Elma Jean Dills, 71, of State College, died Saturday, March 27, 2010, at Centre Crest Nursing Home of complications from Alzheimer's disease. Born Nov. 3, 1938, in Williamsport, she was a daughter of the late Dr. Leslie and Mary Edna Wilfong Dills.
She graduated from State College High School in 1956. She earned a Bachelor's degree from Penn State in Physical Education in 1961. She was a Middle School Physical Education Teacher for the Dwight D. Eisenhower School in Wyckoff, N.J. until her retirement. Previously, she taught at Mountain Lakes High School in Mountain Lakes, N.J. Edna always enjoyed a good game of tennis and picked up the game of golf while living in New Jersey. She worked with finding homes for and feeding and caring for homeless cats. When Elma moved back to State College after she retired, she reconnected with other retired classmates from the Class of 1956. She enjoyed playing golf and cards, and a lot of her activities and accomplishments followed naturally from her buoyant personality and unselfishness, her love of sports and her devotion to friends and family, reaching out to others and her love of cats.
Elma is survived by a brother Ronald Dills and his wife, Joan; a sister, Daphne Hoffman; and a sister-in-law, Bernice Dills, all of State College. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Lloyd Dills.
Friends will be received from 10-11 a.m. on Thursday, April 1, 2010, at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Ken Kline Smeltzer officiating. Burial will be in Centre County Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to P.A.W.S., 1401 Trout Road, State College, PA 16801, or to the Alzheimer's Association , 3544 N. Progress Ave., Suite 205, Harrisburg, PA 17110.