PA – Generations Remembered

February 5, 2022

HowManyofMe.com

Strolling through Facebook you can find many unusual items to read. I found this one particularly interesting because I frequently get asked if I am related to Milton S. Hershey, Founder of Hershey, PA and infamous for his chocolate town. Most people will recognize the name of Hershey. As a genealogist, I can tell you, my husband is a first cousin three times removed. When you tell most people this relationship, their faces go blank. I could explain this, but then I can imagine you would change to another blog.

Back to HowManyofMe – I found this website and thought I would find out how many Deborah Hershey’s there are in the United States. The results:

I thought this was a little low as I know there are 4 Deborah Hershey’s in the Hershey area, but there are also, last time I checked, 100 Hershey families in the local phonebook (back when you were listed in a phonebook). As we have traveled around the USA we have stopped in other towns named Hershey, but I didn’t think to look in their phonebooks. There is a Hershey, Nebraska, for one.

This is a fun exercise, how many of you are in the United States?

December 9, 2017

Connecting with Family

This was a special week of White family connecting. Cousin Tim White, from California, called and we had a lovely discussion about our family. Probably the last time I saw him was in the 1960’s when we were visiting Great Uncle Tom White, my grandfather’s brother, in Harrisburg. I’m hoping to catch up with him next time he is in PA and show him where our family grew up, married, had children and are buried, starting with the Gailey-White cemetery in Marysville.

I also got a note from Cousin Lesley Padgett Austin that James Hooker III passed away November 5th and also that his mother, Ann passed away in April of this year. We were in Colorado Springs a couple of years ago and had a lovely lunch with James and Deborah. So glad we take advantage of these opportunities while we are traveling to catch up with relatives.

Mom and I met the Spencer’s in Malvern for lunch this week. What a wonderful visit with Bob, Phil and Mary (Betts), and Sid Baglini. Bob is the oldest of the Alex and Mary Ella (Hess) White grandchildren at 97 years. Still very active as are his siblings. We had a wonderful time reminiscing about visiting “The Farm”, meaning a trip for the Spencer’s to Snedekerville, PA. Growing up in Sned, we always were excited for the Philadelphia cousins to visit and spent much of our time exploring the hills and bringing in the cows.

My nephew, Jeffrey Carroll, also came for a visit and to spend some time with Grandma White. Now living in Lockport, NY it is quite a trip, but we are thankful for the time he makes to visit with Mom. She is a good hostess and so proud of her new digs in Elizabethtown at the Masonic Village.

At this time of the year with, Christmas closing in on us, family is THE most important things in our lives. Here’s hoping this new year will bring us more family visits.

October 6, 2016

Bertha Dean White Wolfe

Another death in the family to report – Aunt Bertha Dean White Wolfe has passed away at the age of 94. She was the wife of Hugh Alexander White, my Dad’s brother, who died in 1962. Bertha remarried Robert Wolfe, who died in 2013. She was born in Snedekerville, PA, one of the few of this generation who could say she was born and lived almost her entire life there.

Bertha and Bob Wolfe lived on a farm on Snederville Road, but with the address of Columbia Cross Roads. When Grandma Effie White died in 1963, the post office she ran in Snedekerville was moved to a Columbia Cross Roads address, thus ending zip code 16944.

The Snedekerville Post Office served this rural area for many years and covered a large area that went into Tioga County, PA. Effie’s husband, Walter was the Postmaster before her, but she took over and continued the position of Postmistress of Snedekerville, from 1953-1963.

October 20, 2014October 20, 2014

Obituary for Lt. Col. Theodore F. Locke, Jr., age 94

This is the obituary from The Daily Times (DE) Sunday, October 12, 2014. Ted shares the page with his cousin, Earl Spencer who also died recently.

Lt. Col. Theodore F. Locke, Jr., age 94 of Newtown Square, PA and formerly of Avalon, NJ, died Sunday, October 5, 2014.

Mr. Locke was a 1938 graduate of Collingswood High School, Collingswood, NJ and a 1942 graduate of the Pennsylvania Military College (currently Widener University), Chester, PA. Lt. Col. Locke had a 24 -year career with the U.S. Army from 1942-1966, serving during WWII and Korea. After his military service, he was employed with PMC College (currently Widener University) starting as the Asst. to the Dean of Engineering, working his way to the VP of Administration at Widener University.

Lt. Col. Locke served as Chairperson of Budget & Finance Committee at White Horse Village and Chairperson for the Octofair. He founded and adopted the Food Flex Plan for the residents at White Horse Village. He was the husband of the late Grace H. Locke, who died in 1995.

Survivors: Wife; Marjorie (Smith) Locke; Daughter: Lillian L. Busse (Den) of Torrington CT; sons: Theodore F. Locke, III (Carolyn) of Tolland, MA, and Walter R. Locke (Kathleen) of Avalon, NJ; Six Grandchildren; Five Great-Grandchildren; Brother Charles Locke of Cape May, NJ.

