Ethel Mae Barto Gauthier, 88, formerly of State College, died Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at Valley View in Belleville.
Born May 3, 1922, in Pennsylvania Furnace, she was a daughter or the late Leroy and Viola Burns Barto. On Aug. 23, 1943, she married Joseph P. "Indian Joe" Gauthier, who died April 7, 1978.
She attended Warrior's Mark High School. She drove busses for 53 years, first from Philadelphia to Delaware during WWII and then city transit bus in Philadelphia. Once in the State College area, she drove school bus for State College School District from 1958 to 1972, and drove for CATA from 1974 to 1994.
She was a member of Pine Grove Mills Presbyterian Church, the American Folk Musicians Association and served as national treasurer and was a past president for District #8, Tussey Rebekah Lodge #66 of Boalsburg, the Bald Eagle Grange #1390 of Tyrone, VFW #5825 Ladies Auxiliary Pine Grove Mills, and the Auxiliary and National Council of United Commercial Travelers.
She is survived by four daughters, Bonnie L. Tressler, of Muncy, Wanda L. Givler and her husband, Jack, of Belleville, Debbie L. Gauthier, of Philadelphia and Jody L. Quinill and her husband, Eric, of Costa Mesa, Calif.; three grandchildren, Crystal Ramsay, Tamara Tressler-Blewette, and Todd A. Givler; four great-grandchildren, Joseph and Noah Ramsay, Joelle Tressler-Blewette and Zoe Givler; and a sister Jane Henry, of Belleville. Along with her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Joseph Tressler.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, May 10, 2010, at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 11, at the funeral home with the Reverend Carl Campbell officiating. Burial will be in Pine Grove Mills Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Tyrone Colonial Courtyard, 5546 East Pleasant Valley Blvd., Tyrone PA 16686; Valley View Haven, 4702 E. Main Street, Belleville, PA 17004; or to the Alzheimer's Association, Greater Pennsylvania Chapter, 3544 N. Progress Ave., Suite 205, Harrisburg, PA 17110.