October 23, 2007..........Times New

David J. Jeffries

David J. Jeffries, 92, formerly of Centre Hall and State College, died Saturday (October 20) in the HeartFields Assisted Living Center, Cary, N.C. He was the husband of Lillian M. (Zimmerman) Jeffries, a former Tamaqua resident who resides in Cary. They were married for 68 years.

He operated the former F.V. Goodhart Funeral Home and Furniture Store in Centre Hall, and later changed the name to the Jeffries Funeral Home and Furniture Mart, which he operated until retiring in 1981.

Born in Coaldale, he was a son of the late James Jacob and Margaret (Greene) Jeffries.

A graduate of the former Coaldale High School, he also graduated from Eckel's School of Embalming and Mortuary Science, Philadelphia, and also completed courses at Penn State University enabling him to obtain a real estate license.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1942-45. He served early in New York and later at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital as a corpsman.

He was active in church, community and patriotic associations and organizations.

He was a leader for the former St. John Evangelical United Brethren Church, Centre Hall, and was active in helping E.U.B. Methodist and Presbyterian churches merge into Grace United Methodist Church.

Surviving in addition to his widow are a daughter Shawnie, wife of Alan Olson, of Homer, Alaska; a son, Dr. Jeffrey D.E., and his wife, Cathy, of Cary; a brother, Philip Sr. of Lancaster; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Burial will be in Sky-View Memorial Park, Hometown.