Edith A. Beale

Edith A. Beale, 96, formerly of Freeport, passed away Sunday, April 30, 2017.

Edith was born Dec. 12, 1920, at Lairds Crossing, West Franklin Township, the daughter of the late Mabel and Ward Lewis.

Edith was preceded in death by her husband, Harold C. Beale, in 1971.

She is survived by her sisters, Vera Mauthe, and Erma (Frank) Lovich.

During World War II, Edith served as a "Rosie the Riveter," building Corsair and B29 war planes in a converted auto plant in Detroit.

She has been honored by Pennsylvania's Voters Hall of Fame, having voted in every election for the past 59 years.

Edith was a member of the Freeport United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school for many years.

Edith is survived by three daughters and two sons, Phyllis, of Butler, Betty (Harry) Smeltzer, of Plum Borough, Fay (Thomas) Andre, of Penn Hills, David, of Rural Valley, and John (Janis), of Plum Borough.

In addition to her parents, Edith was preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers, Esther Deel, Mildred Griffith, Glenn Lewis and Willard "Bud" Lewis.

Edith is also survived by eight grandchildren, Travis (Rhiannon) Beale, and daughter, Arya, of Cabot, Rachel (Collin) Krepps, and son, Wyatt, of Catonsville, Md., Nathan and Christopher Andre, of Penn Hills, Joshua Andre, of Wooster, Ohio, Brandon (Monica) Beale, of Norfolk, Va., Bethany Beale, of Scott Township, and William Smeltzer, of Plum Borough.

Family and friends will be received from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at the REDMOND FUNERAL HOME INC., 524 High St., Freeport. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 4, at Freeport United Methodist Church, 211 Fourth St., in the church parlor, with Pastor Dawn Lynn Check officiating. Burial will follow at Freeport Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Freeport United Methodist Church, 211 Fourth St., Freeport, Pa. 16229.

To send an online condolence, please visit www.redmondfuneralhomeinc.com.