Obituary of Helen Hargleroad

Helen Saby Hargleroad died at Mt Nittany Medical Center Saturday, May 19, 2012. Helen was born in Ithaca, NY September 23, 1922, the daughter of Rasmus and Maude Sanford Saby. When she was three, the family moved to Gettysburg, where she grew up and graduated from high school. She attended Gettysburg College, majoring in English and graduated cum laude in 1943. She belonged to the Chi Omega sorority, sang in the college choir and was active in various literary and theatrical organizations. Determined not to follow in the family tradition of teaching, she dropped student teaching her senior year. But after spending a year in industry in the personnel department of Armstrong in Lancaster, she completed student teaching requirements in suburban Philadelphia with the West Chester State Teachers College. Helen was then employed by the Newville, now Big Spring, School district where she was the English Department with year book and theater responsibilities in addition to teaching the English classes. On September 16, 1945, she married John A. Hargleroad II and they moved to Philadelphia where she substitute taught in several public schools but mostly at Central High in North Philadelphia. In 1946, they moved to Harrisburg, where she worked for the public library, reading stories to children and familiarizing them with the use of a library. In 1947, she and her husband moved to Camp LeJeune, NC where he was assigned to the US Naval Hospital. There she finally had time to read, swim, play tennis, and boat; all of which she enjoyed immensely. There she also had her first child. Two years later she moved to Shippensburg, and quickly had two more children. In Shippensburg, she grew a beautiful garden and raised her children to love the outdoors, reading and swimming. She also served on the library board of directors, sang in the church choir, and was active in PEO and other civic organizations. In 1964, she moved to State College and continued her interest in PEO, volunteered with school reading programs, sang in the State College Choral Society, gave tours of Penn State to visitors and prospective students, regularly hosted foreign exchange students at family dinners, and taught English to foreign student's wives. Physical activity and being outdoors were important to Helen; she continued to garden in State College, swam regularly and loved birding and cross country skiing. With good friend, Bess Clarke, she started an annual antique show and sale to benefit the Centre County Community Hospital and co-chaired the event for many years. She initiated the request for Home Rule in College Township. Through the Penn State art department, she became an accomplished potter and sold her work at the annual Arts Festival and Renaissance, an artists' cooperative shop on Allen Street. She was very active in the Art Alliance. Despite her many activities and interests, supporting her family was paramount and she created a fun and loving home where nightly family dinners with candles were standard and friends were always welcome. She supported her children's education and created many memorable birthdays, holidays, outings and vacations for her family. In addition to her husband, John A. Hargleroad II, MD, she is survived by her children, Karen Clautice and her husband Stephen of Fairbanks, Alaska, Janet Snyder and her husband Lee of Fort Wright, Kentucky, John A Hargleroad III and his wife Patti of Wheeling, WV, six grandchildren, Daniel and Katherine Clautice, Thomas and Carrie Snyder, Annie Hargleroad Vopal and her husband, George, Kathie Hargleroad , one great granddaughter, Candice Townsend , a sister-in-law Mary Saby and a brother-in-law, Clifford Bastuscheck. Helen was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters, Karen Saby, Edna Isenberg and her husband, Melvin, Margaret Bastuscheck, a brother, John Saby, and one niece, Dr Ann Isenberg. Visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 26, 2012 at the State College Presbyterian Church, 132 West Beaver Ave., State College. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the church with the Rev. Susan Reisinger officiating. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Schlow Memorial Library, 211 South Allen St., State College, PA 16801, State College Choral Society, P.O. Box 675, State College, PA 16804 or the State College Presbyterian Church, 132 West Beaver Ave., State College, PA 16801. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.