Iva D. Yates

Iva D. Yates, 97, of Clarks Summit, died Saturday morning at home. Her husband was Lewis J. Yates, who died in 1995. The couple had been married for 52 years.

Born in Newton Twp., daughter of the late Earl Alger and Rachel Fitch Dunlap, she was a 1936 graduate of Newton High School. She attended Lackawanna Business College and after graduating worked at the state capital in Harrisburg. She was a member of the former Schultzville United Methodist Church, now Countryside Community Church. Earlier in life, she was active 4-H leader teaching sewing for many years. She returned to the workforce when Third National Bank opened the Abington Branch, as one of the five original employees at that location, retiring after 25 years as head teller.

She was a member of Juanita Chapter 8, Order of the Eastern Star for more than 60 years, where she served as treasurer for 41 years, was a past matron and former district deputy, grand representative, and held many committee appointments. She greatly enjoyed the social functions of her husband's fraternal organizations as well: Waverly Masonic Lodge, Keystone Consistory and Irem Temple Shriners. She previously volunteered at Abington Manor, visiting with residents, and was a former member of the Arthritis Foundation Board. Iva was always recognized wherever she went from her career in banking and activity in community groups. She was well known for her knitted dishcloths which she sold for charity, and for holding others to the high standards she set for herself.

Surviving are a daughter, Diana Brown and her husband, James, Clarks Summit; a grandson, James Jr. and his wife, Sheri, Ransom Twp.; a granddaughter, Tina Young and her, husband, Stephen, Newton Twp.; four grandchildren, Madelyn and James Brown, and Tanner and Gracie Young; a niece, Kathy Budzinski, Throop; two great-nephews; several cousins; and many dear friends.

She was also preceded in death by two sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Dorothy and Robert Garland, and Sarah and Chester Heathcote; a nephew, Chester Heathcote; and an uncle, F. Howard Dunlap.

The family would like to especially thank Iva's good friend, Esther Stoeckel, for her nightly phone calls, and her caregiver, Lisa Mills, for her years of devoted loving attention to Iva. Their great appreciation also goes to the staff of the Traditional Home Health Hospice team who cared for Iva.

A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. from the Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home, 418 S. State St., Clarks Summit, with services by Iva's Eastern Star sister, Wendy D'Agostino, pastor of the Calvary United Methodist Church in Waymart. Interment will follow in Milwaukee Cemetery.

Friends may call Tuesday at the funeral home from 5 to 8 p.m., with Eastern Star services at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations would be welcomed to Traditional Home Health Hospice, 113 W. Drinker St., Dunmore, PA 18512; or the Valley Equestrians 4-H Club, 3472 Deerfield Drive, Dalton, PA 18414.