Perry County Obituaries - May 21, 2022

RENEE A. PAPAKOVIC

Renee Ann Palakovic, 52, of Culleoka, Tenn., passed away Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia, Tenn.

She was born June 18, 1970, in Carlisle to Braynard and Carolyn Weary Neal of Shermans Dale.

Renee A. Papakovic

Among her accomplishments, she became the first female director of federal programs in Pennsylvania. She also was the founder of Christmas Treasures in Shermans Dale. Most recently, she enrolled at Carson-Newman University. She was a faithful Christian and member of Shermans Dale United Methodist Church. Thrifting and gardening were her favorite hobbies. Above all, she loved and cherished her children and grandson.

In addition to her parents, surviving are her husband, Darian Palakovic, whom she married Oct. 8, 1988; a son, Corey (Jennifer) Palakovic of Culleoka; a daughter, Madison Elizabeth Palakovic (Hunter Gray) of Lebanon, Tenn.; a brother, Todd David Neal; a sister, Stacy Neal; and a grandson, Michael Joseph Palakovic.

She was preceded in death by her first-born son, Brandon Michael Palakovic.

A celebration of her life was held May 17 in Heritage Funeral Home, Columbia, with Rick Points officiating. Another celebration of life service will be held in Shermans Dale at a later date.

ELAINE F. MAY

Elaine F. May, 81, of Duncannon passed away Monday May 9, 2022, at Penn State Hampden Medical Center, Enola.

She was born Feb. 20, 1941, in Harrisburg to Lester A. and Lillian E. (Kiner) Straw.

Elaine F. May

A 1959 graduate of Susquenita High School, she took great pride in creating a warm and nurturing environment in her home for her family. She also worked with her husband in the operation of Denny’s Place in Duncannon. She had an artistic interest and enjoyed coloring, as well as watching birds, the Hallmark Channel, puppies and babies. She had attended Duncannon Church of God.

She was the widow of Dennis A. May Sr., who died April 3, 2009.

Surviving are a daughter, Marilyn E. (Brett) Mohler of Moyock, N.C.; two sons, Alan D. (Debbie) Houck and Tracy B. (Laurie) Houck, both of Duncannon; six grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; six stepgreat-grandchildren; a sister, Betty S. Burd of Lewisberry; and five stepchildren, Shelly (Bob) Swartz of Carlisle, Sherry May of Minnesota, Dennis May Jr. of Newport, and Scott (Tammy) May and Shawn May, both of Duncannon.

A graveside service was held in Union Cemetery, Duncannon.

Ronald C.L. Smith Funeral Home, Duncannon, handled arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Duncannon Church of God, 2 Muhlenberg St., Duncannon 17020.

BARRY P. SHEAFFER

Barry P. Sheaffer, 80, of Duncannon passed away Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at Penn State Hampden Medical Center, Enola.

He was born Oct. 24, 1941, in Duncannon to the late H. Paul and Mabel F. (Miller) Sheaffer.

Barry P. Sheaffer

He was a 1959 graduate of Susquenita High School; served in the Army during the Vietnam War; and employed as a service technician by PPL Energy for 27 years until retirement in 2000, and following retirement worked at Kinkora Pythian Home and Rohrer Bus.

He was actively involved in Scouting for many years and was presented with the Silver Beaver Award in recognition of his dedication to the service and growth of young people. He loved the outdoors, especially mowing his grass or washing his cars. He was a member of Duncannon American Legion Post 340 and former member of Perry County Old Iron Collectors, and attended Otterbein United Methodist Church.

Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Mary Jane (Fosselman) Sheaffer; a son, Scott A. (Susan); a daughter, Wendy A. Clugston; three grandchildren, Morgan Sheaffer, Nathaniel Clugston and Zachary Clugston; a sister, Shelby Raub; and two brothers, Dennis (Janet) Sheaffer and Charles (Nancyann) Sheaffer.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Judith A. Sheaffer, who was stillborn; a brother, Richard Sheaffer; and son-in-law, Shawn Clugston.

A service was held May 14 in Duncannon Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dr. Keith A. Blank officiating. Interment, with military honors, was in Snyder’s Cemetery, New Bloomfield.

