM on Wednesday, February 25, 2015, at the Bauer Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 515 N. McKean Street, Kittanning,

Additional visitation will be from 10 AM until the time of funeral services at 11 AM on Thursday, February 26, 2015, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Ernie DeLuca and Rev. Craig Lindahl co-officiating.

Burial will be in Whitesburg United Methodist Cemetery, Kittanning, PA.

Contributions can be made in Genevra's memory to Whitesburg United Methodist Church, 12127 US Rt. 422, Kittanning, PA 16201.
Bauer Funeral & Cremation Services
http://www.bauerfuneral.com/viewObit.php?oID=1546 online accessed 24 February 2015