Mabel B. Barkman

Mabel B. Barkman, 79, of Petersburg,died at 4:22 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2004, at Westminster Woods in Huntingdon, PA.

Born Oct. 6, 1924, in Pittsburgh, she was the daughter of George C. and Marian E. (Gates) Bowman. On May 29, 1958, she was united in marriage at the First English Lutheran Church in Tyrone by the Rev. Henry Springer to Dr. Oscar C. "Bo" Barkman, who preceded her in death Aug. 13, 1982.

She is survived by a son, O. Charles Barkman, Jr. of Spruce Creek; a daughter, M. Suzanne "Sue" Barkman of Altoona; one grandson, Clayton Loomis Barkman of Spruce Creek; and a former daughter-in-law, Jill Loomis of Spruce Creek.

One sister, Miriam Holtz, and her husband, Richard of Tyrone, and two brothers, Dean Bowman, and his wife, Beverly, of Hollidaysburg and John C. Bowman, and his wife, Manita, of Hammondsburg, NY survive. Also surviving are a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by an infant brother, Lynn Bowman, and a nephew, David A. Bowman.

Mrs. Barkman was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church, State College, and was formerly a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Petersburg and the First English Lutheran Church in Tyrone.

She served as a treasurer for the Petersburg Community Development Association, the Alexandria Garden Club, and, recently, as treasurer for the District V Federation of Garden Clubs of Pennsylvania. She was formerly the treasurer for the Juniata Valley Senior Citizens, Inc.

She was a member of the board of the Stoudt Scholarship Trust Fund and was an IRS volunteer tax aide for the elderly. She was a member of the Penn State Alumni Association and was a very active member of the Huntingdon County Republican Party. She was also a member of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees and the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

She was a member and past worthy matron of the Order of Eastern Star No. 288, Tyrone, and the originator of the Tyrone Rainbow Girls. In Huntingdon, she acted as an adviser to the Future Business Leaders of America.

She graduated from Tyrone High School with the Class of 1942 and received a bachelor of science degree in business education from Indiana State College in 1946 and a masters degree from Penn State University in 1950.

Mrs. Barkman served as a business education teacher for the Williamsburg School District from 1946 to 1953, the Altoona High School from 1953 to 1960, and the Huntingdon Area School District from 1960 until her retirement in 1982.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, Sept. 10, at the First English Lutheran Church in Tyrone with Pastor T. M. Talbot-Moses officiating. Interment will be made in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Petersburg, at the convenience of the Mrs. Barkman's family.

Friends may call from 7:00-9:00 p.m., Thursday at the Richard H. Searer Funeral Home Inc. where an Order of the Eastern Star service will begin at 7:00 p.m. Friends will also be received at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of the service Friday.

Contributions in memory of Mrs. Barkman may be made to the First English Lutheran Church, 17 West 13th Street, Tyrone, PA 16686; Zion Lutheran Church, St. Peters Street, Petersburg, PA 16669; or to a charity of the donor's choice.