Ronald C.L. Smith Funeral Home, Duncannon, handled arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Multiple Sclerosis Society, Central Pennsylvania Chapter, 2000 Linglestown Road, Suite 201, Harrisburg 17110, or American Heart Association, 4250 Crums Mill Road, Harrisburg 17112.

PALMER W. SCHRADER

Palmer W. Schrader, 77, of Millerstown passed away Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at Richfield Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.

He was born Dec. 19, 1944, in Snyder County to Clarence and Emma (Feltman) Schrader.

He was retired from American Can Company, where he received awards for his excellent job performance. He was of the Protestant faith and a lifetime member of Millerstown Moose 925, where he served as governor during his membership. He also was a member of the Legion of the Moose and Newport Social Order of Owls Club. He was an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Penn State. He loved the outdoors, mowing grass and fixing anything that was broken.

Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Judith McGowan Schrader, and two sisters, Phyllis Renninger of Mifflintown and Mary Campbell of Loysville.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Clarence and James Schrader; and seven sisters, Ruth Swartz, Virginia Keisling, Gloria Fosselman, Louella Shellenberger, Joyce Boyer, Margaret Rolison and Susan Gardner.

David Myers Funeral Home, Newport, handled arrangements.

RICHARD BOSTWICK

Richard Bostwick, 87, of Maxfield, Maine, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2022.

He was born May 14, 1934, in Luzerne County to Richard Bostwick and Hazel Heimes.

Richard Bostwick

He was a good husband, father and grandfather.

He retired from Capital Products in 1992, where he was a shipping dispatcher; was a member of Mount Gilead United Methodist Church, Shermans Dale; and enjoyed the great outdoors and food. His favorite holiday was the Fourth of July, which combined family, food, and festivities — cookouts, fireworks and the color red. He volunteered as a driver for the Shermans Dale Ambulance Association.

He was known for always smiling and thinking positively.

Surviving are three children, Steven Bostwick of Newville, David (Cindy Anderson) Bostwick of Shermans Dale and Christine McCormick of Maxfield; five grandchildren, Corinne Bostwick, Stephanie Bostwick, Daniel Bostwick, Katlyn Bostwick and Michael Bostwick; two great-grandchildren, Cloie and Kiley; and a brother, Walter (Deborah) Heimes Jr. of Newport.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 58 years, Mary Catherine (Lowe) Bostwick, who died in 2013, and a grandson, Derek Bostwick.

A service was held May 12 in his church with pastor Brian Doyle officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Nickel-Lochstampfor Family Funeral Home, Loysville, handled arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shermans Dale Ambulance Association, 260 Richwine Road, Shermans Dale 17090.

RAYMOND V. KIRKPATRICK SR.

Raymond V. Kirkpatrick Sr., 88, of Waggoners Gap Road, Carlisle, passed away Sunday, May 8, 2022.

He was born June 6, 1933, in Shermans Dale to Walter J. and Elsie M. (Moore) Kirkpatrick. R

Raymond V. Kirkpatrick Sr.

Over the years, he worked numerous jobs including the railroad, Libby’s, General Mills and Quaker Oats before retiring in 1990 from Central Storage in Harrisburg. He loved going to public sales and became known as the “Quarter Man.” He collected an array of items — antiques and pictures. He also loved to travel to Potter County with his sons to hunting camp and also enjoyed hunting in Pisgah and Waggoners Gap. For years, he decorated his yard on Waggoners Gap Road with stuffed animals and recently discovered that his unusual yard set-up was featured on “Roadside America.” He also enjoyed going to yard sales, watching “The Price Is Right,” listening to Tradio talk radio and visiting with his family every Sunday, especially at the home of his sister, Grace Zeigler.

He was the widower of Gloria M. (Sheets) Shetrom Kirkpatrick, who died Aug. 7, 2012.

Surviving are his friend, Marie Smiley of Shermans Dale; four children, Cynthia Houseman, David (Tammy) Kirkpatrick and Raymond (Laurie) Kirkpatrick Jr., all of Shermans Dale, and Sherry (Peter) Sheffer of New Bloomfield; a stepson, Gary (Robinn) Shetrom of Newport; four siblings, Grace (Newell) Zeigler and Glenn (Mary) Kirkpatrick, both of Carlisle, Donald (Dee) Kirkpatrick of Newport and Gladys (Mark) Evans of Falls Creek; four granddaughters, Michelle (Scott) Draucker, Melissa (Aaron) Bronstetter, Brooke (Dustin) Haas and Randi Kirkpatrick; two stepgranddaughters, Jennifer Shetrom and Amanda Shetrom; a stepgrandson, Scott Strawser, and great-granddaughter, Ariana.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Dennis Kirkpatrick (2020) and Jeffrey Kirkpatrick (1999); a brother, Kenneth Kirkpatrick (2014); and three sisters, Shirley Mitchell (2017), Evelyn Cleland (2018) and Thelma King (2018).

