Alice Iddings

Alice ‘Peg’ Iddings, 95, a lifelong resident of Clearfield until moving to the Westminster Presbyterian Retirement Community in Lake Ridge, VA in July 1998, died there on Sunday, March 4, 2012.

She was born on May 11, 1916 in Lawrence Township, Clearfield County, a daughter of the late Edgar T. and Alice (Wood) Henry. She married Edward Greye Iddings on July 1, 1936 in Curwensville, and they had three children, Ann Iddings Proctor, Edward G. Iddings Jr., and Beth Janik.

The most important things in Peg’s life were her family, her faith in God, and her service to the community. She taught countless children in her years as an early education teacher, and she provided lessons to all who knew her through her warmth, compassion, and acts of kindness. She loved to garden, knit beautiful afghans, and to travel in the US and abroad.

She retired after twenty eight years as an early education teacher for the Clearfield Area and Lawrence Township Schools. After retirement, she spent 19 winters in Florida, enjoying many activities with both old and new friends.

She was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Clearfield where she was active as an elder, deacon, Sunday school teacher and a member of the adult Sunday school class. She was a past President of the Women's Association, a circle leader, and held other offices on the Women's Auxiliary of the Presbyterian Homes. In Virginia, she attended the First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City.

One of her deepest honors was in 1979 when she was chosen as Woman of the Year by the Business and Professional Women’s Association. As a breast-cancer survivor, she was a board member of the American Cancer Society from 1980 – 1986, and she initiated the Reach to Recovery Program in 1971. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution chapters in Pennsylvania and Virginia where she held various chairs and offices within the program. She also participated in the Clearfield Hospital Auxiliary volunteer program.

Once in the retirement community of Westminster, Peggy quickly became an integral member. She was chairman of the Dining committee, served on the Landscape committee, and maintained a beautiful garden outside of her apartment for all to enjoy. She served on the Chapel committee, was instrumental in creating banners for the chapel, and shared responsibility for Bible Study teas for the Assisted Living Center. She organized the Monday afternoon bridge sessions, volunteered in the gift shop, and sang in numerous performances as a member of the entertaining Westminstral’s Choir.

She was also a past member of the American Legion Auxiliary from World War II, was active in the Girl Scouts as a commissioner of a local unit in 1956, a charter member of the Curwensville Women's Club, a member of the Clearfield Junior Women's Club, the Clearfield Senior Women's Club, CAST and Community Theatre and the Clearfield Community Concerts.

She received her BS Degree from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and did graduate studies at Penn State University.

She is survived by three children, Ann Iddings Proctor and husband Frank of The Plains, VA, Beth Janik and husband Ed of Fairfax, VA and Edward G. Iddings Jr. and wife Ann of Mercer; 7 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husband in January 1991, three sisters, Audrey Henry Miller, Ida Henry Thurn and Marie Henry Cuetara and two brothers, Joseph O. Henry and Edgar Henry Jr.

Funeral services will be held at The Presbyterian Church, Clearfield, on Saturday at 11 AM with the Rev. J. Robert Mellgard and Richard Barkley officiating. Interment will be in the Crown Crest Memorial Park, Hyde.

Friends will be received at the Kevin A. Beardsley Funeral Home, Clearfield on Friday from 2-4 and 6-8 PM and at the church on Saturday from 10-11 AM.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to The American Cancer Society, 26, S. Second Street, Clearfield, or a charity of their choice.