Kilmer

Leona Whiteman Kilmer, 101, of Colville, Wash., died Tuesday.

Born in Jasper, N.Y., Aug. 10, 1909, she was the daughter of Charles and Ella Woodward Whiteman.

She obtained a two-year normal school teaching degree from Geneseo Normal School in 1932 and a bachelor's degree in elementary education at Geneseo State College in 1958. She enjoyed learning and continued to take classes throughout her life.

An elementary teacher, she taught in a one-room school in the Owlville District in Woodhull, N.Y., and taught fourth grade for 18 years in the Peters Township School, McMurray, Washington County, Pa. She was an outstanding reading and math teacher, and after retirement, she was a volunteer reading tutor in Black Canyon City Elementary School in Arizona into her late 80s.

Besides family and teaching, her passions were reading and handwork, especially crocheting and quilting.

She married Percy Kilmer, June 20, 1934. He preceded her in death in 1991. She also was preceded in death by her daughter, Rosanne Bauer; her parents; her sister, Rachel Cook; and her brother, Andrew Whiteman.

She is survived by her daughters, Dr. Sally Kilmer of Bowling Green, Ohio, and Ella (Donald) Butcher of Addy, Wash.; her brother, Randall Whiteman of Jasper, N.Y.; a sister Ruth Whiteman of Montour Falls, N.Y.; grandchildren, Michael Butcher, David Butcher and Jennifer (Bauer) St. Esprit; and great-grandchildren, Dallas Lambson, Zane Butcher, Logan St. Esprit and Lilly St. Esprit.

After retirement, Percy and Leona lived in Black Canyon City, Ariz., and summered in Slippery Rock.

They traveled extensively throughout the United States and internationally in Canada, France, Panama, Scandinavia and Switzerland.

They were founding members of Keystone (Pa.) Fan Trailer Club and belonged to several other travel trailer groups. They enjoyed searching for interesting rocks and other treasures.

Leona moved to Colville, Wash., in 1998, was a member of the First Congregational Church of Colville and the Colville Piece Makers Quilt Guild.

<B>KILMER</B> — Friends of Leona Whiteman Kilmer, who died Tuesday, Aug. 9. 2011, may call at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17, at the <B>H.P. Smith & Son</B> funeral home, 1607 Main St., Woodhull, N.Y., where funeral and committal services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday. The Rev. Brian Diffenbacher will officiate. Burial will be in Woodhull Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Colville Library Improvement Club Memorial Fund, 195 S. Oak St. Colville, WA 99114.