A service was held May 13 in Ronald C.L. Smith Funeral Home, Duncannon, with pastor Wayne Wheeler officiating. Interment was in Restland Cemetery, Loysville.

Memorial contributions may be made to Join Hands Ministry, 51 S. Church St., New Bloomfield 17068 (joinhands.help), or Neighbor Helping Neighbor Food Bank, 300A S. Carlisle St., New Bloomfield (nhnfoodbank.com).

ALTHEA J. ROBINSON

Althea J. Robinson, 89, of Loysville passed away Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at Premier at Perry Village, New Bloomfield.

She was born June 5, 1932, in Juniata County to Leroy and Ruth (Forry) Elsasser.

She was a member of Tressler Memorial Lutheran Church, Loysville, and a volunteer with Perry Health Center, caring for children. She enjoyed gardening, sewing and baking, for which she won many blue ribbons.

She was the widow of Paul V. Robinson.

Surviving are three sons, Ricki Robinson (Carol) of Landisburg, Bradley Robinson (Brenda) of Carlisle and Matthew Robinson of Loysville; two sisters, Faye Messimer of Millerstown and Shirley Hoover of McAlisterville; a daughter-in-law, Sharon Robinson of Shermans Dale; a son-in-law, Tony Newcomer of Newville; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren

She was preceded in death by a son, David Robinson; a daughter, Carol Newcomer; and a sister and brother-in-law, Harriet and Harold Amey.

A service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 19, in her church, 3581 Shermans Valley Road, Loysville, with a viewing at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Restland Cemetery, Loysville.

David Myers Funeral Home, Newport, is handling arrangements.

SHEILA A. GRIFFITH

Sheila A. (Ryan) Griffith, 55, Blain, formerly of Bath, N.Y., and LaBelle, Fla.; passed away peacefully in her home on Saturday, March 12, 2022.

Sheila was born May 5, 1966, in Urbana, N.Y., to David Ryan and Jo Deane (Morrell) Jennings.

Sheila A. Griffith

She was a 1985 graduate of Haverling Area School District.

In her early years, she called Florida home. She created memories and everlasting friendships there that were known to her as family. After many years, she and her daughters relocated to Pennsylvania, where she enjoyed working as a notary and title clerk until her health declined.

In 2007, she fell in love with her lifelong companion, Philip “Fudge” Wallace. They enjoyed their flower beds, hummingbirds and other “critters” around their home. Most of all, they enjoyed spending time with grandchildren and family. She will be remembered for many things, but if there was one thing that could be said of her, it would be that she was first always a mom, a friend second. “I’m not your friend, I’m your mom,” is a line that will stay with many. Sheila may have given birth to only two daughters, but she had many children in her heart. She loved with all she had, always being a mom to anyone who needed one. She was a mentor, grandmother, confidant and so much more. Her love and compassion never faltered for anyone in need. She added to her family as she walked through life, picking up what she called her “strays” along the way.

Surviving are her long-time companion, Philip; daughters, Jody Ryan and Casey (Wilbur) Coy; six grandchildren, Kylie, Cody, Lily, David, Caleb and Callie; siblings, David, Darryl and Dennis Ryan, Sonja (Jennings) Walker, Charles, Larry and Cindy Booth, Lori Yarka, Kristy Tarbox, Laurette Ditzler, Mindy Mercer and Trena Jennings; many nieces and nephews; several close friends; and many others who knew her as “Mama” or “Gram.”

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jo Deane (Morrell) Jennings, and David and Jane Ryan.

A celebration of her life was held March 25 at the Blain Picnic Grounds with pastor Bradley Bennett officiating.

Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home, Shippensburg, handled arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Amedisys Hospice Care, 2708 Commerce Drive, Suite 300, Harrisburg 17110.

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