My grandpa

Last Saturday, my grandpa passed away.  He was 98 years old and a true gem.  I am posting his obit here but will likely write some more over the coming days.  His funeral was Wednesday and, as much as I miss him, I was delighted to hear stories people told about my grandpa.  He was a character and a great man.

Homer Glenn Wise, 98, of Tionesta, died Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, at Oakwood Heights (formerly the Presbyterian Home), Oil City.  He was born March 25, 1914 in Clarion, son of the late LaVern B. and Edith (Hoover) Wise.  On April 3, 1935 he married Florence B. (Gardner) Wise in Pittsburgh. His loving wife died on  March 21, 2003, after nearly 68 years of marriage.  Glenn and his wife owned and operated Wise Sunoco of Tionesta (now Greathouse Body Shop)  until 1959. He and his wife also ran a concession stand at the Tionesta Dam along with Wise Boat Livery where he sold boats, motors, chainsaws and accessories.  He was a foreman for 20 years at the Evenflo-Crator Manufacturing Plant in Tionesta retiring in 1978. He then went to work for the Forest Hardware also of Tionesta.  He was twice Past Master of Olive Temple Lodge #557 Free and Accepted Masons of Tionesta.  He was also a member of the Coudersport Consistory and Scottish Rite. He was one of the founding members of the Tionesta Volunteer Fire Co., and was a search and rescue scuba diver.  Glenn and his wife were devoted members of the Tionesta United Methodist Church where he held many positions.  Surviving are his daughter, Janice Patterson and her husband, Fred, of Tionesta; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and wife, Glenn was preceded in death by a daughter, Betty Mellon in 1992; a grandson, Jonathan Patterson in infancy; four brothers, Mervin, Hobart, Elmer and Stanley Wise; and five sisters, LeVera Reynolds, Ethel Wolfe, Grace Startzel, Blanche Wise and Doris Cooper.  Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at Norman J. Wimer Funeral Home of Tionesta. A funeral service will be conducted on at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Tionesta United Methodist Church with the Rev. J. Mark Hurst, pastor of the church, and the Rev. Bruce K. Merritt of the Nixon United Methodist Church of Butler, PA., co-officiating. Burial will occur at Mt. Collins Cemetery, Tionesta.