After a life of longevity and many blessings, Vera Knepper Hawbaker, 95, entered eternal life on Sunday, June 6, 2010, at The Fairways, State College.
She was born April 27, 1915, at Duffield, Franklin County. She was the daughter of the late William L. Knepper and Elizabeth Gipe Knepper. On Dec. 25, 1935, she married J. Alvin Hawbaker, who preceded her in death on Dec. 6, 1995.
Vera attended school in Franklin County in a one-room school house. At the start of each day, they read scripture, recited the Lord's Prayer and pledged allegiance to the American flag. They also had to memorize John 3:16 and recite it before the start of classes. Vera had to leave high school to go to work to help support her family during and after the Great Depression of 1929. While working, she would take adult education classes as time would allow.
Upon moving the State College she took many real estate and insurance classes at Penn State. She joined her husband in the building and developing business upon arriving in State College in 1945. She and a bookkeeper, Albert Dodson, initially were the only persons in the office known as J. Alvin Hawbaker Inc., and years later known as Park Forest Enterprises Inc. She and her husband developed Park Forest Village and donated land for schools, public parks and churches including Trinity Lutheran Church, Park Forest Baptist Church and Park Forest Village United Methodist Church. In 2007 she donated her former residence as a parsonage for the Park Forest Village United Methodist Church.
She will be remembered as a sweet, warm and gentle lady who enjoyed extensive cruise travel and did outstanding photography of her grandchildren, travels and real estate developments. She was a great cook but preferred to avoid it. Her specialty was peanut brittle, which she happily shared with family and friends at Christmas time. As long as she was able, she made peanut brittle for the Park Forest Village United Methodist Church Bazaar.
Vera maintained her real estate broker's license until she was 90. Although she was inactive, she continued taking continuing education courses to renew her license. Her special joy was taking her final real estate course with her daughter, Joan, and granddaughter, Melissa Brower, representing three generations. She was recognized by the Centre County Board of Realtors, along with her son-in-law, Ralph Brower, for having the greatest number of cumulative years as a Realtor. She had been a member since 1960. In 2005 she received the Realtor Emeritus designation from the National Association of Realtors.
Vera's son, Samuel Hawbaker, and grandson, Todd Hawbaker, are continuing the family real estate tradition with family-owned Park Forest Enterprises Inc., specializing in property management. An avid Penn State football fan, she was a member of the Nittany Lion Club and at age 85 was a charter member of the Beaver Stadium Club Seat Program signing a 5-year lease, which she renewed at age 90 to her final year. Tailgating before the games with family and friends were favorite times. Last year she was thrilled to watch a game from her nephew's suite at the stadium.
She was a member of the Spring Run Church of the Brethren in McVeytown and a friend of the Park Forest Village United Methodist Church. She held a lifetime membership to Centre Community Hospital Auxiliary (now Mount Nittany Medical Center), Alpha Ambulance Club (now Centre LifeLink), and State College Elks Club. Vera was a past member of the Altrusa Club, Society of Residential Appraisers, Farm and Land Institute and Centre Hills Country Club.
Surviving are her daughter, Joan Brower and her husband, Ralph; and a son, Samuel Hawbaker and his wife, Jan, of State College. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Michael Brower, of Doylestown, Melissa Brower, Tisa Hawbaker and Todd Hawbaker, of State College, and Amy Lawrence, of Bellefonte; and four great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a brother, William Knepper, of Pine Grove Mills; and a sister, Helen Longenecker, of Lancaster. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by sisters Marian Heffley and Nora Meyers; and a brother, Jaye Knepper.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 8, 2010, at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 9, 2010, at Park Forest Village United Methodist Church, 1833 Park Forest Ave., State College, with Pastors M. Lee Ellenberger and Jerry Lee Miller officiating. Interment will follow the service at Centre County Memorial Park, 1032 Benner Pike, State College.
Those wishing to remember Vera Hawbaker may make gifts to The Endowment Fund at Park Forest Village United Methodist Church, 1833 Park Forest Ave., State College, PA 16803, Spring Run Church of the Brethren, Box 333, McVeytown PA 17051 or to Centre County Community Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 648, State College, PA 16804.