Fern Elizabeth (Gribben) Cathcart

Fern E. Cathcart

Fern Elizabeth (Gribben) Cathcart, 99, of Elizabethtown, formerly of Olanta, passed away on August 26, 2015 at Masonic Village. Born in Batavia, NY on August 31, 1915, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Nina (Fisher) Gribben. On August 14, 1937 at Curwensville she wed Gaylon C. Cathcart who preceded her in death in 1996.

Fern graduated from Niagara Falls High School, NY. She was active in St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Elizabethtown. She owned and operated Cathcart’s Grocery in Olanta from 1945 to 1967, worked at Masonic Village from 1967 to 1970, and worked at the Elizabethtown Hospital for Children & Youth from 1970 until she retired in 1983.

Fern is survived be her daughter Nina Messer and her husband Del from Arlington, TX, son Michael and his wife Barb from Olanta, eight grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.

In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by her daughter Linda Ruth in 2007 and an infant grand child (Baby Ruth), brother Frank Gribben, and sister Florence Bush.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11AM on Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at Miller-Finkenbinder Funeral Home & Crematory, 130 N. Market St., Elizabethtown, PA 17022, with Pastor Skip Davis officiating. Family and friends will be received from 10-11AM prior to the service. Private interment will be in Mount Tunnel Cemetery, Elizabethtown.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Masonic Village, 1 Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022.

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