NORTH MANCHESTER – Erma M. Petry, 105, of North Manchester, died at 1:10 a.m. July 15, 2012, in Timbercrest Healthcare Center, North Manchester.
She was born Nov. 28, 1906, in South English, Iowa, to William and Anna Brower Kerr. On Oct. 8, 1932, she married the Rev. Ralph Petry, who died July 18, 1974.
She was a school teacher having taught a year in Iowa and three years at Anniston, Ala., in a Presbyterian Missions boarding school for junior and senior African-American girls. She taught Release Time Bible classes in the schools near Goshen for seven years and near Delphi for six years. She was a pastor’s wife while her husband served the Church of the Brethren including pastorates in North Dakota, Montana, Goshen and Markle. She was a member of Manchester Church of the Brethren, where she served as a parish visitor and sang in the choir. She graduated from South English Iowa High School and later from Mt. Morris College in 1929.
Surviving are two sons, Glen (and spouse Johanna) Petry, Walkerton, and Ray Petry, East Dorset, Vt.; two daughters, Carol (and spouse Dr. Paul) Burkholder, Rockford, Ill., and Ruth Billings, Anchorage, Alaska; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Timbercrest Chapel, North Manchester, with Pastor Kurt Borgmann officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Markle Cemetery.
Calling is one hour prior to the service Saturday at Timbercrest Chapel.
McKee Mortuary, North Manchester, is in charge of arrangements. ***** Memorials may be made to Timbercrest Senior Living Community, P.O. Box 501, North Manchester, IN 46962; Manchester Church of the Brethren, 1307 Beckley St., North Manchester, IN 46962; or Heifer Project International, P.O. Box 8058, Little Rock, AR 72203 Condolences may be sent via mckeemortuary.com
