Mary Elizabeth (Weldy) Slingerland

TROY- Mary Elizabeth (Weldy) Slingerland, 89, of Troy, PA passed away on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at the Bradford County Manor. She was the high school sweetheart and later loving wife of Leo H. “Bud” Slingerland. The couple married January 14, 1945 and had 66 wonderful years together. Family and friends are welcome to gather from 3:00-6:00 PM on Monday, September 12, 2011 at the Gerald W. Vickery, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. 1093 West Main Street Troy, PA. The funeral service and burial will be private and at the convenience of Mary’s family. Mary was born on August 27, 1922, in Burlington, PA, daughter of the late George and Ada (Wilson) Weldy. Mary was a Penn State University graduate, earning a degree in Health and Physical Education. She began her teaching career in Dansville, NY, then moved to the Sayre, PA school district, and finally came back home to the Troy Area School District, where she spent 31 years teaching Health and Physical Education along with 4th and 6th grades science. Mary was an advisor to the football cheerleaders, and was the cooperating teacher who coordinated the student teachers coming from Mansfield University. She was a member of the Penn State Alumni and the Retired Teachers Associations. Mary was a devoted Christian. She was a life long member of the Burlington United Methodist Church and was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Troy. She took on many responsibilities in church including: Sunday School teacher, was a member of the Alter Guild, and belonged to the United Methodist Women. Mary was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and was a founding member of the Troy, PA chapter of the Rainbow Girls. One of Mary’s true passions in life was swimming; as a child she could be found walking from her home in Burlington to Mountain Lake to swim. She also swam at Berry’s Pool and the Canton Pool. Mary was one of the founders of the Troy Swimming Pool, where she could be found in the summer giving swimming lessons and was in charge of the lifeguards. Mary was a Red Cross Aquatic member, volunteered at the Martha Lloyd Community, and in the winter swam in the Martha Lloyd pool. Bud and Mary kept a cottage up on Keuka Lake in New York. When friends would stop in for a visit, Mary would always be swimming or serving food. She enjoyed flowers and gardening, and belonged to the Troy Heritage Garden Club. Mary was a wonderful homemaker and great cook. She enjoyed traveling, especially to visit her daughter Kitty in Phoenix, AZ. She also belonged to the Thursday Study Club. Mary was loved by her family, friends, and students and will be greatly missed. Mary is survived by her husband of 66 years Leo “Bud” Slingerland, her daughters: Kathryn A. “Kitty” Woodward of Phoenix, AZ, Sonja “Soni” and husband Dwight “Ike” Haflett of Granville Summit, PA, and “3rd daughter” Jil Swarthout. Her grandchildren are Angela M. Woodward and Mark (Amy) Haflett, and great granddaughter, Emma Lynne Haflett. Her parents, and her brothers Robert Weldy and George Weldy, Jr preceded Mary in death. Memorial contributions may be made in Mary’s memory to the Troy Area School District Foundation 30 Taylor Street Troy, PA 16947or to the Troy Heritage Garden Club, P.O. Box 161 Troy, PA 16947.