Harold Edward Pixley
b. 4 March 1912, d. 9 December 2000
- Harold Edward Pixley was born on 4 March 1912 in Centralia, Illinois.
- He married Helen Adele Schmermund, daughter of William Frederick Schmermund and Margaret Jane Meyer, on 2 September 1936.
- Harold Edward Pixley became a widower at the 27 January 1997 death of his wife Helen Adele Schmermund.
- Harold Edward Pixley died on 9 December 2000 at age 88.
- He was interred at Franklin Cemetery, Frankln, Venango County, Pennsylvania.
- The following appeared on 13 December 2000 in the Erie Times-News: (Franklin) Harold E. Pixley, 88, 1408 Chestnut St., died Saturday, Dec. 9, 2000, at The Caring Place.
He was born in Centralia, Ill., March 4, 1912, son of the late William and Laura Bruckler Pixley.
He graduated from Centralia Township High School in 1930, then earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Oberlin (Ohio) College. He also studied at Northwestern University in Chicago and Edinboro University.
He taught high school in Michigan and Ohio for six years. He then taught music at Franklin High School and retired from the Franklin Area School District in 1973 after 30 years.
He played in several bands, including the Ted Brookhouser Band, the John Pindel Band, the Helen Baker Band and the Maury Wizenberg Band. He played in the Silver Cornet Band, beginning in 1943, and served for a time as its director. He also served as music director for St. John Episcopal Church from 1950 to 1960 and First United Methodist Church from 1960 to 1975.
He was a member of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and a former member of Local 61 of the musicians' union.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Schmermund Pixley, whom he married Sept. 2, 1936, and who died in 1997; two brothers, Ralph and George Pixley; and a sister, Margaret Scramlin.
Survivors include a son, William R. Pixley and his wife, Pam, of Franklin; two daughters, Dr. Cheryl Entress and her husband, James, of Wheeling, W.Va., and Marianne Mayes and her husband, William, of Tempe, Ariz; and 10 grandchildren, Dr. Susan Nagel, Lisa Pullen, Pam Ries, Karen Entress-Chamberlain, Amy Dituri, William Doyle, Laura and Kristen Mayes, Army Spec. 4 Camron Pixley and Valeyne Pixley.
Friends may call at Robert W. Gardinier Funeral Home, Franklin, Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m., when a service will begin, officiated by the Rev. William Chittister of First United Methodist Church.
Burial will be at Franklin Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to The Caring Place in care of Robert W. Gardinier Funeral Home, 1315 Chestnut St., Franklin, PA 16323. - A single grave marker identifies the graves of Harold Edward Pixley and Helen Adele Schmermund.
- Last Edited: 20 Oct 2011