Person:Miriam Thomas (4)

1930 New Castle, Lawrence, Pennsylvania; Roll: 2060; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 72; Image: 526.0. 1008 Maryland Ave, h/h 177/197 Thomas, G. Wilfred $6500 33 m@24Y Wales-Wales-Wales bookkeeper for auto sales Mary wife 31 mar@21Y PA-PA-PA Marjorie 8 PA-Wales-PA Marium 5 PA-Wales-PA

Obituary of Miriam Thomas McEntire

Miriam “Mim” Eleanor Thomas McEntire, 83, of 3535-4 Hunters Woods Blvd. died Oct. 5, 2008.Miriam “Mim” lived and loved her entire life in New Castle. She joined her beloved husband of 52 year, Graham Howe McEntire, on Oct. 5, 2008. Graham predeceased her in 1997 after a courageous battle with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He was the president and owner/partner of McEntire and Clarke of New Castle.Miriam is also predeceased by Marjorie Thomas Riley, her sister and dear friend. Marjorie and her husband, Fred L., lived in New Castle for many years.Miriam was born on Dec. 13, 1924, a daughter of Mary Ruth Pattison Thomas and Gwilym Wilfred Thomas. She was very proud of her Welsh heritage. Miriam graduated from New Castle High School and Grove City College.Miriam and Graham were married Nov. 24, 1945.Graham’s military commitment settled the young couple in Copenhagen, Denmark. While in Europe they toured Norway, Sweden, England, Ireland and France — all of Europe.Upon their return to the U.S., they were welcomed home by many community organizations, churches and clubs. They were invited as honored guest speakers at community events to share their military, cultural, political and personal experiences via lecture, slide photo presentation and small group gatherings.Post-military, Miriam and Graham wintered in Florida and traveled the U.S. and Mexico. After Graham’s passing, Mim continued to travel with friends.The First Presbyterian Church of New Castle was Miriam’s church as a child and young adult. She and Graham moved their church home to Clen-Moore Presbyterian Church as their family grew. Her entire life she was a devoted attendee, a choir member and was very involved in the music program. She was a member of the Irvine Bible Study Class and the Primer Timers, offering her talent at the piano for both organizations.She delighted in her old and new relationships at Challenges in New Castle.Miriam volunteered her time and efforts to the Jameson Junior Guild, Meals on Wheels and the Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts.She enjoyed the symphony and theater. She was an avid bridge player, golfer and reader. She crated beautiful needlework.Mim and Graham loved boating. Family and friends shared so many wonderful water-skiing outings and weekends on Sandy Lake and Lake Chautauqua.Miriam leaves three loving children and their families: her daughter Ann McEntire and her husband, Jeff Zimmerman of Madison, Conn. She is so loved and will be missed by Ann and Jeff, and their four children, Devon McEntire Pettitt and his wife, Sarah Seccombe Pettitt of Danbury, Conn., Breeann Mary McEntire and Thomas O’Connor, and their daughter, Isabelle McEntire O’Connor of Olde Lyme, Conn., Mackensie Eleanore McEntire, a senior at Western New England College, Springfield, Mass., and Shayln Miriam McEntire, a junior at Colby Sawyer College, New London, N.H.; her daughter, Mary Jean McEntire Hilldale and her husband, Danton Hilldale, and their two children, Jaime McEntire Lyon and her husband, John G. Lyon and their son, Johnathan G. Lyon of Jamestown, N.Y., and Peter McEntire Jenkins, also of Jamestown; and her son, Scott Thomas McEntire and his children, Amanda McEntire Gable, her husband, Kyle, and their daughter, Caitlin Rose, and Scott Thomas McEntire and his son, Skylar McEntire, all of Lebanon, Pa.Miriam and Graham have been blessed with angels on earth, Marjory Howe McConnell, Graham’s cousin, and Robert Thomas McConnell of New Castle. Their sincere and steadfast loving care provided invaluable support over so many years.Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. tomorrow at the R. Cunningham Funeral Home and Crematory, 2429 Wilmington Road. A service will be conducted at noon Friday at Clen-Moore Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Chris Weichman will officiate.Burial will be in Castle View Memorial Gardens.The McEntire children would gratefully appreciate donations to ALS Association, Western Pennsylvania Chapter, 416 Lincoln Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15209, or Clen-Moore Presbyterian Church, 220 Clen-Moore Blvd., New Castle, Pa. 16105.