Lebanon County PA Archives Obituaries.....Harner, Almeda Jane  September 16, 2008
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  Sharon S. Miller shabodeho@aol.com October 4, 2008, 5:28 am
  
  Published in the Lebanon Daily News on 9/19/2008 
  Harner, Almeda Jane     
   
   
  The Rev. Dr. Almeda Jane Harner, 83, of Reading, Pa., died Tuesday, September 
  16, at Cornwall Manor in Cornwall, Pa. She was predeceased by her husband of 54 
  years, the Rev. William E. Harner, who died June 10, 2007. Born August 9, 1925, 
  in Crag, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Lonnie B. and Bertha A. 
  Sayger. She grew up in Hambleton, W.Va., and graduated from Parsons High 
  School. She earned degrees from Asbury College (A.B.), Asbury Seminary (M. 
  Div.), Millersville University (M. Ed.), and Moravian Theological Seminary and 
  Drew University (D. Min.). The Rev. Harner taught bible in the Martinsville, 
  Va., public school system in 1951. After moving to Pennsylvania, she taught 
  reading in the Panther Valley and Williams Valley school districts for many 
  years. She was also a substitute teacher in numerous schools in Lancaster, 
  Chester and Schuylkill counties. The Rev. Harner received her initial license 
  to preach in Kentucky in 1951. She was the first woman to be ordained in the 
  former Philadelphia Annual Conference of the Methodist Church (now part of the 
  Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church). She was 
  ordained a deacon in 1957 and an elder in 1961. At that point, she and her 
  husband also became the first clergy couple in the conference. She served 
  churches in Schoeneck, LancasterBethany UM and Covenant UM, Springtown, 
  Hellertown, Palmerton, and ReadingFaith UM. The Rev. Harner had been a member 
  of PCAP (Pennsylvania Council on Alcohol Problems), serving on the board of 
  directors as a trustee, and as vice president. She was honored for her work as 
  Person of the Year in 1995. She also served as director of a Girl Scout Day 
  Camp, and as troop leader for Brownie and Cadet troops. She was a member of the 
  Order of Eastern StarCochranville chapter. The Rev. Harner is survived by two 
  daughters and a son-inlaw, Cynthia Jane (Harner) and Steven Karr of Yeadon and 
  Almeda Louise Harner of Reading. She is also survived by two grandchildren, 
  KallieSue Karr of Southampton and William Samuel Karr of Yeadon. Additional 
  survivors include a sisterin-law, Helen Harner of Downingtown; a brotherin-law, 
  Carl Schoonover of Parsons, W.Va.; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins 
  plus their families. Her sister, Florence Marie Schoonover, preceded her in 
  death. On Saturday, September 20, there will be a viewing starting at 2 p.m., 
  followed by a service at 3 p.m. in the Levi H. Zerr Chapel at Cornwall Manor, 
  Cornwall, Pa. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory may 
  be sent to Asbury Seminary, 204 N. Lexington Drive, Wilmore, KY 40390; Holy 
  Cross UM Church, 329 N. Fifth St., Reading, PA 19601; or Berks County 
  Association for the Blind, 2020 Hampden Blvd., Reading, PA 19604. Arr: Doyle-
  Stonelake of Lansdowne.  
  Published in the Lebanon Daily News on 9/19/2008  
  
  
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