Marcella Helen (Manner) Stephenson, age 91, formerly of Indiana County, PA, passed away on June 11, 2018 at a nursing home in Colonial Beach, VA. She was born in August of 1926. Marcella was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Viola Mae (Waltenbaugh) Manner, her husband,Clarence Stephenson, and her brothers, Frank, Jesse, Harry, and Eugene Manner.
She is survived by her children: Grace, Richard, Nancy (Noel) Prothero, and Alice (Art) Martin; grandchildren: Nadine Urich, Nicole Lawson, William Leon Jr., and Allen Leon; great-grandsons: Blaine Urich and Michael Kanary Jr.; sisters-in-law: Gloria, Lynn, Sue, and Virginia Manner; and many nephews, nieces, and cousins. She is also survived byher husband’s sister, Rebecca Salsgiver, who has been Marcella’s life-long cherished “sister”. Marcella was born in August 1926, in Tanoma, PA, and lived in various locations in Indiana County and adjoining counties, graduating from Elders Ridge High School in 1944.
She and Clarence married the following year, while he was on active duty with the U.S. Army Air Force, in Florence, SC. They were married for 66years until Clarence’s death in 2011. For most of that time they resided on the Stephenson family farm in East Mahoning Township, Indiana County, PA.
Marcella was a civilian telephone operator during World War II and later a census leader for Indiana County. Most recently, Marcella worked for the Indiana Regional Medical Center from the 1960s through 1980s,beginning as a switchboard operator and retiring as Director of Admissions. Not only was Marcella the driving force and main supporter of her husband’s local history research and writings, but she also initiated and co-authored the publication, ‘Mind Your Manners, the Life and Ancestors of Richard Herbert Manner’, published in 1989.
Marcella was a long-time member and previous elder of the Presbyterian Church of Marion Center, as well as a member of the Indiana County Historical Society, and previous member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Sons of Union Veterans and New Century Club. She enjoyed sewing and reading in her spare time and traveled extensively with her family. She was an extremely hard-working farm wife and mother to her family and an empathetic and caring soul, much admired and loved by everyone fortunate to know her.
In her later years she resided with her daughter, Nancy, in King George, VA, and there attended Grace Presbyterian Church. A private service and interment will take place in the Marion Center Cemetery. A public memorial service will be held at the Presbyterian Church of Marion Center, 206 High St, Marion Center, PA, at 1:00 pm on June 16, 2018.
Since Marcella loved cooking and feeding others, memorial donations to your local food bank are suggested. Burial arrangements are being handled by McCabe Funeral Home, Punxsutawney, PA.
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