Kathryn M. Kaple, who would have been 81 in April, passed away Thursday (March 8, 2007) in the Select Specialty Hospital in Erie, Pa. She was born in Port Allegany, the daughter of Theodore F. and Gladys A. Yentzer Stewart. She resided on the Penn Hills Farm, 242 Main Street in Roulette, with her son Theodore R. Kaple, and family.
Kathryn graduated from Roulette High School in 1944, and married Arthur R. Kaple that year. She had resided in the area all her life and was full of all kinds of information about the area's history. She was a good girl, never got in any trouble, except when she ran off with Art to Wellsville and got married. She would tell stories about the 1942 flood, and how deep the water was, in the valley. She knew everyone, and would spin an untold number of stories about Roulette, and it's people. She and Art operated the Penn Hills Farm, recognized as a Century Farm, farmed by the same family for over 100 years.
When other people were thinking of retiring, Kathryn went to work scrubbing floors and cleaning rooms at Charles Cole Hospital in Coudersport. She told many times about scrubbing floors on her hands and knees. She was proud of her work. Until a couple of years ago, you might find her on the tractor, gathering hay from the field, or teaching Sunday School. She always had grandchildren and other kids at her home, and carted them off to church, with her, on Sunday. She was able to drive herself, until a couple for years ago, when she lost mobility in her legs, after a couple of falls. Even then, she got around in her electric chair, and delighted herself, when she, devilishly, drove it to the neighbors across the street, last summer, without telling anyone she was going. Her mind was always sharp as a tack, until the last few months, when her health failed her.
She had a strong faith in God, having accepted Jesus as her savoir, as a child. She had attended The Coudersport Gospel Tabernacle, Roulette Baptist Church, and in later years, was a member of the Coudersport Alliance Church. She was a member of the Roulette Sunshine Circle and had been an officer in the Roulette Fish and Game Club, sponsors of the annual fishing derby for kids at Kaples Pond. She helped her husband, Art, operate the farm and Kaple's Trailer Park. Art died in 2002. She raised three children, Theodore, with whom she resided, and Robert F. Kaple and Jane M. Jones, who predeceased her. She has 11 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. A sister, Marguerite Turner, of Port City, FL also survives. She enjoyed the companionship of Lori Prince, of Genesee, PA, who helped take care of her, the last couple of years.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 11:00 am Monday, March 12, 2007, at the Coudersport Alliance Church. The Rev. Samuel Crossley will officiate, with burial in Summit Cemetery, in Borie. Switzer Funeral Home in Port Allegany is in charge of arrangments. Memorials may be made to the Coudersport Alliance Church.
Kathryn graduated from Roulette High School in 1944, and married Arthur R. Kaple that year. She had resided in the area all her life and was full of all kinds of information about the area's history. She was a good girl, never got in any trouble, except when she ran off with Art to Wellsville and got married. She would tell stories about the 1942 flood, and how deep the water was, in the valley. She knew everyone, and would spin an untold number of stories about Roulette, and it's people. She and Art operated the Penn Hills Farm, recognized as a Century Farm, farmed by the same family for over 100 years.
When other people were thinking of retiring, Kathryn went to work scrubbing floors and cleaning rooms at Charles Cole Hospital in Coudersport. She told many times about scrubbing floors on her hands and knees. She was proud of her work. Until a couple of years ago, you might find her on the tractor, gathering hay from the field, or teaching Sunday School. She always had grandchildren and other kids at her home, and carted them off to church, with her, on Sunday. She was able to drive herself, until a couple for years ago, when she lost mobility in her legs, after a couple of falls. Even then, she got around in her electric chair, and delighted herself, when she, devilishly, drove it to the neighbors across the street, last summer, without telling anyone she was going. Her mind was always sharp as a tack, until the last few months, when her health failed her.
She had a strong faith in God, having accepted Jesus as her savoir, as a child. She had attended The Coudersport Gospel Tabernacle, Roulette Baptist Church, and in later years, was a member of the Coudersport Alliance Church. She was a member of the Roulette Sunshine Circle and had been an officer in the Roulette Fish and Game Club, sponsors of the annual fishing derby for kids at Kaples Pond. She helped her husband, Art, operate the farm and Kaple's Trailer Park. Art died in 2002. She raised three children, Theodore, with whom she resided, and Robert F. Kaple and Jane M. Jones, who predeceased her. She has 11 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. A sister, Marguerite Turner, of Port City, FL also survives. She enjoyed the companionship of Lori Prince, of Genesee, PA, who helped take care of her, the last couple of years.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 11:00 am Monday, March 12, 2007, at the Coudersport Alliance Church. The Rev. Samuel Crossley will officiate, with burial in Summit Cemetery, in Borie. Switzer Funeral Home in Port Allegany is in charge of arrangments. Memorials may be made to the Coudersport Alliance Church.
