Vesta Dieffenderfer Bower

Vesta Dieffenderfer Bower, 91, of Lewisburg, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 4, 2015 at her home.

She was born March 16, 1924 in Mifflinburg, a daughter of the late William P. and Emma (Rute) Dieffenderfer.  On December 28, 1951, she married Richard L. Bower, who survives. Together they celebrated 63 years of marriage.

Vesta was a 1941 graduate of Lewisburg High School.  She worked for a short time at the former Lewisburg Chair Factory and the former Buffalo Valley Telephone Company.  Vesta also worked as a secretary at the former Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania, now Verizon, before leaving to become a housewife and raise her family.

She was a member of Mazeppa Union Church.

Vesta was especially interested in family genealogy associated with participants in the American Revolution, those among early settlers of Union County, and those serving in the Civil War.  She was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution and Union County Historical Society.  Vesta enjoyed flowers, gardening and crocheting.  She was an avid fan of the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Flyers, and Nittany Lion Football.

Surviving in addition to her husband are one son and daughter-in-law, Dwight and Leslie Bower, of Lovettsville, VA; one sister, B. Irene Scott, of Prairie Grove, AR; and two grandchildren, Ens. Thomas Bower and Katharine Bower.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by two brothers, Olan and Earl Dieffenderfer; two sisters, Ruth Dieffenderfer and Ethel Ruhl; two sisters-in-law, Anna Dieffenderfer and Lulu Dieffenderfer; and two brothers-in-law, Maj. Thomas B. Scott and George A. Ruhl.

Friends will be received from 10 to 11 a.m., Saturday at Mazeppa Union Church, 3200 Johnson Mill Rd., Lewisburg, where a Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. with Pastor Ricky Phillips, officiating.

Burial will follow in Mazeppa Union Cemetery.

The family will provide the flowers and suggests contributions in Vesta’s memory be made to Evangelical Hospice, 1 Hospital Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837.

The family is being assisted by Cronrath-Grenoble Funeral Home, S. Second and St. Louis Streets, Lewisburg.

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