Memorial Service November 11, 2014, Tuesday, 11:00 a.m. at White Horse Village, 535 Gradyville Road, Newtown Square, PA. Interment Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, DC.

Memorial Contributions in lieu of flowers may be donated to the Theodore F. Locke, Jr. PMC’42 Freshman Undergraduate Scholarship Fund (make check out to Widener Univ. in memory of T.F. Locke, Jr.). www.msbfh.com

October 20, 2014

O. Earl Spencer, Died at age 89 yrs.

Another “cousin” is gone. Earl Spencer died Oct. 4th and last week I reported that “Cousin” Ted Locke, Jr. passed away (I’ll publish his obituary in a separate blog).

This from The Daily Times (DE) on Sunday, October 12, 2014. O. Earl Spencer, age 89, of Wilmington, DE, formerly of Wallingford, PA, died Saturday, October 4, 2014.

After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Mr. Spencer graduated from Washington & Jefferson College. He was a partner of Spencer Stationery Company. After moving to Delaware, Earl worked at the Delaware Art Museum and took classes at the University of Delaware Academy of Lifelong Learning. Earl enjoyed playing tennis and golf, and riding the waves in Ocean City, NJ.

Earl was the devoted husband of the late Mary Jayne Spencer. Survivors: son, Lon Spencer (Margaret); Daughters: Amy and Meg Spencer and Anne Holford (Fred); four grandchildren: James (Ranjani), Meredith, Georgina and Spencer; one great-grandson: Elliott: Brothers: Philip and Robert Spencer; Sisters: Mary Betts and Betty Drusedum. Funeral Service and Interment are private. Memorial Contributions may be made in memory of O. Earl Spencer to Compassionate Car Hospice Foundation, 248 E. Chestnut Hill Road, Suite 4, Newark, DE 19713; or The Delaware Art Museum, 2301 Kentmere Parkway Wilmington, DE 19806. Condolences: www.msbfh.com

October 11, 2014October 11, 2014

Ted Locke’s Passing Noted

Many of you will remember Ted Locke from the White Reunion and visits long ago. Ted was married to Grace White Hosler, who died in 1995 at the age of 74. I’m sorry to report that Ted has now passed away October 5, 2014 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s. Ted and second wife, Marje lived in White Horse Village in Newtown Square, PA. There will be a service for him at White Horse Village on November 11th at 11:00 am and internment at Arlington Cemetery at a future.

Contact me if you would like further information.

April 9, 2014

Walter White’s Family Gathering

Ruth McCord Blanas has organized a family reunion for Walter and Effie (Bell) White’s children and families. It will be in Bethlehem, PA on August 16th, 2014. If you are interested in attending, please contact Ruth and let her know. She will need a head count.

Don’t wait for a personal invitation just plan to come. You can also contact me via this website and I will pass it along to Ruth.

January 26, 2014January 26, 2014

Dottie Myers and William Betts Have left us

This has been a year of losses. Today I received a call that William Betts, husband of Mary Spencer Betts, had passed away rather quickly. Bill and Mary had just this past year buried their son, Kerry. Our hearts go out to Mary and Carole and hope others will keep them in their prayers.

Just two weeks ago, Dottie Heisley Latham Myers, wife of cousin Mel Myers passed away very unexpectedly. She had fallen and landed in the hospital for a week. She was unable to recover. I attended the graveside service in Perry Heights Cemetery, Marysville, PA. As has been the norm this winter we had yet another snow storm and I was unable to attend the memorial service at the Market Square Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, PA. Contributions may be made to that church in Dottie’s memory.

This year we have lost too many of the White’s, so stay healthy.

January 2, 2014

Christmas Card Announces the passing of Lynn Alan White,

I love to receive those Christmas letters. Why do people send Christmas cards if they are just going to sign their name. I always look at the letter as catching up at least once a year with those distant cousins, friends and past colleagues. If you take the time to address that card, at least give me one or two lines on how you and your family were this past year.

Unfortunately, Christmas letters sometimes bring sad news, such as this year my cousin, Lynn White passed away at 61 years old. Too young to leave this world. Lynn and I were usually assigned to sit be each other in school, when going alphabetically. That is when I really got to know him. Then we both went to Wilkes-Barre, PA to college, Lynn to Wilkes and me to King’s and Mercy. As the years went by, so did our keeping in touch, so I was particularly sad to get the news of his passing on the 4th of July in Lance’s letter.

I’ve heard from many of our classmates and Lynn’s passing has hit our class fairly hard. I guess it is just our facing our own mortality and the end of making new memories with him. Lynn rest in peace. You are missed, but not forgotten.

June 16, 2013

Hershey’s Come One, Come All

The annual Frank and Lydia (Buckwalter) Hershey family reunion will be held Sunday, August 25, 2013 at 1:00 pm at the Paradise Community Park, Paradise, PA. Pavilion #2. Bring a large dish to pass, table service, lawn chairs, drink and old pictures. Please let your immediate family know about the reunion. If I have an up to date email, they should be receiving a notice soon. Playground, athletic fields are available, bring your own equipment.