Obituary of Mary M. Bartell

Mary M. Bartell of State College, formally of Meadville, died on February 27, 2015 at Mt. Nittany Medical Center. Born on December 9, 1915 in Brown County, OH she was a daughter of the late Jacob B. and Bessie Rhoten Miller. She married Howard F. Bartell on October 8, 1944.

Mary graduated from the Miami-Jacobs College and worked as a secretary to the Chief Patent Counsel for General Motors. She testified before the U.S. Congress in her early career to advocate for equal pay for women. She was a full-time homemaker for her husband and twin children. Later she worked as secretary for the Crawford County School Board. Mary was a supportive wife to Howard’s many interests. She served as secretary on many boards and committees and maintained her typing and shorthand writing skills to the end. Mary enjoyed cooking, especially pie baking, painting and reading. Mary could always recommend a good book for someone to read. She was an involved and active Christian and often volunteered for church events, cooked church dinners, taught Sunday school, and led Bible studies while living in Meadville.

Mary is survived by a son, Roderick J. Bartell and his wife Kathy of State College, a sister, Sarah L Miller of Dayton, OH, three grandchildren: Laura Winkelbauer and her husband Matthew of Mechanicsburg ,PA; Jason Bartell and his wife Lena of Ithaca, NY; and Nathan Bartell of State College; and three great-grandchildren: Jessica, Sarah, and Rachel Winkelbauer Along with her parents and her husband, Mary was preceded in death by her daughter, Rhoda J. Bartell and a sister, Mildred L. Miller.

Friends will be received from 3-4 pm on Saturday, March 7 at the Faith Baptist Church, 647 Valley Vista Drive, State College, 16803.

A memorial service will follow at 4pm with the Rev. Drew Fenstermacher officiating. Burial will be at the Greendale Cemetery in Meadville.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Rhoda Bartell Scholarship at Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA 16893 or to the Faith Baptist Church.