Holmes

Bertha E. Holmes, 79, formerly of Butler, died Wednesday at Concordia Lutheran Ministries in Cabot.

Born July 2, 1929, in Pittsburgh, she was a daughter of the late Bertha Ketterer.

Mrs. Holmes moved to Butler in 1955. She was a member of St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church.

She and her late husband were well known in Butler County as ceramists and held ceramic workshops for more than 30 years. They also worked together on the production of the Butler Ceramic Show and served as judges in a five-state region. She was a former member of the International Ceramic Association and the Tri-State Ceramic Teachers Association.

Mrs. Holmes was an avid homemaker and enjoyed painting, art and music, and she especially loved teaching children her craft. She also enjoyed boating on Lake Arthur with her late husband.

She received her greatest pleasure spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Surviving are two sons, Gary J. Holmes and his fiancée, Cindy Reichenbacher, of East Brady and Leonard R. Holmes, and his wife, Marie, of Wilkes-Barre; four sisters, Jacqueline Stebler, Marlyn Drost and Carol (Norman) Baehr, all of Pittsburgh, and Sandra (Wesley) Oldaker of Brunswick, Ga.; two grandchildren and their spouses, Melynda and Adam Mohney of Meridian and Heather and Dan Casey of Butler; four great-grandchildren, Hunter and Libby Casey and Jessica and Lydia Mohney; a number of nieces and nephews; and her dearest friend, Melda Melcher of Pittsburgh.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 60 years, Elmer S. Holmes, who died Nov. 1, 2006.

<B>Holmes</B> — Friends of Bertha E. Holmes, who died Wednesday, July 30, 2008, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to noon Monday at <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St. Funeral services will follow at noon Monday at the funeral home. Cremation services provided by Geibel Funeral Home.Memorial donations may be made to Concordia Lutheran Ministries, 134 Marwood Road, Cabot, PA 16023.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.