Obituary for Eleanor Louise Berkstresser-Clark
Eleanor Louise Clark, 102, formerly of Tyrone, Pennsylvania, passed away on May 1, 2019 at the Gilchrist Hospice Center in Towson, Maryland.
She was born in Juniata, PA, on August 7, 1916, the first of eight children born to Walter and Ethel Burket. The family eventually settled in Bellwood, PA, where Eleanor graduated from Bellwood-Antis High School before marrying Bernard Speer Berkstresser.
Eleanor began her professional career as a retail sales agent for Lugg and Edmunds. She was later employed by Gables Department Store in Altoona, and then worked for 25 years at the Chicago Rivet and Machine Company in Tyrone. Very active in her church, Eleanor served 72 years as the Tipton United Methodist Church pianist and music director plus teaching Sunday School classes from time to time.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, three sisters, husband Bernard S. Berkstresser, second husband Robert Clark, son Bernard D. Berkstresser, and daughter Ellen Kay Erickson. Surviving are her children Robert Berkstresser and wife Brenda of Lansing, KS; Janet Brown and husband Harry of Windsor Mill, MD; Jerry Berkstresser and wife Lisa of Altoona, PA; John Berkstresser and wife Lynne of Ellijay, GA; and Daughter-in-law Barbara Raker and husband Ray of State College, PA; eight grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren.
Eleanor resided the last six years with her daughter Janet and son-in-law Harry Brown in Windsor Mill, MD. Besides her huge family of children, grandchildren, and friends visiting her, Ms. Eleanor enjoyed reading, bible study, baking, playing her piano and working word search puzzles.
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 10th at the Richard Searer Funeral Home in Tyrone, PA. Visitation will be from 11:00 AM to 12:00 noon and 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, at which time the memorial service will start at 3:00 PM, with a graveside service following at the Blair Memorial Park in Bellwood, PA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Tipton United Methodist Church:
219 Spruce St, Tyrone, PA 16686, or to the Church of the Good Shepherd: 1650 Clay Avenue, Tyrone, PA 16686.
She was born in Juniata, PA, on August 7, 1916, the first of eight children born to Walter and Ethel Burket. The family eventually settled in Bellwood, PA, where Eleanor graduated from Bellwood-Antis High School before marrying Bernard Speer Berkstresser.
Eleanor began her professional career as a retail sales agent for Lugg and Edmunds. She was later employed by Gables Department Store in Altoona, and then worked for 25 years at the Chicago Rivet and Machine Company in Tyrone. Very active in her church, Eleanor served 72 years as the Tipton United Methodist Church pianist and music director plus teaching Sunday School classes from time to time.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, three sisters, husband Bernard S. Berkstresser, second husband Robert Clark, son Bernard D. Berkstresser, and daughter Ellen Kay Erickson. Surviving are her children Robert Berkstresser and wife Brenda of Lansing, KS; Janet Brown and husband Harry of Windsor Mill, MD; Jerry Berkstresser and wife Lisa of Altoona, PA; John Berkstresser and wife Lynne of Ellijay, GA; and Daughter-in-law Barbara Raker and husband Ray of State College, PA; eight grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren.
Eleanor resided the last six years with her daughter Janet and son-in-law Harry Brown in Windsor Mill, MD. Besides her huge family of children, grandchildren, and friends visiting her, Ms. Eleanor enjoyed reading, bible study, baking, playing her piano and working word search puzzles.
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 10th at the Richard Searer Funeral Home in Tyrone, PA. Visitation will be from 11:00 AM to 12:00 noon and 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, at which time the memorial service will start at 3:00 PM, with a graveside service following at the Blair Memorial Park in Bellwood, PA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Tipton United Methodist Church:
219 Spruce St, Tyrone, PA 16686, or to the Church of the Good Shepherd: 1650 Clay Avenue, Tyrone, PA 16686.