Valerie Rishel

Valerie P. Rishel, 67

of Chapel Hill, North Carolina died Thursday June 14, 2007 from complications following a bone marrow transplant she had received as a treatment for leukemia. She had been battling leukemia since November 2004.

Ms. Rishel was born November 17, 1939 in Glen Richey, to Carl Emil Peterson and Delphine Francis Balum Peterson (Cowdrick), both now deceased.

Ms. Rishel was educated in the Clearfield Area School System, Clearfield PA and also graduated from Lock Haven State Teachers College, Lock Haven PA, with a B.S. in Elementary Education. During her education at Lock Haven, Ms. Rishel joined and was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. Following graduation, Ms. Rishel returned to Clearfield where she taught two generations of students in the Clearfield school system. Ms. Rishel received her permanent teaching certificate from Penn State University. As a teacher in Clearfield, Ms. Rishel taught grade 5 at Third Ward School, grade 4 at Plymptonville School and grade 3 at Hyde and Centre schools, after which she retired from teaching in 1996. During her teaching career, Ms. Rishel belonged to the CEA, PSEA, NEA and the Retired Teachers Association.
Ms. Rishel was a former member of the Clearfield YMCA board and was also a member and past president of the Clearfield Swimming Pool Association. Ms. Rishel was an avid sports fan, played golf and was a former member of the Clearfield/Curwensville Country Club. Other organizations that received her support were C.A.S.T. community theatre, the Community Concert Association, the Joseph and Elizabeth Shaw Public Library and the Clearfield Hospital.
Ms. Rishel relocated to Chapel Hill after her retirement. While in Chapel Hill, she became a volunteer at University of North Carolina Hospital and worked for 3 years in patient relations. She was also employed in the Environmental Protection Agency library, which was managed by the UNC School of Information and Library Science. While in Chapel Hill, Ms. Rishel attended the Binkley Baptist Church, but remained a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Clearfield.

Ms. Rishel is survived by her sons, Mr.Robert Michael Yorktown, NY Cdr. David Randall, USN Yardley, PA
three grandsons and a granddaughter, Messrs. Timothy Blake, Kevin Troy and Henry Jackson (Jack) Rishel, Miss Arlene Alexandra (Alex) Rishel. a sister, Ms. Linda Peterson, The Villages, FL and aunts, Mrs. Aurelia B. Fritz Montgomery, PA Mrs. Ruby Balum Muncy, PA and their families two nieces, Ms. Kim H. Siebler Chandler, AZ Ms. Tracy H. Peterson Lancaster, CA.

A memorial service will be held at The Presbyterian Church, Clearfield on Saturday at 11:30 AM with Mr. Richard B. Barkley officiating. Interment of Ms. Rishel’s ashes will follow in the Crown Crest Memorial Park, Hyde.

Friends will be received at the Kevin A. Beardsley Funeral Home, Clearfield, on Friday from 6- 9:00 PM and at the church on Saturday from 10-11:30 AM.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, CB #7295, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295.