Schwab

Doyle Springer Schwab of Mars died Saturday at the Valencia Woods Nursing Center 10 days before his 102nd birthday.

Born in Mars, April 29, 1906, he was the son of Charles H. and Grace Springer Schwab.

He was a 1924 graduate of the Mars High School, after which he began teaching at the Downieville School. While teaching, he received his bachelor's and master's degrees in education from the University of Pittsburgh. He taught English, history and music and taught in the Mars area and Forward and West Deer townships. He belonged to the Pennsylvania State Teacher's Association.

In 1942, he was inducted into the Army, where he remained until 1945 and attained the rank of captain. He was a 56-year member of the Mars American Legion Post 787.

Following the war, he went back to teaching and taught at Edinboro. After 25 years of teaching in Pennsylvania, he wanted to write musical scores and went to New York, N.Y., to study at New York College of Music in Manhattan and received a bachelor of music degree in composition in 1959. He then taught school in New Jersey for 12 years before retiring in 1969 and returned to the family home. In addition to teaching, he had been a pianist, organist, soloist and music teacher.

As an author and composer, he published two books, "A Pair of Hands" and "A Laugh a Mile." He wrote the "Song of Mars" for the Mars Centennial in 1973.

An avid traveler, he had been to all 50 states, much of Canada and several countries.

He was a member of the YMCA for most of his life and swam there several times a week. He also belonged to the AARP. A lifelong Presbyterian, he had the sacred honor of serving as an elder, organist and choir director at Mars and other churches and was a member of the Mars United Presbyterian Church.

Surviving are a sister, Mary Schwab of Mars, with whom he made his home; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Zarra Schwab, Anna Reiter and Kathryn Kramer; and his brothers, Paul, Kermit and Wayne Schwab.

<B>SCHWAB</B> — Friends of Doyle Springer Schwab, who died Saturday, April 19, 2008, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the <B>McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home</B>, 238 Crowe Ave., Mars. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Mars United Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Terry Stoops, interim pastor, officiating. Please meet at the church. Burial will be at the Mars Cemetery, Adams Township.Memorials may be made to the Mars United Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 805, Mars, PA 16046.Information and directions are available at www.mcdonald-aeberli.com.