Obituary of Grace Antes Strong

Grace  Antes Strong, 80, of State College, passed away on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at home. Born December 1, 1936 in DuBois, PA, she was the daughter of the late Colonel Donald E. and Margaret Brouse Antes.

Mrs. Strong was a 1954 graduate of State College High School, and received a BA in Music from The Pennsylvania State University in 1958. While at Penn State she was Panhellenic Council President, a member of All University Cabinet, Scrolls Honorary Society, Women's Chorus, and a sister of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity.

Nineteen years later she received a MA degree in History from Penn State. At that time she was inducted into Phi Alpha Theta, History Honorary. In 1982 Mrs. Strong completed the Re-Entry program of the South Hills Business School, State College.

She was a lifelong member of Grace Lutheran Church. A member of the State College Woman's Club for many years and an officer, she was responsible for the Centennial Program given for the Woman's Club Centennial in 1994. She also worked on the Borough of State College's Centennial in 1996 and presented a program, using Woman's Club members, of "Fashions through the Years" for the community.

Mrs. Strong was a Charter member of the Penn State Club of Centre Country and a board member for six years serving as secretary and historian. She also served on the Board of Directors of the State College YMCA.

She was the first woman member of the Kiwanis Club of State College, inducted in Nov. 1987, and served as their President in 1998-1999. In 1999-2000 she was Lt. Governor, Division llE, Pennsylvania District of Kiwanis International. As a result of her work in Kiwanis she is listed in the "Who's Who in Executives and Businesses."

She was a Life Member of the College Area Hospital Auxiliary and served for many years as secretary and later as treasurer. A History of the Auxiliary from 1972 to 1994 was written by her. She served as secretary of the Centre Community Hospital Council of Auxiliaries, and volunteered for 10 years, beginning at Willowbank Hospital in Bellefonte, and ending her service at the front desk of Centre Community Hospital, now Mt. Nittany Medical Center.

Mrs. Strong was a Life Member of the State College Area High School Alumni Association and she was an active member of all her 1954 class reunion committees and birthday parties. In 2009 she was selected as Outstanding Visiting Alum by the Retired Teachers of State College Area School District.

She was a member of the Pi Beta Phi Alumni Club for many years, serving many offices including President, and was also a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter S. For nine years she served on the Program Committee of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.

Mrs. Strong was a Doncaster dress consultant for over 30 years, and served as secretary for the Builders Association of Central Pennsylvania for about 20 years.

She was an avid sports fan, and a vocal attendee at high school and Penn State football, women's and men's basketball, wrestling, soccer games, volleyball, and gymnastic meets. In 2001 she wrote the "History of Girls Sports at State College Area High School from 1919 to 2000, some of which was incorporated into the new history book about the State College Area School District, and published in 2002. Needlework was a favorite hobby, but enjoying her grandchildren was the love of her life. She and her husband held "Camp Strong" many summers for all the boys and Kate.

On August 10, 1958, in Grace Lutheran Church, she married Edwin Tiemeyer Strong, Jr. who survives. Also surviving are one daughter, Margaret "Margy" Strong Deysher of Zion her husband, Tom, and four grandsons, who call her Ganny, which is Scotch for grandmother; Trevor Thomas, Tanner James, Grayson Brouse, and Griffin Strong; one son, Edwin Tiemeyer Strong III of Severna Park, MD, his wife Anna Marie, and two grandsons and a granddaughter, Edwin Daly, Cole Antes, and Katherine Grace. She is Ganny to them also. Her brother, Donald E. Antes, Jr. survives in State College.

Visitation will be from 2 until 4 p.m. and 6 until 8 p.m., on Monday, July 17, 2017 at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton Street, State College.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m., on Tuesday, July 18, 2017 at Grace Lutheran Church, 205 S. Garner Street, State College, with the Reverend P. Stevens Lynn officiating.

Burial will be in Jersey Shore Cemetery, Jersey Shore.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, 205 S. Garner St. State College, PA 16801, to the Margaret (Marge) Brouse Antes Thespian Scholarship Fund, care of the Centre Foundation, 1377 Ridgemaster Dr., State College, PA 16803, or to the Class of 1954 Memorial Scholarship Award, c/o Centre Foundation, 1377 Ridge Master Drive, State College, PA 16803.