Obituary of Martha Bissey

Martha Louise Anderson Bissey, 95, of State College died July 23 at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Born on September 9, 1917, she was the daughter of the late Harry M. and Nora B. Anderson. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Luther Trauger Bissey, in 1995, and her two sisters, Ethelind Brown Anderson and Annie Mabel McPherson. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Home Economics from Penn State in 1939 with a minor in Journalism. In 1940, she married Luther Trauger Bissey and joined the State College Grace Lutheran Church. She lived in State College the remainder of her life. She is survived by two nieces and a nephew, Margaret McPherson Jones, Atlanta, GA; Paul McPherson, New Park, PA; Linda McPherson, Van Nuys, CA; and seven grand nieces and nephews. A life member of the Penn State Alumni Association, she has been a member of the Mount Nittany Society of Penn State University since 1987 and the Obelisk Society since 1995. She was active in the State College Woman's Club from 1940 onward and held various offices and committee posts. She participated in many plays for the Drama Department and also concentrated on the work of the club's Thrift Shop. She served three years as a Trustee and headed the Drama and Art Departments as well as the combined Art and Garden Department. She gave a number of book reviews to the Literature Department. During World War II, she was a member of an Assay Group located in the Bacteriology Building on the Penn State campus where she worked on increasing the potency of penicillin. She kept a journal of World War II covering the period of time from the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 through the signing of the peace agreement with Japan in August 1945. As a member of the Esther Circle of Grace Lutheran Church, she presented programs with regularity and was a member of the Church's Centennial Committee in 1998. She loved to travel and maintained a record of 75 years of travel from a visit to the Sesquicentennial in Philadelphia in 1926 to a trip to Myrtle Beach with her church group on 9-11-01. Some of the highlights included two cruises to see a total eclipse of the sun, one in the Atlantic and one in the Pacific; a cruise to Alaska and visits to Greece, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Moving to Foxdale Village in 2000, she was active with Garage Sale preparation until she retired at the age of 90. A memorial service will be held at Foxdale on Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 3 p.m. Burial will be in Centre Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to the Grace Lutheran Church Building Fund, 205 S. Garner St., State College, PA 16801. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, 2401 South Atherton Street, State College. Online Condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.