ABERNATHY, Marcella VanSant
Source: The Neighbor, May 14, 2003, pg A3
WILLIAMSPORT — Marcella A.
(VanSant) Abernathy, 76, Williamsport, died at 5:10 a.m. Wednesday, May 7, 2003
in St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Lafayette. She was born Oct. 10, 1926 in
Clinton, the daughter of Lawrence Dee and Zola Edna (Long) VanSant. She married
William “Bill” R. Abernathy Dec. 8, 1946 in Clinton. He survives. She was a
Clinton High School graduate in 1944. She lived in Clinton until 1963 when she
moved to Lebanon. She moved to the Warren County area in 1965. She worked as an
operating room technician at Community Hospital in Williamsport for 20 years.
She was a life member of the V.F.W Ladies Auxiliary Post #3318; a member of
O.E.S. Chapter 254 in Clinton, receiving her 50-year pin; American Legion Post
#259 Ladies Auxiliary in Williamsport; Warren County Democrat Women's
Organization; and a past member of the Hospital Guild in Williamsport. She was
a Washington Township trustee for eight years. She enjoyed crafts, quilting and
cooking. Her granddaughters were her life. Survivors, besides the husband,
include: a daughter, Billie (Tom) Foster, Williamsport; a son, Monty (Patty)
Abernathy, Attica; four granddaughters, Kelly Abernathy-Schneider (husband:
John), Fishers, Lindsay Abernathy, Attica, Jennifer Foster-Hicks (husband:
Michael), West Lebanon and Paula Foster, Williamsport; six great-grandchildren;
and a brother, Russell VanSant, Jacksonville, Fla. She was preceded in death by
a brother, Lawrence D. VanSant. Funeral services were at 1 p.m. Saturday in
Grady Funeral Home, Williamsport, with the Rev. Don Williams officiating.
Burial was in Highland Cemetery, Williamsport. Memorial donations may be made
to the American Cancer Society. – jlr