Cumberland

Gerald L. "Jerry" Cumberland, 81, of Kennerdell, formerly of Eau Claire, passed away at 9 p.m. Saturday at UPMC Northwest at Seneca following an illness.

Born Nov. 11, 1928, in Summit Township, he was the son of the late J. Maxwell Sr. and Florence Kerr Cumberland.

A veteran of the Korean War, he served with the Army from March 1951 to February 1953. Honorably discharged as a corporal, he earned the Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal. Much of his service was in the Sea of Japan aboard PT boats.

He was a member of the VFW Post 7840 at Cherry Valley.

A pioneer in the field of 911 communication dispatch, he was one of the first operators at 911 in Butler County. Respectfully known among his peers and emergency personnel as "911 Jerry," he retired from the field in 1991.

Before working with 911, Jerry drove coal trucks locally and later drove over the road for Meadow Gold Milk.

Jerry was a life member of the Eau Claire Volunteer Fire Department, where he served in many offices as well as a training service officer for decades.

He was a member of the Eau Claire Presbyterian Church.

Surviving are his wife, Mabel Meals Riddle Cumberland, who he married May 26, 2001; two daughters and their husbands, Lisa (Roger) King of Asheboro, N.C., and Dawn A. (Richard) Eustice of Clarion; a son and his wife, Earl (Janey) Cumberland of Effort, Pa.; a stepson and his wife, Gary (Linda) Riddle of Polk; five grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; a sister, Joann Palmer of Chambersburg; two brothers, Max Cumberland of Eau Claire and Jim Cumberland of Ford City; and also a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Jerry was preceded in death by his first wife, Wanda Bonita Purcell Cumberland, who he married June 11, 1956, and who passed away in a vehicular accident near Brookville on Oct. 17, 1991.

<B>CUMBERLAND</B> — Friends of Gerald L. "Jerry" Cumberland, who died Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the <B>H. Jack Buzard Funeral Home</B>, 201 S. Washington St., Eau Claire. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home. Interment will follow at Scrubgrass Cemetery, near Eau Claire.Online condolences may be submitted at www.buzardfuneralhomes.com.