Obituary of Elsie Keeney

Elsie B.Keeney, age 89, a resident of the Village at Penn State Life Care Community, died Thursday, January 13, 2011, at Mount Nittany Medical Center. Living nearly 20 years with Parkinson's disease, she is survived by her husband of 53 years, Philip G. Keeney, her son Philip G. II and wife Miranda of Mechanicsburg; sister Lois Scheve and husband Robert of Lincoln, Nebr. and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by parents Jacob and Elizabeth Bamesberger, sisters Doris, Lillian, Erma, and Helen and brothers Herbert and Gordon. She was born September 1, 1921, on the family farm near Hampton, Nebr., and after high school she taught country school to earn money for college. Graduating from the University of Nebraska in 1948 she worked as a home economist for Westinghouse Electric and Norris Public Power before becoming an assistant professor and consumer information specialist at Penn State. One of her responsibilities was preparation of scripts about food preparation and sometimes presenting them for Penn State's Farm, Home and Garden television show which aired from a station in Altoona. This was before public television and on-campus production facilities. She became a homemaker full time after birth of her son in 1959. She was a Sunday School teacher and a leader of the Esther Circle at Grace Lutheran Church. Noted for her abilities in design and the use of colors, she was often called upon to prepare the church for seasonal events. She chaired the committee that executed the making of a series of large paraments for the then new church building that now grace the sanctuary walls on a rotating basis. She volunteered her decorating expertise during the early years of State College's Arts Festival. Friends will be received from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 20, at Grace Lutheran Church, State College. A memorial service will follow at 1:30 p.m. conducted by Rev. P. Stevens Lynn. After the service attendees and Village residents are invited to a reception in the Village's lounge area. She will be interred at Centre County Memorial Park at the convenience of the family.