Kathryn B. “Kay” Caldwell, 92, passed on to her eternal home at 4:35 p.m. on Friday, August 16, 2013 at the Golden Living Center of Oil City, where she had been a resident for the past five years.
Born August 8, 1921 near Sigel, she was the daughter of the late Richard E. and Christine Weaver Benninger.
She attended the Pawnee One Room Schoolhouse until the eighth grade, and graduated from Brookville High School in 1939.
She was a life-long Methodist and a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Oil City for more than sixty-five years. She taught a third-grade Sunday School class for many years and served on several church committees.
Mrs. Caldwell was a dedicated mother and homemaker. In 1963 she was named a State Life Member of the Pennsylvania Congress of Parents and Teachers for her many volunteer hours as the chairperson of the Seventh Street School Library Volunteers. Kay enjoyed knitting and crocheting, and made many afghans for family and friends.
She married Roger E. Caldwell on July 28, 1943 in Brookville. They were able to celebrate their sixty-eighth wedding anniversary together before he passed away on December 28, 2011.
She is survived by two children, Nancy Funka and her husband Rev. Thomas Funka of Grove City; and James Caldwell and his wife Deanna of Oil City; three grandchildren, Andrew Funka and wife Amy of Pague, Czech Republic, Gregory Funka and wife Heather of Moon Township, and Matthew Caldwell of Oil City; as well as one great-granddaughter, Emily Katherine Funka of Moon Township.
In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by three siblings, Albert and Lester Benninger, and LaBelle Barrett.
Friends will be received Tuesday (Aug. 20th) from 4-7 p.m. in the Hile-Best Funeral Home, Inc., 2781 Rte. 257 in Seneca, Cranberry Township. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home Tuesday at 7 p.m. with the Rev. Jack Friggle, a retired Methodist minister, officiating.
Interment will be in Brandon Cemetery, Cranberry.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Oil City Civic Center, 206 Seneca Street, Oil City, PA 16301; or to a charity of one’s choice.
Condolences to the Caldwell family may be made online by visiting www.hilebest.com