Obituary of Trilby E. VanKirk

Smethport - Trilby E. VanKirk, 90, of Smethport, passed away on Sunday (February 8, 2015) in the Sena Kean Manor, Smethport, with her sister Adelaide, by her side. She was born Jan. 13, 1925 in McDonald, OH, a daughter of Glenn Clair and Olive Mae McClimans McDowell. On April 29, 1960, in Smethport, she married Robert E. VanKirk, who died Aug. 29, 2008. Trilby and Robert lived in Maryland for 35 years before moving back to Pennsylvania in 2000. Trilby attended schools in Crosby, Colegrove, and Smethport High School. She had worked for Sylvania of Emporium, PA, Bell Aircraft during WWII, the George Blaisdell household in Bradford, and for the Delmarva News newspaper in Salisbury, MD. She was a member of the Elderberries at the Smethport Senior Center. She and her husband were also members of the Coast Guard in Salisbury, MD, where they enjoyed many years of boating together. She is survived by one sister: Adelaide Stanton of Smethport, PA and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Bill McDowell in 2004, a sister, Phyllis Russell in 2011, and a nephew, James Russell in 2013. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 11, from 12 noon to 2 PM at Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes, Inc., 2 Bank St., Smethport, PA, where funeral and committal services will be held at 2 PM, with the Rev. Max Simms, pastor of the Hilltop Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Smethport. Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Smethport Senior Center, the Sena Kean Activities Department, or a charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be made at www.hartle-tarboxfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes, Inc., Smethport.