Erma Althea Heavener was a McAbee Printing Company, Forks Township, Pennsylvania.
4 Erma H. Kleppinger, 95, of Wind Gap, died peacefully on Saturday, Aug. 12, at Easton Hospital in Wilson Borough, surrounded by her loving family. Her husband, Clarence E. Kleppinger, died in 1957.
Born on June 16, 1911, in Montgomeryville, she was a daughter of the late William and Amy Bryan Heavener.
She was a graduate of Lansdale High School, Class of 1928. After graduation, she worked in Philadelphia for one of the oldest firms in the United States, J.E. Rhoads and Sons, established in 1702, where she was managed by members of the seventh generation of the same family. In 1942, as secretary to their senior partner, William E. Rhoads, she resigned to assume family duties.
After her husband's death, she worked, doing everything in the office at McAbee Printing Company in Forks Township until her retirement in 1972.
For a number of years in the 1980s and 1990s she was a volunteer in the Easton Hospital Library.
She enjoyed bowling, knitting, crossword puzzles, bird watching and all sports, especially the Phillies.
She was a member of Arndt's Lutheran Church in Forks Township. She was also a member of Lady Hall Rebekah Lodge No. 202 in Aluta and an associate member of Ladies of Paupack Rebekah Lodge No. 559 in Newfoundland.
She was a former district deputy president of the Rebekah Assembly in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She was a life member of the Easton Bowling Association, the Lehigh Valley 600 Club, the Pennsylvania 600 Club and National 600 Club. She was inducted into the Monroe County Bowling Hall of Fame in 1993 and received the Pennsylvania Senior Bowling Award for 1993 to 1994.
In May 2002, she was featured on the Internet by the Women's International Bowling Congress when, at age 90, she bowled in her 29th WIBC annual tournament in Milwaukee. In 2004, she was inducted into the Slate Belt Bowling Hall of Fame and, in 2006, to the Easton Women's Bowling Association Hall of Fame.
She is survived by a daughter, Althea C. Keifer and her husband, Richard, of Forks Township; two sons, William G. and his wife, Barbara, of Plainfield Township and C. Edward and his wife, Linda, of Forks Township; a sister, Oliene Sherratt of Montgomeryville; six grandchildren, Beverly Cole, Billi Bliss, Brett Kleppinger, Kristine Petre, Cindy Jancsarics and John Panovec; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Eleven brothers and sisters preceded her in death.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 15, in the church, 1851 Arndt Road, Forks Township. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Tamaqua.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the church, Easton, PA 18040.