Pauline Ruth Workman Friend
Lifelong member of Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church
Pauline Ruth Workman Friend went home to be with her Lord Wednesday, January 29, 2014, in Donnell House, Washington.
She was born November 19, 1913, in the homestead of Emmor M. Ames and Louisa Gundlach Ames, in West Beth Township, a daughter of Ezra Franklin Workman and Elsa Pearl Ames Workman of Markleysburg.
Mrs. Friend was 100 years of age, which was celebrated with family, friends and neighbors. She loved getting people together for many occasions and reunions. She was the past president of the Friend and Ames reunions.
She attended Highland Brethren School and West Beth High School in West Bethlehem Township and graduated 1933 from Peabody High School in Pittsburgh.
On December 18, 1933, in Wellsburg, W.Va., she married Ralph William Friend, who passed away December 21, 1984.
Mrs. Friend was a dedicated homemaker all her life, and since 1982, she has lived with her daughter and caretaker, Carol Brewer.
She was a lifelong member of Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church in West Beth Township, a longtime Sunday school teacher and superintendent. She was also a member of the church council and president of WELCA (Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) and was instrumental in developing church history documentation. Mrs. Friend was a lifetime member of Daughters of American Revolution and a sixth-degree member of Laurel Grange and participated in degree team and Chaplaincy.
Mrs. Friend was well known for her homemade noodles at the yearly church festival, until she was unable to make them. Her recipe continues with her daughter, Carol.
Genealogy was a love of her life until her passing. She was a member of Genealogy Society of Southwestern Pennsylvania, which met at the Citizens Library in Washington.
She and her husband, Ralph, until his death, were involved in genealogy research for many years and she compiled vast genealogy records of the Friend, Workman and Kinder families.
Her family tree includes five children, 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Her immediate family of five children are Shirley Jean Gallik (Albert), Richard Guy Friend, Edward Franklin Friend (Phyllis), Carol Louise Brewer (Lee) and John Workman Friend (Marge); grandchildren, Cheryl Rockovich (Stanley), Paula K. Hall (Eric), Douglas Gallik (Tammy), Eugene Michael Gallik, Jeff Friend, Paulajo Easterly (Bruce), Jason Friend (Kristen), Jeaneen Ritchey-Thieroff (Walter), Denise Brewer DeJohn (Chris), Edward Brewer (Janis) and Kiley Iams (Josh); great-grandchildren, Jenifer Mayes (Chris), Elizabeth “Kibby”Austin, Hanna Friend, Janelle Brewer, Jorden Brewer, Jeanna Brewer, Ashley Ritchey, Linda Thieroff, Lee Michael Thieroff (Lauren), Emily Brewer, Randy Baughman (Beth), Jonathan Balsamo, Christian Gallik, Hanna Gallik, Katy Gallik, Olivia Gallik, Sophia Gallik and Issac Gallik; and great-great-grandchildren, Lily Mayes, Max Mayes, Levi Purdy and Lincoln Baughman.
She is also survived by a brother, John Workman, San Diego, Calif.
Deceased from her family tree are her parents; husband; a brother, Raymond Eugene Workman; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Humberson Workman and Rosalind Silva Workman; a son-in-law, Albert Gallik; and grandsons, Douglas Gallik and Eugene Michael Gallik.
Family and friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday in Nichol Funeral Home, 1873 East Maiden Street, Washington, PA 15301. Additional viewing will be held from 10 to 11 a.m., the time of service, Monday, February 3, in Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Scenery Hill, with the Rev. Peter D. Asplin officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Capital Campaign Fund, c/o Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 21 Church Road, Scenery Hill, PA 15360. A family guestbook and personal condolences can be accessed at www.nicholfuneralhome.com.