Obituary of Barbara Finley

Barbara was home born in Truemans, delivered by her grandmother and warmed in the kitchen oven until the arrival of the doctor the following morning. She was the daughter of Marion and Esther Rupert. Barbara attended a one room school house and, as was customary, she and her classmate Elsie Sullivan taught younger children when in the seventh and eighth grade. She graduated from Sheffied High School in Sheffield. In 1945 Barbara attended business school and the Penn State University. She retired as an Executive Secretary at Tri-County Rural Electric in Mansfield. Barbara was a loving and caring person - she amassed over 5,000 hours volunteering at Mount Nittany Medical Center. Her caring also extended to animals (her beloved cat, Chelsea) and a close relationship with neighbors and friends. In addition to her husband, Richard, of State College, she is survived by a son, Dirk, of Clarendon; a daughter, Marianne, of St. Simons Island, Ga.; two granddaughters, Melissa Tracey of Philadelphia and Allison Hodell of Louisa, Va., a step-grandson, Jude Harter of Warren, and two great-grandchildren, Seamus and Alora Tracey. A private service will be held at the Koch Funeral Home, State College. Memorial contributions may be forwarded to the American Cancer Society, 123 S. Sparks St., State College, PA 16801.