Gale Harper Boak
Gale Harper Boak, 97, of High Springs, Fla., formerly of McDonald and Canonsburg, died Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Plantation Oaks Nursing Center, Florida.
He was born May 27, 1920, in McDonald, son of the late Gordon Earl and Lyda Meredith “Edith” Harper Boak.
Mr. Boak was a member of Presbyterian churches in Venice, Houston, where he was an elder, and DeBary, Fla., and the former Millers Run Grange.
He, along with his wife, Laura, enjoyed traveling, doing set design for local theater and square dancing. He was also an accomplished watercolor artist, painting the places where he and his wife traveled.
Mr. Boak was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater with the 411th Base Shop Battalion of the U.S. Army. After his discharge from the Army in 1946, he attended Edinboro State Teachers College and Syracuse University graduating with a bachelor’s degree in art and a master’s degree in art education, respectively.
He worked as an art teacher at Chartiers-Houston High School and later as an assistant professor of art at California University of Pennsylvania.
Surviving are two sons, Roger (Sarah Jane) Boak of Houston, Texas, and Craig (Nanette) Boak of Washington; a daughter, Martha Jane (John “Jay”) Miller of High Springs; two grandsons, Douglas J. (Crystal) Miller of New Smyrna, Fla., and Gregory Miller of Gainesville, Fla.; and two great-grandchildren, Paige and Noah Miller.
In addition to his parents,deceased are his wife, Laura Jane Weaver Boak in 2016, and brothers Gordon E. and Jack Boak.
Friends will be received from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the time of services, Tuesday, May 8, in Coleman-Taylor Funeral Services, 3378 Millers Run Road (Route 50), Cecil, with Pastor Gary Chorpenning officiating.
Interment will follow in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Cecil Township, with full military rites accorded by Canonsburg Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 191 Honor Guard.